Growth

*Jingle* "Welcome to, ah, Jack you're back. Hey what happened to your armor."

"Oh I got cornered and took a nasty hit."

"Then why isn't there a cut. It looks like your all healed up and I don't think I gave you enough potions for a wound that size."

"Ah yeah well I wanted to talk to Lord Miach about that and get a status update."

"Well he's in the back helping prepare some ingredients. He'll probably want to finish that first so go help him out would you."

"Alright then" I head into the back work area and see Lord Miach grinding down some herbs.

*Hmm* "Ah, Jack, glad to see you're back. Come help me finish grinding these herbs down."

"Sure thing." Together we finish grinding up the herbs for Naaza to brew into potions.

*Wheh* "This goes a lot quicker now that you're here to help out, but I don't think this was your reason for coming back here was it."

'I guess there right you can't hide anything from a god'

"Firstly I want to give you my word that I have not eaten any magic stones."

"Well that's an odd way to start. So I guess something happened related to your demon?"

"Yes, you see I was attacked in the dungeon by the same group who left me where you found me."

A look of shock hits Lord Miach's face before he looks me over again and calms down.

"Well that couldn't have been good, but here you are fully safe and healthy without even a scratch so I'm sure this story has a happy ending?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it happy. You see they had done this before so they caught me when I tried to run. Then proceeded to re-enact the scene before you found me. Before they could kill me though my talismans awakened allowing me to ..defeat them. I believe it was because of the rage and other negative emotions I felt at the time."

Lord Miach pales as my story continues, worry covering his face. As I tell him how I believe I activated the talismans he gains a look of understanding followed immediately by even more concern.

"Jack are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, Lord Miach I am perfectly fine thanks to the horse and dog talismans."

"I don't mean that Jack. Are you fine with your first time killing another person, and don't say you didn't. I have watched gekai for a long time before descending so I can say with certainty that only the worst people feel nothing after killing another sentient being, and you are far from that."

"To be honest it happened early in the morning so I spent the rest of the day experimenting with the talismans and I haven't really felt very bad about it. I think the rage I felt at the time made it easier. Also I don't really view those people as anything more than monsters. Sure they might think and feel but that just makes them worse. They knowingly attacked me and would have killed me! They've even done this before! If I could go back then I would willingly kill them again if only to keep them from doing the same to others and to bring justice for the ones they murdered!"

My voice picks up the more I talk till I'm almost shouting at Lord Miach. Rant over I try to calm down while Lord Miach calmly stands there taking it all in.

"Well I'm glad you got that out. Now I cannot condone your killing of others. I am a god of medicine and healing so it is my duty to try to save even the most vile of men; however, you are my child and as such I will permit you to do what you must to come back to me. Just remember not to lose yourself. I will always be here to help you rest and heal."

"Now considering everything you've been through we should get you a status update and see if anything has changed with your skill."

"Thank You, Lord Miach"

----

Now sitting on my bedside I look at my status sheet.

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JACK LEE -- Level 1

Strength -- G 274

Endurance -- H 189

Agility -- G 223

Dexterity -- G 168

Magic -- I 52

Magic

Skills

Heir of Shendu ( gain the power of the twelve talismans, eat magic stones to strengthen Shendu)

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"How do I not have magic if my magic stat is growing?"

"I believe that your skill works by allowing you to cast magic in the form of twelve spells each linked to a talisman. As such you can raise your magic stat without unlocking a magic. However, this means that no matter how strong Shendu gets it will mean nothing if you yourself don't have the power to use his magic."

'That just proves I definitely need to improve myself first and Shendu second. It also means that even if the talismans have unlimited power, I won't be able to channel it if I'm weak.'

"Still I'm surprised at how much it's grown in a day. You're other stats have also had a considerable increase, and you've gained some quality excelia for your next level. That must have been quite an adventure you had today."

"Quality excelia? How much did I get, and how much longer till my next level?"

"Oh, not much at all. You've barely made a dent in what you need for your next level, but coming back from the brink of death isn't something that often happens. It also helped that you lost and nearly died to them before. Actually I would normally expect such conditions to make you gain even more quality excelia."

'If that's the case what could have made me lose excelia. Most cases like that happen when in a party but I don't have anyone with me. Or do I?