The next day after his new perk was granted, he started to see what his new abilities has given him. Early in the morning he went outside the town walls and into the hill side where he was first brought into this world. Roth tried the fire spell he casted again and still being surprised he can summon it with ease. Sticking his hand out he imagined it shooting outwards and his thoughts became reality. The fire ball shoots from his hand striking the tree.
It was a powerful strike but still weak. All the ball did to the tree was leave an ash marked spot where he aimed at. Looking at his palms he still wonders what void magic is. Being a heretical power sounds troublesome if the wrong people viewed him as a threat. His next experiment was thinking about the flow of water as the same shape as the ball of fire. Without a moment to think the liquid ball formed in his palm.
Chuckling to himself he aims, and a stream of pressured water comes forth from his palm and hits the tree. Now experimenting he tries different uses making ice, sand, different types of soil, and even wind. Roth was amazed that void magic was the ability to use all the types of elemental magic. Now looking down at both of his bare palms he wanted to see the limits of his newfound abilities. He began to concentrate and focus his energy the mana that is now stored in his body. Imagining the positive and negative charges he sets his target on the tree.
Roth's hand begins to feel static and tingling. Between his fingers starts to flicker and spark and soon a built of up sudden discharge shoots jagged towards the tree. The loud thundering clap sound of the lightning knocks him back hard to the ground. To his shock the tree was snapped in half burning from the break that he caused. "Okay I didn't expect that to work, Argh! What the hell?"
Looking down he sees a deep gash on his palm. Without realizing it he landed perfectly onto a sharp rock almost dagger like. Holding his wrist, he stares deep into the leaking wound. Closing his eyes, he concentrates and begins feeling a sudden burst of relief. Opening his eyes, he sees his hand glowing and the wound retracting slowly. The deep gash is now nonexistent and all he could do was give a soft smile thinking about Fila.
Few days have passed and is nearly the end of the week, almost time for Roth to come back home from Bumush. As he was riding Ditzy he notices a loud commotion across the other side of the quarry, many workers were rushing to the other side of the quarry. Looking over he sees a big slope with a tricorn on his side on top of the hill squirming on the edge as the dirt gave way under the cart tilting the whole animal. At the bottom large rocks and boulders were everywhere and one worker's leg was pinned by a huge boulder. It was the rider; he tumbled all the way down and was pinned. The momentum from the other rocks pushed a boulder that was on the slope free and landed onto the rider's left leg.
"Hup hup!" Roth whips the rains lightly and Ditzy begins to trot towards the panicked crowed. All the workers pushing the giant boulder struggle as their feet began to slide from the gravel underneath them. "Argh!! Get this off me please!" The man shrieking in agonizing pain. Some even put thick wooded planks to wiggle under the boulder to free him but failed. Now everyone in a state of disarray the foreman and Roth arrived at the same time.
"What in Theanita's name happened here?" As the foreman demanded. One worker replied quickly, " Sir, the boulder was set loose after the rocks landed. The ground gave way and the rider tumbled down. Unfortunately, he was caught under it. We tried everything but the boulder is too heavy. We can use the tricorn that just came here to pull it away."
"Have you gone mad? If the boulder is really that heavy, it could be unstable moving it and could lean right on top of him killing him!" Shouted the foreman. The pinned worker grabbed the foreman by the pant leg," For heaven's sake get this god damn rock off me!" Roth is looking back and forth seeing the confused looks on each worker. Even overhearing about amputating his leg right there to free him. Without a moment to waste he hops off Ditzy and rushes to the massive boulder.
He places his back against the rock and digs his heels deep into the gravel. "Kid we tried everything that boulder isn't moving." But Roth refused to listen to the worker. " Grab him...quickly!" The boulder ever so slightly shifts just barely. The other workers begin to notice and are in shock. "Hurry...grab him...quickly!" as his face began to show strain. The other workers yelled to make everyone get ready. The others helped Roth push against the rock and the boulder slightly lifted just enough to unhinge the injured worker's leg.
Immediately they grabbed the worker by the collar and dragged him out of the trap. Nearly the workers fell back from pulling him so fast and stumbling from the uneven ground. All rushed to the aid of the rider seeing a trail of blood from the boulder to him. His leg from below the knee was completely crushed. Writhing in pain his screams doesn't falter. Roth catching his breath was congratulated by his acquaintances. Roth ignored the praise and went to check on the injured rider.
He grabbed his waterskin and dumped it on the bleeding leg clearing the dirt and debris. Using his appraisal, he saw the rider was level eleven and certain spots on his body were glowing red. His shattered leg was a deep red color while his left hand, shoulder, and collarbone were slightly red. Looking at the distraught face of the rider he points his palms over him, and his hands begin to glow green. The foreman tries to ask what he's doing but Roth shushes him. His crush flattened leg now is surrounded by a bright green light and the injured spots on his body begins to glow green as well.
The rider's face is now beginning to calm down and his anguish cries become slow heavy calm breathing. Roth's face is concentrated and sweating profusely giving all his mana into healing the injured man. Soon Roth falls back and is catching his breath and the workers go to Roth's aid. Slowly the man begins to open his eyes and looks down at his leg. Sitting himself up he feels his leg completely healed only his pant leg was bloody and torn up. The other injuries on his body healed miraculously as well. "You...you healed me, but how?" Looking at Roth with awe in his eyes. "I put all my energy into saving you, don't worry about it okay." exhausted by the whole ordeal he was hugged by the injured man. Profusely thanking him for his blessed healing, saying he can still provide for his family thanks to him.
All the others cheered for Roth and lifted him up thanking him telling him they never knew how amazing he was. Roth just didn't want another dead person to happen again, but the praises cheered him up a little. "Alright, alright settle down, Roth I didn't know you can use healing magic or how you lifted that boulder." The foreman asks him suspiciously, now Roth got anxious, he let himself get exposed. "Pfft, it doesn't matter, what matters is you save that gentleman's life and for that I owe you my gratitude." Bowing his head to Roth "Sir please it's alright. I saw an injured colleague and couldn't stand by and do nothing." Assuring the foreman that there's no need for thanks. "Nonsense you have a kind heart young man for today the whole shift can take the day off, full pay. I let this accident happened on my watch, but you quickly acted and saved him, same with all of you gentlemen. You all deserve this." The whole crew cheered tossing their caps in the air and surrounding Roth and the injured man.
They insisted to head to the local tavern for food and drinks. He was hesitant at first but quickly obliged them giving them a soft smile to all. Soon they had their fill of ale, mead and delicious food to their hearts content. Roth is amazed how much alcohol he consumed, usually this amount would make him dumb drunk, but he barely feels tipsy. Heading outside he slowly walks out to head to his quarters looking at the cloudy sky. The bright two moons peaking between the gaps of the clouds, all he could do was remember that night with Fila holding him close under the moonlight. He smiles and decides to take a shortcut through the alleyways of the shops. It's quiet, only the sound of the gentle breeze can be heard until he heard a loud commotion around the corner of the alley.
"You stupid bitch! You think you can run that easy! You wouldn't think I can catch up?"
"I'm... I'm sorry I won't do it again I swear! Ow! You're hurting me!"
Roth slowly peaks to see what that argument was and was disgusted. In his view was a skinny older man in his thirties, was bald and had a cut lip. The bald man was holding a young girl by the hair, he guesses she was around twelve. She was wearing rugged clothes and a chain collar near her neck. Her light black hair was mangled and covered in leaf's. Her hands were very badly cut and bruises all on her arms.
"Yeah you better not! I'm sick of having to babysit a stubborn brat like you!" With no remorse he knees her in the stomach, and she immediately vomits. "Hey asshole!" Roth calls him out with anger. "Eh? fuck off kid this doesn't concern you." Roth's face doesn't change, his eyes locked only on the bald thug.
"It amazes me how much an older man can easily prey on such a frail child as if that were something special. But as soon as someone with equal power shows up, they try to shoo them away." calmingly saying as he walks towards him slowly. The bald thug pulls out a sharp dagger.
"The hell you say to me prick? I guess you want to die in a shitty ally tonight huh."
"Go ahead and try. You don't scare me one bit."
"You little shit!" He charges at Roth only to have his dagger knocked out of his hands. Momentarily confused he was met with a hand tightly around his throat. Gasping for air he grabs Roth's hands trying to free himself. "What's the matter? I thought you were going to make me die in this alley?" Chocking he kneels down struggling to set himself free. " You disgust me treating a child like that and think they're all badass."
"Pl-Please let me go... you can have the brat then. I'll- I'll leave...!" Barely making a sentence with the very little air his body his receiving.
"No, No. I know your type, you say you'll leave but you'll probably going to your rat den and let your boss know. And we can't have that." With his other hand he shows the slight sparks between his fingers. The grave face the thug gave was fear and turned pale. "What the hell are you... no one can control lighting! What the hell are you!"
with no emotion he stares into his eyes," The last face you will ever see again." His eyes widened pleading for his life. Roth places his palm against his forehead and sends a tremendous amount of voltage through his body. Yelling to the top of his lungs the alleyway was lit up brightly. The little girl still holding her stomach looks up with all her might and was confused what happened. All she can see were the silhouette of one kneeling and another standing over him. After the lighting coursed through the thug, his eyes were rolled back, and his mouth was stuck in a screaming pose. the forehead where his palm was showed a deep hole and burned marks spreading everywhere.
Roth lets go of the bald man and the thug collapsed. He walks over to the injured girl and squats next to her healing her wounds. His anger surprised him, he never acted like this before at all. All that suppressed rage from holding his emotions from his last party finally released. "Are you alright?"
She looks at him with confusion and caution, " Ye-yeah, I'm alright. Thank you, mister."
"What's your name?" She timidly responds, " Mina, Mina Crofski."
He helps her up and dusts her off from the dirt she was laying on. " Alright Mina, let's go to a guard and see if they can help you-" he was stopped by her pulling on his pant leg. "Please... you have to help me. Please I'm begging you. There are more people I care that are in danger, you have to help me!"
Roth's surprised reaction turned to a worry reaction. The eyes of desperation as she's shaking is proof; she doesn't want to return but has too. He kneels down and holds her hand. She is tearing up and can't make any more words. "Alright then, tell me where they are."