His eyelids twitched as he felt an intense heat building in his chest, growing more and more scalding. Fully awake now, he opened his eyes and coughed a few times. Fortunately, the roar of the waterfall outside muffled any sound from within the cave.
I still have this thing stuck into my chest, my first priority is to take this arrow., the problem is I don't know how to treat it.
I was once bitten by a wolf the animal seemed to be ill and died afterward, its teeth were loose and stuck into my leg, but this wound is a different story. The only reason I'm alive is because of those potions grandpa gave me.
Arat then rolled up his pants to inspect the grotesque wound left by the animal. His gaze travelled over the rest of his leg, where the skin was covered in bumps and dents, as if it had been scalded by boiling water.
Arat let go of the cloth and covered his leg with it. I have to take off my clothes first; I can't treat a wound I can't even see, he thought. He attempted to remove his clothes normally, but the arrow embedded in his body snagged on the fabric, causing him to wince in pain.
"Ahhh, hit hurts."
I can't take them off like this, then I have to rip my shirt. Its the only set of cloth I have leaving my skin exposed will reveal my demonic nature immediately. I have to think of another way
As the pain grew increasingly unbearable, Arat, unable to wait any longer, grabbed his shirt and tore it apart, revealing the burned-like skin underneath. His veins had a greenish tint, and patches of extra skin had gathered in almost all of his body. With his wound now completely visible he started examining it.
Well I need to take it out, I know that much. But the moment I do so blood will flow out and since I lost so much blood and fainted if I can't stop the bleeding, I'm dead.
He then talked to himself out loud to himself.
"grandpa taught me a thing or two about patching up wounds, but this is on another level"
Arat moved his hand toward the arrow he touched the pointy head and tried to measure how hard it might be to take it out.
"Ahhh, darn it. I can't. I wish I knew how to treat an arrow wound like this."
Desperately, Arat leaned against the cold, wet stone walls of the cave, covered in moss, seeking some relief. Out of no where, a deep, charismatic voice echoed around him, saying
"What will you offer in return?"
Arat's head jerked from left to right as he searched for the source of the sound, his eyes wide with fear, even behind the iron mask. His terror was unmistakable.
"What was that? Who's there?"
His voice trembling.
The same warm voice once again filled the air
"I asked, what will you give me in return?"
Arat's ears pinpointed the source of the sound, it came from right beside him. He turned his head and stared at the leather pouch his grandfather had given him.
"How can a voice come from there? I know hallucinating from an injury like this is a given yet this sound seems so real."
"The wound in your chest is in critical condition"
What the... he can see me? What the hell is this creature. Grandpa had dangerous things in that pouch like that liquid he drank and became a monster. This thing is definitely dangerous. I have to be careful.
With his trembling voice Arat spoke
"How... , how can I trust you? Who are you?"
"well you are dying, and I should be asking this question how can I trust you that you can give me something in return."
This thing can see me for sure, and even thought I didn't tell that the wound is mine he mentioned me dying and wounded, is he observing me? He can see me here? Where is he?
These were the first thought that came in Arat's mind.
Arat who was still cautious. Tried his best to remain calm however he made distance with the leather pouch based on his instincts and moved his hand slowly until it reached the hilt of the steel sword he had stolen before.
"I don't know who you are, and I don't know what will satisfy you. I have some items in a leather bag, but I don't know what they are. Will this do?"
"Is that so? A little thief then"
the voice replied.
Arat's anger flared at the insult.
This man, how dare he... wait, wait, wait I don't know who or what this person is he may be even able to read my mind, there is no other way he could know about me being wounded by an arrow in the chest since no one is here,. Let's be calm and don't start a fight with it.
With a solid, serious tone, he responded.
"I am not a thief, my grand-father gave this bag to me"
If this being can see me and read my thoughts he should have known that I didn't stole the bag or is it just playing with me?
"I understand, my apologies little one, let us have another start, I am one interested in making deals"
Arat with his guard up ready to draw the sword at any moment said.
"Deals? What kind exactly? do you want money?"
"First of all, take me out of this bag"
Still hesitant to trust an unknown magical entity speaking to him from inside a bag, Arat held his sword firmly and drew it. With the blade ready in one hand, he used the sword's sheath in his other hand to open the bag as he maintained his distant.
The cave was dim, with only a faint light filtering through the waterfall at the entrance. Unable to see clearly inside the bag, he asked.
"Ummm, what should I look for?"
"the iron sheet you unfolded out of the fabric moments ago, that's my medium."
It hasn't even been a day since I left Grandpa, and now I'm talking to an unknown stranger that seems to be a mythical creature. But I don't really have a choice here. Even if this thing wants to harm me or take my life, I have nothing to lose. It's only a matter of time before I die, either from the wound or be found by the remaining knights.
Finally, having made up his mind, Arat approached the leather pouch and pulled out the thick iron sheet, it was almost like a small iron bar, with the shape of a mouth carved out of it, leaving a hole inside.
"I took out the iron sheet. What now?"
Arat didn't know what to expect from this mysterious object and braced himself for the worst. A lingering sound echoed in his ears. Long ago, his grandfather had warned him to be wary of everything in the world outside.
"Nothing here seems worthy, you need to give me something else."
The voice emerged from the piece of iron as its mouth-shaped carving shifted while it spoke.
Arat was bewildered by the sight. The iron seemed to move as if it were made of some sort of dough, squishy and pliable, yet retaining the exact appearance of iron, he was drawn into it to the point he didn't hear what the unknown stranger had said.
"Did you hear me?"
Arat came back to his senses, as he didn't understand what the mysterious being had said.
"Sorry, I was looking at the movements of the iron mouth."
"I Repeat, none of the contents in the bag meet my standards, what else do you have to offer?"
Arat looked around, the only objects that came to his view were the steel sword and the rag he used for his wound.
I don't think these will be useful to him since the magical potions in the bag didn't satisfy him...
"I have only a rag I used for my wound and a steel sword"
He heard nothing in return. Seconds turned into minutes yet no voice came out of the iron mouth nor did it move. Arat broke the silence as the pain didn't allow him to wait any longer.
"Please I need you help, don't leave me here all by myself, Mr. Stranger"
Arat didn't receive a response, desperate, he rummaged through the bag, searching for something useful. Aside from a few potion bottles with various liquids, he found a necklace with a red ruby and four books. Three of the books had similar covers and patterns, while the fourth one was smaller in size and thickness, bound in light brown leather.
Arat opened the books and started turning their pages various images of monsters were drown on them along with texts in a language he was unfamiliar with.
I can't read this language, but the this writings are probably describing the monsters, The smaller book however doesn't have any drawings in it, the writting is completely different as well, now that I think about it grandpa had only teqched me one language.
Seems like these books are no good to trade with Mr. Stranger... well if I'm goanna die like this I might as well go for taking out the arrow. Only if I knew how to heal myself afterward.
An idea came to his mind.
If I don't have any items that the mysterious stranger who talks via the iron sheet wants maybe I can promise him to acquire them in the feature, or to do him a couple of tasks for free.
"Mr. Stranger I want to make a deal."
After a few seconds he heard an elegant male voice reverberating inside the cave.
"What do you want to trade for the method of healing your wound?"
Arat gathered his courage and reorganized his thoughts.
"I'm dying, and you've said that nothing I've offered has caught your interest, so I want to propose another option."
"I'm listening"
Arat continued.
"help me live and tell me something you need, I will try to acquire them for you"
"hmmm..., taking something in advance? But I need an insurance."
Arat took a deep breath and embraced anything that might happen after what he wanted to say.
"Let's be frank, I'm slowly losing blood as we talk, I don't know who you are but knowing how to treat a wound like this is a simple matter for you"
The elegant voice said
"So?"
"You mentioned you were interested in deals, if I die there will be no more deals between us in the future, I will even do some tasks for you for free to repay you for saving my life."
"No problem, I will only ask of you to perform a ritual an take an oath, so that you don't forget your promise."
I'm already at death's court. A mysterious being wants me to do a ritual and make an oath to him, if he doesn't kill me instantly it might do so in the future. This means any day I live from today will be a gift. I can ask him what this ritual may do, but he can simply lie to me or even not make a deal with me at all. It's better to keep my mouth shut and don't lose this chance now that he accepted to make a deal.
"I accept your terms Mr. Stranger, how should I perform the ritual?"
"place both your hands on the iron sheet and pour a drop of your blood into the mouth shape, With this I will find a trace of your astral body."
"Astral body?"
The warmth in the voice then faded away changing into a cold lifeless tone.
"Yes, once I do that I can remind you of your debts if you decide to forget about them."
Arat's senses, which had been on high alert ever since he heard the mysterious voice, suddenly sharpened as his hair stood on end.
He is threatening me. This existence is without a doubt an evil one, but my very life now depends on its knowledge.
Arat looked at the iron sheet and said.
"I understand, but please consider that I'm a half-devil orphan child, so ask for something possible for someone like me to obtain,"
Arat pleaded. He heard no response. He put his hands on the iron sheet and moved his chest over the piece of metal, droplets of his blood dripped inside and around the carved mouth.
"I have done your ritual, now please tell me how to treat my wounds."
"Inside the bag there are three potions, consume them once you have taken out the arrow, when combined they will close your wound."
"Which three? How should I find the right ones?"
"Do it yourself, for someone who has not paid anything yet this is the most I will grant you."
The voice remained calm and continued
"In return I want you to bring me a metal called kethilion."
"Wait, I don't have time for this, please tell me which one I should use."
Time passed, and Arat heard no response. The steady roar of the waterfall was the only sound that filled the air. He reached into his bag and pulled out the remaining potions, just six were left, the rest had been used up.
If I pull out the arrow first and then try to pour the potions to see which one works, I will probably suffer due to mixing them all together. If I want to find out what potion works I need to test it on myself, however the unknown voice told me to use the potions after I have taken care of the arrow.
Arat opened the potions one by one, still unsure how to determine which one he needed. He decided to smell them; each had a unique but equally unpleasant scent.
"Ughhh, this won't help"
If smelling them won't work the only way is to drink them but I hadn't taken out the arrow yet, maybe I can feel their effects if I just take a few drops I'm sure they won't be...
The devilish appearance of his grand father with black eyes and red skin made him lose his confidence. If any of these potions has any effects similar to that one grandpa used even a few drop are dangerous to drink. But it's not like I have any other option.
"Mr. Stranger can you tell me which one should I use?"
Same as before he was only greeted by silence..
Arat took the bottle near his mouth and decided to drink it anyway, then he saw a lizard slowly walking beside him, Arat threw his hand toward it and snatched it. Holding it in his tight grip, he forced the poor thing to drink a few drops of the liquid.
"I'm sorry for this."
After that the lizard eyes became white just like the knights after they drank their enhancers the lizard started hissing nonstop moving its tongue then his nails and teeth grew longer in front of Arat's eyes.
"Wow, this is magnificent, grandpa told me potions can do miracles like this, but seeing them in reality is another thing."
This made it growing faster, this one can boost growth rate... this thing will be useful it surely has some healing factors, I will consider this one of the three ones that will heal me. Not that I'm sure but that's just a guess. In the next hour or two I will die, there isn't really much to be worried about.
Now these five, if I just give them to this lizard the effects will be combined right? Then how can I find the specific two out of all of them?
Since I'm guessing that the previous potion can heal, if I can choose the two remaining potions right, I can find the combination. Arat smelled the rest of the potions yet it still didn't help him, if I were to choose the wrong potion, there is a possibility that the lizard may die, leaving my own body to use the potions on. That's certainly messed up, lets see how can I try the potions in other ways. I need living things to test the potions on them.
Arat started scanning the entire cave, as far as the dim light allowed he couldn't see any living creature. His eyes then noticed the muss on the walls and some plants near the stone walls. He poured a few drops of the potion he had fed the lizard onto a nearby plant. He watched as it grew longer, new leaves unfurling with each passing second.
Curious, he poured a single drop from each remaining bottle onto separate plants that weren't connected. Out of the five plants, two showed no reaction, one began to wither slightly, and the other two developed strange characteristics. One turned soft and squishy, almost like mud as the force of gravity forced it to lay on the floor while the other seemed unaffected on the surface, but its roots were soaked in a yellowing substance that hardened over time.
"I remember now. This one is like the potion Grandpa gave me. it probably seals wounds."
Arat gently placed the lizard on the ground and picked up a sharp-edged stone. With a swift motion, he severed its tail and then poured the potion over the wound. The bleeding stopped as the yellowish liquid hardened, sealing the injury.
"Yes, this one is obviously made for sealing wounds and prevent bleeding, with this I only have to find the last remaining potion."
The one that made the plant dry doesn't seem to be effective for healing wounds, it seems its some type of venom.
Now that only the last piece of the puzzle remained, Arat lifted the lizard and then poured one of the other two potions that didn't affected the plants into its mouth, the eyes of the animal bulged out and then exploded splashing its blood over his shirt.
This definitely isn't the right one, well the other two worked good for the purpose of healing, at least with my understanding, this only leaves me with this one, Arat then took a heavy breath.
He did this multiple time until he took the arrow in its grip he tried to take it out but the pain was unimaginable for him so he let go. A sound was being repeated in his mind the sound of the stranger who had told him.
Do it yourself.
Arat closed his eyes, tightened his grip around the arrow, and with a sudden motion, yanked it out. His hesitations ended in that instant, but the unbearable pain overwhelmed him, forcing a shout from his lips.