"Althea, these are my companions, but before I introduce you to them, please heal my wound," Lucian said as he raised his arm, revealing the mark left from the demonic beast's bite. Althea's eyes widened as she saw the wound. "What happened?" she asked, concern lacing her voice as she gently touched the wound, her hands glowing faintly with a soothing light.
Althea's hands glowed with a gentle, soothing light as she pressed her palms against Lucian's arm. "This venom is from an advanced-tier demonic beast, but nothing I can't handle," she said, her voice calm and confident. The glow from her hands intensified, and the mark left by the demonic beast's bite began to fade, the dark, evil veins shrinking beneath her magic.
Lucian felt a warm sensation spread through his arm as the pain subsided. He could almost feel the venom being purged from his body, replaced by Althea's healing energy. Within moments, the wound was completely gone, leaving only faint traces of where the bite had once been.
"Done," Althea said softly, stepping back and wiping her hands on a cloth she pulled from her pocket. "You'll feel a little tired, but you should be fine now.
Lucian chuckled lightly, flexing his arm. "Your healing magic is as good as ever," he said, grateful for her magic. He turned to Commander Draven, Selene, and Galen, who had been watching silently. "Althea's the best healer in town and a good friend of mine since childhood. She is also my training partner"
Commander Draven raised an eyebrow, impressed but also intrigued by the mention of Althea being Lucian's training partner. His gaze shifted from Lucian to Althea. "A healer and a training partner?" Draven asked, his tone measured. "That's not a combination I hear often."
"I am not good in close combat, but I have fast reflexes and can also cast a protective barrier around myself which Lucian has not been able to break and has never landed in blow on me," Althea said as she glanced at Lucian with a playful smile. Lucian grinned in return, shaking his head. "It's true," he admitted. "Her barriers are nearly impenetrable. It's like trying to punch through steel covered in magic."
Commander Draven folded his arms, studying Althea with renewed interest. "Impressive. A healer with defensive skills that strong… you've trained hard." His tone softened slightly, though his sharp eyes revealed his calculating nature. "You could be an asset on the battlefield, not just in support."
Althea nodded, a humble smile crossing her face. "Thank you, Sir." "Lucian you still haven't introduced them and where is Sir Orion?
Lucian's smile faltered slightly at the mention of his father. He glanced away momentarily, the weight of the memories evident in his eyes. After a brief pause, he looked back at Althea with a somber expression.
"Orion… my father… he's gone," Lucian said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. "While we were traveling to deliver goods to another town, he was killed by a demon general of one of the demon kings. Lucian's voice trailed off, the weight of his loss hanging heavily in the air. Tears rolled down Althea's eyes as she reached out, grasping Lucian's hand. "I'm so sorry, Lucian," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He was also a father to me"
Lucian felt the warmth of Althea's hand envelop him, and her touch was a comforting reminder of their shared past. He squeezed her fingers gently, appreciating her support in this moment of sorrow. The weight of his father's loss pressed heavily on his heart, yet Althea's presence felt like a lifeline, grounding him amidst the turmoil.
While facing the demon, I was blasted away and was unconscious and the next thing I knew, I woke up in the house of the commander of demon hunters in Sunnyvale. "So this is commander Draven, Galen, and Selene. Althea bowed slightly in respect to Commander Draven, Galen, and Selene. "It's an honor to meet you all," she said warmly. "Thank you for taking care of Lucian."
Commander Draven nodded, acknowledging her with a serious but approving look. "You have quite the skillset, Althea. It's rare to meet someone with such potent healing and defensive abilities. Selene, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and offered a warm smile. "You've done a remarkable job healing Lucian. If you're ever in need of help, don't hesitate to call us. Your talents could save many lives."
Galen, standing beside her, gave a short nod. "She's right. Having a healer like you is invaluable."
Althea smiled, her eyes softening with appreciation. "Thank you all. I'm grateful for your kind words. And Lucian… well, he's family to me."
Lucian smiled at her, a sense of warmth in his chest as he felt the depth of their connection. "Althea's always been there for me," he said, glancing at the others. "She's one of the reasons I'm still standing."
Commander Draven gave Lucian a knowing look, his voice low. "We'll let you two catch up. Galen, Selene, let's head back to the inn. It's been a long day."
As the group began to leave, Draven glanced over his shoulder. "Rest well, Lucian." Lucian nodded, watching as the three made their way back down the road toward the inn. The soft glow of the moon bathed the path ahead, and soon, they disappeared into the night.
As Draven, Galen, and Selene faded into the night, silence settled between Lucian and Althea. The cool evening breeze whispered through the trees, and the distant hoot of an owl broke the stillness. Lucian turned to Althea, his smile fading as the emotions from earlier resurfaced.
"I miss him, Althea," he admitted softly, his voice cracking. "Orion… he was more than just my father. He was everything I wanted to be, and now, I feel lost without him."
Althea's eyes softened as she stepped closer, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to carry this burden alone, Lucian," she said quietly, her voice full of empathy. "Your father wouldn't want that for you. He'd want you to live, to fight, to grow into the person you were always meant to be."
"I want to be so strong, strong to the extent that when they are in my presence, they will tremble in fear," Lucian said, his voice filled with a fiery resolve. His fists clenched as he looked into the distance, imagining the face of the demon general who took his father from him. "I won't let another demon take anyone else from me. I'll make them fear my name."
Althea's gaze softened, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes. She understood Lucian's pain, but his thirst for revenge was consuming him. She placed her hand gently on his arm, her voice soothing yet firm. "Strength isn't just about making others tremble, Lucian. True strength comes from within, from protecting the ones you love, not just seeking vengeance. If you let your anger drive you, it might consume you, and that's not what Orion would have wanted."
Lucian's jaw tightened, his emotions warring within him. He knew Althea was right, but the anger inside him was hard to contain. He wanted to be strong enough to protect, but also strong enough to make the demons pay for what they'd done. He looked at her, the turmoil evident in his eyes. "I think I need to go and sleep," Lucian said
Althea watched Lucian for a moment, her expression softening as she nodded in understanding. "Get some rest, Lucian," she said gently. "Tomorrow is another day, and you'll need your strength for what's to come."
Lucian gave her a small, grateful smile, though the weight of his emotions still lingered in his eyes. "Thank you, Althea. For everything."
Althea nodded, stepping back to give him space. "Always," she whispered as Lucian turned and began walking toward the guest room.
Lucian entered the guest room, lying on the bed about to sleep when he saw a system notification [Stats points available, would you like to allocate]