Solar Mage

Chapter 33: Cut

Huh? What's this warm feeling around my body?

I open my eyes and see my body glowing in a warm yellow light with Rachel praying deeply beside me.

"Rachel?"

She doesn't respond.

She can't hear me, she must be deep in prayer.

I initially try to get up to find Tin, but my arms suddenly give out and I fall back onto the hard stone floor. Immediately, I grab the back of my head that hit the floor and try to lessen the pain.

I try again, I plant my arms on the ground and push up.

It's working, just keep this pace Arthur, slow and steady wins the race... or so they say.

When I reach the most forward that I can push, I let go and instead of my entire body falling back onto the ground, I slump forward.

Seriously– what put me in such a state? Not even my master has put me in such a terrible state.

I slowly took off Rachel's torn priest robes that acted like a blanket that she had worn before the battle with Han.

Then I look up and see Tin staring intensely at a chopped off, bloody black hand with hints of past redness still lingering on it.

What is that?

I continue to stare blankly at the hand as I become less aware of the area around me and concentrate immensely on trying to remember my memories, repeating the same thought endlessly.

Who caused this?

A thought that could have never ended was put to a pause when Tin noticed my stare.

"Nameless, are you okay?"

I think I heard him say,

Then the very next moment, I see him by my side shaking me vigorously.

When did he get here?

"Yeah I'm fine."

We both say the same thing at the same time.

"What happened?"

We both stare at each other in confusion.

"I thought you knew?"

He asked.

"I would have liked it if I knew as well, but I don't remember anything."

"Okay well, I'll tell you what I know then. When you punched yourself after our argument, I ran after you, wondering why you did that. The next moment, you just disappeared and when I turned around, I saw you unconscious, covered in blood and debris in a deep hole in the wall. After that, I woke Rachel up to heal you. What's weird is that the moment before you disappeared and reappeared in the hole in the wall, it didn't feel like it was just a moment... it felt like minutes, maybe even hours."

That explanation makes sense and what he said at the end feels like it connects to a big part of my memory, but I still can't put my finger on what it is.

We both turn to her.

"And she's still in deep prayer, praying for a healing miracle right now."

She is a lot more loyal than I thought.

Then, the light around me fades as Rachel's sorrowful eyes slowly open. She looks at me.

"Rachel..."

Then her eyes of sorrow abruptly change as grabs my arms and quickly touches around, feeling muscles and bones as she examines the state of my body.

My body!! The pain!! Not there!!!

"Aghh..."

A soft sound of pain manages to escape out before dissipating. Then, she stops and stares intensely at my eyes.

"How have you already healed this much?"

Weren't you just healing me?

"Uh, didn't you just finish healing me just a minute ago?"

She lets out a sigh.

"It's true that I used all of my divine power and that was the hardest I've ever prayed to Pyro. But if all of the factors considered managed to heal you, I would be the High Priest."

What is she talking about?

My confusion is visible and sighs again.

"You really don't understand how severe your wounds were do you?"

I shake my head vigorously.

"You bled out 30% of your blood, your lungs were damaged, your jaw was broken, your skull was fractured. The muscles and bones in your arms and legs were destroyed, your spine was obliterated, fourteen of your ribs were shattered, your sternum cracked into pieces and that's not even half of it!"

That sounds exaggerated but I'm glad she worries for me.

"So, what's the problem? I'm fine now."

"That's exactly the problem!!! It's impossible for you to be able to move that much after only an hour!"

It's only been an hour?

"So you didn't exaggerate any of it?"

"No!!!"

"Listen, Rachel, I don't think you're lying but what you're saying is impossible."

"Let me show you then."

She takes out a small dagger encrusted in gold from her waist and charges at me with it.

Does she really think that will work? She thinks that an amateur like her would be able to strike me? I'll easily dodge this.

She charges up her swing.

Just a diagonal slash? Piece of cake.

Then, she brings the dagger down. I move to dodge left but it remains still.

Why can't I move!? I'm going to get hit!

The dagger slashes me across the chest and blood pours out in great volumes.

"GAH!"

My body falls to the ground.

How could she do that without hesitation?

She looks at me in fear and drops the dagger out of her hands and she falls to the ground along with it.

"I- I'm sorry, thought you would be able to immediately heal from it, or at least dodge it!"

She covers her face with her hands and weeps.

Am I going to die in such a disappointing way? Why isn't Tin doing anything to stop her?

I look over to where he was standing, now laying on the floor snoring.

Rachel continues to sob. Then, she picks up the dagger and points it up in the air.

"I'm truly sorry Nameless, I know you don't believe me, but I'll prove it to you now! Pyro, I offer the life of this lowly believer of yours, please take it and grant this boy a miracle of healing."

She then smiles at me.

"With this, I will heal the injuries you sustained previously as well as the one I caused. It's been a fun adventure with you Nameless, Goodbye."

She points the dagger to her chest.

No, don't do that! Why am I always surrounded by crazy people!?

"Stop!!!"

Wait, I can speak?

Her arms stop just before she is stabbed.

"You can speak? I thought you were heavily injured?"

We both look at the wound she caused on my chest; now gone– without a cut or scar could be seen.

"So you do have Super Regeneration!"

I have regeneration? That explains so many things! Super regeneration is like the most desired skill because you can heal from anything and you can have endless battles with your eternal rival!!! But how did I get it? Why am I even asking why? I have regeneration!

Then, a massive blow strikes my stomach causing me to stumble and almost fall down.

"What was that for!?!"

"That's for knocking me unconscious! Now hurry and wake Tin up."

How bossy... making me do work when I am still injured. Yet, I have discovered my regeneration ability because of her.