Chapter 57: Respite

    Level up! Class [Forest Deer] is now level 10!

    For being the reason your herd was alert and ready, leading to them surviving an ambush you have gained a level!

    +1 to [Alacrity]!

    Congratulations! You have reached the level cap for your [Forest Deer] class! Would you like to evolve? Y/N

    Warning! You are vulnerable while undergoing beast evolution!

    The deer couldn’t read. Obviously. Though being tied to a thin tree with rope while the humans cleaned up after the attack did give it plenty of time to try.

    And fail. Animals couldn’t exactly control or manipulate the system. Other than by accident. The deer, hanging there helplessly wasn’t an exception to the rule. It instinctively blinked away the window like it had done to all the others.

    Fortunately the system operated mostly autonomously for lower level beasts and monsters. This was one of the reasons why certain prompts would be automatically accepted after a certain duration.

    One could consider the restrained animal a sort of accidental power leveller. Not deliberately mind you, but being in the proximity of a certain monstrous tree seemed to reward a constant trickle of minor experience.

    You may find this odd. Why would being in the presence of Leif grant experience? Does it work on people?

    The answer is surprisingly simple. Plant monsters, almost without exception, naturally release a small amount of excess life-force into their surroundings. It’s one of many minor innate abilities the monster type possesses, another example being the ability to drain vitality, even without an associated skill.

    This is why the environment around monstrous plants tended to be vibrant, even overgrown with vegetation.

    Animals innately gained a small amount of experience by being well fed, safe and healthy. Among a few other objectives. A continuous stream of all three sources over months gradually led to levels going up.

    After an hour, as the morning sun rose over the horizon, its daughter plodded up to it. Both deer stared dumbly at one another.

    Why are you like this, mother? The gaze of the younger deer seemed to say.

    I regret nothing. Was the silent reply.

    ===

    Leif nodded, then awkwardly raised the cup to his mouth. Or the small slit in his mask-like face that counted as one. A single sip seemed to drive back the darkness, Leif felt his vision clear and his mind refocus. He took another sip.

    Both healers remained in silence as the woman worked, she tended to each casualty with equal care. Once she had finished she knelt before Leif and dipped her head in a partial bow. “Thank you, honoured one.”

    Leif didn’t know how to respond to that. He just gawked at her from beneath his hooded cloak. The elderly woman continued. “This one is Kala, spirit healer and descendant of Lila. My sincere gratitude for aiding in our wounded, you have saved many lives.”

    “Uh, you''re welcome?” Leif said, this wasn’t exactly what he had expected to happen.

    The elder straightened and smiled, laugh lines showing on her aged features. “I hope one day you have many descendants. They will be a proud and virtuous people, I am sure.”

    Leif nearly spat up the water he had drunk. He felt it surge up from whatever he had in place of a stomach and fought to keep it down.

    Kala snickered in amusement at his reaction. “In all seriousness dear. I am genuinely grateful to have another healer on hand. Without you, I fear many who live now would have had a far more grim fate.”

    “Is there no other healer? I’d have thought they would have been fairly common?” Leif asked, having regained his composure.

    “It is rare, I''m afraid. To be offered a class capable of healing isn’t uncommon, but it’s usually self healing with limited applications in the restoration of others. It took years of careful work to push my own abilities in that direction.” Kala replied, her gaze briefly going distant.

    Leif frowned internally. He supposed it was true he seemed to be the only healer within the expedition camp. “Why? Why is it so rare? I mean, there are several people in your camp with knowledge of herbal ointments and medicine.” He said, gesturing to the injured within the tent. “Why not actual healing skills?”

    Kala’s smile waned. “The ability to heal thaumatically, as the academics you travel with would put it, is dictated by aptitude and mindset. Not just anyone can light themselves on fire and gain an associated pyrokinetic class or skill. It takes time, effort, and more than a little luck.”

    The spriggan nodded thoughtfully, he supposed it made sense.

    “And even when someone obtains a healing class, their power is dictated by the aspects their skills have.” Kala continued. “I am a water aspected healer, I can cleanse and purify, but restoring severed limbs...” She motioned to the man Leif had reattached the leg of.

    “Actually I’ve been wondering about that. What exactly are the differences between these aspects? I have blood, and now life aspected skills. But they both heal? I can’t tell the difference.”

    “Hmmm. Do you not have a spell skill?” She asked.

    “I do not.” Leif said, then paused. Actually he had several notifications he hadn’t looked through yet. Maybe he would receive one from his latest level ups?

    “If you wish to learn, I can teach. My knowledge may not be generally applicable to your path, but any little bit can help. We healers must stick together, besides...” She smiled. “I think our groups will be moving down south together for the conceivable future. This time with a night watch that doesn’t get blackout drunk.”