Healing Elements

It always happens when least expected.

My vision is full of fur. This is most certainly a big cat! I am unsure if this thing would have taken my head off if I did not raise my arm in time. The claws scratching me hurts but not as badly as my arm.

The cat pulls away from me, taking my arm with it in its jaws. The shock from such a sudden and painful wound leaves me mute. My vision blurs but I can still see flashes of gold enter it.

Everything is muffled. I hear Conall’s voice yell but the words are lost on me. Everything goes dark.

I have no idea how much time has passed. But the sounds of a small explosion and a roar fill my ears.

My vision returns to me, unfortunately. A large cat engulfed in flames roaring in agony and Goodswell slashing and stabbing it is the only things in my view.

“How are you alive!?” Conall’s voice yells in my ear.

I try to say something but nothing comes out. I must still be mute from shock. But why do I not feel like I am losing blood from my missing limb?

Goodswell’s blazing blade slices cleanly through the head of the cat, ending its life before it can even process what happened.

“I’m not sure how you’re alive.” The human says to me as the flames on his blade extinguish. “But I’m glad to see you are.” He adds with a genuine smile before sheathing his sword. His smile turns upside down before he yells “Where in the pit is Tuta!?”

“Sorry.” Tuta appears from the shadows. “I-I-” The orc stammers. She definitely froze up.

“What?” Goodswell rhetorically inquires. “Froze in terror at the tiger!?” He continues not letting his anger be hidden.

“I was not afraid!” Tuta yells back responding to his anger with her own. “I could not figure out what to do once I had found it!” She defends herself while stepping closer to the squad leader.

They continue to argue but I decide to finally look down at my missing limb. Or what I thought would be a missing limb, my arm is there. My hand is there too. I close and open my hand, not sure if I am just hallucinating. My gaze falls to my arm bleeding out on the ground. I lost it, but it grew back…

“What in Atar’s beard!?” Conall exclaims looking at my new arm. “Did you grow an arm!?” He yells turning his gaze to the severed limb on the ground.

“What?” Goodswell inquires my way. The two seem to have stopped arguing to now check on me.

“Shouldn’t Lydia be unconscious?” Tuta says to the group.

“One would think when you lose an arm.” Goodswell replies picking up my ripped off limb.

“I-” I begin. “Apparently.” I answer the ogre’s question. Somehow I am able to collect myself and stand up to my feet.

“That ain’t gonna cut it.” Tuta replies walking over to me.

“Actually explain to us.” Goodswell orders me as Tuta and Conall examine my arm. I understand Conall being a Medic, but why is Tuta examining besides just curiosity?

“I-” I mutter closing my eyes. I cannot just be blabbing about myself. The real me that is…

“Please stop crying.” Goodswell says. Did he just sound, uncomfortable? The teen clears his throat. “It can’t be something that bad.” He continues.

I open my eyes to look at my new arm to see Tuta still examining it but Conall has stopped.

“It’s definitely attached and unharmed.” Conall explains to Goodswell. “Also worth noting.” The ogre continues “She has no injuries whatsoever.”

“How is that possible?” Tuta asks looking away from my arm.

“Well regeneration is the only thing I can think of.” The medic answers after turning back to look at Tuta.

“Can regeneration work this quickly?” Goodswell inquires.

“No.” Conall answers without a pause. “It normally would take at least a week to grow back an arm her size.” He explains turning back to Goodswell. “Not to mention, it is very difficult to even cast a regeneration spell.” The ogre continues. “Plus, she most certainly did not cast it on herself.” He adds.

“And it definitely wasn’t a potion since we all would have had one.” Tuta speaks up finally letting go of my arm.

“Strange.” Goodswell rests his chin in his hand while looking at me. Tuta walks over to the other two. “Now as I said before.” The fighter says drawing his sword once more. “Explain.” Goodswell points the drawn blade at me.

“You won’t believe me.” I respond looking down at the ground below the blade pointed at me.

“Try us.” Conall replies.

No one says a word between us, the only sound is the rain still falling around us. The pseudo-silence between us is finally broken by me sighing. I look up at the trio before I speak.

“I have affinity with all elements and have very high potential with all of them as well.” I say choosing my wording very carefully.

“We already know that.” Goodswell replies hiding the anger in his voice but his eyes are filled with fury.

“This is because my body is made of pure magic.” I explain trying as hard as possible to keep as much unexplained as possible.

“Like a golem?” Conall asks.

“No.” Goodswell responds. “Golems are made of materials with high affinity but are never made out of pure magic. You’re thinking an elemental.” He continues.

“So you’re some kind of super elemental?” Tuta inquires putting her hands on her hips.

“I-” I begin before sighing in relief. It is not correct so maybe I can just leave it at that. “Yes.” I lie.

-- -- --

“Good job!” Nir exclaims with one of his signature bellowing laughs. “So you had to hunt a big cat, huh?” He continues with fake surprise. He definitely knows.

“Our mark was a giant bug.” Goodswell replies giving the master a glare.

“Where’d the cat come from then?” Nir inquires. As if you do not know!

Goodswell is about to speak once more but instead I speak up.

“Oh please Nir!” I interrupt before Goodswell can reply. “You know the cat was a complication for this test.” I exclaim letting out my anger. “You-” I continue before being cut off by phantom pain shooting through my entire new arm and hand. I fall to my knees from the pain.

“Are you alright Lydia!?” The master inquires grabbing my good arm. “You should see a medic.” He says lifting me into his arms. The phantom pain is overwhelming otherwise I would argue I do not need to be carried like when I was six. “You passed so just show your trophies to the guild master.” He instructs the others. Not waiting for a reply the master runs off to the infirmary.