Faysal was exhausted, there were a bunch of different popup notifications, but he minimized them all for now, Happy needed his help. Faysal half crawled over to Happy, between his arm still feeling broken and using more magic in a short time than ever before, he had little control over his body but he needed to push just a bit longer. As he approached Happy the sight he saw was frightening. Happy’s face was almost unrecognizable after being smashed in from the club that the Troll had. There were other injuries, but it was hard for Faysal to focus in his current state. As he approached Happy he traced one of his lines and spoke with all the might he could muster, “Inelligo.” He was filled with information on Happy, focusing mostly on just medical issues. Broken and fractured bones, internal bleeding, physical trauma, Faysal was surprised he was even still breathing. Tracing a different line Faysal forced out, “Curatio.” Faysal wanted to see if his efforts had any effect, but his body had a different plan as he quickly fell into the world of darkness.
Faysal opened his eyes, sky was all he could see at first as he tried to move to get up and pain coursed through his body. “Owww!” He let out a cry of pain and suddenly Myra was by his side. “Fay! You’re awake!” As she rushed over she placed a cloth with warm water on his head. Faysal spoke with a weak voice, “What happened? Is Happy okay?” Myra tried to get Faysal to relax, “Don’t worry about that now Fay, you need to rest.” She tried rubbing his head but Faysal was persistent and started trying to get up. “There is no time to rest. We just escaped the dungeon, we have to still be close to the troll lair, I need to examine Happy, and myself, and we need to update the resistance on what has happened.” As he sat up and spoke so much he felt the pain but gritted his teeth and pushed through it. Myra spoke up again, “Yes Fay, and some things we are already tending to, but if you keep pushing without rest we will lose you, and the resistance needs you, I need you. Please just rest a bit longer and trust that I will care for things for the time being.” Faysal saw that she was being persistent and stopped fighting, laying back down.
Faysal was still tired but decided to finally look at all of the System messages that he has been ignoring.
Faysal was not sure what to think of the two messages but was shocked at how much experience he has gained from one fight. Sure they almost died but still… The rest of the changes that popped up in Faysal’s vision earlier were all on his character sheet, which he now opened, amazed at what he saw.
CHARACTER SHEET LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP!
I leveled up three times, upgraded a spell and an achievement and I received a new quest. I have made more progress in the last few hours than I have since I have received the System. Faysal thought to himself as he laid down, trying to relax. I think I need more Vitality and maybe strength and dexterity, I did not like feeling so useless when my spells failed in that fight. With that thought Faysal split the nine points he had to spend, bringing strength to eighteen, dexterity to seventeen and vitality to eighteen, with the last point he brought wisdom to thirtyfive. After looking over everything the pain started to fade a little but a headache started coming on so Faysal decided to close his eyes and try to sleep some more.
“I do not want to lay down! I want to see my family!” Faysal was woken up by Happy yelling loudly nearby. As Faysal sat up he felt like a brand new person. He looked around to see that he was now in a makeshift tent, Myra trying to convince Happy to lay back down, he still did not look that good. Paline and Jasper were nowhere to be seen. Faysal cleared his throat to draw attention before speaking, “Happy, would you mind if I took a look at your injuries before we went to see your family together?” He tried to remain calm but firm. Myra looked at Faysal like she was about to yell at him for being up but he simply raised a hand to stop her. Happy seemed to think for a moment before responding, “Okay, Fay can look me over, and then we go see My family.” With that Happy laid back down. Faysal went over and spoke again, “Happy, it will be easier if I put you to sleep to examine you, then as soon as you wake we can head out okay?” Happy nodded and Faysal traced the curved line and said the word, “Somnus.” Faysal and Myra watched as Happy fell asleep instantly.
For nearly an hour Faysal worked on examining and trying to heal Happy. He still had many broken bones and some internal complications. Eventually Faysal got to a point where he did all he could do and spoke to Myra who was assisting in getting cloth and other herbs they found while Faysal and Happy were resting. “He just needs rest now, but even if he insists on moving he shouldn’t be a danger to himself any longer. Now, could you fill me in on what I have missed?” Myra motioned for Faysal to follow her outside the tent, when they got outside she spoke. “After you put the last troll to sleep I took no time in ending the threat, but you and Happy were already passed out from pain and exhaustion. It took a while, but Jasper, Paline and I worked on moving the two of you away from the lair, in case more trolls came out. The two of you slept for over a whole day. Jasper and Paline have been gathering food, water, whatever they can find and returning it to camp, while I watched over you and Happy.” Faysal nodded in understanding, “Has there been any word from Ryse or the resistance?” Faysal asked to which Myra shook her head in reply. “Then we wait for Happy to finish resting and go see his Orc town, they may have supplies if nothing more. After that, we make our way back down the mountain. I think we should avoid Ryse, but we need to get a message to the resistance there. Then we head south.” Myra didn’t argue with him, she liked when he took charge and this was a sound plan.
Happy spelt for another few hours, during which time Paline and Jasper returned and Faysal filled them in on the plan. Everyone seemed in agreement, though Jasper was hesitant to visit an Orc village. When Happy finally woke they started packing the few things they had, Happy was cheerful, singing and dancing as he went along. Soon enough they were following the path up the mountain, following Happy’s lead with Faysal checking the map for details and any potential threats. As they reached what Faysal thought looked like the summit, Happy's tune changed to that of a kids song, “If you’re Happy and you know it clap your hands!” As he proceeded to clap a thunderous boom could be heard from all around. Slowly above the curve of the summit a horde of Orcs could be seen, welcoming Happy back to the village.
Happy rushed forward and gave one of the biggest Orcs in the front a hug, “Papa!” he said, receiving a hug in return. “Ah little Happino! You aren’t so little anymore. Why have you not come back to visit in all these years?” The large Orc responded questioningly. Faysal took a step forward and spoke, “I believe I can help answer that question.” All of the Orcs in the area got on the defensive, weapons drawn, pointed at Faysal as he approached. “NO!” Happy shouted, “Faysal saved Happy! He is not enemy!” Most of the Orcs seemed to calm down after hearing that. Happy’s father spoke up, “Faysal is it? I believe thanks are in order. There will be a feast in honor of my son returning and you taking care of him while he was away. Come! We will talk in my hut while the feast is prepared.
Faysal and the group walked up to the plateau at the summit to realize two things. First this little Orc village was not little, and secondly, this was not the summit, there was more mountain that stretched further into the clouds. They were led to a large hut made from what looked to be mud, rocks and some moss like material. Once inside everyone was offered a seat. Happy sat next to his dad and another Orc, while Faysal, Myra, Paline and Jasper sat across from them. The Orc was introduced as Feela, Happy’s mother, and Happy’s father introduced himself as Happino the first. They all took turns speaking, explaining what has happened over the past years, how they were all locked in the dungeon of Ryse, how all of them were unjustly thrown in there. Myra spoke up to explain how Happy was put in there with them just because he scared other people. Eventually, Happy blurted out about the resistance and how Faysal was like an adventurer, which drew the look of his parents.
“Are you an adventurer Faysal?” Feela asked plainly. Faysal shook his head in reply, “No, through the resistance I was made into one of our greatest assets, I was given an adventurer System to attempt to help our cause.” Feela nodded cautiously. The conversation continued and the group explained how they escaped the dungeon thanks to a monster lair forming between there and the mountain. When the Orcs heard that there was a troll lair nearby Happino the first immediately barked orders to send a patrol to make sure if any more show up they will be dealt with swiftly. Happy spoke up as their story started to come to an end, “I just returned, but Happy is going to join Faysal again. Happy wants to show the king of Ryse how scary Orc’s can be.” A low growl could be heard from Happy as he spoke. Happino looked at Feela with worry and determination in his eyes. “Perhaps we have hidden up here to long, after hearing what you have all been through and what they put my child through, your resistance will have the support of the Orcs of Sagitta. However, Faysal, that System of yours, if it gets out that you have it the resistance will find themselves the enemies of many adventurers, we will help keep your secret but make sure it stays just that, a secret. Now please, excuse us while we have a moment alone with our long lost son. Tonight we feast, and tomorrow we start preparing for war.
