The Forgotten Faithful: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 2) by Cajiao, Jez (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

so worn out… in the forest…” I muttered, and he reached down, taking my hand, and hauling me to my feet.

“My kind are able to live above and below the waters, it is true, but any heavy exertion requires that we rehydrate quickly. Without using the pool before we set off, I’d have collapsed on the run; now, I am merely tired. But you will keep that to yourself.”

“Okay,” I whispered, moving into a stretch, and he nodded to the congregating people out on the main balcony.

“When we train, I must push you, and push you hard,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder, “But just so that you have something to look forward to, tonight we will start to spar for real, now that I know more of your capabilities.”

“Fuck.” I whispered and grabbed his arm as he started to walk away.

“Here. If you’re going to do this, better to do it right, eh?” I said, pushing the book into his hands as I straightened up again. “I intended to give it to you last night, but with everything…” I shrugged and left him staring at the small volume as I walked over to the group slowly watching Barrett move over to intercept me.

“Hey, man, how’s it going?” I asked him, my heart finally getting back under control from its frantic hammering.

“Things are good, Jax,” he replied. “I spent time consulting with Flux and a few of his people, and we’ve come up with a training regimen. I just need you to approve it. To make it as quick and simple as it can be, the hunters and fighters will all attend morning classes here, given by Flux and those he designates. The first hour will be focused on a general fighting style that all people can use, mainly unarmed and daggers. Then the groups will split up; hunters will move to the ground floor and practice archery and tracking, with classes on skills like skinning and harvesting corpses. The fighters will be split into three groups: sword, spear, and axe. They will spend an hour on their chosen skill, and then train for an additional hour in their individual small units.”

“And after that?” I asked, and Barrett grinned.

“After that, one unit joins the hunters and patrols, getting to fight out there in the real world. The others get to spend the day split between helping to clear the floors and more fighting practice.”

“People will get sick of practice pretty quickly; how many small groups do we have?”

“Six now, but we’ve only the two healers still. Not sure how you want them allocated?” He asked, and I paused, considering. I glanced around and saw Ame standing off to one side of the group, watching me. I waved to her and we started walking over. “Who’s the other healer?” I asked, knowing that I knew, but…

“Ardbeg. The dwarf that you gave the ‘Lay on Hands’ spell to; he’s been using it whenever anyone gets so much as a cut or a sprain, but he’s…well, he’s trying, is what he is.”

“Explain,” I said curtly, and Barrett took a deep breath as he considered his next words.

“Ardbeg… well, he’s a good lad. He’s trying to be as helpful as he can be, but he’s a fucking coward as well. He wanted to learn to heal people because he thought it meant he could be in a nice, safe place, dealing with people who are sick, and he’ll always be valuable. He’s not going to be much use with the teams. He came running when we needed him back at the battle for the Tower, and he was trying to help, but he was also almost outta his mind with terror.”

Barrett said bluntly, and I gritted my teeth. I’d been in no state to pick who was given the spell, and Oracle had directed that it be ‘given to someone who wants to be a healer’ and from what I remembered of that day after the fight, he’d been pretty desperate to help people, so he’d gotten it.

“Just because he’s afraid doesn’t make him less useful; we’re always going to need extra healers here, after all. Plus, he did come to help when we called for it.” I said, trying to be as optimistic about it as I could, just as we reached Ame.

“Yes, and I take it you mean the dwarf?” she said, and I nodded shortly. “He tries. When I met him and realized how desperate he was to be a healer, I was confused as to your choice of teaching; now, it is clear. He will make the true healer an able assistant, however, and there is always a need for a healer here, as you say.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re taking it so well, as it means you’re going to get to increase your healing skills as well, Ame,” I said with a forced smile. “I’m going to need you to go out with the hunters and patrol groups, keeping them as safe as you can, and healing those that get injured. Can you do this?” I asked, and almost got my head taken off my shoulders when she replied.

“Go out with them? Of course I will be going out with them! What possible use would I be as a healer if I didn’t? What of those that would die before they are returned to the Tower? I must be there with them; I will need to be out, fighting alongside them!” I nodded, thankful that she wanted to do things that way, and chose not to reply to the comment about the usefulness of a healer that didn’t.

“What is the old fool doing now?” she asked, clearly looking past us towards Flux. He had the book in his hands; it was open, and as I watched, he clearly activated it.

The words on the pages seemed to catch fire, visible even from this distance, lifting from the pages, crisping, and fluttering, before turning into glowing ash that