Azarinth Healer: Book One - A LitRPG Adventure, page 32
It all reminded her of something a samurai might wear, were it not for the difference in material… It seemed that the scales were there more to deflect blows than to absorb them. The bone, however, seemed very sturdy. At least to Ilea’s untrained eye.
Walking around the armor stand, she noticed that the backs of the legs were only partly covered by scales, with no bones to be seen. That was surely to allow better movement. What seemed to be a miniskirt of leather and scales hung behind and to the side of the armor, though it didn’t cover the front.
As Ilea looked at it a bit skeptically, Earl finally decided to wake from his smiling trance and hastily explained.
“It’ll protect your backside while not inhibiting any movement,” he said, and she just nodded.
She also noticed several places on the armor where pouches could be put or through which a belt could be slung.
The rest of the back was covered in nicely intertwined scales, with two rather big plates of bone covering the upper back. All in all, the materials had been very well used and left little room for the leather below to be seen.
Not a lot of weak points.
She also liked the hooks below where her neck would be. Most likely to fasten a hood, not unlike the one she wore at that very moment.
Earl didn’t miss her smile at that, which only made his even bigger.
“How’d ya like it, lass?”
She smiled back at him and again marveled at the armor.
[Drake Chest Piece – High Quality]
[Drake Waist Piece – High Quality]
[Drake Leg Armor – High Quality]
[Drake Boots – High Quality]
“I love it Earl. It’s beautiful.”
“Armor’s not supposed to be beautiful, it’s supposed to protect you. How’s your Strength looking?”
“Pretty high, and I can boost it. Why?” she said, touching the armor.
“It’s pretty heavy, all in all. With decent Strength, you’ll be more than fine though. The leg armor can be put on similar to pants. The boots and chest piece shouldn’t be a problem either. I’ll give you a couple minutes to change… or do you want to try it out later?”
She shook her head. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”
He unfastened the buckles on the waist piece miniskirt and then the ones connecting the leg piece to the chest piece for her, then disappeared to the front of the shop.
Ilea removed her backpack and leather armor and put it on the ground.
This is like Christmas!
She removed the leg piece from the stand and hugged it. Putting it on the ground next to her, she also removed her traveling clothes. Earl had supplied a new set with a different cloth that would cling better to the leather above. Ready to move on to the armor itself, Ilea got on the leg armor.
These really are like pants…
She easily slipped into them. The boots soon followed, and then the chest piece. It was a bit bulky compared to the previous pieces, but certainly no issue for her inhuman strength.
I mean, I am human, and this is normal here, isn’t it? Maybe unearthly strength?
With that thought, she turned around to look at herself in a piece of polished metal that was conveniently placed near the stand.
Well, ain’t that something…?
A smile spread across her lips.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Road Trip
The sight before her was certainly a lot more badass than she’d ever expected it to be.
I look like a cosplayer with this on though… and the miniskirt isn’t even on yet.
After calling for Earl, the man entered the workshop and whistled.
“Aw, I love it when the customers wear my crafts. And it fits really well, it seems. Wait, I’ll help you with the rest.”
He quickly approached her and fastened all the hidden buckles and straps while showing each of them to her and explaining what they all did. She would easily be able to do the legs and boots on her own. Fastening the chest piece to the leg piece was rather simple as well, albeit time-consuming.
The skirt was also simpler than expected. It laid around her waist almost like a large belt, held by several straps and even some metal hooks. At Earl’s suggestion, Ilea bought a used belt and some pouches from him.
He showed her how to fasten the belt around the skirt and how to add the pouches to it. Both laid half on top and half inside the scaly skirt.
“And we’re done. Move around a bit. How’s the weight? Comfort? Ease of movement?” he asked as he stepped a couple of meters away from her.
The full armor certainly weighed more than her previous clothes, but Ilea only noticed because she was focused on it. I won’t even feel like I’m wearing armor in ten minutes…
She started moving around. First carefully and gingerly, then faster and faster with punches and kicks in between.
This is incredible.
“The armor is amazing, Earl. Worth every coin. You mentioned something about a weapon… what do you think would fit me the most?” she asked, a grin spreading over her face.
After checking some of the inventory, Ilea and Earl together decided on a rather small but heavy steel mace. Considering her lack of training in weaponry yet high stats, it wouldn’t be too difficult to smash some things while not seeming completely incapable.
Ilea got her backpack and fastened the mace to her belt with the handle facing toward the ground. Looking down at herself, she felt very good. I’m like a real adventurer now. Although she felt the armor looked a bit too pristine at the moment. That would change with time, she was sure.
“Earl, this is really, really good work.” She put two gold coins on the counter. “Consider it a tip,” she said and bade him farewell.
“May it protect you on your journey!” he called after her as she left.
Ilea had told him to throw away or sell her old clothes and armor, but with her sphere, she noticed him pop them into a small box in his workshop for safekeeping.
It was almost time to meet the caravan at the southern gate so Ilea made her way there, not forgetting to buy food and drink for the journey. And for right that moment, as buying food and drink made her quite hungry.
She definitely received more curious looks because of her newly acquired armor, and some people even commented on how it looked unused. Most of them seemed to get out of her way though. No one wanted to anger an adventurer with an unidentifiable level – even if they could tell she was a healer.
Ilea arrived at the southern gate a bit early, and seeing as there was no caravan there yet, she decided at least to get a better view while waiting. She jumped up onto the roof of a nearby building, which seemed to be a postage company of some kind. The roof was two stories up, giving her a rather good view of the square and its many occupants.
Several stalls were set up nearby selling various goods. Adventurers would sporadically leave through the gate or come back from the wilderness. Some carried monsters and smiles on their faces, others had thousand-yard stares and gear that told a more grim story than any words could have.
The guards didn’t seem to mind her being up there too much. One of them tried to ask her to get down but wandered away after being ignored, ranting about not being paid enough for this shit.
Nearly half an hour had passed when some wagons and carts finally arrived. More and more pulled into the square as Ilea watched on while she ate something akin to chips.
There were nearly twenty carts with horses, drivers, and passengers. They all had their own trade markings that indicated different professions or merchant companies, while there were also some private individuals.
Eventually, a man in spiky black armor made his way to the front.
“Alright, everyone!” he shouted. The square immediately quieted down. “I’m Arven, assigned guard captain for the caravan to Salia. Cart owners, please join me so we can start organizing. Adventurers and guards will be needed after, I’ll call you later. I expect everyone to be ready to leave in two hours’ time!”
Some of the people left the carts and joined him as he started taking notes in a big notebook he was carrying. Ilea lay down on the roof and enjoyed the light warmth brought by the midday suns. A little nap won’t hurt…
Ilea was rudely awakened by Arven shouting again, calling the adventurers and guards over.
At least fifty people moved from their conversations – in other parts of the square, in shops or restaurants, or in their carts – to join the guard captain. Ilea noticed that at least one other person jumped down from a roof on the other side of the square.
Arven waited for all of them to join him in a semi-circle before addressing them. “Alright, as I said, I’m Arven. I’ll be in charge of you all for the duration of the journey.”
Ilea noticed that she couldn’t identify his level. The people around her were between level 50 and as high as level 93, which was the maximum level she could currently identify.
So gold level and higher adventurers only… There were all kinds of people with all kinds of different armor and robes. This feels like a cosplay convention… and I fit riiight in.
She smiled to herself. There was one woman with gleaming armor and harsh features that she felt was familiar somehow, but she couldn’t place her at the moment.
“Alright, now, everyone level 75 and above to me. The rest of you, please form groups of defenders, supporters, fighters, long-range, and healers.”
People started forming groups as around seven higher-leveled people joined Arven and started talking with him in a small huddle.
Ilea stood there for twenty seconds before finally finding two other people that had the [Healer] tag when identified. She joined them and introduced herself.
“Hey guys, I’m Ilea. Nice to meet you.”
The two others were a teenage girl whose highest class was level 23 and a robed man in his thirties who was level 47. The girl was dressed in simple work clothes, but they were immaculately clean, and she had a red ribbon tied into her hair. The man was wearing a dark green robe that had a strange texture to it, like moss. He carried a staff of gnarled wood that seemed to shift and move in his hand, as if it was still growing. He nodded to Ilea, and the girl said hello in a quiet voice.
Not a talkative bunch… I like it.
“You guys aren’t Gold level yet, how’d you get in?” she asked after a while. The man looked at her with a confused expression below his hood.
“You’re a healer as well, aren’t you?” he asked, which didn’t really answer her question.
Ilea recalled how she’d been treated in the Adventurer’s Guild and how the clerk had talked about healers. Seems there really aren’t a lot of us.
She grunted in understanding and started eating a piece of jerky she retrieved from one of her pouches. Naturally, she had filled all of them with different kinds of snacks.
“Mistress Healer, that’s some pretty nice armor… what’s it made of?” The girl next to her seemed to be in awe of her.
Oh boy, I already have a fangirl.
“It’s made from drake materials,” Ilea answered. So other people can’t identify my armor? Considering I don’t see any info on their gear, I guess that makes sense, she thought, looking at the leather armor the girl wore and the green robe the male healer had.
“Who are you guys?” she asked.
The girl was starting to answer when a clap from Arven shut her up.
Three of the seven people that had been in his leader’s huddle went to the biggest group of adventurers, the warriors. Nearly twenty caravan guards were in that group. The fifteen long-range specialists – who were made up of mages, archers, and the like – were joined by a woman who immediately caught Ilea’s attention. Her black hair and blue eyes that matched Ilea’s own were one thing, but what really caught her eye was the black robe she wore. It looked incredibly comfortable, maybe made of some kind of velvet?
I’ll have to ask where she got that robe from… My cloak is nice, but that looks almost as comfy as my poor departed bed.
They locked eyes for a second, and the woman nodded toward her. The five supporters were joined by a man dressed in furs, while Arven quickly joined the defenders, who numbered around fourteen.
After quickly talking to the defenders, he made his way toward Ilea and the other two healers.
“You three are the healers, hmm? The guild promised me experienced people. Guess I’ll have to take what I can get…”
He looked up and down Ilea’s armor while completely ignoring the other two.
“Is that new, or is this your first time out of the walls?” There was no hint of sarcasm or a mocking tone in his voice.
Professional, hmm, though still a bit of an asshole.
“I just got it today, been outside a couple times before.” She locked eyes with Arven, which seemed to convince him.
“Alright, you’ll be the healer in charge based on your level. You three will stay behind us defenders, divided along the caravan to cover its length. I’ll coordinate you, should the need arise. Your job is to stay back and deal with injured people. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Understood, sir!” Ilea saluted in an exaggerated manner, to which Arven just nodded.
“I’ll talk to the defender group then. You’re at the front,” he pointed to Ilea, “you’re in the middle,” he pointed to the girl, “and you’re at the back,” he pointed to the older male healer. “Just choose a cart and hop in. They’ll be happy to have a healer that close. Come to me if you have questions or concerns. And thank you for joining the guard.”
Arven nodded at them before leaving, seemingly showing more respect to them than to others she’d seen him interact with.
Guess being a healer has its good and bad sides – not that the bad ones apply to me – and that guy apparently lacks a humor organ. That or he’s a good actor. Nice armor though.
“I’m Chloe!” the girl next to Ilea said, interrupting her thoughts.
“Nice to meet you, Chloe.” Turning to the male healer, she asked, “Anything I should know? Or is it as simple as he said?”
The man just shrugged. “Name’s Sebastian. It’s pretty much that. We’re here for our healing, mostly, and of course any skill or class levels we pick up by being with the group and using our magic. I’ve seen Arven work before. He’s as capable as he looks.”
There was a moment’s silence. “I’ll check for a cart then, before the others start to disperse. I suggest you two do the same,” Sebastian suggested, and all of them started walking toward the carts.
“Ataniel will wait for you, trust me!” came a familiar zealous voice. Turning her head, Ilea saw the woman who had seemed familiar to her before, and hearing her talk made the gears in Ilea’s mind finally click.
She’s that crusader chick from the arena! Good on her for surviving the elves. I’ll get as far away as I can from her though. She did straight-up murder a guy…
The guards and travelers soon piled onto the carts, some of them also mounting horses to ride alongside the caravan. Ilea had chosen a merchant’s cart that was filled with boxes of goods. It also had a roof, which Ilea jumped onto to continue her nap from before.
The hours passed as she dozed. Occasionally she just lay there and listened to adventurers talk about monsters, women, and men. She was reading one of her new books when an armored guy joined her on the roof, having jumped from the cart behind hers. He had long, slightly messy hair and a hooked nose.
He said nothing but motioned to the other half of the roof – to which she just nodded. He nodded back and sat down, taking a notebook from his pack and a pencil to write or draw. Ilea smiled, and they continued to sketch and read quietly.
Evening came and went as the caravan formed a circle in a clearing in the forest. Cooking fires were made and maintained by mages inside the laager. Two people in the support group were bards, and they entertained everyone with their tunes.
Rangers were scouting the woods around them as fighters and defenders rotated the guard. Ilea enjoyed the view of the stars and didn’t sleep that night, savoring the quiet after a morning filled with talking. The armored guy had left her cart’s roof a couple of hours ago to set up his tent. He had bid her a good night and offered his name.
Roland. Hmm… She looked at the stars and smiled.
The night passed uneventfully. Some wolves and a shining elk monster were scared away by some of the mages, but the commotion was so small that barely anybody even woke up.
The days passed as the caravan traveled westward. The only healing Ilea got to do was to soothe burns from cooking or tend to small injuries of overexcited warriors who had hurt each other in mock battles. Luckily, the girl from the arena didn’t seem to be in the mood for killing.
Not that she’d leave more than a severed head behind…
As time went on, Ilea noticed that the road became progressively less well maintained, the land rougher, and the people less jolly. She had started to talk to Roland, who still joined her on her roof every day.
He told her that the farther they got from the city, the more dangerous the wilds became. Just a couple of days out and what kinds of monsters or other sources of danger might arise would become rather unpredictable.
The travelers still had their cooking fires and songs, but these became more and more subdued, which was only partly enforced by Arven.
All of that made perfect sense to Ilea. Especially when, six days into their travels, Ilea was abruptly woken up by the sound of a scream.
Her buffs flared to life as she got up from her sleeping position, hitting the naked Roland next to her lightly on the end of his cute nose.
She got her armor on in under a minute. She had become much better at fiddling with the different straps and buckles, especially after she had started to spend the nights with her newfound companion.
