Chapter 35 - Kidnapping

That’s right.The Anna before him was the one he knew, marked by her healing spells with side effects, which had always been her most significant label.

In his past life, he had even promised her that he would help her find a solution, but before he could accomplish this, he watched her get devoured by the Arcane Catastrophe right before his eyes, vanishing into endless nothingness.

This time, I will definitely find the root cause of what is missing in your spell.

Gaven resolved in his heart.

Ah!

Vick screamed in agony, waking up from his unconscious state.

Crack!

Crack!

Two sounds of bones snapping followed.

One was from the leg that Anna had just reset, which had broken again without a need to touch it to know.

The other sound came from Vick’s chest; his continuously hunched body miraculously straightened up—the congenital hunchback disease of the Goblin race had been cured.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mr.

Goblin, I didn’t mean to, I…

I…

I’ll dispel it right away…” The Maiden Priestess truly started crying this time, frantically searching through her backpack, clearly looking for a spell scroll of dispelling.

“No, no, don’t you see, your healing spell’s side effects aren’t just bad, there’s also a good side,” Gaven urgently stopped her, afraid that Anna’s dispelling spell would also dispel the beneficial effects, “Look, it’s better now.”

While speaking, Gaven had already adjusted the Goblin Sorcerer’s broken leg, helping him reset it, and poured a Healing Potion into his mouth.

The just awakened Goblin Sorcerer screamed again, his eyes rolling back as he fell into unconsciousness once more.

Even the toughest man couldn’t withstand such torment, let alone someone who was seriously injured.

“Really?

The side effects can be good?” Anna, drowning in her guilt, hadn’t noticed that Gaven’s bone-setting skills were even more adept than hers.

“Of course, look at his chest, have you ever seen a Goblin so upright?

You cured his racial hunchback disease,” Gaven pointed out, indicating Vick.

“It seems really true!” The Maiden Priestess stared with her round eyes, torn between crying and rejoicing, as it was the first time someone had recognized the positive aspect of her healing spells with side effects, even if only partially.

“Your case is special, and I’m not sure about it either, but I know of a super powerful Mage, have you ever heard of Irminster…”

“Irminster?

You know the Northern Legend, Irminster?” The pitch of the Maiden Priestess’s voice rose sharply.

“Sort of!” Gaven spoke vaguely, knowing that the old Mage Irminster was famous, but had no idea that his fame reached such levels, especially since the communication facilities in this world could not compare to those of Zhang You’s era.

But this worked out well, as it would ease his boasting.

“If we could get the Archmage Irminster to intervene, the issue with me would definitely be resolved easily.” Anna’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Can you really get him to help?”

“This…

I can try,” Gaven did not make any definite promises, “Just that Mr.

Irminster is currently in seclusion in Shadow Valley and wouldn’t likely make a trip just for your sake to the Verdant Wilderness…”

“We can go to Shadow Valley to find him!” The Maiden Priestess blurted out without thinking, then quickly realized and apologized profusely, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, how could I…

how could I be so selfish to have you travel all the way to Shadow Valley for my sake, especially since the journey is fraught with dangers…”

“Speaking of coincidence, we were just passing through here, and our destination happens to be Tivandun, which is just a stone’s throw away from the Valley.

If there’s time, I don’t mind accompanying you to Shadow Valley,” Gaven revealed when the time was right, “But are you able to travel far?

Would your parents and teachers allow it?”

“That’s true!” Gaven’s words poured a cold bucket of reality onto Anna’s heated brain, causing her to feel torn.

After all, she had never ventured so far from home, nor had she informed her parents.

Would they think she met with misfortune?

Should I go back and tell them?

But would they allow me to go to the valley?

The High Priest and the others don’t know when they will return, can the Adventurers wait that long?

If I miss this chance, will I ever find a solution in the future?

Gaven, standing by, suggested with a deep sigh, “If you’re afraid that leaving without notice will worry your parents, you can send a message through the caravan, informing them of your situation and decision.

I believe they will understand, no parents do not wish for their children’s well-being.”

This suggestion became the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

The Maiden Priestess showed a resolute expression and made the boldest decision of her life, “If Adventurer Sir doesn’t mind, I am willing to join your party and venture with you to Tivandun.

Although my healing spells have side effects, the healing potions I make do not have these flaws.

I promise I won’t be a burden to you.” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovᴇlFɪre.ɴet

“Having Miss Sacrificer accompany us will be our honor,” said Gaven, obviously not undermining himself at this moment, “Let’s formally introduce ourselves.

I am Gaven Nort, this here is Vick; we have not yet heard Miss Sacrificer’s name.”

“Anna, Anna Caben, pleased to meet you, Mr.

Gaven, Mr.

Vick,” Anna extended her fair little hand, symbolizing that she had been successfully enticed by Gaven.

“Let’s end the fight!” Gaven said to Vick, who had come to again.

Vick, who kept twisting and observing his different self, stopped moving, nodded, and began preparing his strongest attack spell — the Fireball Technique.

When the searing fireball shot out of Leomund’s Tiny Hut, it sealed the fate of the jackalweres and hyenas outside to become dead canines.

Except for that one jackalwere who had been paralyzed from the waist down due to Gaven breaking its spine and who was still howling and dragging itself on the ground, the rest were either obliterated by the fireball or fled in a sorry state back into the wilderness.

Even Leomund’s Tiny Hut was affected, flickering a few times before shattering on the spot.

“He’s yours!” Gaven pointed towards the jackalwere who, with a face full of terror, scrambled clumsily toward the distance and said to Anna.

“Really?” The expression on the Maiden Priestess’ face was not one of refusal but eagerness as she picked up her studded mace and small round shield.

This was another aspect of her that Gaven greatly admired; although she was a priestess of Ilmater, the God of Suffering, her kindness wasn’t overflowing.

At least, jackalweres — a creature of notorious repute — were not within the spectrum of her compassionate care.

“Do you still have any healing spells left?” Gaven asked.

The Maiden Priestess was somewhat puzzled, but she answered truthfully, “I have three uses of Healing Minor Injuries and four uses of Healing Minor Wounds left.”

“With such an excellent practice target, why not use it immediately?

What are you waiting for?” Gaven suggested.

“Oh!

Oh!

Oh!” Anna’s eyes lit up, instantly more spirited.

Perhaps because the target was a monster and thereby carried no psychological burden, the Maiden Priestess’ expression was no longer tense.

Her healing spells, one after the other, landed precisely on the jackalwere.

Ah!

Ao!

Ah!

Ao!

When the first healing spell hit, a flicker of incredulous joy appeared on the ugly dog face of the jackalwere, but the next moment, jubilation turned to horror as its chest began to bulge unbelievably.

The healing spell had just repaired its spine, only for it to realize that its arm had broken.

Another spell fixed the arm, but the spine broke again, seemingly worse than before.

The jackalwere felt like it was being tormented to madness.

By the time Anna had cast all her healing spells, it lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky with hollow eyes, completely devoid of the will to live, not even trying to dodge the heavy spiked mace that Anna brought down.

In its eyes, death had become a release.