(Altyzurian's Forest)
After a long time I was knocked out, I had no idea what had been happening. I was enjoying the moment to take some rest but my heart felt uneasy.
My consciousness was blurry, and I suddenly felt someone shaking my body. Then, I heard Elijah's voice.
"Brother! Wake up!"
I felt sleepy and thought I was in my room. I murmured to him, "Eli, not now. Go play by yourself." I was daydreaming.
"Brother! There are many scary cats looking at us! They look hungry."
I was shocked to hear that and immediately snapped out of my daydream. I just wanted to rest, still fatigued from using magic earlier. "Argh! Damn it. Another upon another."
My body ached, especially my back. I thought I might have some broken bones. Damn it. I still don't know how to use healing magic. I looked ahead and saw a dangerous-looking animal. Despite the pain, I needed to handle this first. I looked at the pack of Sphynx cats in their attack stance.
"Eli, get behind me!" I pulled him behind me and pointed my hand at the cats, assuming a defensive position.
When the cats started to move, I shot my wind magic, hitting several of them. My magic wasn't strong enough to knock them out, but it did hurt them. I targeted their vital parts. My head moved left and right, tracking one cat in particular. Fortunately, I had inherited my father's ability to read my opponent's movements. My eyes darted around, tracking their swift movements among the trees.
Suddenly, a particularly fast one appeared. "This must be their leader" I thought. I decided to take it down. I shot again and again, but kept missing. As it leaped toward me with its sharp claws extended, I shot a branch, which fell onto it. The cat struggled, and I shot its head until it passed out. The rest of the pack fled in fear.
I fell to the ground, exhausted. "Huh. Huh… panting."
I felt relieved that we are safe now. "Elijah, we are okay now" I turned around and saw Elijah was heading somewhere else. "Elijah!"
"Brother, wait here. I will get you something to drink," Elijah said. He grabbed the bottle from my bag and ran off somewhere. I heard a river stream nearby, and noticed there was a small stream that I could see not far from us. But it was still dangerous for him to go alone.
"Elijah, no! It's dangerous… sighed. Just be careful out there!"
He ignored me. I knew he was trying to fetch water for me, but I couldn't chase him because my legs hurt. The fight with the Sphynx cats had drained my magic and energy. I tried to get up but couldn't move. The pain from my fall off the cliff resurfaced.
I look at the cat and have an idea to use my healing magic on it. I want to do a practical healing magic on him first. I could try to practice my healing magic on it.
Suddenly, I heard a snapping twig from the bush. I feared another monster but was relieved when Elijah emerged, smiling and holding a bottle filled with clean water.
"Brother! I got the water. It's also cold."
I smiled at him, relieved he was safe. "Are you okay?"
"I'm totally fine. I ran to get this and immediately came back, so you wouldn't worry." He assured me with a smile.
"Thank you, Eli." I patted his head.
"Now, have some, brother." He handed me the bottle.
"Sure." I opened the bottle cap and poured some on the grass to test it. Seeing that the grass didn't wither, I drank some and gave the rest to Elijah. I also saved some for later.
"Eli, don't go far away again. Give me some time to rest please." I reminded him.
"Okay brother" he replied shortly and didn't bother to turn around to look at me.
I look at him touching the cat body in front of me using a stick.
I remember back about my thoughts earlier, "maybe I should try to heal this cat again". I put out my hand and try to focus flowing out my mana into this creature. I should practice closing this cat's wound. Maybe after I confirmed my skill, I could heal my injury next.
For several minutes, I am getting sweaty all over my body. I try to look at my progress, and it is not working. Maybe my mana is not enough to do it or I'm doing it wrong.
"Let's try again! This time, I can do it". I don't close my eyes and look at the cat's body. This clear vision might help it work.
After that, my efforts paid off.
"Brother, look! The wound is closing. You did it!" Elijah jumped with joy. "You are amazing!"
The wound is fully closed and the cat looks healthy. Suddenly, the cat is able to move again, and I protect Elijah into my arms.
"What's wrong brother? Oh, the cat is moving. It came back to life! You must've brought it back to life."
"No, I'm not the one who brings it to life. Maybe my magic attack is not fatal" I take a step back with Elijah.
The cat stared at me.
"It seems like the cat wants to thank you, brother." His innocence thought it became nice just because I healed his wound.
While we are talking, I also try to use the healing magic to myself after confirming it is effective.
"No Eli. It's impossible. Let's get away from here." I told him while pulling his hand away.
"What about that cat?" Elijah asked with concern.
"It is fine as long as it does not attack us." We walked away and continued our journey.
I already teach it a lesson. It would be stupid if the cat tried to attack us again when the other already left it alone. I know that I have won once. Later I won't save it again if it attacks us again. I move slowly with one leg hurt. Elijah felt sad at the cat.
"Let's head to the river first" I asked him to bring me to the river, so I can catch some food for our dinner. Together, we walked along the small stream that would lead us to the river.