His new friend pulled his finger away and, carrying her body, jumped out the window to escape the place as it began to collapse.
Ebon, hanging helplessly due to the bindings, looked like a damsel in distress, but she didn't care. She was far too busy holding back tears.
"(Damn shitty cat… This wasn't part of the deal!)"
The elf didn't stop moving, leaping across the tree branches. However, they weren't alone. Men wearing black robes began chasing them.
"Damn thieves! Return the dagger! You have nowhere to run!"
The one shouting was the leader of the squad. He wore a white mask marked with lines resembling tears of blood.
"(That guy looks dangerous. He's definitely at least Rank C… I don't think we can win… Hell, maybe dying wouldn't be so bad if I won't even get to fu-)"
Her thought was cut short when the elf jumped off a cliff toward a raging river below.
"What the hell is wrong with you, you psycho?! I'm tied up, I can't swim!"
"I have a plan. Just trust me."
The elf pointed downward and uttered a word that sounded more like a whistle than actual speech.
{{Forest Invocation: Great Growth}}
Mid-fall, the elf activated a magic circle using only one hand. From a crack in the cliffside, a tree instantly grew, slowing their descent. With one final leap, they safely reached the riverbank.
The cultists arrived at the edge of the cliff, but the leader stopped them from attempting the same maneuver. Seconds later, the tree rapidly aged and collapsed into the river.
"Boss, what do we do now?"
"Relax. I'll handle it."
She saw the leader remove one of his gloves as a bluish magic seal formed on his palm. The river responded immediately, shaping itself into a tentacle that slowly began climbing the cliff.
The elf was catching his breath by the riverbank, but the moment he saw that, the break ended and they resumed their retreat.
"That masked one is a mage. In that case, we won't be able to run forever. Best option is to take them out. Tell me miss, do you know what abilities your new body has?"
"How would I know… Doesn't matter. I won't be able to achieve my dreams anyway…"
"What? Where did that burning will to live go?"
"It stayed back in your burned-down shack."
"Stop joking around and check your Papyrus already."
"You have a status window too?"
"Everyone in this world does. It's called a Papyrus. Stop talking like a Visitor and check your abilities, you bipolar miss."
"(Whatever… System, show me my Status.)"
[---------------------------------]
Below is the Status of your Piece:
Name: (Undefined)
Age: 21
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Role of the Piece: Support {+Healer}
Attributes:
- - Strength: Awful {F}
- - Magic: High {C}
- - Spirituality: Awful {F}
- - Intelligence: Average {D}
- - Endurance: Awful {F}
- - Vitality: High {C}
Traits:
- - (????): ??? {?}
- - Healer of the Helpless: High {C}
- - Visitor from Another World: Immeasurable {I}
- - (Undefined)
[---------------------------------]
"Nooo, this is the last thing I needed, what the hell!"
"What is it? Did they catch up already?"
"Something way worse… I'm a damn Healer! A walking bottle of Tylenol!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but this is perfect."
They stopped moving, and the elf sat her down on a tree branch to untie her bindings.
"Listen. I'm a Summoner Warrior. I can handle most of the cultists, but the masked one is another matter."
He placed his hand on the tree, and it responded to his magic. She felt the trunk twist until, from one side, a curved wooden sword formed.
"My strongest move is a double-edged blade. I'll end up badly injured, and I'm sure the masked one will too. That's where you come in."
"You heal yourself, then take care of the guy. Great plan, but there's one tiny flaw. I don't know how to cast spells!"
"What? Then what use are you to me? I'm starting to regret the contract."
"Oh screw you damn idiot. If you hadn't drawn that dagger, we wouldn't be in this mess. Those daggers have tracking magic."
"Seriously? And how was I supposed to know that? I'm not a cultist. Besides, my original plan didn't include keeping you alive in the first place."
There was no time to keep arguing. She could feel presences closing in. She assumed it was a natural Support ability to detect life.
The elf began infusing magic into the wood. It vibrated softly. At that moment, he looked at her.
"You're basically a child anyway. You'd better pray that everyone dies by my hands and we won't need your magic."
"What an inspiring speech. I feel so hopeful. At least teach me how to cast magic."
The elf was about to reply when a water orb grazed past his face.
"You're surrounded. We won't let you escape with a blank dagger. Return it intact, and I promise I won't torture you too much."
Without giving them more time, the presences closed in around the tree, keeping a wide distance.
The elf jumped down from the branch and landed gracefully. He adjusted the sword at his waist as if ready to draw at any moment, though it was still wood against iron blades.
"So a half-elf. Didn't think I'd see one in these lands. And with a wooden sword, that's new to me. Are you going to make us eat our vegetables with that little twig?"
Laughter erupted from the group.
"Of course not. I'll make you spill your guts."
The leader tilted his head and, with a gesture, ordered the attack. The entire squad charged the elf. The arrogant half-elf closed his eyes and once again spoke that whistling word in Elvish.
{{Forest Invocation: Guardian's Sword}}
In an instant, the sword emitted a soft glow. Its exterior transformed into leaves, revealing a true blade within.
Without wasting a second, the elf drew it with force, shattering the swords aimed at him. The cultists were left stunned just long enough for him to advance, slicing through their bodies. However, a black sword stopped his charge.
"I knew a long-ears wouldn't disappoint me. Come on, old man, show me your best strike."
The masked man also drew his bastard sword. The black blade radiated a curse.
The duel between the two began as the leader's allies fired arrows without restraint. Their coordination was flawless. The elf barely managed to dodge the projectiles while parrying the black blade.
"Surrender, old man. The Cult of Promises holds no grudges. We only want the thief. You don't have to defend her."
"What makes you think I'm not her accomplice? Can't an elf be a thief too?"
"Not one like you. After all, that dagger is only for contracts, and no one would bind their blood with an abomination."
The elf's face twisted in rage. Seeing the cultists advancing step by step, he made a reckless decision.
"Then let's see if you survive this abomination."
Once again, he spoke that whistling word and drove the sword into the ground. A magic circle devoured the terrain. At first it was small, but it grew until it became enormous, surrounding them all.
{{Forest Invocation: Sleeping Giant}}