Devil's tale

Devil's tale chapter 9

After the battle against the green devil, Jazz and the other villagers dragged the wounded back to the inn. Avarice, still conscious, managed to say. "Heal Emily first, she can-" He coughed up blood. "-she can heal the rest."

"Don't listen to him. He's just as good of a healer. Get him better first and then let him heal her." Jazz argued.

Avarice tried to protest, but then, the poison took his consciousness from him and his mind fell into darkness.

When the devil awoke again, he was looking at Emily's freckled face. Her skin was pale, her eyes were bloodshot, and her veins were a dark, sickly colour and clearly visible beneath her skin. A golden light was shining from her hands and from the holy symbol atop her staff.

"Hey..." Avarice tried to sound reassuring, despite his hoarse voice.

"Hi." Emily replied, smiling down at the devil.

"How's the rest?" Avarice asked.

"Still out, you're-" Emily coughed and covered her mouth with her hand. When she pulled it back, her palm was a dark red.

Avarice tried to sit up but he was still far too weak. All he could do was lie down as Emily continued to heal him. Her face betrayed stress. Clearly she was scared if she didn't heal Avarice soon, it would be too late to help anyone else. The minstrel managed to summon the last of his strength to whisper an angelic poem. His words were so quiet Emily had to lean down to hear them, but once she did, a gentle green light encircled her. Avarice had weakened her ability to grow tired. It wouldn't make her feel better, but she'd at least stay sharp while she worked. Avarice kept slipping in and out of consciousness for minutes on end while healing magic washed over him and slowly restored his health.

As soon as the minstrel had the strength back to stand, he sat up. Emily protested, telling him he still had to rest. Avarice ignored her and began to speak an incantation to heal her. She'd been using her magic for gods knew how long now, all while still being poisoned herself, he wasn't going to let that effort go to waste and let her succumb to the poison. What followed was several minutes of silent healing. Emily cast her magic on Robert, and Avarice used his magic to heal Emily.

While Robert was still unconscious, Emily asked. "Who do you think that was? The green devil, I mean."

"I don't know. Something tells me this isn't the last either of us will see of him, however. From what I could tell, he was a devil of the bloodline of Mordukein. His green skin and affinity for poison more than gave that away. Though that doesn't explain why he seemed afraid of fire. Maybe something to do with-" Avarice began muttering incoherently about the green devil and his theories surrounding him, thinking out loud about what his motives or past might be.

"Um, Avarice?" Emily asked.

"Yes? Oh! Sorry, did I drone on again?!" Avarice hastily apologised.

"No! I mean yes, but I didn't mind, but- um- That's not what I wanted to say." Emily looked at Robert, who's skin had regained some of its colour and who seemed to be on track to make a full recovery. The cleric avoided Avarice's eyes as she asked. "You're planning to leave, aren't you?"

"You could always try and arrest me again." Avarice joked.

Emily allowed herself a small giggle.

"Or would you just use my hair as an auto-warming pillow again?" Avarice asked.

Emily's face turned red as a beet. "W-what?!" She asked.

Avarice waved his hands apologetically. "Sorry! Sorry! That was uncalled for!"