Chương 113: Reforged

I wanted to relish the moment of victory, but first, there were matters to attend to. I had to hold my squad together. My relief faded, replaced by mild annoyance, then frustration. First, I turned to Sage's dresser and tossed her a sleeping gown from one of the top drawers. She hadn't changed out of her old clothes before her enhancement, and the slurry had dissolved them along with anything else. But I didn't want to be accused of anything inappropriate regarding a noblelady.

At the same time, Anchor elbowed Brawl and hissed, "No staring." Sage pulled the gown over her head, then wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

"I need a bath…" Most of the slurry had been absorbed into her. The useful stuff, I assumed. But the expulsions that leaked out her pores, the feathers' spines, the outside of the bones (that didn't include any marrow) and a few other chunks of debris that I didn't want to think about still lay at the bottom of the basin, and the stink didn't fade. Moreover, this was the first time I'd seen the extent of the damage to her legs. They were gone from the hip down, replaced entirely by branches.

Today, though, the branches were thicker, and wooden panels enclosed them, giving them a more human shape.

"You'll have to wait until tomorrow," I said coldly.

"The baths will be closed by now."

"Didn't think that one through too well…" Anchor muttered. I knelt beside the basin, where Sage sat, doing my best to breathe through my mouth to avoid the smell.

"You almost died."

"You don't know that," she countered. I huffed.

"No, I don't know that exactly. I suppose I can only guess. But had I not helped you move the maegen, I don't think it would've been good." She hung her head.

"So, look." I folded my fingers together, then glanced at Brawl and Anchor.

"Brawl was worried sick about you. Anchor didn't want to lose his team. I know we take risks. This is probably a lot coming from me, and yeah, I'm not one to talk about risks. But I want to make a deal with you guys. When we take a risk, we'll talk about it. We'll plan it. We'll make sure we do things the right way, instead of just flailing around and waiting to the last minute, then begging for help. You think we can arrange that?" Sage stayed silent. First, she hung her head, then glanced at the others.

Brawl First, then Anchor. Finally she said, "Yes. I agree. Dustbrains." Rolling my eyes, I said, "Then I promise as well. Anchor, Brawl?"

"That's better than what we got before," Anchor said.

"Agreed, Brother," Brawl added.

"I'd prefer that arrangement." I nodded.

"It's set, then. You have my word. Now…I hate to do this, but we have a bit of a mess to clean up here."

"Y—you don't have to…" Sage said.

"Yeah, I know we're finally starting to get through to you, but we do actually have to," I said.

"People are going to smell this. I mean, they probably are anyway, but we've gotta do what we can to mask it." At least, when it came to enhancing my Perception, I hadn't messed with my sense of smell at all. Not yet, at least.

"I prepared for this, too," Sage said.

"There's perfume, rags, and river water in the middle drawer of the dresser. If you three dispose of the reforging refuse, I will clean up in here as best I can."

"I don't know about you guys," Anchor said, "but I'd like to get some sleep tonight. Maybe we could pick up the pace a little bit?"

"Let's get going," I said.

"Sage, can you stand up?"

"It will take some experimentation," she said. Her wooden feet shifted side-to-side, uncoordinated.

"That's a task for tomorrow, then. Figuring out how much you can actually do. Until then, use Morph." We spent the next half hour sneaking in and out of the druids' quarters, carrying sealed buckets of what Sage had dubbed the 'reforging refuse' out to the fields, then burying them in the drainage ditches at the side of the jousting camp.

Technically, there were no rules about us staying up so late—we just didn't need to arouse suspicions within the druids' quarters, because I knew for a fact we weren't supposed to be in there, much less roaming around and sharing a room with Sage. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. On one of our trips outside the castle, when we dumped the waste in the drainage ditch, Brawl said, "Was it just me, Brothers, or was she in a far better mood after reforging?"

"She was definitely in a better mood," I said.

"Could just be a one-off, though."

"When you help her as much as you guys have, she'd better be nicer," Anchor said.

"I hope we get something out of it in return. Other than her just being nice."

"What about a really powerful healer for our squad?" I asked.

"We'll see next time she heals you." Anchor sighed.

"Well, if her mood's changed permanently, I'll be far more accepting of it. But you're right on that account—we'll see." When we returned, we found Sage and Morph working together to scrub the basin clean. The stench was fading, replaced by flowery perfume, and it was slightly more bearable to linger inside now.

"Let's call it for the night," I said.

"We've got plenty to do tomorrow. And Sage—I hope you have some excuses ready for why you did this without supervision, and with a powerful reforging." ~ ~ ~ The next morning, I woke up early and made sure to save enough time to bathe. After breakfast, we continued our training, but only a few minutes in, an older druid, marked by his green attire, his embroidered mantle, and his red-leaf armband, stormed over. He stopped in front of us and said, "Levi. I require your presence."

The rest of my training group stared at me. Yesman chuckled and shook his head, and Owl groaned, "What did he do this time?"

"This should be quick," I said. I followed the druid across the castle grounds. This was the first time I'd actually met Sage's instructor, and it wasn't the most pleasant occasion, but hey, maybe this was a chance to learn something. We circled the outer ring, passed a shaded tree, where the druid trainees sat, practicing their Arts. The head of the druids led me around the ring a little farther, until we were out of earshot of the regular druids, and to a small alcove in the wall where Sage sat.

Morph turned into a walking stool, as was his usual form within the castle walls.

"Sergeant Levi, your squad's druid claims to have enhanced herself and reforged her body with a Gold-tier slurry. What do you know about this?" the druid asked.

"Wait, wait, sorry," I said.

"Before we get started, can I just get your name?"

"I am Master Thunric," he said.

"And I have been overseeing the training of your squad's druid. Her conduct as of late has been most improper. I wish to know what you were aware of regarding this."

"Did you assess her with your senses?" I asked.

"Or…whatever you Path-walkers do? Can you see if it worked?"

"Oh, it is a powerful body—it is a Gold-tier enhancement, which is nearly impossible. She is lucky to be alive. It's a Pillar-blessed miracle, in fact," he said.

"And she formed deep, arcane connections with her new legs. I don't suppose you had a hand in this?"

"I did it alone," Sage said.

"They didn't interfere. They didn't know. Don't blame the rest of my squad." My first instinct was to counter that. Was she trying to take credit for our help? But no, she was trying to get us out of trouble. Even then, I wanted to admit that I had a hand in it, because it didn't feel right to lie and let her do this alone, but she glanced at me with pleading eyes. She was going to take the punishment herself. Besides, it'd piss Anchor off so much if I admitted that all of us took part.

I simply said, "I knew nothing about it. Sir? Are you a Sir?"

"Just a master," Thunric said.

"I am no thegn." He shook his head.

"I wish to hear from one more member of your squad. Someone to vouch for her character. Is she worth keeping in the training program? Or shall I remove her? If this is her fault alone, there is a chance we can find you a new druid." I shook my head.

"I can find someone. Shall I go bring him?"

"Yes, please," Thunric said. A few minutes later, I returned with Brawl. It may not have been the best choice, because I knew Brawl wouldn't lie, but it was better him than Anchor.

"Is she a valuable addition to your squad?" Master Thunric asked Brawl.

"She is a very skilled healer," Brawl said. Silently, I begged Thunric not to ask anything about what happened last night.

"Would you prefer a different druid in your squad?" Thunric asked. Brawl glanced at Sage, then back at me. I didn't say anything, not wanting to skew the results. Then, finally, his gaze softened, and he said, "I would not want anyone else." I figured Brawl would say that. Exhaling with relief, I said, "Thunric, if this matter is settled, could we return to our training? We still have time until the joust begins, and I would like to get in as much training before any other distractions rear their heads."

Thunric nodded, then faced Sage again.

"Very well. You alone shall take the blame. In normal conditions, such reckless behaviour would see you removed from the training program, but I suspect the Drillmaster would not tolerate that, given our already lessened numbers." He paused.

"Besides, it is worth noting that you were successful, and you will continue being a powerful asset."

"What is her punishment?" Brawl asked.

"That is not fair—" I kicked his ankle, begging him to be quiet. He fell silent.

"For disobeying a direct command? She will be assigned two weeks of chores." Thunric shook his head.

"Consider yourself lucky, young lady. Next time, we won't spare you a harsher punishment." Sage said nothing. But before Thunric could leave, I asked him, "Will she be able to walk, now?"

"Given proper time and dedicated help, yes. It will take her months to build up the right strength and coordination again, but it is possible. Walking will also still be an immense strain on her Presence." I nodded.

"Will you help her learn—""We have more important matters to attend to. I leave it up to your squad." I sighed, then glanced at Sage, but before I could say anything, Brawl said, "I will do it. There is always time in the evenings. If she needs someone to help her get used to her legs, then so be it. I will do it."

"Then it's settled," Thunric said.

"Return to your training groups and get on with your day, and leave us to our business."