Chapter 160 – Ending the Beasts

"Good, I'm surprised you were able to heal both legs completely like that. Every bone was broken," Oriphusa says. "You even caught the artery that was cut. Well done getting that side first so you can stop the bleeding. It seems you learn fast."

"Sure," I mumble. It's not like I barely know how to pronounce my letters or anything. Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm learning how to do this quickly.

"Well, I'm running out of monsters and mana. Just one left, and it should tell us if you can heal Sextia soon, at the end of the week, or if I may need to get it started," Oriphusa says. The maid brings over a small cage with a rat in it. "This isn't really a monster, but it works. It is missing the front leg and I've healed it over so it won't bleed. Your job is to cut the wound back and regrow the small leg. I only have the mana to show you how to cut the stub back and then remake it. So the rest will be up to you."

"Ok," I say. I don't know if I have the mana to do this. Healing uses so much more mana than sex. I won't run out of mana for at least two days with just my touch and aura going off. I think it's been just five hours, and I'm almost out.

Sure, it makes sense that healing takes a lot more than making people feel lust and joy. But the difference is a bit larger than I thought it would be.

"Alright, ready for me to start?" Oriphusa asks.

"Yes."

The rat squeaks in pain as the cut comes through. Blood starts pooling before the scab heals again.

"Just like that. You have to take enough off so you have a good, clean base to work with, but not too much. No point in wasting the mana. Especially right now when everyone is low," Oriphusa says.

I've never done any damage with my mana before. Just used it as a distraction once I guess.

I go through the standard motion and think about cutting the rat's leg just a tad. I feel a sharp razor run down my arm just before the leg gets chopped.

"Heal it," Oriphusa says. "Hurry, don't let your patient bleed out."

She can't command me, so I take a second to see if the razor cut me. But my arm looks fine, so I return to the ugly rodent. I start building out the bones, veins, muscles, tendons, nerves, and everything else our skin covers. Slowly, I build out the leg.

I make it to the paw? Hand? I don't know what they call the rat's stupid little foot thing. I guess this is why she had me rebuilding hands so much. These damn tiny ass bones. Sure I don't have to truly build them or know what they look like. But I have to keep focused on what comes next, and each time I finish, I have to change my focus just a bit.

I don't really have the mana to correctly get the skin or get the fur.

"I think that is the best I can do," I say. The rat's arm is furless and scarred. But it should work, I think.

Oriphusa just watches with me. Waiting to see if it will move.

Slowly, the rat starts to put weight on the new limb. Finding that it holds, it scurries to a corner, hoping to get away from the ones that keep cutting it.

"Hmm, good enough. You really didn't have the mana to completely finish it. This one would need a cast to keep it set right for a few weeks," the healer finally says. "Good enough for the first time remaking a limb. Now, would you like to kill the beasts or maybe for the house?"

"My Lady," Aurora says. "If I may."

"Yes, Aurora," I tell her.

"It would be best for the house to take them. We did pay for them," Aurora says. "We can see if Alzi or some of the maids should be the ones to kill them, but we can handle them, Lady Oriphusa. Thank you for today's lesson."

"Yes, thank you," I repeat. I don't know why this mana thing is so easy once you know what to do.

"You're welcome. It is nice to train someone with such a gift. Most healers don't learn when they have anywhere near the amount of mana you have, but I don't think a single one can pick up on this as quickly. I'll be back tomorrow to start going over what to do when you run out of mana," Oriphusa says. "The best healers need to be prepared for a fight that can wear out even your mana supplies, and I think you will grow to be among that crowd, Lady Alzi."

"Thanks," I say. Am I really good at something other than sex?

"Well, I've had enough of this screeching, so I'll take my leave," Oriphusa says.

"Goodbye," me and Aurora say as the Lamia and her maid leave the garden.

"Now that she brings it back up, they really are fucking annoying," I say to Aurora. "Can we leave?"

"You should kill them, my Lady," Aurora says, pulling out a sword. "The beasts are caged, tied down, and weak. You should be able to kill them quickly."

"Do I have to?" I ask. The blood is already pooled in most of the cages. How much worse will it get if I start killing them?

"Please, my Lady. It is best to take what you can on the path to strength," Aurora insists, thrusting the hilt towards me. "I can help you. We'll move the blade together."

"Do..."

"Please, my Lady. The amount of healing you've done today, and I know the maids have small injuries you can work on tomorrow after your lessons. You will get a healing class next," Aurora says, wrapping my hand around the metal. "Do this, and we will relax in a different garden for lunch. Just you and me. Then afterward, you can do what you wish."

"Sex?"

"If that is what my Lady wants."

"Children?"

"That is forbidden by Princess Elora, my Lady," Aurora says.

"Fine, I want to be alone in my room," I say.

"Very well, my Lady," Aurora says. "Please let me guide your body, my Lady, and do your best to remember where I strike. You shouldn't need to fight, but it is best to know how to finish a beast in case you need to."

She pulls me over to the screeching monkeys. Side by side, we push the thin blade through the bars and across the beast's neck. The howling turns into an eerie cough. Bubbles of blood push out as the beast struggles to breathe. Then, it comes to a stop.

Dead.

The second thing I've killed in my life.

"We have more to do, my Lady," Aurora says, pulling me to the next cage.

We go through the monkey-looking beasts one by one, each death as gruesome as the last. Their trapped bodies keep them from putting up a fight.

All they can do is yell and screech. The noise never ends and never gets quieter. The beasts just scream more. Begging for their lives, but Aurora won't let them keep it.

Not that I wish for them to live, either. They would have no regrets tearing me limb from limb. But I always thought others would do the killing.

"I don't know if I can continue," I cry out. "The noise and blood. I i i. It's too much."

"I know my Lady. Taking a life, even ones as vile as these, is hard. It will never be easy. But it is a need," Aurora comforts. "My Lady, these were captured in different attacks. Each was trying to kill your people. They don't scream for their life. They scream to take your and your loved ones' lives. They wish to kill us. They could've stayed in their forest and lived, but they came out looking for blood. Let them have their own instead. I'm here to help and support you, my Lady. You can do it."

"Ok," I say, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

The dogs come next. Their red fur almost hides the blood as it seeps from their neck and hearts. Aurora decided I should see more than just necks getting sliced, I guess.

She started getting bolder on where we stabbed. Hearts, necks, eyes, stomachs. Everywhere that would kill the beast somewhat quickly, she said. I should have a good list of places to strike in case some are blocked.

Not that I can carry a sword around anyway.

"Are we done?" I ask. The smell of blood fills the air. The more disgusting matter has made its presence known in the air. But I would prefer not to think about that. Just the slight thought has me gagging and terrible memories threatening to rise.

No, blood is enough for me.

"Yes, my Lady," Aurora says. "Another maid will come by to clean up. We can have a short walk to lose the scent and sight."

"Please," I say. The sword disappears into her ring, and she takes my arm, helping me out of the disgusting area. My ears still ring with the echoes of the monster's haunted screams.

"My Lady. You did well today," Aurora says. "You showed a very important noble your power. You proved you can be a healer. Like I said, tomorrow, you can heal people and take the next step on your journey to be a healer like you were meant to be all those years ago. After the week is through, we can help you set up a shop and get started healing people from the nearby cities. Your wives may take you on trips and you can heal those that you pass by on the road and in the towns you stay at."

"What about births?" I ask.

"I have a lead on Kelly," Aurora states with a smile. "Someone has set up a potion shop around the time she left the brothel. I didn't get the name of the owner, and she doesn't work there often. Doing a lot of house calls, but I think it is the women you are talking about. I will ask her about Alzi and have her write a letter to you. I hope to get you to a point where you can read some of it. But I will read it to you, and we can see if it is indeed the right woman. If it is, she will get an invite to come teach you about being a midwife, and we can see if Princess Elora will let her into the family."

"Thank you."

"I am here to serve the family and you, my Lady," Aurora says.

My maid, my ass.

Pregnant bitch.

"Is something wrong?"

"Are you going to be fine with eight kids?" I ask.

"If I have you, I will be fine, my Lady," Aurora says. "I trust that you can see me through this."

"And they will be my kids?"

"Yes, they are your kids—our kids, my Lady," Aurora assures me. "They will call you father, me mother, and Shyla sister. If you wish to breastfeed them, I will certainly welcome the help. If you wish to play with them, I would be glad. I hope you love them."

"I will," I say. "But they aren't my first kids. Mommy is carrying those."

"I am not fighting for first or second or third, my Lady. I just wish you love them and I'm happy to hear you will."