The Chimera Summoner – ch 22 – Atalanta Carmine

Ch 22–

Our final day in the dungeon saw us tearing through the candy cave biome like demons. Jennie's new dagger enhancement greatly increased her effectiveness. Each slash left a shadowy stain, instead of a traditional wound. The stains grew darker with each application until shadow eventually consumed her victims. It made her a terror to the huge golems that relied on their durability. Such things often stymied speed based attackers like Jennie. But now they were her ideal target.

We no longer needed to avoid the larger groups, instead simply taking the route through the winding tunnels and caverns that led us in a consistent direction. We were running low on time and needed to find an exit soon. The hardest groups, composed of two golems and four frogs, took the longest. After each of these we required a short break.

I secretly liked them the best, though, as these were the battles I had the most personal contribution. With more enemies to juggle, my teammates actually took some significant damage. But with my enhanced mana reserves, added to by the minor mana regeneration ring, I was able to keep them all on their feet through the fights and top them back up afterwards.

We killed more monsters on our last day than the previous two combined. Almost a dozen elites, in total.

With the storm of efficient combat, towards the late morning, I hit level five and by the evening I was Level six!

~~~~~~~~~~

Eir

Human

Lv 6 Chimera Summoner

Body: 6

Mind: 10 (+4)

Spirit: 14 (+8)

Attribute points: 12!

Skill points: 3!

Skills:

Familiar bond (2/2)

Chimera Assimilation (2/2) - Spectral waltz (lorna), Tempest strike (Lucy)

Paramore’s Mending (1)

~~~~~~~~~~

I immediately pushed my [Familiar Bond] skill up to third level, spending two of my skill points to do so. As expected, it opened up a slot for a new familiar!

The other one I saved, to upgrade [Chimera Assimilation] as soon as possible. I had learned my lesson on leaving that power on the table.

I could feel the potential of [Familiar bond] burning away inside me, but decided to hold off making the call for when I could get some privacy. It felt like a deeply special and personal experience, one that I was unwilling to share with anyone but my other familiars.

Jennie followed shortly and hit level six. The fights got a lot easier and I was left thinking we would have a good shot at a guardian on our next run.

I noted with satisfaction that I had passed her, and it was now she that was catching up to me in Level!

Lucy and I shared a secret smile. The hard work we had all been putting in was really starting to show results.

The monsters in this biome of the first floor were dumb, and didn't know to do things like target the healer. When we went deeper, that would change. But we had no intention of doing so on this run.

As the day came to a close, we finally found a huge chamber dominated by tall bronze doors. They were ornate, decorated with murals of the biome we’d traversed. Beyond them, a guardian waited. Defeating it would have granted us access to a second Biome, more difficult than this one. Pass three biomes, and a floorboss would let us go down to the second floor.

However, each guardian chamber had a dungeon exit as well.

Opposite the bronze doors, a smaller archway with a warbling portal yawned. Our way out.

“Well done everyone!” I felt pride and satisfaction blooming brightly in my chest.

It was mirrored in Lucy and Lorna. And I thought Jennie was still riding the high of her newly catalyzed skill. Not many people in our class would have found Catalysts this weekend, and of them even fewer would have found one appropriate for their classes. Jennie would have a meaningful leg up for a little while while we caught up.

And I’d leveled three times! I knew the leveling process would slow down substantially after these early levels. But I let myself coast on the high, anyways. It felt amazing to be making real strides toward my dreams of joining the Wayfinding elite.

Plus, I was that much more prepared for my next encounter with the followers of Eternity.

We returned through the portal and were greeted by an upperclassman who took our unused escape medallions, and signed them back in our names so that we would not be charged.

I was proud that we hadn't even come close to using them.

We went straight to the conveniently positioned loot buying stall, currently being run by a hot upperclassman with flame red hair and a soot stained face.

She bought our lesser mana crystals, the little rolls of frog leather, and our two water gems. All together, we'd earned eighty-six Bayloft tokens. An excellent haul!

Jennie insisted that I take the entire sum.

I tried to protest but she threatened to throw her half away and soak my pillow in ice water. So, I reluctantly put the bag of tokens in my pocket. The sell value of her catalyst exceeded our spoils, and buying that catalyst from the school would have been five or six times more than that. So I supposed it was kind of fair. And if it helped her feel better about it, it would be worth it.

I silently hoped that I would be the next one getting lucky.

Then snorted. I was getting lucky in some ways more than probably anyone else in the school.

Now that I had strong-armed Jennie into a date, I was actually really looking forward to it. Even if it might not be for months.

“Go get healed.” Jennie nudged.

I turned, confused. Jennie rolled her eyes and produced a small mirror from her pack.

I was covered in little scrapes and bruises that I hadn't even noticed. I pulled up my shirt and found that most of my body was the same.

“Yeah, you are the only one who didn't have a healer, doofus.” Jennie explained.

Ahhh!

I shuffled up to the healing station. Usually, some advanced students with healing Classes would be there, working on their skills and earning some extra tokens.

I stopped dead when I reached the booth and stared at the golden haired woman inside.

“You're Atalanta Carmine!” I said stupidly.

I felt like I was drifting out of my body.

“Yes, ma’am?” Carmine answered. “ Well hey there, sweetheart! Looks like you could use some healing! Want to come sit down? It's four tokens, if it's not an emergency.”

I swayed on my feet. Here was the woman I had idolized for years. A legendary healer.  One of the youngest first-ascension Wayfinders ever. She'd been out of school less than five years.

And now she's returned to her alma mater to teach.

She was exactly who I had wanted to be when I grew up.

Lucy crashed into my shoulder, concern radiating from her face.

“What's wrong?!” She cried, “Are you more hurt than we thought?! Poor Eir!! What do you need, baby?!”

I blushed so hard I thought I might black out.

“Oh my gods, help! You're a healer right?!” Lucy was now nearly holding me, as I wriggled to try and regain some dignity.

Atalanta moved in a blur. Before I knew it, I was cradled in her arms, a soft golden glow enveloped us. I felt a woosh of travel, but had no idea where to. I felt like I was laying by a fire, in the winter, with a cozy blanket.

“Don't move.” She said softly. “You'll be alright in a moment.”

My face squished into her boob, covered by her long golden mane of glossy blonde hair. I yelped and tried to move, but she held me more firmly.

“You're safe now.” She said, in the urgently soothing way that nurses and doctors sometimes had. “Just stay still a little longer, honey. It's ok.”

She smelled amazing. Some wild herb, and freshly chopped wood.

She smiled down at me. It was dazzling, and familiar. I'd seen her face a million times in newspapers, but seeing her in person was surreal. She belonged off somewhere in the glittering famous people world, getting awards. Not cradling me tenderly to herself, and murmuring soft reassurances.

I vaguely heard Lucy asking anxious questions and Carmine seemed to be answering them, but she never let her eyes stray from me.

I felt every ache and pain that I had been blocking out during our dungeon dive being wiped away like mist evaporating in the sun. I felt whole and full and vibrantly healthy. It was like every single cell was singing to be alive.

Atalanta smiled, and brushed a mess of hairs from my face.

“You're alright, sweetheart.” She said, “Ah! I see you're feeling a lot better already!”

She gave me an embarrassed smile and a meaningful little look downwards.