Horses galloped through sparse trees on open plains. The squad had been traveling for 3 days now. Vinhal stood in the distance, on the edge of a sheer cliff above a river.

  Much closer to them though was a small fortified castle being attacked by kobolds. Soldiers ran along its walls and fought the invading kobolds. Spotting this Kane snapped the reins of his horse.

  The paladins sped through the plains like the wind. Upon arrival Kane spoke.

  "Alright fellas, let's go kill some kobolds! Don't let your guards down, I don't want to see any deaths here."

  The paladins rushed at the kobolds from behind. Up ahead Kaelon could see the carnage. He had never seen such a large scale battle. His face paled a little at the reality of what he had been naively looking forward to.

  It was then that Kane handed him the reins out of nowhere. He turned back to him with a smile.

  "You know how to ride now right? I gotta go now."

  Without even waiting for a reply Kane jumped off the running horse. He steadied himself on the ground before shooting at the kobolds. Kane shot througb the sky and landed in the middle of the horde.

  Kobolds were sent flying by the impact only to be cut apart the next second. Kane's sword moved with a speed Kaelon could barely see. Soldiers on the wall yelled in disbelief, to them Kane never even drew his sword.

  Kaelon had little time to gawk though. He was fastly approaching the horde of kobolds. He readied his sword and held the reins for dear life with the other hand.

  His horse crashed straight into a wounded kobold and trampled it. Kaelon could hear bones break under his horse's hooves. He swung his sword at any kobold within reach.

  Blood splattered in his path as the horse cut through the horde. He looked back whenever he got freed from constant combat. The other paladins were faring about as well as him, having cut through the horde. Kane on the other hand was dominating.

  Whenever he swung his sword kobolds fell. The area around him was quickly turning into a safe zone. Every kobold that dared to enter his attack radius was immediately cut down.

  Going through the horde Kaelon suffered a few injuries. Kobolds wildly swung their shabby bladds at him as he passed through. His chest burned hot and his breath shifted.

  Kaelon prepared to use his divinity in battle for the first time, gripping his sword tight. His mind flashed to the blessings bestowed on his sword. He had tried to replicate that effect with his own divinity during his travels but had little luck.

  This time though he felt his energy flow into the sword seemlessly. The blade began heating up in his hands, eventually turning red. His hands burned at the heat but he swung the blade anyway.

  As he kept going, his previous trail of blood became a trail of ash. Everything he cut was left with a nasty burn and charred bodies littered his path.

  Kaelon emerged out the other side of the horde bloodied and panting. Looking aroundhe took a second to catch his breath. Suddenly a crossbow bolt flew directly at him, striking a hap in his armor.

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  "Argh! Damn..."

  Kaelon wrapped his hand around the bolt sticking out from his side. He took a deep breath before snapping it off, leaving the head inside. Pain assaulted him but he endured and snapped the reins.

  Even wounded Kaelon cut through kobolds left and right. His side burned but his chest burned hotter, his eyes gleaming gold. The fight was almost over at this point, now it was a hunt.

  Elizabeth had told him during his lessons that monster waves have leaders. Kaelon hadn't seen any konold worth calling a leader. Stronger ones sure, but not enough to differentiate them.

  He strode up to the now free Kane and asked him.

  "Kane did you see the leader of the wave? Did you kill it already?"

  Kane turned to him with a smile.

  "Why do you think I jumped off the horse? That's the first guy I killed."

  Kaelon's eyes widened at his nonchalant words.

  "How did you even see him though? Do you have some detection technique you're holding out from me?"

  Kane laughed before patting his shoulder.

  "Nah man, that's just what happens once you get strong enough. You're not far from here it'll just take a couple more years."

  "I see..."

  Kaelon fell silent for a second and stepped away from Kane. This was his first time fighting a large scale battle. It had also been his first time fighting monsters. The whole thing really put his own level in perspective.

  He was not as strong as he thought himself to be. Just seeing his condition right now made that clear. A crossbow bolt was still in his side and scratches and blood littered his armor.

  Kane turned to him still smiling.

  "Still, for now you did good. Go over to castle and get treatment. They owe us that much for all the help."

  Kaelon turned back and nodded.

  "Alright then I'll get going."

  Kaelon mounted a horse before running at the gates. In a few minutes he was walking into the castle, soldiers hurrying to greet him.

  "Sir! Thank you! If it weren't for yourself and your party we would've been fighting for at least snother day."

  Kaelok nodded at the man speaking.

  "Don't worry about it. This is why we're here. Our sister temple called us in from Altium. That aside could anybody guide me to an infirmary?"

  The soldier who was first to greet him enthusiastically nodded.

  "Of scourse sir! Come right this way."

  Kaelon followed the soldier through a courtyard toward the main keep. The mens stares followed Kaelon as he walked. Kaelon paid them no mind and kept following behind ghe soldier. Eventualy they stopped in front of a tower at the edges of the keep.

  "This is our temporary infirmary, the real one wasn't big enough for all the wounded."

  Inside the tower people moved constantly. Healers and their apprentices had their hands full with the wounded. The soldier escorting him gurned back before reassuring him.

  "Don't worry sir, I'll go get a Healer for you. Just wait here."

  Kaelon didn't wait long before the man returned with a young woman in tow. Her eyes widened when she saw Kaelon, clearly surprised by his appearance. She quickly composed herself before introducing herself.

  "Hello sir, my name is Lisa. I'm the head apprentice here. Do you mind if I do your treatment? The masters ate busy with our high risk patients."

  Kaelon nodded at the young woman and said.

  "I don't mind Lisa. As long as you can fix me up well enough to ride out to Vinhal soon."

  With a practiced ease Lisa began treatement. Healers were special practitioners who used their essence and energy to mend wounds. They infused their actions with power that enhanced their results.

  This was first created by The Immortal, Vitalion. He was a mortal that refined his essence and formed a nascent divinity through medicine. It is said that two centuries ago he was a surgeon in an already erased kingdom.

  Since then he had spent his years studying medicine and taking in disciples. He spread his trachings through the world, creating the Healer profession.

  A half hour later Kaelon was covered with bandages and on his way. His body already felt better than before. Heading out of the infirmary he ran into Kane as he left main keep.

  "You look rough buddy."

  Kane said as he looked over Kaelon's body a laugh creeping up. Rolling his eyes Kaelon replied.

  "Yeah I'm getting there. A day or so and I should be good."

  Kane had an evil spark in his eye.

  "Healers really are something.... Too bad we don't have one stationed permanently at the temple. If we had one I could take your training a lot further."

  Kaelon shuddered at his musings. His training had been traumatic enough before. Even imagining what it would be like if they had a Healer readily available at all times scared him to his core.