Illuminaria [LitRPG Fantasy Healer Adventure]

152 / 67 - Where I Want To Be

"There he is," Vexor declared as Joe stepped into the light of the [Halefire]. "We thought you had gotten lost out there. I was just about to send Ker to rescue you," the devilish sorcerer smirked.

"Nope, just ran into a friend. I have good news for you guys. I just saw Yuk. He is alive and heading back to the guild."

Happy exclamations and questions flooded Joe. He held up his hands, forestalling the verbal barrage. "I don't know much other than he was badly hurt and exhausted. I patched him up, so he was in no danger anymore, but was in desperate need of rest. He said he'd find me tomorrow. If I hear more before you guys do, I'll let you know." Joe settled down next to Kendell again. "So, has Hah'roo gotten to the part about the rope bridge?" he asked, recognizing the humorous story the galeling had been recounting. He had heard her tell it to the sailors aboard the TideDancer.

She had, and the wind-dancer picked up her tale again. By the end, she had them howling with laughter as the lecherous bandit got his just rewards. Earcellwen ended the stories with a full recounting of her coming to Yuk's aid against the dire corbies.

Taylyn had fallen asleep by the end. Kerrig picked her up, stating he and Vex would see her home. Hah'roo and Wen, who were quickly becoming fast friends, decided to see if they could find a tavern that was still open late. With knowing smiles, they invited Tezeno to join them, leaving Joe and Kenda alone together.

"You want to head indoors?" Joe asked, looking down toward Kendell, who was still leaning on his arm.

"Not really. If I do, I'll know I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a crazy day for the Coral Bay Glassworks. Cauldrakon blew out half the windows in Seaside. I'm going to be cutting and shaping glass all day. As long as I'm just here on the beach with you, I can ignore tomorrow. At least for a little while longer." She wriggled a bit to slouch against Joe's chest, keeping the happy shug monkey in her lap.

Joe wished he could dim the flames of the campfire, but he hadn't figured out how to do that yet. He did the next best thing and recast the spell to the side and a bit behind the three of them, allowing them to gaze out at the moonlit waters without having to look through the bright flames.

"Tomorrow, I have to run the west fields and spend some time getting to know Finn," Joe remarked.

"Are you still planning on stopping by Corran Loigen's and using your [Anyone] trait?" she asked, the character savant in her rising to the surface. After he hummed his ascent, she added, "Don't get blinded by attribute point gains, Joe. I mean, if there is a good trait with attributes, go for it, but some really underwhelming-looking traits can pay off in the long run. I knew one guy who passed up a signature skill trait for two points of dexterity, and you have seen how amazing your signature paw spell has become."

"Any suggestions on what I should look for?"

"I'd go with something that will help you interact with or empower your new companions. The earlier you get those, the better. Finn could be a huge combat asset, and this guy here is going to be with you for a long time," she said, running her hand down Mojo's side. "I can tell he's already boosted his Spirit to help him bond with you more deeply. I'll bet Finn did as well. Spirit is the most common attribute a new companion first improves. You should meet them halfway and try to gain some companion traits or take some skills that focus on them."

They bantered trait ideas around for a little longer, but without knowing what the old fey knight had, it was mostly just speculation. Over time, their conversation shifted to various other topics. Bits of their lives and their feelings about the others they both knew. They touched on both meaningless topics and significant ones. Joe learned Kendell's grandfather had passed away a little over a year ago, which had changed the dynamics in her family. It was her older brother, Sal, a true genius with glass, who had stepped up into her grandfather's place, reshaping how they all worked together.

Joe spoke about his past life. For the first time, he found himself speaking about an ember of anger that he had tucked away in his heart. His family had suffered and died a while back, and no one could save them. But now, with the magic he possessed, he could have. He knew there was no logic to the bitterness he had kept locked away, but at night it sometimes slipped out. It was just so completely unfair that he had the very power now that he had desperately needed back on Earth. He could have saved Keith, and Jon, and his parents.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

He felt guilty that he had this wonderful new life, and they hadn't gotten the same opportunity. Joe had asked Hawking if his family was here, but the entity had stated that only an infinitesimally small fraction of those who died on Earth are brought over to Illuminaria.

Kenda listened, letting Joe speak the words he hadn't been able to say out loud before now. When they ran out, she did the one thing she could and held him tight. Mojo, sensing the pain, shifted his affection from her to Joe as well. Joe let the hurt drain and hugged them both back.

They talked for another hour about all sorts of things. It was a 'getting to know you' ramble of shifting topics. After a while, he could tell she was running out of steam far faster than he was. Joe was a bit tired, but nothing like Kenda and Mojo. She had slid down so her head was using his thigh as a pillow. The dog-like changeling was curled up against her chest. Summoning a blanket from his dimbag, Joe was able to cover them both without moving or waking the now sleeping pair.

He should be more tired, but he wasn't. As Joe thought about it, he realized he had been sleeping less and less lately. He had never been an all-nighter kind of guy. After a long D&D game night, he was typically a zombie the next day.

Yet that had all changed with his body-based magics. He realized he was almost constantly burning a resource to touch up wellness. [Morphic Form] was perpetually optimizing his movements. [Crystal Mind] was doing the same for his thoughts. He instinctively cast [Healer's Touch] all throughout the day. [Efferous Endurance] as well. Without the drag of discomfort, tiredness, overworked mind or muscles, he just didn't get tired as easily as he used to. Or as easily as those around him. He still needed sleep and could overdo it, exhausting himself, but it was odd to realize that under normal circumstances, he likely had a few more hours in the day than most everyone else.

This constant repair also sustained him through the situation he was in at the moment. Joe had been sitting for a couple of hours with Mojo and Kenda on or against him, and he was not the tiniest bit sore. Normally, being trapped, unable to shift, while someone pressed on you was a recipe for aches and pains. Ripple had been awful to nap with, as for some reason during the day, the dog had insisted on sleeping on Joe's feets. Joe woke up practically crippled by leg cramps. Now there was no discomfort at all.

He watched the pair of them sleep under the blanket, looking both very cute and completely at peace. Joe reached down and slid a stray brown lock of hair off her beautiful cheek, tucking it behind her ear. He then gently rubbed his thumb over the spot between Mojo's brows. All the while, the shushing waves slid into the shore, filling the air with a lulling rhythm.

He lifted his eyes to the ocean tides as they marched towards the shore, and found that he was happier than he had ever been before. He had a place where he felt truly at home. He had friends. Above both of these, he had a purpose.

Joe had no idea what he had wanted to do with his life after college. He had gotten a BS in Applied Mathematics because he liked the puzzles that he saw in numbers, but that could have led him to any number of careers. He had wanted to travel or work for a bit before going back to school, but he had no vision of his future before his life on Earth had been derailed.

Now he did; he could see his life now and where it might go. He could take care of others in a way that no one had the power to do back on Earth. This was his calling, and he embraced it fully. He knew himself better after just one month here in this land of magic and adventure than he ever had in the mundane grind of the world he had left behind.

If only a tiny fraction of those who died on Earth crossed over, then Joe knew he had been one very lucky son-of-a-bitch.

'Thanks, man. Thank you so much!'

'I will find a way to pay you back, Hawking. I swear.'

'Then how about someone just to talk to. Someone to whom you are not just the One Above. Someone who sees you as a friend.'

He never did make it to bed. With a warm heart, Joe watched the sun rise over the waters of Coral Bay, still conversing with the ethereal entity.

He even managed to make the world's mind laugh.

Here ends Book 2. Stay tuned for Book 3: Spring Fall.