Chapter 314 Capital Checkup

Chapter 314 Capital Checkup

They walked down a hallway, and found High Priest George, as well as a number of other injured clerics sitting around a radio, listening to a broadcast of the Capital's latest Idol singer, an Ascended Rank, bard Class Elite known only as Su.

She sang in an upbeat pop rock style, and the clerics were enthralled, even through the radio. In person, the Bards could draw the whole crowd in with their magic, and she had an astonishing voice that was helping the wounded recover, if their smiles were anything to go by.

Karl smiled at George and patted him on the shoulder as they passed, and the High Priest smiled back from his wheelchair. He had loose hospital issue pyjama pants on, but it would be some time for his legs to grow back.

As they walked, the group members were taken away one by one, escorted into various rooms. Most of them would be in and out quickly enough, but Karl knew that he would be there for at least a few days while they sorted out whatever was still going on with his head.

Eventually, Doug was the last one with him, and Doctor Xander turned him by the shoulders, into an examination room while two aging High Priests in the white robes of the main faith under their coats escorted Karl into the room across the hall.

"Alright, we will start with the physical injuries, and then we will ask you a few questions about your time in battle. It can do strange things to people, and it's as much for our peace of mind as your own.

Keeping things bottled up isn't healthy, after all. Now, this is going to feel bright, but it's actually in your head and not a physical light." The doctor explained.

He wasn't joking, it was like the whole world went Gold, but underneath the light, he could sense something paying attention to him.

[I told you that Mental Fortitude was an important skill, didn't I?] The voice asked.

[I can't argue with that. At this point I feel like I should be freaking out and breaking down. In fact, it doesn't make sense that I'm not. But like, it's in the back of my head, you know?] Karl replied, used to the sensation of mental communication from interacting with the beasts.

Karl sensed multiple sources of amusement, and then the sensation faded with one last bit of wisdom.

[Even the smallest beast knows when to run and when to fight. Don't forget that.]

The light faded not long after the voice did, and Karl opened his eyes again. He was staring at two very concerned doctors, but he didn't recall any pain or anything other than the voice and the light.

Being behind enemy lines was partially our choice. We wanted to be away from the main lines, where we could start fights on our own terms, not wait for the Frost Giants to charge and then respond.

But when the lines were pulled back the first time, we were guarding a spot along the border. We would have had to go through the enemy lines to get back to our side, but as I mentioned, we didn't really want to be involved in that shit show anyhow. So, we set up a nice den in a cave, and went out daily to hunt the Frost Giants and their allies."

"A den?" The doctor asked, taking notes.

"That's really the best way to describe it. We didn't make physical upgrades to the caves we stayed in to call it a fort, we just had Rae, my Bloodbath Spider, create hammocks, a proper door, and such. Then the Clerics added the residential touches, setting up proper tables with nature magic, while I used Fire Magic to keep the caves warm.

All in all, it wasn't all that bad. Do you know how many nights I slept in the cold in the Lithium Mine village because we couldn't afford more coal for the stove than we needed for cooking? Having Fire Magic to keep a cave warm all night is pure luxury."

The Doctor gave him a gentle smile.

"Do you resent the Lithium Mines?"

Karl shook his head. "They suck, but the job of a miner will probably never be a good one. I have transferred money home for my parents, but I heard that the day I made Ascended they promoted Dad up out of the hole anyhow, so he's in the office and doing better."

"Any other siblings?"

Karl shook his head. "My mom wasn't big on children. She liked me, but she wasn't the sort that wanted to raise an entire football team on her own."

The priest chuckled. "It sounds like you know a few of those."

"There are always a few families like that in any town, right? I heard from some of the other students that the farms are way worse, as they need the extra hands, but more hands means they need even more help, which leads to more kids, until they have a small army on the farm." Karl laughed.

That made the cleric give an honest laugh. "I grew up on one of those farms. Tenth of what are now fourteen children, and most of my siblings already have at least five of their own. I showed an exceptional affinity to Holy Magic even as a small child, and when I managed to actually cast a healing spell at sixteen years old, they brought me to the church for training."

"Then you understand. Not everyone wants all the family. As the nature priests would say, some people relate better to the Warbear and her lone cub than the Earth Mouse and their litters."