Legend's Echo Chapter 11

There was something profoundly wrong about seeing her Foci attached to a weapon meant to cause harm.  It was supposed to be an instrument of healing, not pain!  Sure, Robin had accepted that she would need a weapon if she was going to fight Goblins tomorrow, but this… 

“Oh wow, you managed to increase the resonance!” Lia exclaimed, almost bouncing in place.  “As always, your skills impress!” 

Rather than scowl at the excited woman, Robin pushed a faint trickle of power through the Foci and nearly jumped when her magic answered the call smoother than ever before.  Her arm tingled from the rate that power surged forth, not quite painful but close enough to discomfort that Robin found herself worried. 

A low whistle drew Robin out of her reverie, finding Lia staring at the Foci appreciatively.  Tentatively, almost hesitant, Lia reached out, letting a single finger brush against the crystal affixed in the head of the newly minted spear.  Sparks flew between them, the resonant discordance searing Lia’s skin.  

She pulled back, lightly shaking her hand as she did.  Robin pulsed healing power through the woman without thought and her eyes widened at the raw efficiency.  She wasn’t using even half the mana for twice the effect, which shouldn’t have been possible without finding a whole new Foci of immense quality and spending at least a decade to bring their resonance in tune. 

“That’s an impressive improvement Carlson,” Robin said softly, still staring at the glimmering stone. 

“Family secret,” Carlson said.  Robin caught a bit of movement from Lia out of the corner of her eye, but was too preoccupied to pay attention.  “She’s about as in tune with you as it gets short of plunging her through a dragon’s heart with your own hand.” 

Robin’s eyes snapped up at that particular bit of information.  “That works?” 

“Yup!  The legends surrounding Foci draining the life from their enemies isn’t entirely without merit,” Lia enthusiastically explained.  “It’s usually unnoticed, because slaying even ten thousand Goblins won’t net much of anything, but slay one big bastard whose life is particularly seeped in magic?  It has an impact.” 

“But my Foci is attuned to healing,” Robin said, clutching her sta—spear close.  “She shouldn’t be steeped in blood.” 

Lia stepped forward, placing a hand on Robin’s shoulder as she smiled ever so softly.  “I don’t mean to be harsh, but how do you think a healer bonds with their Foci?  It isn’t just your magic that tempers them, it’s the mana of those injured that you’re helping.  Slaying beasts is just another path to the same effect.” 

The Foci shimmered in the light as Robin’s eyes widened through the explanation.  She didn’t want to believe it, but if Carlson’s firm nod was any indication, Lia was completely right about how they worked.  All that effort to preserve life, the bond she held with her foci, and it could have been strengthened further with bloodshed? 

“I hate it,” Robin muttered, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. 

She didn’t want to become another killer who chased after strength without regard for others.  That wasn’t the type of person she longed to be.  There was a reason she chose to become a healer when the option presented itself.  The path before her would see Robin transform into a killer, and that wasn’t who she was. 

Firm arms wrapped around her, stilling Robin’s frantic breath even as her heart hammered against her sternum.  The contact was unexpected and Robin couldn’t help but tense up as she was pulled close.  Nobody had hugged her since she left home, or at least, nobody that wasn’t currently attempting to get into her pants. 

The contrast between the two was refreshing.

“Small breaths, nice and slow,” Lia whispered.  “Keep working yourself up and you’ll hyperventilate.” 

Was she that worked up?  Robin forced herself to take measured breaths and the darkness slowly faced from the edges of her vision and the crushing weight eased away.  She hadn’t even noticed, but Lia had.  A moment passed and a bladder of water was pressed into her hand.  She took small sips, knowing she was worked up enough that gulping it would only make her sick. 

“Thanks,” Robin said, handing the canteen back to Lia.  “It just hit me that I’m going to have to kill, and not just out of self-defense.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a different path,” Lia said, offering a warm smile as she spoke.  “Killing monsters is no less honorable than healing others.”

Frustration bubbled up as Robin steeled herself.  Did Lia truly understand what was being asked of her?  “Doesn’t that imply that there’s people out there that kill others just to make their Foci stronger?” 

“It does,” Lia said, her expression darkening.  “It’s the monsters that feed innocent lives to their Foci that you have to watch out for, and I tend to kill those on sight.” 

Well good for her, but it didn’t help Robin’s current mental predicament.  She couldn’t reconcile the idea that she could still maintain her status as a healer without turning her back on her pledge to always care for her patients.  At some point she would be put in a situation where she had to kill people without due cause.  Bandit slaying quests were all too common among Adventurering missions.  She’d accompanied several early in her career as an auxiliary healer, and the bloodshed always put her off. 

“Then what’s to stop me from becoming just like them?” Robin demanded. 

“Intent,” Lia said firmly, her words were filled with conviction.  “If you go out seeking to slaughter for power, that will be reflected in your Foci.  It’s a bond shared, and what is reflected in one will be reflected in the other.  Should you continue to heal and protect, you will have nothing to fear.” 

Robin sniffed, wiping at her face with her sleeve.  “How can you be so certain?” 

Lia flashed a simple smile, her eyes full of compassion and understanding.  “It hasn’t corrupted me yet.” 

It was with tear filled eyes that Robin watched Lia pay the grizzled weaponsmith and head for the door.  What did she mean by that?  Was Lia also a healer that had chosen the path of violence?  Was that why The Legend seemed so sure that the path would be right for her?  He’d seen it work for Lia so he was certain it would work for her? 

Somehow that wasn’t as reassuring as she had hoped, but Lia had been nothing but supportive since she came to help.  Sure, she was doing it because The Legend had asked; not that Robin wasn’t appreciative.  The problem was that she kept expecting to work with the man directly, yet she was instead saddled with an intermediary that was far too enthusiastic in the mornings.

“She’s a good kid,” Carlson said.  A squeak escaped Robin’s lips as she spun, having forgotten that he was even there.  The man chuckled, taking the now empty box back in hand.  “I’ve known her since she was a sprout and I can firmly say that if you listen to her you’ll do alright for yerself.” 

“You know she’s only a few years older than me, right?” Robin said with a wet laugh. 

Carlson answered her with a chuckle.  “Aye, but that doesn’t stop her from spoutin’ wisdom, now does it?” 

“Fair enough,” Robin said, taking a moment to admire how her Foci seemed to shine in the lantern light.  “You’re certain that our bond won’t be broken over this?” 

“Only if you betray her first,” Carlson said.  “But something tells me you’ll do alright.  You’ve got a good heart, remind me a bunch of the kid when she was first taking up the spear.” 

Right, the spear…

“Does The Legend teach all his apprentices to use the spear?” 

Carlson blinked for a moment, then let out a deep belly laugh.  “Aye, something like that.  You should run along before Lia leaves you behind.  You’ll need to learn to use that thing proper-like before your little mission!” 

“Shit!  You’re right!” Robin almost cried, turning to leave the shop her hand was on the door when she abruptly spun and bowed low.  “Thank you again for everything!” 

“Ain’t no problem, now git before the little lady gets grumpy!” 

Robin bowed again, then hurried out the door, only to nearly run right into Lia who was waiting just outside.  The other woman grabbed her before the collision and spun, keeping them both upright as she did. 

“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Lia asked.

“Training!” Robin blurted.  Her eyes found Lia’s but only saw amusement looking back.  “My mission is tomorrow!  I need to get used to fighting with this thing!” 

“That you do!” Lia said with a smirk.  “Though from what The Legend saw, you’re not horrible with a spear, just a bit out of practice.” 

Heat blossomed on Robin’s cheeks as she looked away.  Had The Legend actually said that about her?  That her prowess with a spear were not horrible?  She wanted to squeal at the praise, but barely managed to keep her composure by the skin of her teeth.

Lia turned, giving Robin a chance to flap her free hand in excitement without embarrassing herself too much.

“There’s a training yard near the Guard barracks that I should be able to bribe someone to let us use for a few hours.  We’ll stop by there and see what you do and don’t remember and then do a few drills that will be useful for slaying goblins.” 

And just like that the reminder of what she would be doing crashed down upon her and Robin had to force herself to swallow.  She wouldn’t lose herself to violence, she would remain a healer at heart, even if it did mean she would embrace violence. 

She would trust in the words of her friend.