I nodded and went back to work. Patrick’s chest was rising and falling, at least.
I hoped that Marissa and Sera were okay. I hadn’t had the chance to check. Presumably, if Vanniv got them outside, he could find a healer somewhere in the crowd. They were both wearing their regenerative equipment, too. I’d insisted on that much.
I poured more mana into the wound, watching with fascination as the severed pieces of bone began to unite.
I couldn’t hope to do anything about any internal damage he suffered. I didn’t know how to diagnose it.
Once the wound was shut, I stopped, and switched to casting a Lesser Regeneration spell. Hopefully that would work along with his equipment toward healing any internal injuries.
With that done, I began to slowly lift Patrick from the ground.
Cecily turned to help, and together, the two of us began to inch toward the door.
There was virtually no one left at this point. Almost everyone was either dead, unconscious, or had fled the chamber.
So, I wasn’t particularly surprised when Mizuchi landed right in front of the open doorway, just before we made it there.
Cecily and I wordlessly set Patrick down and turned to a sideways dueling stance.
We’d done this together before, as children.
Of course, we hadn’t been fighting the neigh-invulnerable child of a god beast back then. We’d just been training against a very different kind of monster.
Mizuchi kicked over a nearby table, looking from side to side. “You children really are persistent. I think you’re the last ones left, though.”
“I’ll surrender if you’ll spare the other two,” I offered.
Cecily actually kicked me when I said that.
“How very noble of you, but I’m afraid I’m not interested.” Mizuchi took a few steps forward. “A shame. I’ll remember you, at least. I remember the last one who used that sword against me, too.”
“Sorry, Cecily. I’ll try to keep her busy. Go—”
Then Mizuchi’s hand was around my neck, and she was lifting me off the ground. “I think not. There will be no more ‘holding me off’, no more stalling for time.”
Another voice came from right behind her. “You put that boy down this instant, young lady.”
I watched Mizuchi’s draconic features contort in confusion. Then she turned, dragging me by the throat.
Professor Vellum stood in the doorway to the room.
“You,” Mizuchi hissed.
She tossed me to the side like an unwanted child. I hit the wall hard. I think I might have broken something. Possibly my pride.
“Yes, yes. Me. Shall we have a bit of a chat?” Vellum clapped her hands together.
Mizuchi’s swing ripped through the air, tearing straight through Vellum.
Without resistance, since the image of Vellum just wobbled a bit and then raised an eyebrow. “Come now, Mizuchi. You should know better than to believe I’d just walk right over here and talk to you from a few feet away.”
“You are not supposed to be here.” Mizuchi turned her head from side to side, searching.
“I’m obviously not. I thought I’d made that clear. Do pay attention.”
Mizuchi hissed. “Then you will be unable to interfere with my meal.”
That was a good point, and one that sent me quickly scuttling back to my feet. I raised Selys-Lyann into a guard position and began to inch my way toward the door.
Cecily, however, was still on the other side of Mizuchi. With an unconscious Patrick that she couldn’t move on the floor next to her.
Resh.
Definitely going to have to do this the hard way.
I slashed in the air, projecting a shockwave of ice.
Mizuchi turned, looking mildly surprised, and raised a claw to block the attack.
I twitched my right hand.
The shockwave moved, shifting its path, and slammed Mizuchi in the face. Ice formed where it impacted, and she raised her hands to claw it away.
“Now! Run!” I yelled.
Cecily took one last look at Patrick, then turned and ran for the door.
I slashed at the air twice more, sending more shockwaves of ice to slow Mizuchi down before rushing for Patrick.
Mizuchi recovered too quickly. A wave of flame enveloped her body, pushing outward and clearing the frost.
She moved straight in between me and Patrick.
“I don’t believe I was done talking to you.” Vellum’s image said. “Perhaps this will get your attention?”
An explosion ripped through the air above us. The sudden noise and intensity naturally drew my gaze upward, and Mizuchi reacted in much the same way.
“Behold!” Vellum clapped her hands. Vibrant colors spread across the skies as another explosion occurred. “My power far eclipses your own.”
Mizuchi turned toward Vellum and hissed. “Really, old crone? You think I don’t know what fireworks are?”
I inched toward Patrick while Mizuchi was distracted. Any chance was better than no chance.
“No, no, dear. You’ve got it all wrong.” More fireworks exploded in the sky. Vellum pointed upward.
Mizuchi looked, shaking her head. “There’s nothing there. Just your parlor tricks.”
“That’s just the beauty of such tricks, my dear. They’re all about misdirection.”
Another Professor Vellum appeared right next to Mizuchi. “You were looking up when you should have been looking down.”
Mizuchi glanced down.
She was surrounded by a ring of runes.
“By my power, by divine power, by the power of the stars,” Vellum snapped her fingers. “I banish you from this place. Begone.”
The runes flashed.
Mizuchi vanished.
Then Professor Vellum smiled, clutched her chest, and collapsed to the ground.
Chapter XXI – Deep Wounds
I knelt next to Professor Vellum immediately.
“There is no possible reshing way I am going to let you die before you explain what just happened.”
I turned on my attunement.
Professor Vellum had no aura at all.
That was not a good sign.
I began the treatment process by panicking.
Then, I cast a Lesser Regeneration spell on her, like I had with Patrick.
It wouldn’t be harmful, but I didn’t know if it could help, either.
She didn’t move. Her chest didn’t seem to be rising and falling.
A moment of inspection told me that her heart wasn’t beating, either.
I didn’t know how to deal with that.
I wasn’t medically trained. I’d read a few pages on healing magic. It did not involve restarting hearts.
I screamed for help.
But nobody came.
After a few more moments of panic, I realized the anti-communication runes were on this specific room, not necessarily the entire house.
I rushed out the doorway.
“Necklace. Message Elora. Mizuchi is gone, need immediate medical help.”
Elora Theas appeared next to me a few seconds later, wobbling on her feet.
Sheridan appeared with her. “What happened? How badly are you hurt?”
“Not me. There are other people hurt in the ballroom.”
Sheridan pointed at my arm. “You are hurt.”
I looked to my left arm. Blood was seeping into my tunic from where Mizuchi’s claw had hit me. “I have a regeneration item on. I’m stable, we can deal with this later. For now, there are higher priorities. Professor Vellum’s heart stopped. And Patrick is pretty badly hurt, too.”