Book 2 Ch 25: Relaxed March

The next morning they all got their marching orders and they realized they would be separated. Michael had the smallest group, largely due to his experience with the rifts and his abilities as a healer. The largest group consisted of the twins and Trina, and would be taking on two of the rifts, and the second largest was with Lys who would be handling the one closest to them. Davi and Marcus were with Lys’s group to shore up their needs and provide the knowledge of rifts they had, and Ollie was with the Twins to do the same thing.

“Before we separate, I want to try something,” said Michael after they’d finished a quick simple breakfast of stew.

“I don’t know if I can stomach holding hands and praying,” said Marcus with a frown.

Michael chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be the only one praying. I got a new blessing that allows me to… bless others. I was able to give Francesca the equivalent of a small title.”

“I dunno. I’ve heard stories of priests giving people ‘blessings’. I’m not sure I feel that way about you, mate,” said Ollie with an eyebrow raised.

“Well, unfortunately for all of you I don’t want any of you to die so you’re just going to have to deal with it. Oh, and I’m going to be trying slightly different wording to see if that affects anything.”

Davi shrugged. “If you two are done joking about it,” he said to Marcus and Ollie, “I would like any benefit I can get. With the rifts we’ve seen so far, I don’t want to take any chances.” He stepped over to Michael.

Michael nodded, and held out his right hand, closing his eyes.

“Seras, please watch over Davi and grant him your protection. Bring him back safely.”

He felt something pass between himself and Davi and took a moment to divine him, finding that he had the same blessing of protection that he’d granted to Francesca.

“Ollie?’

He sighed and approached. “Just be gentle.”

Michael shook his head and held out his hand. “Nykas, please watch over Ollie and grant him the guile he needs to survive and come back to us as his usual laughing self.”

~ha~ha~

Ollie shook his head. “I really don’t like the disembodied laughter.”

“That’s probably why he makes sure you hear it.”

He divined Ollie, quickly finding what he was looking for.

Blessing of Nykas

Grants:

Minor Reaction

“Interesting. I can differentiate the blessing based on the god.”

“So you chose to bless me with the one that creeps me out.”

“Yes,” said Michael simply as he moved on to Marcus, granting him the same blessing as he had Ollie since they agreed it would be more beneficial for him than the blessing of Seras.

He moved on to Pyotr, but when he finished, he didn’t feel any changes this time. He frowned and tried again, focusing. He felt intuitively like he could pull the divine back to himself from the three blessed in front of him, as well as to those were a far distance from him.

“Guess my limit is five. Sorry, Pyotr.”

Pyotr shrugged. “I’m already the most blessed brother, I’m travelling with you.”

“How sweet,” said Marcus mockingly.

“It’s genuine. Who else could heal me if I get skewered by some monster’s horn?”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Shit, that’s a good point.”

…

Michael and Pyotr walked together at the rear of their group. The road had gotten worse as they’d moved further south towards the lake of beasts, but it was still better than the large stretches of empty country they’d travelled through while they were fleeing through Svict. They had been sent to the rift that was the furthest West and nearest to the coast of the lake. There had been reports from several of the villages about the rift and a number of disappearances and sightings of horned men had been reported as well. Michael wondered if this rift opened to the same place as the first one he’d closed. If that was the case it was likely already too late for those that had been taken so far.

They were travelling with an aelven scout named Syl, Clara the human mage they’d met when they’d first entered the city Gemini had been staying in, a taker warrior named Suraj who was leading the mission, and a handful of others he hadn’t learned the names of yet. Most seemed to favor spears or halberds, but a few had more unique weapons.

Pyotr yawned a bit, shaking his head as if trying to force the tiredness out of his head.