Accidental Healer-Chapter 83 - Just a pebble

But what would happen when men like Jordan gained godlike power? Men who’s rise to glory would be lined with the bodies of the weak or less fortunate? Whole worlds–no. Whole galaxies would be held hostage. Devorah was proof.

My journey was just beginning. But my mind was made up.

Click.

Tranquility started to glow.

These cyclops embodied everything that I hated about Richard and Jordan. Power shouldn’t be used to control, it shouldn’t be used to oppress, and it definitely shouldn’t be sought out above all else.

Those with power should be the ones to give, to uplift those around them, to help instead of hinder, and to protect instead of enslave.

That’s the target I aimed for, the cyclops was just in the way.

Tranquility bled blue mist. The Cyclops’ eye began to glow a vibrant red and it held out its hand, a smile split his face. I ignored it completely.

Crack!

Something from behind me collided with dome of protection. It didn’t matter. Tranquility didn’t even slow as I swept low across the Cyclops thick legs.

The smile faded and two massive hands reached forward to collect me into a bear hug. I continued my swing. A massive bellow forced its way out of my enemy as his forearm and hand dropped to the ground with a clink and a thump spilling droplets of red across the tall grass.

I danced backwards dodging a wild swing from the remaining arm. It tried to follow, to step after me–the moment it did its eye grew wide.

First one then both legs came clean apart mid thigh armor and all.

The cyclops reached out desperately–all smugness gone.

Tranquility had become my tool of judgement.

Stolen story; please report.

It was faint, but I could feel the whispers. What was it?

Agreement, acceptance, gratitude?

There weren't any words. I just felt.

Tranquility was aware of its existence. It knew it was made to kill. There was no choice for it, but within me I could feel it embrace its identity.

Tranquility wanted–no–it needed to enact my judgement.

As the cyclops fell forward I gave Tranquility what she wanted. My sword flew and the first cyclops fell.

She?

[You have killed level 32 cyclops berserker]

Why had I suddenly thought “She”? It just felt right. My bond with Tranquility was growing and now she wanted more.

I looked up. The other cyclops thundered across the meadow.

Who was I to deny her?

***

Tom ran through the streets of his old faction, the pain of where Layton had slapped him still burned.

As much as the slap hurt, the pain of his sins burned even deeper.

Just hours ago Tom tried to assassinate a young boy. A boy who had done nothing but upset Jordans pride.

Of course–his attempt was laughably unsuccessful. Not only had Nick been prepared for the attack, he was excited for it.

The voice that had become Tom’s companion warned him that Layton and Nick, with those demonic black eyes, were more than they seemed.

Nick had completely turned the tides.

“Don’t move, don’t even breathe. You and I are going on a little walk.”

And they had. Tom was already close to breaking even before the knife was at his throat, but once it was. He crumbled. As they walked Tom told Nick everything.

They freed the captives and returned to town. Of course once they arrived, Jordan was already spinning his webs around Layton and his friends.

If only Layton was stronger.

“You know this is wrong. It’s not too late to change.”

He couldn’t let Layton take the blame. The thought of what people would think once they heard the truth terrified him. But he did it.

The shocked judgemental eyes felt like daggers ripping holes in the numbness where he found his respite.

Then Layton spoke and the world itself seemed to listen. Each word carried the weight of mountains, they demanded to be heard.

Tom listened to the judgement, watched Layton execute it and knew it was fair. Worse? It had cut him to his core.

All he could think was he had to hide his shame. Once the fighting started Tom dropped from the stage and hid.

Now here he was. At the edge of the town, guilt and shame mingled with terror as he watched Layton stand in the middle of a field toe to toe with a literal giant in thick metal armor and an army at its back.

He knew he should help. Layton was just a healer. Sure, he had killed Jordan, but he thought that was more due to his strange judgement skill. This would be different.

He wanted to help. He couldn’t. It was suicide. How could this young man stand in front of such odds, was he delusional?

No–he wasn’t delusional, he was just more of a man than Tom ever was. The shame burned in his chest but it wasn’t enough.

The giant lifted its visor and Tom could see from here the bright red eye. Blood drained from his face.

The cyclops spoke briefly–then without warning hurled his spear at Layton.

Somehow the young healer avoided the attack. The spear flew like a missile, began to glow red–and gradually it changed course directly at Layton’s exposed back.

Telepathy? With a smug grin the cyclops had completely outmaneuvered Layton, he wouldn’t even see it coming.

Do something! He wanted to move but his feet wouldn’t cooperate. Besides, what good would he be? In a moment Layton would be dead.

He couldn’t watch, he was about to turn away—

Crack!

The spear collided with an invisible wall.

Tom tried to rub the disbelief from his eyes. When had that sword begun to glow?

In a cloud of dust the young man erupted into motion–he looked like a child compared to the massive cyclops. He moved like lightning but the Cyclops was also quick for its size.

There was a spray of blood and—the cyclops toppled forward.

What?

A horde of giants charged, shaking the earth.

Layton stood tall, blue sword glowing at his side.

Tears flowed down Tom’s face. This is what Tom should’ve been. What he wanted to be. But he'd lost his way.

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Somehow it all went wrong. He was broken and alone. The voice—the one that always spoke the truth, had said something. Words that seemed etched in his mind.

Layton was a pebble before a crashing wave.

It wasn’t too late.