Beginner's Luck: 36

When Gettar finally passed through the rift gateway, he let out a sigh of relief. The resonant energy that was inherent in the rift world could feel like a wet blanket, especially when compared to the diffuse energy that could be found on his home world. If his home world resonant energy was equated to the oxygen levels on the planet Earth, then the resonant energy levels of a rift world were like a hyperbaric chamber. His minor wounds had almost healed themselves in the walk back to the portal, his major wounds would require the care of healers.

Gettar willed energy into his mask and magically stored the enchanted harpoon he had earned in battle. The red emblem of a harpoon now splitting the mask down the middle, was a mark of honor for his kind. He hoped that his comrades would fare well without him, but he knew that he would've been a burden and a liability in the final fight.

Two healers came forward and began examining him with their different visions, one holding a glowing resonant stone and passing it over him, the other was intently examining the knife that was still jammed in the slit of his mask. He coughed lightly, knowing his lungs were filling with his blood, and the blind spot in his vision was permanent. The vision of each pair of Derboul eyes were linked to one another, so the loss of one eye meant that until his brain found a work around, he was blind in two of his six eyes. The pair of healers shepherded him to an altar not far from the portal and motioned for him to sit. Gettar took short, controlled breaths, and braced himself for the prognosis.

"The knife destroyed your eye warrior. I am sorry, but I am afraid it is beyond our ability to heal." This healer was an older female named Maraempha, she spoke in a stern but soothing tone. The other healer was her daughter and student, Dorasana, who came around and watched his eyes adjust to the light from the resonant stone. After Gettar winced from the light, she lowered it and gave him a sympathetic frown.

"Sorry warrior. But we will have to remove the knife and attempt to drain some of the fluid in your lungs before we use any healing stones." Both healers wore masks, and on the forehead of each was a ten-pointed star of green. The outline of Dorasana's star burned red for a moment, and beside her a kit with a long needle and tubing was summoned. Maraempha worked on removing Gettar's armor and then cleaned a site on his left ribs. Dorasana used her varying visions to find the precise location and then poured some of her resonant energy that surrounded her and to the precise location. Following the path of energy, the needle effortlessly pressed between the ribs and then began to drain the collecting blood. The blood ran down the tube and was stored magically inside a dimensional storage that every healer carried in their light armor. Inside the storage, the blood was filtered, cleaned, and separated into key components for later use. Maraempha watched with pride as the procedure was completed without issue. As Dorasana worked, the older healer then proceeded to mirror the procedure on Gettar's right lung.

Feeling slightly lightheaded, Gettar worked to steady himself. The last thing he wanted was to slump or faint from the pain and blood loss- especially if it caused further damage to himself. Slowly he tested out breathing slightly deeper and found it easier to breath and after a few minutes. His shattered ribs clicked and caused him to wince, telling him that he had pushed his inhalation too far. Not long later the healers nodded and began sealing the thoracentesis sites. Maraempha came up face to face with Gettar, peering into his mask and clicked her tongue.

"The human that did this was nasty; he twisted the blade after inserting it. I'll have to-" She was cut short by Gettar, who nearly barked at the older healer.

"Get it over with!"

Rather than wait, or object with the warrior- Maraempha simply acted. With a wet twist and visceral rip- the knife was out. Gettar felt the room spin again, as what must have been remnants of his eye fell down his face, behind his mask, down his cheek and with a wet splat, landed on the ground. He felt both healers steady him as he worked hard not to pass out. Once Gettar felt the room stop spinning, Maraempha produced an Emerald resonant shard, and had Gettar hold it.

"Step back Dorasana." The other healer stepped away just as Gettar crushed the stone and the healing energy washed over him. Within a few seconds the warrior felt his chest wounds seal, and his eye socket grew skin over the open wound. The pain disappeared and his breathing finally came back to normal. Gettar then was quickly wiped down and cleaned of any blood and grime that was readily apparent on his face and body.

"Remember daughter, if you are too close to a patient who is using the healing shard- you will accidentally steal some of the resonant energy meant for them. Also, when you are not in need of healing, the energy emitted can be addictive. So, don't develop a bad habit that morphs into a vice. Understood?" Maraempha waited for her daughter to acknowledge with a bow before turning to their patient.

"Thank you both for your skills and care." Gettar stood to his full height and bowed his head. The two healers returned the bow, then left without another word. A team of Initiates arrived and began to clean up the altar and prepare it to receive the next returning warriors. When they left, Gettar felt alone and lost. The silence of the Cathedral felt oppressive, Gettar had to close his eyes to fight the anxiety of leaving his comrades behind. The feeling threatened to become unmanagable as it was now building in his gut. A voice he recognized broke the silence.

"Initiate... Oh, forgive me, Warrior Gettar. What do you have to report?" It was First Class Steward Termas, and right beside him was Grantermas Mal the Solar Guardian. They must have come from a chamber room down the hall behind the Rift cube. Gettar bowed his head, and recounted his participation of the culling, and the wounds he had been dealt.

"It was wise of you to retreat when you did. I know you must be worried for your comrades, but by the sounds of it, you would've just gotten in their way in the final boss fight... You'll see, they will both emerge soon." It was Termas who had comforted him. Grantermas Mal was unreadable behind his mask. Gettar had been troubled by his experience in the rift and didn't know if he should ask a question now of his leaders before him. Grantermas Mal must've felt the hesitation coming from the young warrior, so he prompted Gettar.

"You seek understanding warrior. What is you wish to know?"

"Solar Guardian... I saw something in the fight with the humans that didn't make sense to me. I wanted to ask for any knowledge or insight you might have." Gettar asked it hesitantly, not wanting to seem ignorant or improper. The chance to be taught at the foot of a Solar Guardian was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and Gettar was not going to miss this chance.