One day, I’d like to turn my hand to something other than fighting. Perhaps learn a craft. I think I’d like to learn how to paint, but I won’t know until I try. At the moment, I have this book. I can write a lot of it in my head, because my memory is perfect. I wonder if that’s true of all familiars. I can write at any time and transcribe my thoughts to paper when I have the opportunity. I do not believe most writers enjoy this benefit.


    The Book of Lost Wisdom, Kalutu


    Nineteenth of Learning 1142


    I’m sure you have many.


    I don’t know, but it’s a game. Healers level by healing. By caring for others. Your sacrifice for Danny is one of the reasons you’ve earned my tether, but as I said, I know your heart. Games are games and don’t need reasons to be how they are. But in the real world, healers level by healing.


    You may have to at some point to defend yourself. Killing in self-defense is acceptable, but not if there is another way. However, mostly, a healer would be healing others, and they will be doing the killing.


    It’s more complicated than you make it out to be. When people fight on Thysandrika, they are often fighting to protect their families, or keep their people safe, but that’s not true of all people, of course. Healers heal, because healing means something to them. It’s like doctors on your world.  Will a doctor treat a person who murdered another person, if he was shot in the process?


    Healing is a way of life for my followers. We don’t judge, we heal. It’s not like you’re joining a team of brigands who don’t care who they hurt. If you were to join an adventuring team, it would be a team that’s trying to protect and defend. That would be a worthy use of your talents.


    Groups of people with different roles who explore the wild places of the world, and make them safe from monsters. People who protect and guard and sacrifice so that others can be safe. Joining such a team to heal them would be a noble pursuit.


    That’s probably true, yes.


    It’s not because the game is popular. It’s because the gods are real. The game gave us more power to tether souls here.


    It is a possibility but not a big one. I think most gods are aware of what would happen to their followers if people found out. This world is not Thysandrika. The public would not take kindly to people with strange powers worshiping strange gods. It is perhaps for the best that you do everything you can to keep your powers secret.


    Then do it in a way that makes it look like you’re doing something else.


    You can trust the chirkir. It spoke truly. The dungeon is where you need to be, at least according to Iorana, who knows more about the current situation than I do.


    No, Maynor. The gods of order have allied to defend humanity. We are all on the same side. And this is, for better or worse, Iorana’s show.


    Because she is the goddess of magic, and this matter falls under her jurisdiction. The gods have rules. This has been decided. No god will break the compact, for any reason.