Accidental Healer-Chapter 80 - The weight of Judgement.

Children?

My hands began to shake. Jordan had proven himself a failure—a narcissist, a liar, a murderer. The worst kind of man.

But this?

“Children?”

The words tumbled out, husky barely a whisper. I didn’t want to believe it.

A hand rested on my arm.

“Layton?” Ellison’s voice was soft, concerned.

I looked at my friend. He met my eyes—his hand fell and he stepped away.

“How many of you knew about the children?”

My question carried all the weight of the accusation that it was. Jordan took a step back.

The two men nearest to Jordan shuffled uncomfortably. The other two nearest me cocked their heads, confused. That was all I needed to know.

Time for investigation was over. If I knew nothing else about Jordan this would be enough.

The dam broke. The slow current inside me surged into a flood.

My resistance faded and I allowed myself to be swept up.

A wind from somewhere far away swept low through the valley. It cascaded down the mountain peaks, rattling the pines, kicking up dust, whistling through the warped windows of the cabins they called home.

A feeling of anticipation forced all eyes to the stage, the breeze whispered of ancient truths and old power as it rolled through the people gathered.

Warden of Judgement waited impatiently for an answer as a vortex circled the platform.

I felt ready to give my answer, but before I did I made a request. At that moment, the world melted away.

In an instant I was somewhere else, suspended in the air. The wind had granted my request, it showed me a world where Jordan was allowed to live.

A small pond lay below me. The pond was fed by a small stream that bent and twisted through gently sloping hills feeding flowers of violet, pink and yellow. Birds chittered and chirped in the tree’s adding a delicate harmony to the soft rustle of water. Sunlight flickered and danced through the green canopy.

It took my breath away. Contentment radiated through me.

But why was the wind showing me this?

As if in answer to my question a small man appeared from the shadows behind a tree. He wore a simple black robe and black boots. His hood was up but it wasn’t enough to contain his long beak of a nose.

I glared at the little man as he stomped and plodded his way around the pond. He paid little heed to the flowers he trampled under his dark boots. I tried to tell him to be careful but my lips wouldn’t open.

Defeated, I watched the man carelessly make his way up the small stream to the crest of the hill where the water flooded out.

He paused at the top of the hill and pulled a black vial from his robe. I didn't like the look of the black liquid swirling inside.

With wrinkled hands the man pulled the stopper from top, looked about suspiciously and then poured the contents into the water.

Like a disease the liquid spread down the stream. Its darkness grew and spread, polluting the life giving water. Everywhere the darkness touched life shriveled and turned black.

Soon the entire vision was a black wasteland. I opened my eyes.

The message was clear. That was a world I would never let happen.

The vortex exploded with concussive force.

FWOOOM!

The blast rushed through the valley.

Jordan's eyes grew wide, he fell to one knee.

“I really wish it didn’t come to this.”

Jordan wasn’t really paying attention to me. He was prodding at his mouth trying to shove his fingers through his sealed lips.

“It won’t work, Jordan.”

Somehow I understood that his sealed lips and bent knee were a byproduct of my class. I knew that Jordan, and to some extent everyone present would be required to hear my judgement.

“I wasn’t lying when I told you my class.” I took a step forward. The wood of the stage creaked under my weight.

“I am a healer—or at least my class does give me spells that allow me to heal others.” Another step.

“But it’s not the whole truth.” I stopped only a few feet away from Jordan, his two cronies on either side of me, still as statues.

“The truth is, I don’t feel like I chose to be a healer. I’ve accepted it though" I towered over the kneeling man, he seemed so small.

"That class evolved though. It’s become something more. I’ve accepted that too.”

Jordan continued to wriggle and squirm. He tried to break free of the invisible shackles that bound him. It was no use. He was going to face his sentencing.

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“Now it’s your turn to accept some things.”

“First. You were tasked to lead these people. They needed you and instead of stepping up, you abused and controlled them for your own gain.”

I felt a part of my mind lock into place.

“Second. We came here as friends and you used manipulation and nefarious strategies to mislead and ensnare your rivals.”

Click, another lock closed.

“Third, you’ve abducted and murdered the people you should’ve been protecting.”

With each judgement I could feel another lock closing.

“Finally, you’ve abused those who needed your protection the most, destroying that sacred trust of the most innocent of us all.”

I saw fire rage behind Jordan’s eyes.

“These crimes were investigated and processed thoroughly before your punishment was determined.”

My eyes bore into Jordan's. His anger mingled with fear and resistance.

“For these crimes, and likely many more, I sentence you—”

“To death.”

Jordan's eyes widened. He tried with all his might to fight his invisible shackles. The best he could manage was a slight movement of his shoulders.

My attention turned to Jordan’s henchmen.

“Both of you have been judged equally. You willingly aided this man, assisting him in his crimes. Your punishment is the same as his.”

The current continued to flow. Warden of Judgment was done with me yet. I could still feel the pull. My thoughts went to the rest of the militia.

How many of them had helped Jordan control and essentially subjugate this faction? They were also guilty. But of what?

Most of them were probably ignorant, they likely hadn’t known Jordans role in the murders and abuse. Sure, they may have had their suspicions but the thing that they were most guilty of? Them and the rest of the faction?

Complacency.

That was the biggest issue. Many had stood idle while Jordan kept getting away with more and more. So what should I do?

The answer? Nothing. It wasn’t a crime to become a victim. There were already natural consequences, it wasn't my place to pile more onto this unfortunate faction. The militia however had ground to make up.

I knew that they would pay a price, but it wasn't the time. I would figure something else later. With my mind made up, there was another concussive blast of air that swept through town.

My class was finally satisfied.

Jordan, who had been held in place waiting for judgement, fell forward as his bindings were released.

Tranquility fell into my hand, fingers wrapped around the warm leather of the hilt.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Jordan spat, pushing himself from the ground. His rapier appeared in his outstretched hand.

“It doesn’t matter who I am. I’m not the one being Judged here.” I spoke quietly. The weight of my decision settled in.

There was a blur of movement from my left, one of the men I condemned to death.

He lunged forward and brought his sword down in an overhead arc.

In one fluid motion, I casually swatted his blade away with my left hand.

Shhuunnk.

Tranquility cut through leather, skin and bones like butter. Tranquility’s blue blade, now painted red, protruded from the man’s back.

He dropped, eyes wide, still not fully comprehending what just happened.

From behind me I heard a thump. I turned and prepared to defend myself. There was no attacker.

Just a corpse. Ellison stood over the man's body, his blade still dripped red drops onto the wooden stage.

My attention again fell onto Jordan. He hadn't moved. Locked in place from shock, face pale.

“Layton." He raised his hand defensively, eyes locked on the dripping blue steel. "Wait, everything I did was for my people. You can see that can’t you?”

In a twisted way, I could see how he had convinced himself that it was for others. Maybe he even believed his own lies. All I saw was the darkness spreading eating up the beautiful grove from vision.

“What I see is a diseased limb that needs to be removed.”

His face distorted into a sneer, his attention shifted to the gathered crowd for aid.

“Are you all really going to let this child do this? After everything I’ve done!?”

Silence.

No one dared breathe.

“Everything you’ve done?" After all that had happened, he clung to some misguided view of his actions.

"What you've done is exactly why this is happening to you.”

I raised tranquility. Jordan raised his rapier and without warning lunged for me–his sword whistled. With a sideswipe I parried the attack, Tranquility gliding down the length of Jordan’s rapier.

Magical steel met Jordan's cross-guard, bit through it, and didn’t stop. Most of Jordan's hand was sheared clean off.

He bellowed in agony as his sword thumped onto the stage. He looked at his severed hand and then back at me.

There was no fear in his eyes. Just fury. He charged.

I raised my foot, planted it on his chest and kicked.

Jordan launched into the air, and off the stage–the crowd parted as he dropped with a thud onto the dirt path in a heap.

People scrambled away as I dropped from the stage and walked towards the condemned man.

[WARNING]

A system notification forced itself into view. I blinked at the bold print.

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It wasn’t just me seeing this notification, there is a bustle of movement as people everywhere read the notification.

[Your world's introductory phase is complete.]

[All dungeons and anomalies that have been held locked will now be set free. Factions in the midst of raids will be expected to still complete the raids on schedule.]

[Each faction will now be assigned a score based on the strength and competence of its members. Your faction score will also determine the level of raids you may be subject to, up to a certain limit, this change is retroactive. Rewards increase based on a faction's score.]

[Territories will no longer be captured through raids but through conquering or diplomacy. This is the way of the universe. Good luck.]

My blood ran cold. I read the message. Then I read it again. This is what I had been waiting for.

I knew something was coming and here it was. It couldn't have come at a worse time.

“Layton, layton!” Jordan laid on his back and cradled his bloody stump. “You just got that message. This is no time for rash action.”

His voice that had always been so strong, filled with confidence and conviction now was pleading.

“You can still punish me, whatever you need. But you need me now! We have to work together–for the good of both our factions. Please.”

His words were poison. He was right, the situation had changed. If we didn’t work together it might mean that lives could be lost.

I studied the crowd. There was fear, hope, anticipation and a slew of other emotions.

“Layton. Let’s work together. I’m a weak man, but I can change.” He started to cry. “Let me change.”

I closed my eyes. My parents' faces flashed into my mind. I wished they were here. They weren’t though, it was my decision. I steeled my nerves and forced my eyes open.

When I did, something unexpected stood before me.

Nick was back. And with him? All the victims. The women were filthy and malnourished. And standing in front of them all two children, eyes gaunt with tear streaked muddy faces. Each holding one of Nick's hands.

Click.

The final lock snapped closed.

"Maybe you can change in the next life."

My arm flashed, Tranquility sang her song.

Jordan’s head fell free from his body.