A Gunslinger’s System in a World of Magic

"Hey," Eloise said when Boyle seemed far enough away.

"Hello," Henry started to say but Eloise had raised her hand and her fingers touched at the wound over Henry's heart where Gareth's sword had stabbed through and stopped its beating.

"You died," she said almost in a gasp.

"Not exactly," Henry said easily, "But I came damn close."

Eloise still had her fingers on the wound as she looked up at his face to realize his expression really was as casual as his tone was. That was not the expression she expected from someone who was technically reliving his death. That had to have been traumatic and to see him treat it so flippantly…

How was she to know this was not his first time 'dying'?

"Henry!" Andor called out suddenly and wrapped an arm around Henry's neck to pull him into an awkward hug. Eloise pulled her hand back the moment Andor came into her vision and she looked slightly embarrassed. The expression would have remained and likely left her red-faced but neither of the two men was paying attention to her so she rearranged her expressions quickly enough.

"Ugh!" Henry let out almost tossed backward by the force of Andor's strength that he barely held back in a rush of emotion.

Andor pulled away but not quickly enough because he looked embarrassed as he held Henry at arm's length with both his hands on his shoulder. He turned his eyes down and they fell on the wound over Henry's heart and then on the 'X' wound over his chest.

The wound had thinned thanks to the Healing Potion Henry downed but it was still noticeable.

"I thought you were dead," Andor said and then he furrowed his brows,n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"How are you alive?"

"I was blessed by Selene," Henry said as Andor released him and took a step back. He saw no reason to keep it a secret. Not from these two at least.

"They can do that?" Andor asked. Stopping death or reversing it seemed a far more impressive feat than the buff he had received earlier.

Andor was still incredulous as he glanced back at where the four Clerics were grouped up. His gaze must have been intense because Meryna looked up like she had been alerted. They shared a look but Andor looked away when Henry said.

"It's not them. And it wasn't now."

"When was it?" Eloise asked, curious. Beating Andor to the question.

"Before we left the Citadel," Henry said, "The Lady…"

"Likely an Apostle," Eloise said with furrowed brows.

Henry nodded and continued,

"… She blessed me."

"Why only you?" Andor asked.

Henry shrugged,

"I don't know. I certainly didn't know to ask for it. I guess I'll have a chance to find out when I visit the Temple. Apparently, I have to deliver my gratitude in person."

Henry studied the expressions of the two as he spoke. Andor looked to be in wonder as though he was in awe that Henry had been blessed with such a boon. Eloise looked skeptical.

"What?" Henry asked her.

"Oh, it's nothing," Eloise said quickly but her expression didn't change and after a second she let out a sigh,

"It's just, no god really offers such a powerful blessing for nothing, and certainly not without receiving a fervent request for it. They almost always want something in return."

Eloise had turned her eyes away from Henry as she said all this and when she looked back at him, she saw him looking at her with a smile. Like he was seeing her for the first time. Really seeing her, anyway.

"What?!" She demanded, slightly thrown off.

Henry chuckled,

"It's just… Of anyone here, I assume you're the most religious. To hear you so skeptical of a goddess… Well, I think that's good."

Eloise smiled and rolled her eyes,

"I have devoted myself to my patron so I am open to whatever directive they offer me. I am ready to serve because I know what I signed up for.

You didn't sign up for this. You were thrown a freebie so It's wise to be skeptical. There is a lot more 'politics' involved with worshipping gods than you'd expect and now that you have used Selene's blessing, she has fulfilled her part of a mostly unwritten contract which means…"

"… which means she gets to ask me for anything and I can't say no?" Henry completed for her and the smile slipped off his face.

It was like being offered a blank check. Except in this case, Henry was the one who handed out the check for a goddess to fill with whatever request she deemed fitting.

"Bingo," Eloise announced with a deadpan tone.

"Fuck," Henry let out and if there had been a table nearby, he would have slammed a fist on it. He would have even settled for a tree but none was within his reach so he had to settle for clenching and unclenching his fists. It helped. A little.

"Oh, I don't think it'll be that bad," Andor said having followed the conversation well enough, "I mean look at the Clerics. They seem alright. Their goddess can't be too terrible."

Eloise snorted,

"You see the glamor. You see what they have been trained to present and while it might be genuine, the truth is no human can really know the depth of a god's ambition."

Eloise paused then like she realized her words were likely upsetting Henry,

"Sorry," she told him with a low voice.

Henry took a deep breath and shrugged,

"It'll all work out," he said not sounding all that sure which was why he added in a lower voice meant mostly for only himself,

"Maybe."

He looked Eloise right in the eyes then as he put that matter behind him for now,

"I should be asking how you are," he said with an emphasis on the 'you'.

Eloise shrugged, knowing what he was talking about.

"I'm alright. I can still deny any knowledge of what we're doing. I've built enough of a reputation within the Citadel to avoid too much scrutiny on that.

But I probably shouldn't have killed the Mercenaries. That will make things a bit complicated, as Boyle already said."

"I'm sorry," Andor said sounding very disappointed in himself.

"What? No!" Eloise told him immediately. She had stepped toward Nyx now and was stroking her ungloved hand across the horse's beautiful black coat. Nyx let out satisfied sounds and pushed herself more into Eloise's touch which let the caress continue.

Andor shook his head,

"No, no. I had the Buff. Should have killed the Mercenaries on my own before it ended."

"It's not your fault," Eloise insisted, "Besides, it'll all be fine. I have a defense."

"What is it?" Andor asked, sounding hopeful.

Eloise looked serious as she said,

"I invited you on this expedition. Technically, by the statutes of the Citadel, I am responsible for your safety. To stand by and let you get killed by humans and not even by inhabitants of the Dungeon would have disgraced my oath. That'll be my defense."

It seemed thin but neither Henry nor Andor said anything because it was clear Eloise already knew. She was already thinking up alternatives and Henry would do the same. She was a friend in need, and as the one with the Quest she was now involved with, Henry felt she was his responsibility.

Putting that aside like they had done for another issue before, Henry called magical energy to his eyes to observe possible improvements the two had undergone throughout their recent victories.

[Activating <Insight Lv.3>]

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[Name: Andor]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Fighter]

[Health: 290 ———> 320]

[Mana: 210 ———> 220]

[Strength: 84 ———> 90]

[Agility: 36 ———> 40]

[Stamina: 42 ———> 44]

*[Remarks: A Fighter who makes up for his limited Martial training with enthusiasm and Impressive strength. Has Impressive Potential but is killable should you want to.]

——————

——————

[Name: Eloise de Vurgen]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Mage-Knight]

[Job: Squad Captain]

[Health: 510 ———> 530]

[Mana: 640 ———> 670]

[Faith: 206 ———> 210]*

[Strength: 117 ———> 120]

[Agility: 66 ———> 70]

[Stamina: 74 ———> 75]

[Intelligence: 86 ———> 90]

*[Remarks: Hmm… A lady with a curious set of Stats. They tell the story of trials and a long journey of improvement. Aptitude in Spell-Casting and Martial abilities make her seem like a jack of two trades trying to master all.

She is technically Killable but should you try, my bet is on her to win.]

—————

There had been two levels worth of developments for each of them judging by the distributed Stat Points. But as he looked at Eloise's stat points, Henry was sure those were not what he had seen on her stat screen the last time he checked.

She had had two levels worth of development in the week and more than half since then and while this wasn't all that shocking considering she had obviously been getting stronger before they ever met, he did wonder if she had explored and cleared Dungeons since then or if there were just other ways to improve stats. He had a feeling it was the latter.

Moving on, Henry found his eyes on Boyle as he addressed the now-freed Slaves. He remembered the look on Gareth's face when he had been repelled by the Knight's strength and found himself wondering just how much better Boyle was compared to the dead Mercenary.

——————

[Name: Boyle]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Knight]

[Job: Citadel Captain]

[Health: 710 ———> 730]

[Mana: 660 ———> 670]

[Strength: 195 ———> 200]

[Agility: 105 ———> 106]

[Stamina: 130]

*[Remarks: A Knight capably trained to carry out the righteous convictions of his oath to fuel his Physical Might which is already quite impressive. Possesses grand ambitions for status within the Citadel.

Much too great an opponent for you. At the moment, as far as you are concerned, he is unkillable.]

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