Reincarnated as a Healer : Why are my powers so filthy?
Chapter 51: Keep moving

Chapter 51: Keep moving

"Do you hear that?"

Zara didn’t answer, her silver hair tied in a rough tail, her massive axe thudding against her back with each step. She was sweating, visibly pale beneath her tan, the curse marks on her legs glowing brighter, spiraling up her thigh like molten tattoos. She stumbled once, then again, her jaw clenching.

"I’m fine," she growled, brushing Leon off as he stepped toward her. "Keep moving."

But a few steps later, her knee buckled, and she dropped to the forest floor with a muffled grunt, her hand clutching her thigh where the curse pulsed, her blue eyes sharp with pain. "Zara!" Leon said, dropping beside her, his pack sliding to the ground. "You’re not fine."

"I said—" Her voice broke into a hiss, her hand gripping her leg tighter. "Just... pain. Not fatal."

Terya crouched beside them, her gaze darting through the trees, her staff ready. "No time for pride," she said, her voice firm, her usual tease gone. "Leon, do something."

Leon hesitated, his fire magic nearly gone, a faint ember tied to Saria’s distant bond. His wind magic, fueled by Terya’s proximity, was stronger, but his core healing ability was all he had left. "This’ll sting," he warned, his voice steady but tight.

"Everything does," Zara muttered, her blue eyes fixed on him, unyielding despite the pain.

He pressed his palm to the curse mark on her thigh, the skin feverish, almost scalding. The curse pushed back—alive, angry, a dark energy that clawed at his senses. He focused, channeling the soft, golden flicker of his healing magic, not tied to arousal but to his will. The glow spread slowly through his fingertips, faint but steady, easing the curse’s pulse.

Zara exhaled, a short, relieved breath, the red glow dimming slightly, enough to take the edge off. Leon pulled back, his palm singed, a faint burn mark lingering, but he hid the pain, his jaw tight. "That’s... all I’ve got for now," he said, his voice low.

Zara looked at him, her breath still ragged, her blue eyes softer, her hand lingering on his arm, calloused but steady. "Thanks, kid," she said, her voice quieter, a rare warmth breaking through her mercenary grit.

Terya leaned on her staff, her grin returning, her eyes glinting. "Careful, hero," she said, her voice light but teasing. "You keep grabbing girls’ thighs like that, we’re gonna start charging admission."

Zara snorted, pushing herself upright, her hand still brushing Leon’s arm. "Relax," she said, her tone dry but not cruel. "He’s not my type."

"Mm," Terya mused, leaning closer to Leon, her cloak brushing his shoulder. "That’s what they all say... until he starts using his mouth."

Leon groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Please. Let the trees kill me."

"Not until I’m done flirting," Terya said, winking, her laugh cutting through the forest’s whispers.

As they moved forward, the whispers followed, louder now, weaving through the blood-weeping trees that pressed closer, their branches clawing at the red sky. The mist thickened, curling like tendrils, the air heavy with the Crimson Veil’s presence. Leon’s fingers tingled from the curse’s heat, the amulet from Granny Elda cool against his chest, its runes silent but heavy.

Zara, silent again, strode ahead, her axe a steady rhythm, but her blue eyes occasionally flicked to Leon—not with suspicion, but with something that might’ve been curiosity, a spark of trust in the healer who’d come to save her.

_________

By nightfall, the forest was bleeding.

The trio’s camp nestled beneath a canopy of tall, gnarled trees, their bark oozing slow, sticky trails of red sap, pooling on the ground like congealed blood.

The air was thicker now, heavy with the Crimson Veil’s mist, whispering around them like the breath of ghosts, curling through the branches with an eerie hum.

The red sky above pulsed faintly, casting a sickly glow over the camp.

Leon sat cross-legged by a fireless pit, muttering a third incantation, his fingers flickering with a spark of gold-red light.

The ember formed, weak and trembling, but the red mist swirled, snuffing it out with a hiss. Smoke rose from his palm—no flame.

He sighed, rubbing his brow, his linen shirt damp with sweat.

"Why does this have to be like this? I can’t use fire magic anymore.," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Terya leaned back on her elbows, her chainmail creaking, her short cloak splayed across the ground, her blonde hair catching the red glow. Her smirk was lazy but warm.

"Saria’s bond is gone, hero. Her fire doesn’t reach this far. You need her touch to keep the spark alive," she said, nudging his boot with hers. "Lucky you’ve still got my breeze."

Leon rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. "A little more breeze and I’m going to catch a cold."

"Don’t worry," she murmured, scooting closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "I’ll keep you warm tonight."

Her hand brushed his thigh—faint, her green eyes glinting with mischief.

His face flushed, a spark of heat stirring despite his exhaustion.

"Terya—" he started, his voice catching.

"Shh. Accept the service," she teased, her fingers lingering before she pulled back, her grin wide.

Zara sat across the fireless pit, her massive axe resting beside her, her legs stretched out, the curse marks glowing faintly beneath her torn leathers.

The pain had dulled since she kept sipping from her holy water supply, but it lingered, a constant throb.

Her blue eyes reflected the red mist like mirrors, her silver hair matted with sweat.

"This place wasn’t always a grave," she said suddenly, her voice low and rough, breaking the quiet.

Leon and Terya looked up, startled by her words.

Zara’s gaze was fixed on the trees, her jaw tight.

"Vyrneth used to be a kingdom," she continued, her tone heavy.

"A strong one. Built along the crimson soil—mines full of bloodstone, enchanted vineyards. Then a priestess got greedy."

Leon leaned forward, his brow furrowing. "Let me guess. Tried to summon something she couldn’t control?"

Zara shook her head, her blue eyes narrowing. "Worse. She tried to become a god."