Leon's magic flickered again, his energy waning.
He leaned against a crate, panting, the stone heavy in his hand.
"Come on," he muttered, squeezing it. "Don't crap out on me now." He tried to summon the warmth, the fire, picturing fire like Saria had taught him, but all he got was a faint spark that fizzled out.
"Gaa!" A goblin lunged over the barricade, its claws inches from his face, and he yelped, stumbling back.
A young archer—petite, with short brown hair and a determined glint in her eyes—fired an arrow that pierced the goblin's throat, dropping it instantly.
"Watch yourself, Doc!" she shouted, nocking another arrow. "I am Tila. Stick with me!"
Before Leon could respond, a grizzled spearman with a scarred face and a gray beard charged in, impaling another goblin.
"Boren," he grunted, nodding at Leon. "Keep us alive, kid."
Leon nodded, his heart racing. "Got it," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. Tila and Boren flanked him, their presence grounding him as he focused on healing.
Saria glanced back, her eyes meeting his for a split second, and though her face remained blank, he felt a spark of connection, like she was counting on him.
He and Saria fell into a rhythm—her flames weakened the monsters, scattering them, while Leon darted between the wounded, his hands glowing as he healed cuts, burns, and gashes.
Tila's arrows flew with deadly precision, and Boren's spear struck like a viper, their teamwork holding the line.
Leon's magic surged with each heal, fueled by the adrenaline and the faint, lingering heat of Saria's ritual.
He was exhausted, but the sight of the defenders standing taller, fighting harder, kept him moving.
A goblin broke through, its scarred face eerily similar to the one he'd killed.
It lunged at Tila, who was reloading, and Leon acted on instinct.
He gripped the stone, picturing Saria's fire, and thrust his hand forward.
A small fireball—barely the size of a baseball—shot out, singeing the goblin's tail.
It screeched, flailing, and Boren finished it with a spear thrust.
Leon stared at his hand, his eyes wide.
"I'm a wizard!" he shouted, a grin breaking across his face despite the chaos.
The thrill of it—the spark of fire, the power—cut through his fear, and for a moment, he felt like the hero he'd always wanted to be.
Saria's voice cut through his triumph.
"Focus!" she barked, her flames roaring as she burned through a trio of imps. But there was a flicker in her eyes, the faintest hint of approval, and Leon's grin widened.
The battle raged on, but the tide was turning.
Saria's fire cleared paths, Tila's arrows thinned the ranks, and Boren's spear held the line.
Leon's healing kept the defenders in the fight, their morale surging as wounds closed and pain faded.
The monsters' numbers dwindled, their screeches growing desperate.
Finally, the last kobold fell, its armored body collapsing under Saria's blade, and the battlefield fell silent, save for the crackle of dying flames and the heavy breathing of the survivors.
Leon slumped against the barricade, his body trembling with exhaustion, the stone still clutched in his hand.
"We… we did it?" he panted, his voice hoarse.
He looked at Saria, Tila, and Boren, their faces streaked with sweat and blood but alive, standing.
Saria sheathed her sword, her face still a blank mask but her posture slightly relaxed.
"For now," she said, her tone flat. "Vraxus will send more, but we held the line." She glanced at Leon, her eyes lingering for a moment. "You did well."
Tila clapped his shoulder, her grin wide. "Not bad, Doc. You're alright for a newbie."
Boren grunted, wiping blood from his spear. "Kid's got guts. Didn't expect that."
Leon's face flushed, a mix of pride and embarrassment warming his chest.
He'd fought—actually fought—and his magic, shaky as it was, had made a difference.
The fireball, small as it was, felt like a victory, a sign he could be more than just a healer.
I am a Battle Healer.