Runkli sat on the table in the best restaurant in Brinfi, the capitol of Gnudar, his family and friends around him still talking about the ceremony, occasionally one or the other would stand up and propose a toast; Runkli would then smile proudly or blush or wave his hands in a gesture that should say: "Oh, barely worth mentioning... Yes, surely I have been the student with the best scores ever, true, it is some achievement to graduate from the Royal Gnomish University of Gnudar, but anyone could have done it..."
This was of course not what Runkli truly felt. His heart jumped for joy and he had to look at the parchment again and again, as if he could not believe that it was true. There it was, a very important looking scroll with the seal of the Royal Gnomish University declaring that he, Runkli di Pelracht has graduated from the Alma Mater Gnudar and was now officially bestowed with the title "Shaman".
A shaman, he has made it! His dream had come true, his whole family was proud of him; his mother was already talking about a nice small clinic in the centre of Brinfi, located next to a shrine, just perfect for him!
But Runkli would miss out on this occasion, his plans were different:
Later that evening he raised himself to his full gnomish height, looked around the table - his parents were already tipsy from pride and the elderberry wine, some of his friends were totally drunk from the ogre ale - Runkli cleared his throat and started to speak: "Mum, Dad, my dear family and friends! I have something to say... tomorrow I will be leaving Brinfi. I will even leave Gnudar." A gasp was heard and his mother started to look worried. "I will not go on a well deserved vacation either. I will go to war."
Was it the wine or the news, Runkli's mother fainted and quietly slipped under the table. His friends were arguing loudly and Runkli could see that Puntzel, a very pretty girl he had always liked very much, looked at him admiringly and whispered something that sounded like "Runkli the Brave".
Seeing that under the care of his younger sister Mizzi (who of course had given him a reproachful look) his mother opened her eyes again, Runkli continued to speak: "In Iledar elves and humans lived together peacefully for centuries, until some months ago trolls attacked. The Iledarians are brave fighters, and many other people of other lands are helping them, but they are in need of healers. I have decided to go there, because I want to help a good cause. Here I only would be bored with curing simple cuts caused by golden sickles or with raising dead pet lady bugs every now and then."
His father who seemed to have aged for decades in the past ten minutes interrupted him: "The gnomes of Gnudar have never been to war. I have never heard of a gnome stupid enough to fight in a war that is none of his business. You should be grateful that you have parents who work hard to afford the best education for their spoiled ..." But Runkli did not listen anymore, his decision was final, he would leave the next day.
This night Runkli was so excited he barely found sleep. He imagined a huge and strong citadel with marble walkways, brave and honourable knights whose wounds he would heal, graceful elven ladies who would adore him for his heroic deeds... Finally he fell asleep and dreamt of resurrecting the King of Iledar. Holding the golden life rune he looked around as the crowd cheered and shouted his name: Runkli the Brave!
The next morning Runkli left his home.
He had travelled for a fortnight before he reached Iledar - and when he finally arrived, impatient and excited, ready to heal and save lives, he could not believe his eyes. No invincible citadel, no strong fortress, there were no protecting walls around the town... in fact there was no town at all, no marble walkway, just a muddy road between some tattered tents and buildings that seemed to be of no protection at all.
As Runkli stood there and stared around with wide-open eyes a dwarf came running towards him: "Ye be a shaman? We be needing ye, follow!" Runkli ran behind the dwarf, panting he asked: "Is this the way to the town?" "Woot town?" the dwarf replied, "we dunno fight in da town. Da battle is here, on open field, da cursed trolls haffta be stopped here." Examining Runkli the dwarf added: "Ye be a wee fella, dat's good, easy to hide frum da trolls, them wun see ya."
Before Runkli could explain that he had barely understood a single word, they had reached the battlefield. Hundreds of men and women, human, elves, dwarfs and many races he did not know were around him, they seemed to gather before the next attack. There were elven bowmen preparing their arrows, halflings taking messages and suddenly disappearing in the shadows, dwarves with bloody hands and beards grinning at him, knights upon magnificent stallions, but their armour was not shiny and their horses seemed to be tired; he could even see some mages in their flowing robes stand together and argue - Runkli just watched in awe when he heard a horn blow and the battle started.
Suddenly Runkli was surrounded by fighting and shouting, the clanking noises and the screams of the wounded filled his ears, he looked down and saw a fighter lying there with blood gushing out of a wound, he tried to cast a body bind spell but he could not concentrate, someone was tugging his sleeve, many screamed for help. He saw an elf woman dying in a puddle of blood, an elder bowman using his teeth to draw arrows because his right arm was missing, a young fighter staring in shock at the deep wound in his chest. The smell of blood and burned flesh made him feel sick, his mind buzzed constantly and he was getting dizzy when suddenly a troll appeared in front of him.
Runkli had never seen a troll before, and this one was definitely too big and too close. Runkli's hands felt clammy, his whole body went numb and his feet did not move, he lost consciousness and hit the floor the same second as a pretty young woman, who fell dead with a slit throat.
The battle raged for hours. Maybe it was Runkli's luck that he was such a wee fellow, maybe a body covered him and thus the trolls did not see him; Runkli "the Brave" woke up safely in a hospital. As he stirred someone bent over him; he opened his eyes and looked into the ugliest face he had ever seen and he started. "Don't be scared" said a soft voice, "Drink this and you will feel better. You were lucky." Realising that this monstrous woman must be a shaman, he accepted the potion and soon fell strong enough to get up.
The woman introduced herself as Scullaria, she was a half ogre, and Runkli still started each time he looked at her or caught her stench, but she had the most beautiful honey coloured eyes, a good heart and a soft hand with the many wounded patients.
Runkli helped her in her care for those in need, he watched her offering comfort, and he assisted in preparing healing pastes.
"Don't you use the heal spell?" he asked. Scullaria chuckled: "I am no shaman, you know. I am just a nurse, caring for my patients. Like clean their wounds and changing bandages and so. When I was little I wanted to be a shaman, dreamt of it. But my family all is zerkers, you know. Spell casting is nothing for me, they say, so much studying, that is good for others."
Runkli felt the shame of his failure burn inside him. He told Scullaria about what had happened and she laughed: "Ah, you won't be the first one to faint when looking into troll's eyes. And for not being able to heal, well you are not used to battle, so you better stay here in hospital and care for the injured ones here."
For weeks the gnome and the half ogre worked together. Runkli learned a lot from Scullaria, and in exchange he started to give her lessons on the healing arts. He taught her about the protecting and strengthening spells (he cast dragon strength on himself and managed to lift her up, which made them both and also their patients burst with laughter). After a while he could persuade Scullaria to try on a simple heal spell; with endless patience he repeated the chant again and again for her, until she finally managed to cast the spell!
The daisy-covered, freshly-smelling Scullaria hugged him tightly and danced around happily: "You know, you are a great teacher! If you managed to teach me, who has no talent whatsoever, you must be brilliant indeed. You know so much, and it is all in your head, you should give it to others too!"
Runkli seriously considered this idea; he himself had never thought of teaching before, now it seemed a most natural thing to do. But thinking back to the University of Gnudar, he did not feel comfortable. No, he did not want to become one of those lifeless professors, who teach dry theory to students fainting at the sight of blood. After all Runkli had seen and learned with Scullaria, his ability would be wasted in Gnudar, he knew he needed a place to teach real healers.
A year later the trolls were defeated and withdrew their remaining troops to their distant lairs; Iledar was finally saved. Scullaria had made enormous progress during that time. Runkli would not return to Gnudar; in his hand he held a letter from one of his cousins in Timberwood, telling him about a vacant position as a tutor in the famous Serenity subguild. This is where he would go; he, Runkli di Pelracht would become a tutor in Serenity.
Alley back to the library foyer.
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