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Maribel hid her grin quickly replacing it with a look of concern. Despite what most people believed about orcs they did not have bricks for brains. Quite the contrary in Gresha's case. The orc was one of the sharpest and wisest women Maribel had ever met. Which meant she also foiled Maribel's mischievous antics all too often.
Not this time friend, besides you're gonna love this Maribel thought as she passed the potion to Gresha speaking quickly
"Use this one Greshie! Its glow is way stronger. That must mean the magic is fresher." The orc eyed the halfing for a full second, she was about to question her friends intent when another bolt of pain hit her.
Taking the potion and casting aside what were clearly foolish concerns Gresha took a sip of pink elixir. Now for the worst part Gresha thought as she braced herself. Over the years she had been subject to numerous healing spells and potions. She had found that each was a little different. Some tasted sickeningly sweet, while others had no taste at all. Some would make a person's body feel like the wounds were on fire, while others would cause an eerie unnatural numbing sensation. Some would actually hurt as the body knit itself back together stretching and regenerating new tissue quickly.
Gresha let out another grunt of pain. Apparently this potion was in that last group. She felt her whole body tremble and suddenly loosen. A swelling sensation passed over her whole form. Accompanied by a small amount of warmth, and finally the relenting of pain. As a few dozen minor lacerations and one major contusion healed and her skin returned to its unblemished normal state.
That was truly the worst part. Gresha didn't value the scars she'd gotten as highly as many of her fellow orcs did. But she did take a certain pride and honor in them. Each one was a reminder, of memory, a sacrifice, or a lesson learned. But with magical healing there were never any scars left over. Gresha stood up and immediately recognized that something was off. First she checked her armor, maybe one those brigands had hit a buckle or strap. The straps were definitely off but not in the way she expected. There was no apparent damage yet the armor just felt off, like it was tighter than it should be.
Gresha took a moment to adjust the straps, loosening the armor and buckling it back down. As she did she noted her companion at her side. Her companion's armor also didn't seem to fit right.
"Before you go all paranoid and unleash your ancient orcish wisdom. Just know the elf tried to crush me in my armor. Some weird version of a shrinking spell that only affects objects." Maribel said, she pointed at Gresha's tighter armor as she continued "Judging by your armor I wasn't the only target."
Gresha blinked once as she took that in.
"Hrm, clever. Didn't peg the elf as that cunning." She flexed an arm. Her body felt off, and still warm, but at least she had a good reason for all this.
"She must have a bounty. Should we bring her along till we find another town? Or should we just ask the tree's to pay a ransom for their…queen" Maribel smirked, making air quotes around the last word.
"Mm-Nm, tree's are smarter than that. Besides, a spellcaster is too dangerous to take prisoner. Especially a cunning elf like her. Take their stuff and leave'em tied up." Gresha said even as she was already gathering up the weapons, shields and coin purses of the six bandits she felled.
The two adventurers worked quickly, relieving the bandits of their valuables before leaving them tied and bound along the roadside. The whole time Gresha swore she just felt off. Had the bandits she'd been fighting always looked so weak? She turned back to Maribel and noted aside from the incredibly tight leather armor her friend appeared normal. Barely coming up to Gresha's hips.
Unknown to Gresha she had gained a solid six inches of height thanks to the potion. She now stood 7'2", due to her natural height she barely noticed that she was looking down on everyone around her. That was how it had always been after all.
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