Jasson flew backward, crashing against a low wall as pain burst across him like fireworks. Agony seared across his back. Cold flew up his spine. Numb contemplation bled into his mind. The world slowed, a cup filling with dying thoughts.

“Warning,” a robotic voice said, “Death in 17…16…15…”

No! Jasson thought as the voice counted down. Oh gods. Why? It’s my second day! I can’t die here! I know there’s a next life but I don’t want to go yet! I haven't done anything!

If Jasson had been able to breathe he would have been hyperventilating like a trapped mouse. Instead, he lay blind and deaf as his body degraded. He could imagine how they’d find him; a hapless corpse of broken bones and flayed skin. The last impression he’d leave in life, just like in his previous one. Helpless. Useless. Dead.

I’m dying, Jasson thought as the counter reached twelve, Again. I wasted my second chance. Is it my fate to achieve nothing in life? Not a single dream fulfilled?

Suddenly the world spun and sparkled scarlet as Jasson’s vision came back into existence.  Red light poured over him as he heard a voice scream through his ringing ears.

“DON’T YOU DIE ON ME!” the voice said, “CLARA! Watch my back!”

Why? Jasson thought. I’ll just end up wasting everything.

“I …see…anyth…,” another voice said. Clara’s. Her voice flickered, too dim for Jasson to make out more than an occasional word.

The cold in Jasson’s chest finally registered and he realized that his heart wasn’t beating. The counter ticked down to ten seconds of life left. 10 seconds remaining. A final countdown.

“9”

“Come on!” Petra said as some feeling ebbed back into Jasson, “Fight! It doesn’t work if you don’t fight! You have a lot to live for, you just haven’t found it yet. Don’t give up before you do!”

I want to believe that, Jasson thought. It is nice for someone else to believe…maybe I could but…it’s too cold…thanks though…

“7”

Jasson feebly made out Petra’s face above him. She really was pretty, with a tiny scar curving across her lip. He reached out, dreamlike as she swayed in and out of focus like a bad camera. Jasson touched her face, then let his arm fall back. Petra caught his hand and glared at Jasson, rage in her eyes.

“6”

“The gods preserve us,” Petra uttered like an oath, “You better not make me regret this.”

Petra moved down, placing both hands on his chest. She paused and took a breath.

“5”

“LIVE!” Petra screamed, and light exploded. It roiled across and into him, filling Jasson with the hot fire of a beating heart. 

I WILL!

Jasson grasped her healing hand with a heart of zeal, pulling himself like a drowning man claws onto the shore.

Jasson lurched, gasping desperately as the world fell into place. Details flew together from the reality he’d almost left behind. The rubble dug into his back as dry grass itched at his skin, not-so-friendly reminders that he was alive. Clara perched on a nearby wall, holding a giant sword at the ready, graceful in a nightgown with a large stitch along one side.  Petra was staring at Jasson, moonlight glinting off scarlet dust sifting through her fingers. There were tears in her eyes and, as Jasson met her gaze, an understanding passed between them.

“About time,” Petra said as she stood, keeping below the walls as she tucked the dust in a pocket, “I’m sorry we got you involved in this. They’ll be hunting you now. We should have warned you. Can you run?”

What? Jasson thought, does she think that we’re under attack? Fair. How do I say that it was my fault?

“Any sign of them Clara?” Petra peaked up to look around, “That was light magic, some kind of missile by the sound of the explosion. Decently advanced so we might have to leave the base until we can get the right crystals.”

“I’m sorry,” Jasson said, the words coming easier than he’d thought they would, “It’s my fault.”

“What are you apologizing for,” Petra said, guard flashing up in her eyes, “Did you betray us?”

Jasson shook his head and said “No, although that would be less embarrassing. I was trying out some magic and hit myself. Hard.”

Petra visibly deflated and she actually smiled, straightening out and laughing as she said, “It’s fine Clara. This idiot hit himself with a spell. That’s what you’re saying, right?”

Jasson smiled wearily and said, “Yup. Oops. I owe you a healing crystal now.”

“Thank goodness,” Clara said, hopping down from the wall, “Jasson, be careful with magic! Didn’t you see the scars on Petra’s arms? I was so worried about you.”

“I wasn’t,” Petra said quickly, “I was glad that you’d be taking the hit for us. Better you dead than me.”

Jasson raised his eyebrows at Petra, who turned away. He couldn’t see much detail by the light of the moon, but she might just have flushed red at that.

Probably out of anger, Jasson thought. She’s upset that she actually cares about my life.

“Sure,” Jasson said, looking at the crystal dust sticking to his shirt like glitter, “Thanks for healing me. It’s…wow. Amazing. I feel fine now.”

Jasson stood and examined himself, finding that his clothes were remarkably intact. The wall Jasson had hit was cracked from the impact, yet his shirt had only two holes and a tear in the sleeve. A welcome bit of unrealism since he didn’t have a change of clothes to fall back on.

“You’re not welcome,” Petra said, “You owe us now. Big time. That healing crystal was over two hundred gold!”

“Of course,” Jasson said, “I would be dead without you.  I’ll have to find a way to pay you back-”

Jasson felt the reality of what happened set in. If Jasson was to believe the voice then he’d been five seconds away from a full and final death. He’d literally blown himself up on the second night. That was blown up twice in three days, which was bad for his health and terrible for his self-esteem.

How do I pay her back for saving my life? Jasson thought. It’s not like taking her out to eat would be enough. And I don’t think that she’d appreciate being paid in W-bucks. But…it would be wrong to do nothing. 

“Thank you,” Jasson said after a few seconds, “I screwed around and found out. You saved my life. I…I’ve never had my life saved before. What can I do?”

“Start with two hundred gold,” Petra said, huffing and crossing her arms, “It’s blasted hard to do quests without a healing crystal.”

“He’s talking about a life debt,” Clara said, nudging Petra, “Come on. Tell him the traditional solution.”

Petra looked at Clara for a long second and then sighed, saying “Fine. You get your way. Paying back a life debt is simple. You either serve them for life, pay off a sum to be determined by them, or save their life in return. So you-”

“So you’ll have to stay with us,” Clara said, grinning, “We need a lot of help going forward and you’ll need to pull your weight and then some. Eventually-”

“Clara!” Petra said, “He owes his life to me. I decide how he can pay it back. I’m debating monthly payments.”

“Come on Petra,” Clara said, “We gotta start somewhere! He’s as good a place as any, and he’s already in the guild.”

Jasson was still determining what they were implying, but this was obviously an extension of an earlier conversation.

Petra groaned and said “Look, I’ll decide in the morning. Let’s just go to bed for now. It’s late, plus I tapped out all the mana I wanted to use for traps anyway.”

Clara protested but Jasson agreed. The day had already been exhausting. No point in making it longer.