Chapter 10: Awake
Carrying Glace, Feld and Rei wandered around the farming village of Genoah looking for their village healer. After asking the natives they said that their healer was currently at Genoah Palace where the lord resides in and have not returned since the 556th cycle.
Feld applied first aid to Glace using the little knowledge he had on healing magic but it was still far from enough to make Glace recover. Feld felt regret that he didn’t bring any healing potions or salve because he himself never needed one.
The next thing he thought about was to find a decent place to stay in while looking for a healer for Glace.
“Rei, let’s split up and look for a place we can stay in.”
“How much gold are we prepared to spend for lodging?”
“Try to look for someplace that offers around 10 silvers a night I don’t have much money on me and we can’t access Glace’s spatial ring.”
The two of them split up to find a place to stay in but while looking around, they both didn’t find any inns.
Since they are at the farming village of Genoah, there weren’t many travelers that go here so having a business such as an inn is rather pointless and unprofitable.
The villagers advised them to go to the main city of Genoah which was called Cidroah. The farming village itself took up a third of the whole Genoah province, and with Genoah being so huge; it could take days to a week to go to Cidroah.
It crossed Feld’s mind to go to Cidroah since there most likely be healers there than in the farming village. But Glace won’t survive the travel, she’s suffering from a very high fever besides the wound; having her travel will probably only make it worse.
While Feld was having a dilemma, Rei came towards him together with a young lady around Rei’s age and a little boy about 9 years old. Rei’s expression seemed to be excited and so Feld expected good news.
Rei then said “Master Feld! This kind big sister says we can stay at their place for a few days! Not for free of course, she said that we just have to buy our own food and pay 3 silvers a day.”
Feld looked at Rei with surprise, neither of them was able to find an inn but Rei instead found a house that could take them in for a while and it’s really cheap too.
“Hello, my name is Louise and this is my brother Edward” said the young lady
She wore humble clothes with a few patches and had her light brown hair braided to her right shoulder. The young boy had similar clothing and had a messy curl as his hair.
Feld is suspicious of the offer because it was too good but they both seemed kind people so Feld didn’t reject the offer.
As they walked together, the young lady then asked: “Mr. Traveler, Rei said that you have an injured person with you; may I ask what caused her injury?”
Feld was hesitant to answer but he then replied “We encountered some bandits along the way, and she was stabbed by a sword.”
The young lady then said “May I see the wound?”
Feld’s face was indescribable as he looked at the young lady he thought to himself why a young lady would like to see a stranger’s wound. But he still showed her Glace’s wound.
“Oh my, why would anybody hurt such a beautiful lady” she said. Louise then halted her walk, the others stopped as well. She then placed her hand hovering over Glace’s wound and started using something that looked like healing magic.
Her hand glimmered yellow and brown with a hint of gold and waved it in circles.
Rei’s eyes widened as he witnessed a healer at work, healers are considered nobles in Lhukresia since healers were lifesavers.
As the glow dimmed the young lady muttered “I’m sorry my healing isn’t that good, I think I will be able to heal her if I continued for a week.”
“Really?!” Rei spat with excitement and joy as he learned that Glace could be healed in a week’s time.
Even Feld felt relief at the words of Louise, he then said “Then I’ll leave it to you. If you don’t mind me asking how much would it cost us?”
Feld is a very very very thrifty guy, his concerns about money is expected of his personality; but this time, he’s not going to spare a single copper piece just to save Glace.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t mind just helping her out.” Louise replied with a surprised tone as she wasn’t really planning on charging them at all.
“Big sister, let’s hurry home! Mom’s cooking stew tonight!” said the little boy who pouted because he’s probably hungry
“You’re right, it’s almost dinnertime after all” Louise replied
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After a little time walking they finally reached the house of the siblings.
It was a relatively big house and it had a barn. Their family also had a decent amount of farmland.
This definitely is a farming village, every house is decent in size and there is no shortage of rice and herbs and other fruits. Among all the houses Feld and Rei have seen, the house of Louise and Edward is in the upper half in terms of size.
The door opens, what greets them is Louise’s mother, “My, you must be Louise’s guests” said the mother
“Mother, these people are in need of lodging; I presented our home to welcome them, may they stay here for about a few days to a week? I told them that they must pay 3 silvers a day and find food for themselves.” Louise spoke to her mother as if trying to convince her to take Rei and the others in.
“Now, you don’t need to worry about the food and the lodging; we will treat you as guests, stay as long as you need. Isn’t that right father?” Louise’s mother muttered as she looks at the old man sitting in the corner by the window.
“I do not have any complaints, as long as you treat us respect we will treat you with respect as well.” Said by the old man that seemed to be Louise’s grandfather
“Oh, I almost forgot. This is my mother Roselle and that is my grandfather Fredrick” Louise said as she introduced her mother and grandfather.
“My name is Feldgrau Tranel, I am grateful for your hospitality; I hope that our stay here doesn’t hinder your daily lives” Feld muttered in a very respectful un-Feld-like manner.
“My name is Rei, nice to meet you all; thank you for the help!” Rei said in a respectful yet too cheerful kind of way
“Oh my, is seems we have guests” an old lady suddenly comes into the room; it seems that she came from the kitchen.
“Grandmother, these are Mr. Rei and Mr. Feldgrau; they will be staying with us for a while” Louise introduced them to her grandmother.
“Oh hello there, my name is Louisa” said the old lady “I see that you also brought a boy in Louise, finally at that age eh? Kukuku” Louisa continued playfully teasing Louise
“Grandmother, that’s not why I brought them here!!!!” Louise said as she denies any indecency that her grandmother is implying. She was flushed and embarrassed as she covers her cheeks with both of her hands.
“Oh Louise, don’t be that stiff; you’re getting old you should marry! Not everyone has my flawless skin and face” Louisa kept being playful
Roselle was smiling as she watched that conversation of her mother and her daughter.
“Mr. Feldgrau, I’m sorry for all the trouble; I didn’t lead you to a room where the lady can rest.” Louise said then she proceeded to lead Feld and the others to their rooms.
The house is quite humble in structure but it was very spacious. There we’re a lot of rooms which is why Feld, Rei and Glace each got their own rooms.
“After you keep your things, please come down and have some dinner.” Louise said before leaving them to themselves.
As he watched Louise leave, Rei couldn’t help grinning towards Feld as they both stand in the hallway. Feld had just finished tucking in Glace in her own room.
“What are you grinning about kid?” Feld said to Rei with a mildly frustrated tone
“Oh nothing” Rei said. Clearly Rei was proud to have come across such a kind young lady and got them a house to stay in and even get free food.
The two of them then proceeded down and had some dinner with Louise’s family. The family was lively and kind, the grandfather was clearly acting stiff but very kind on the inside, the grandmother always teased Louise which makes her pout and blush, and the mother is focused on Edward.
After the meal, Rei and Feld spared no time and proceeded to head to their rooms.
Louise on the other hand went to check on Glace and cleaned her wound and changed her bandage.
Louise is a very kind girl, she just brims with warmth and care; her smile can send a thousand soldiers to march and she is very caring even to people she doesn’t know.
Everybody in their neighborhood loves Louise and she doesn’t have any shortage of suitors; every house in their neighborhood that has a son wants Louise as their daughter-in-law.
She herself is very beautiful and yet she doesn’t not act entitled by it.
As she was changing Glace’s bandage, a young man opened the door.
To Louise’s surprise, it was Rei.
“Is there anything I may help you with Mr. Rei?” Louise then said after calming herself from her startle
“No, I was just worried for Glace. Please just call me Rei, I’m just not used to having a ‘Mr.’ haha” the young man said as she scratches the back of his head.
He then proceeded to sit not too far from Glace and Louise as he watches her work.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you become a healer?” Rei said out of the blue
“Oh, my father was a healer he taught me a lot since I was a child” Louise replied
“Could it be your father was the town’s healer?” Rei asked with a sensitive tone.
“Yes” Louise replied as her usually warm expression fades and replaced by a lonely appearance
“I’m sorry, I brought it up” Rei said as he realized he made her remember a dismal memory
“No, you don’t need to apologize it’s just than I miss him so” Louise said as to console Rei’s guilt
“I should go now, you must rest as well Rei; you had a tiring travel didn’t you?” Louise said to Rei before leaving the room.
Rei then stood up and opened the window slightly just to let in a little breeze.
After feeling the breeze he looked at Glace.
His eyes widened and his expression changed to a puppy that saw his master come home
“Glace!” Rei said with a loud voice
Rei then excitedly came to Glace’s bedside and held her hand.
“Glace, we we’re worried about you! Are you hungry? Do you need anything?” Rei bombarded Glace as soon as she woke up
“Why are you holding my hand stupid!!” Glace screamed as she was flushed by Rei holding her hand
“Oh oh I’m sorry!” said Rei as he hurriedly lets go of Glace’s hand.
“I said why you are holding my hand not let it go.” Glace whispered swiftly and very silently as she hesitates whether she wants Rei to hear it or not.
“Are you hungry?” Rei asked is a gentle tone completely different to how he was so excited earlier
“No, I feel heavy” Glace said as she stares at the ceiling “But I am pretty thirsty” she continued
“I’ll go get you something to drink” Rei said as he hastily went out to get her some water
Glace was pale and felt as though she was deprived of energy.
“I could have died” she thought as she remembers the strike that almost got her killed
She then tries to lift her hand up as if trying to grab the stars that were seen through the window, her hand trembles as she tries to make a fist
“Was it the right decision coming with them?” Glace said as she puts her hand down to her chest
Rei was able to witness Glace through the opening on the not fully closed door and he somewhat feels responsible for not being able to protect her. He utters to himself “You can’t” a number of times and then opened the door
“Here’s some water” said Rei as he smiles to Glace
He helped her sit up and then helped her drink some water. Glace was really thirsty, she drank an entire glass in one go; good thing Rei brought a pitcher.
“I should get some rest, you should too” Glace said with a gentler but conflicted tone and expression
“Okay, I’ll go now” Rei said before he walked towards the door
Just as Rei was about to close the door Glace then said “Thank you.”
Rei smiled slightly just before closing the door.