After a quick good morning to everyone in the room, I found myself sitting on a comfortable sofa beside Eira. I only managed to get a quick peek at the parlor, but it easily took up a third of the second floor. Like the rest of the house, it was well-furnished but comfortable looking with its desk, two sofas, and chairs. A large window also allowed the morning sun in and gave a nice view of the garden and the northern part of the village.

My patient looked infinitely better than when we first met, and how strange to use that term. Before the attack, she had been sitting in a cart for most of the day but decided to walk beside it for a time. Unfortunately, at that moment, two arrows struck her, one piercing her chest and the other her leg. Magic had done a splendid job healing Eira’s injuries as she no longer looked on the verge of death.

As my Healer Skill was busy analyzing her, medical information flooded my brain like I had consumed the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and a metric ton of other journals. But not just the modern ones, which surprised me but knowledge of herbs and local medicines and their use.

All this new knowledge was backed by a feeling that the knowledge wasn’t new. As if I had some experience in being an actual healer. This feeling had occurred earlier when two village women stopped me for a quick chat. One of them was having some err women’s issues and wanted an opinion on what medicinal herbs would be best to alleviate her symptoms. Both seemed knowledgeable, so maybe they wanted a second opinion or to confirm what knowledge I did possess. However, the reason didn’t matter; I happily shared what I knew.

Eira Health: 63/63 Mana: 50/50 Age: 36 Race: Human-Myrim

Status:

Light Blood Loss

Fatigue

“Well, your health has vastly improved over yesterday.” Releasing her hand, I sat back with a smile and inquired, “Now, are you experiencing any dizziness or headaches?”

“A little one this morning, but my headache went away after breakfast. Thankfully, Hanna helped me to the sofa where I plan on spending most of the day.” Eira gave the servant, who stood off to the side, a warm smile.

“I’ll make a list of some herbs that should be added to your meals, but besides another day or two of rest, you’re definitely on the mend.”

Gomes, dressed in a red and gold doublet and standing behind his wife, proclaimed, “That’s most excellent news.”

Njal also agreed, along with a third gentleman named Arvin, whom I recognized as the heavily armored man leading the wagons. Although not in heavy mail, he was not unarmored, wearing a light leather jerkin and had a sword strapped to his waist.

“Although you might feel less than pleased at the moment, I thank the gods that you were in the village,” Eira said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it.

I couldn’t help but return it. “It was indeed fortunate. I don’t think I was in the village more than a few hours before you arrived.”

“Is it true that you suddenly appeared in a moon shrine?” Njal asked excitedly, but the look his aunt gave him quickly settled him down.

“I did.” Although they must have heard it already, I gave my take on my adventure through the countryside. “I’m still trying to get my bearings. It’s been so strange.”

Eira gasped. “You must have been terribly frightened.”

I shook my head. “Not, really. Although it has been a bit overwhelming at times, I wasn’t truly scared until I encountered the Dread Wolves. And then again, just outside the village.”

“Why was that?” Gomes questioned.

“Uncertainty mostly. Would I be safe? There were too many uncertainties and too many things that could have gone wrong. I was lucky.”

“True.” He nodded. “So, you’re not sure how you ended up at the shrine.”

“What I do remember was working, maybe a little too hard. However, most of my recent memories are a bit fuzzy. I cannot tell you where I was or what I was doing before I ended up in the forest.”

“Most healers are busy,” Arvin commented. “Especially the competent ones. However, I doubt many would have been able to purify Apolis Spider Venom, much less recognize that was the poison used.”

That couldn’t be true. Well, some doctors were more knowledgeable than others, true, but still.

Gomes must have noticed the surprised look on my face. “Captain Arvin spent several years living as an adventurer before coming to work for my father.”

“Aye, I am familiar with quite a few healers, both the good and the bad.” Arvin chuckled.

“That’s why the gods must have truly blessed our meeting,” Eira exclaimed. “Gomes, we discussed this earlier, but I believe we should accept some responsibility for Alexandria’s presence.”

What did that mean? “I’m sure it’s not anything you did.”

“Directly no, but I agree with my wife. I assume you haven’t made any plans?” Gomes inquired.

“Not, really. Back home, people around me insisted I was working too hard, so I have decided to treat this as a holiday, at least for peace of mind,” I explained. “Although I want to find a way to return if possible.”

As much as I find magic amazing, I have friends, family, and a job at home. If someone or something dragged me here, they could sure as hell send me back. Plus, it’s only been three days, and I was not mentally ready to admit this might all be permanent.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Eira gave me a sympathetic look while her husband nodded in understanding. “Then perhaps you will accept our hospitality and stay with us for as long as you’re here in the village.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I’m a total stranger, and I do have a room at the inn.”

Gomes looked at his wife, then said, “Nothing against Waymond. The mayor’s a good man, and for a village inn, it’s one of the better ones. However, as a young woman on her own and even with you being a healer, we believe you would be more comfortable staying here.”

Once again, that feeling of vulnerability crept upon me. I could trust the girls, but what about the other patrons of the inn? That was never something I had to worry about in my world. But then again, perhaps I am projecting a little too much. This village was obviously not a hotbed of crime; I just needed to be much more self-aware of my environment.

Eira reached for my hand, startling me. “Please, at least until you get a better idea of what you want to do.”

I smiled and nodded. “I will be in your care.”

Moving took no time; after all, I had little more than the clothes on my back. No one at the inn seemed too surprised. Waymond even refused to take my money for the room. But before I could leave, the girls dragged me off to the side.

“What is this?” I asked Frida, who passed me a small basket containing a handful of small items, including wrapped square bars, several colorful ribbons, a comb, and what looked like a small washcloth.

Revna produced her own basket and explained, “We knew you needed a few things.”

Frida then bounced happily. “See, we even bought you a toothbrush and teeth powder.”

“Thank you,” I said with a grateful smile. “I was actually going to ask Eira about these things when I returned.”

“Good, and don’t even think about paying for it. It’s a gift from the two of us,” Revna told me, obviously reading my mind.

“Fine,” I muttered while giving a theatrical sigh. It was a lovely gift, and I did need the items in the basket.

“All right, let’s go,” Frida said excitedly, dragging me out of the inn.

“Wait, where are we going?”

“To the baths,” Revna laughed as she followed.

The bathhouse was conveniently accessible to the inn, which I imagine was by design. There were two long stone and wooden structures, one for men and the other for women, but both were attached to the back of the bakery. The woman’s entrance was towards the inn, while the men had to walk around to the other side.

One of the families owned the bakery and made all the bread for the village. Fancier loaves of bread and pastries were also supplied to the inn and to those who could afford them. The baker’s sisters’ family ran the bathhouse. However, Revna mentioned that the Garthom Company owned it. There was some sort of contract between them and the village, as it required a Mage to set it up properly.

“Somehow, the glyphs,” Frida explained.

“Runes,” Revna corrected.

“Whatever, somehow, it keeps everything full of water. Also, according to Faja, who works there, she doesn’t have to clean the pools.”

I started to slow down, realizing where I was going. Now, I am neither a prude nor a virgin. I lived with a girl in my senior year of college and another until recently, so I am not a stranger to female nudity. However, it didn’t make me comfortable enough to just casually stroll into a woman’s dressing room. Not that my two new friends gave me much of a choice.

Faja welcomed us as we entered a small room, where she passed each of us a thick towel. Beyond a set of curtains, her sister, Myra, would collect our clothes for safekeeping.

Once inside, the more I looked around, the more it reminded me of a combination of a Roman bathhouse and Japanese onsens I have read about. There were wide bathtubs for washing, or one could sit on a bench and clean oneself. There were also two artificial pools, one with cold water and the other with hot. Currently, part of the roof of the bathhouse was removed, which must have made it quite lovely to sit in the pools while under the stars.

I almost jumped when I noticed that both girls were already naked. I thought they were both quite cute, with lovely skin, striking blue eyes, and a little longer than shoulder-length brown hair. I disagreed with Frida that it looked like mud. I would say tall, but I was the odd woman out in the height category. I also noted that the attraction was still there in my pervy little mind, but I respectfully kept my eyes from drifting. However, it wasn't easy to do in a room full of naked women.

“Are you going to get undressed or just stare at the walls?” Revna asked with some amusement.

“Quick about it,” Frida insisted as she started to help me with my clothes.

“I can do that,” I tried to slap her hands away, but it didn’t help. Soon, I joined them in their nakedness.

“Oh, my goodness, she had perfect skin,” Revna exclaimed, passing my clothes to Myra, the bathhouse attendant.

“I was right; noblewomen bathe in milk,” Frida pumped her fist a little before grabbing my basket and dragging me off to the benches.

“Wha?” I incoherently said.

Revna followed us and asked, “Silly rumors; they don’t bathe in milk, do they?”

I shrugged as I unwrapped one of the soap bars and gave it a whiff. “It’s not unheard of.”

I remembered Cleopatra bathing in donkey’s milk. My mother mentioned numerous odder things that women have done for the sake of beauty.

“Does it help?” Frida asked, taking a seat beside me.

Thinking for a second, apparently, the information was readily available. What the heck, why do I know how to make power milk too? I then gave a small lecture on milk's health and beauty benefits for the next few minutes while the entire room listened to the conversation. However, I insisted that there were better things to do with milk.

Afterward, while dumping a bucket of warm water on my head, I realized that the soap we were using would strip my hair of all its oil. My mother once mentioned something about an egg wash. I wished I had paid attention to it.

“Hot bath first.” Frida insisted.

I closed my eyes, soaking up and heat, and felt the tension of the last few days fade away. Both girls worked hard, so I’m sure they also enjoyed the hot water.

“Goodness, Inga’s big as a house,” Revna whispered.

I opened an eye to take a look. A small pop-up appeared over a very pregnant woman as she finished taking off her clothes. She also seemed to have issues walking while waddling off to the benches. Thankfully, an older woman came to her assistance, whom I assumed was her mother.

Healer’s Sense Health: 57 / 57 Status: Fatigued, Pregnant

Closing my eyes, I settled back. “Are you friends? I’m sure someone has said something, but please tell her not to get in the hot bath. It’s not safe for her or the baby. Although the cold baths will help with her muscles and if she’s having problems with her feet.”

I felt Revna get out of the pool but, moments later, returned. “Alex, do you mind taking a look at Inga?”

Inga Health: 57/57 Mana: 30/30 Age: 22 Race: Human-Radam

Status:

Pregnant 39/wks

Fatigued

Edema: Feet

“Thank goodness that her nausea didn’t last more than a few weeks,” Gunnora, the pregnant girl’s mother, chatted.

I listened attentively as the two spoke about the pregnancy. Madam Yrsa, the green-robed woman I had met before, was the village’s midwife and herbalist. She had said that Inga’s pregnancy was progressing well and that she should be giving birth soon.

“Is the baby ok, my lady?” Inga asked nervously.

“You are both doing very well, and the cold bath will help you with your swollen feet.” I told her, letting go of her hand, then paused and asked, “Do you wish to know if you are having a boy or a girl?”

Frida, who had joined us, asked, “You can tell?”

The baby's health also became available once I poked around a little. “Of course.”

“Please,” Inga replied, her smile lighting up the room.