Keiko didn't like this place. She observed the young children, still whimpering softly. She flinched again for what felt like the millionth time, this morning? Afternoon? Keiko didn't know anymore. The woman held her arms in discomfort. She had a nightmare last night, which was never a good sign. The last time a nightmare occurred was two days before doctors found a tennis ball-sized tumor below her mother's abdomen.

She was worried for her little sister most of all. Just like her, she was also the quiet type, quiet and vulnerable, she admitted. Keiko hoped she was all right and that's all she could do right now, hope.

She knew in her gut this place was dangerous, why else would this “system” give people bladed weapons? She hadn't seen anything that dangerous yet as far as she could tell. But it's only been close to a half hour since she got stranded here with a bunch of strangers. Who knows what's out there.

“But” She looked back at the crowd with a wary gaze. She needed to be somewhere else, anywhere but here.

Turning her heels she walked away from the men and women arguing with each other, away from the distraught boys and girls, away from all those weird clothes.

the woman looked back hoping none would notice her leaving. She just needed to forget th-, this thing ever occurred, even for a few moments, she needed to breathe.

She walked and walked past the village. Finally, Keiko felt herself relax as she stared straight ahead, avoiding looking down at herself or up at the green sky to forget what had transpired during this awful day. In this moment, the young woman would do anything to find even a little peace to consume her.

But fate would not wield it so.

“Aagh!” she heard a pained shout.

Keiko looked around frantically in panic. Her eyes set up on a grove of trees nearly a hundred and twenty or so meters to the right of her. She took off to a sprint, eyes set on the source of the yell.

She neared and she saw a polar bear-like beast? She didn't quite know what that thing was. Slowing her stride as she neared the thing, she noticed it was chewing something. She looked down and she saw.

She saw.

She saw...

A man.

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This was her turn to let out a bellowing scream. The sight was terrible, horrifying! But she didn't know what to do, getting help would take too long. She wasn't a fighter, that was the reason why she chose the healer class in the first place! But she had to do something, she looked at the barely conscious man, she couldn't leave him to die.

The beast was still in a garbled mess attacking the man's right forearm in a mad rage. She spotted a blade of some kind. Identifying it to be the man's sword. Running ahead she grabbed the blade. She lifted the thing overhead. She still hesitated despite herself, she never slaughtered an animal so big. With one final glance at the beast, she thrust down aiming for a wound she spotted earlier.

The blade thrusted through its neck. The monster slowed its chewing twitching slowly, pouring out pints of blood, finally, it slumped forward and softly fell to its side away from the man, with a small thump.

Keiko heaved her breath, adrenaline still pumping through her veins. Her attention finally reached the man lying on the ground. Gasping she kneeled down taking his arm, noting it as his most injured appendage.

She could see huge chunks of fresh ripped out. The whole thing made the woman flinch.

She needed to heal him fast, the woman didn't know how effective her skill was, she didn't know anything right now but Keiko knew she needed to focus on saving him now, not worrying about what she didn't know.

Quickly, she took out a small glass vial and identified the thing just as fast.

Health potion: Common

Gives twenty-five HP to the subject administered.

Keiko looked to the barely conscious man, her eyes were asking for permission. The man shakily nodded, opening His mouth.

The woman poured the concoction into his throat, extremely nervous. She always second-guessed herself in tense situations.

With the liquid consumed by the man, his body stopped bleeding almost instantly, the woman saw small cuts and bruises almost vanish, and larger wounds were healing visibly. Keiko looked at his bloody limb, she carefully picked off the torn rags that was his sleeve. She flinched, finally paying full attention to his massive wound.

Even with the potion in full effect, she knew the wound was too large to heal fully.

Devan locked eyes with her, wincing as he glanced over at his once unwounded arm, now weary from the excruciating pain. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips.

“Just cut it off,” He said in a smooth voice, frowning in resignation.

She looked into his eyes, hands balling into fists. He was right, the arm would still have to be amputated from its wound despite the potion.

“But still,” She thought, unwilling to give up. The woman looked at her hands. The system mentioned something to her when she picked her class, but she didn't pay much mind to it. She was a committed pacifist and only chose the thing because it was the only one without a weapon.

She lowered her hands, allowing them to hover over his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Heal,” She thought, not expecting anything to actually occur.

There was a significant change within her, and something amazing happened. Devan's missing flesh started to quickly regrow. Devan's arm began to heal itself exponentially.

Devan was staring with awe equal to hers. The pain, as well as the wound, were disappearing rapidly. Soon both disappeared completely.

Sitting up, Devan's eyebrows scrunched. He balled his fist, captivated. He looked at the woman who saved his life and in her appearance. She was a small Asian woman and relatively attractive with wavy black hair and dark brown eyes. She was wearing similar clothes as him but with a white, hooded cloak that cascaded around her, reaching her waist. The woman was cupping her hands, staring disbelievingly down at them.

“Thank you” He said softly, earning her attention. “Thank you for saving my life”

Keiko blushed at the praise, she didn't remember the last time she was thanked so sincerely.

“Your uh, your welcome!” She smiled gleefully. Seemingly unbothered by the stressful events that just occurred. “Wait! Uh what's your name?”

“Devan,” the man said as a matter of fact.

“Keiko,” The woman said confidently.

Nodding, Devan lifted himself to his feet. He faced the forest, looking for another threat. Seeing none, he hummed in satisfaction. He looked back to the large group. Their movement wasn't as scattered or wild, suggesting they calmed down for the most part.

“Let's go.” Devan said, walking in their direction.

Keiko turned towards the populace, hesitant to go back.

She then turned to the large rat-things corpse. Yeah, no, that was the better idea.