Chapter 24 "the unexpected joys of travelling back "
Caelan urged his horse forward, the dirt path blurring beneath them as they raced across the rolling green hills. The wind whipped through his hair, carrying the fresh scent of wildflowers and earth, while sunlight bathed the meadows stretching to the horizon. The horse's hooves thundered with urgency, its mane flying like a banner. Cresting a steep hill, Caelan paused briefly to take in the vast countryside before urging the horse onward, following Lucan and the others.
After a grueling ride, they arrived at a small town called Ebrus, nestled in a valley between rugged hills and distant, snow-capped mountains. The cobblestone streets bustled with activity, though signs of hardship lingered. Timber-framed houses with moss-covered roofs and broken shutters lined the narrow alleys.
In the busy square, a towering stone clocktower overlooked vendors hawking fabrics and produce. Key buildings—the inn, the trading guild, and the town hall—stood nearby, reflecting the town's strategic importance despite its worn appearance.
We checked into a modest two-story, timber-framed inn with a thatched roof. Although it was the best-kept inn in town, it still fell short compared to inns in other towns in terms of size, appearance, and amenities.
After we settled in, Lucan decided to search for a healer. One of our group, Sebi—the coachman for our supply carriage—had yet to fully recover from an injury sustained during the attack over a week ago. Despite using potions, the wound still hadn’t completely healed.
Sebi, a plain-looking man with dark brown hair, apologized profusely for the trouble. He wasn’t much of a fighter but had enough skill to defend himself in a pinch. He’d joined the mission solely as a coachman and cook, so the others understood his limitations. Even though Lhoito insisted that searching for a healer wasn’t necessary, Lucan stood firm. As the group leader, his decision was final, and we all knew it was the right call.
I decided to tag along with Lucan and Sebi to visit the healer. Potions in this world are the equivalent of medicine in mine, but I was curious about healers. I suspected they might play the role of doctors in this world, and I wanted to gauge just how wide their knowledge of medicine really was.
Now, we were walking through the streets of Ebrus Town.
“I told you, it’s not that bad. I’m fine,” Sebi said, his voice defensive but strained.
“You say that,” Lucan replied, his eyes fixed ahead, “but I can tell. Every time you move your left arm, the pain shows on your face. We’ve already used two potions on that wound, and it’s been thirteen days since you got it. It should’ve healed by now.”
Sebi glanced downward, avoiding Lucan’s gaze. He didn’t argue further, but the tension in his jaw spoke volumes.
Lucan really was a responsible leader. He always looked after his companions, and I admired him for that.
We stopped in front of a small shop with a wooden facade, a teal awning labeled "Magic Shop," and windows displaying colorful vials, scrolls, and pouches. Hanging vines and glowing lanterns gave it an enchanting charm.
Lucan pushed open the wooden door, and a wave of strong, herbal scents spilled out. My nose wrinkled instinctively as I raised a hand to cover it. The others didn’t seem as affected, so I quickly followed them inside.
Lucan pushed open the wooden door, and a wave of strong, herbal scents spilled out. My nose wrinkled instinctively as I raised a hand to cover it. The others didn’t seem as affected, so I quickly followed them inside.
The room was circular, with stone walls and arched windows that allowed light to filter in. Shelves lined the walls, filled with labeled bottles, jars, and containers, each holding various ingredients such as flowers, leaves, roots, and branches of plants. The centerpiece was a sturdy, round wooden table covered with an assortment of tools, including scales and beakers. To the right side of the room, there was a large wooden chair and a small table. The atmosphere felt cluttered but organized.
Behind the counter sat a man with long green hair tied partially back, a few loose strands framing his face. He wore layered robes in earthy tones of green and cream, accented by a patterned sash at his waist. His calm expression and the methodical way he poured a violet liquid into a small jar gave him an air of quiet authority.
When he noticed us, he set the jar aside and looked up, his serene gaze sweeping over the three of us.
“What can I do for you, brave adventurers?” he asked, his tone formal yet warm.
Lucan stepped forward without hesitation. “No need for the formalities. We’re here because this guy”—he gestured toward Sebi—“has a wound that won’t heal. It’s been twelve days, and we’ve already used two potions on it, but there’s no improvement.”
The healer’s eyes shifted to Sebi, narrowing slightly as he took in the young man’s stiff posture and the way he cradled his left arm. Without a word, he gestured for Sebi to approach the counter.
"I'm Keegan, by the way," the healer said as Sebi stepped forward and revealed his injured arm.
Keegan inspected the arm carefully, his touch gentle but precise. "The wound is deep, but it doesn't require stitches," he muttered, frowning. "It’ll take time to heal, especially since it looks like you used a potion that wasn’t suitable for a deep injury like this."
Caelan stood a few paces away, silently observing the interaction. His sharp gaze flicked between Keegan and Sebi, analyzing every detail. So stitching deep wounds already exists in this world. That’s good to know, he thought.
Keegan glanced up at Sebi, his expression sharpening. "Aside from the physical pain, do you feel anything else? Chills? Fatigue? Headache? Muscle pain? Loss of appetite? Nausea or vomiting?"
Caelan’s thoughts immediately kicked in. Those are classic signs of infection, he thought, his mind conjuring memories of first-aid lessons and medical discussions from his original world. If there’s an infection, the immune system kicks in, causing fever and inflammation. The body tries to fight back, but if it’s not treated quickly, it can spread and lead to sepsis. He folded his arms, trying to push aside the gnawing discomfort over how basic healthcare seemed in this world.
Sebi shook his head. "No, aside from the pain when I move my arm, I feel fine."
Caelan felt a small sense of relief but couldn’t ignore the growing frustration inside him. If this were my world, we’d disinfect the wound thoroughly with antiseptic solutions like iodine or alcohol. A wound this deep would probably need stitches, and antibiotics would be prescribed to fight off any chance of infection. Here, it’s all herbs, tinctures, and guesswork. They’re so far behind.
"Good to hear," Keegan said, breaking Caelan’s train of thought. The healer walked over to a set of shelves, selecting two small bottles. From a wooden box near his table, he retrieved a bundle of dried leaves and a clean strip of white cloth.
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"Come here," he said, motioning toward a long wooden table with a smaller side table beside it.
Sebi obeyed, sitting down as Keegan poured liquid from one of the bottles onto the cloth. He began cleaning the wound carefully, his movements practiced and steady.
Caelan watched intently, his analytical mind dissecting each step. At least he’s cleaning it properly. That liquid—maybe it’s alcohol-based or has some antiseptic properties? But those leaves… What are they for? Anti-inflammatory? Pain relief? Or are they just trying to keep dirt out? He sighed inwardly. Back home, we’d have sterile bandages, sutures, and advanced medicines for this. Here, it’s like watching medieval medicine in action. Crude, limited, and painfully slow.
Once the wound was clean, Keegan opened the second bottle and let a few drops fall onto the injury. The liquid stung, and Lhoito winced but didn’t complain.
Keegan then placed one of the leaves over the wound and wrapped it securely with the white cloth. "There," he said, tying off the cloth. "All done."
He leaned back and handed Sebi the three bottles and a small bundle of leaves. "Avoid moving your arm for now. Use this bottle to clean the wound daily, and the other one to apply a drop directly to the wound. Replace the leaf and the bandage every time you clean it. And use this one after your wound heals to make the scar vanish."
Scar-vanishing potions? That’s incredible. These potions seem more effective than I thought, Caelan mused to himself.
Sebi accepted the supplies and nodded. "Thank you."
Keegan straightened and glanced at Lucan, who was standing nearby. "That’ll be fifteen silver for everything."
"What? Fifteen silver?" Sebi exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"That’s the fair price," Keegan replied evenly.
Sebi started to argue, but Lucan placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "It’s fine," he said, pulling a pouch from his pocket and counting out the coins. He handed them to the healer without hesitation. "Here."
"Thank you for your business," Keegan said with a slight nod.
Once they were outside, Sebi couldn’t hold back anymore. "Lucan, why did you pay him that much? That’s way too expensive!"
Lucan sighed, looking at him calmly. "Healers are hard to find in small, poor towns like this. If you find one, expect their services to be costly."
Sebi opened his mouth to argue but stopped, realizing Lucan had a point. "You’re right," he muttered grudgingly. "But that money’s coming out of my payment for this mission."
"So what?" Lucan said with a shrug. "Each of us, including you, will be getting ten gold coins for this mission. Your health is more important than a few silvers. Money can be earned again, but your life can’t."
Sebi stared at him for a moment, then let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. You win."
Lucan smirked. "I usually do."
After returning to the inn and getting some rest, we decided to visit a nearby tavern for a quiet evening. Although it wasn’t as crowded or lively as the Brave Tavern I often frequented, this place still had a warm and bustling atmosphere. We occupied three large tables for our group.
Lucan, Gibo, Alex, Tharion, Paul, Shana, and I sat together at one table. I found myself in the middle of Alex and Shana, while Lucan and Gibo sat across from me.
“We can eat as much as we want, but don’t drink too much. We’re leaving early,” Lucan reminded us, sipping his drink.
I nodded, but my unease grew as Shana shifted closer to me. Her arm brushed against mine, and I could feel the soft press of her body. Her scent—a mix of lavender and something sweet—lingered in the air, and I found it hard to focus on anything else.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t used to being around beautiful women. During my time here, even in the world I came from I’d met plenty of them, some even hinting at being interested in me. But this… this was different. Shana wasn’t subtle or reserved. She was bold, direct, and completely unafraid of expressing what she wanted.
Unlike the girls who’d shown interest in me before—most of them younger and still shy in their approach—Shana had a matured charm about her. She carried herself with confidence, her honey-colored eyes gleaming with mischief. It was a type of allure I wasn’t prepared for, and I found myself at a complete loss.
“Hey, Caelan, why are you so stiff?” Alex teased, throwing an arm around my shoulder.
Ever since the bandit fight, Alex had warmed up to me considerably. Though he’d objected to Lucan putting me in the frontline back then, his demeanor now was annoyingly playful.
“Shana’s making him nervous,” Alex continued, smirking. “You’ve got her full attention, Caelan. Most guys would kill to be in your spot.”
Shana leaned in even closer, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “Alex isn’t wrong, you know,” she said, her tone light as she rested her arm behind my chair. “Or maybe…” Her voice dropped slightly, her gaze locking with mine. “...you’re just not used to this kind of attention. What do you say, Caelan? Shouldn’t we get to know each other better? Maybe even spend the night together?”
I felt my throat tighten, heat rushing to my face. “Shana, I’m not—” I stammered, only for her to chuckle and flick a strand of my hair playfully.
I leaned toward Alex, hoping to create some space, but he only laughed. Shana’s confidence was overwhelming, and for the first time, I didn’t know how to handle someone so straightforward.
“Don’t lean on me, Caelan,” Alex teased, nudging me with his elbow. “What’s wrong? You’re acting like a scared little rabbit.”
“Come on, Caelan,” Lucan said, watching the scene with mild amusement. “Shana’s just being friendly. You don’t need to be so uptight. Besides, bandits don’t usually go after adventurers who are just passing through without guarding anything. They know better. Tomorrow’s travel will be safe.”
“Man up, Caelan!” Paul chimed in with a grin, raising his mug of ale. “If a beautiful woman wants to spend the night with you, you don’t turn her down.”
“That’s right,”Gibo added, a rare laugh escaping his stoic demeanor. “Shana’s picky when it comes to men. You should feel honored.”
Tharion smirked over his drink. “He looks like he’s ready to bolt. Poor kid probably doesn’t know what to do.”
“Maybe he’s just overwhelmed,” Paul added dryly. “This might be the first time he’s ever been cornered like this.”
“Can you all stop?” I muttered, glaring at my so-called friends as laughter erupted around the table.
Shana leaned in again, her shoulder brushing against mine. “Oh, come on, Caelan. I’m just being friendly,” she said, her voice teasing but oddly warm. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“I-I…” I stammered, staring intently at my drink as if it held the answer to my predicament.
“Look at him!” Alex burst out, slapping the table as he laughed. “He’s turning redder than a tomato! Shana, you’re going to kill the poor guy.”
“Don’t be mean,” Shana said, though the mischievous glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement. “He’s just too cute when he’s flustered.”
“That’s it,” I groaned, covering my face with one hand.
The laughter grew louder, and even Lucan, usually the voice of reason, couldn’t help but chuckle at my plight.
“Don’t worry, Caelan,” Alex said, clapping me on the back. “You’ll get used to it eventually. Or maybe you won’t. Either way, it’s entertaining.”
“You’re all terrible,” Caelan mumbled, though the corners of his lips twitched upward despite himself. As much as they embarrassed him, their laughter was contagious.
The night continued with teasing and banter, their bonds growing stronger with every shared laugh. Even if he wanted to crawl under the table in embarrassment, Caelan couldn’t deny the warmth that came with being surrounded by these people. They felt like old friends he’d known for a long time—perhaps because surviving life-and-death situations together created deep connections. When traveling with knights and nobles, everyone was serious and professional, maintaining an air of formality. But now, they were like mischievous companions, quick to tease and laugh with one another.
We left Ebrus Town early in the morning, traveling non-stop toward our destination. Unlike our journey with the nobles, everything went smoothly—no unexpected delays, no bandit attacks. The quiet efficiency of our travels left plenty of time to reflect and anticipate.
Almost a month had passed since we’d left Liras City, but now, at long last, the sight of its towering gates came into view. Endless streams of people poured in and out, their chatter and movement blending into a chaotic rhythm that was unmistakably the heartbeat of the city. Relief and excitement swelled within me. We were finally back.