After grabbing lunch at the main burger shack, the trio ventured into the village to speak with the local doctors. Myrese quietly observed how friendly and welcoming the locals were towards Erik and Talia, figuring that the projects they had developed made a massive impact on their lives. She noticed that several of the villagers were sporting some of Geritara's designs, indicating his budding influence and success in the fashion of Restia Village. Not only that, but there were a couple of food stalls serving foreign dishes even she wasn't knowledgeable about, possibly drawing inspiration from Erik's daring burger dish.

They arrived at the village medical center, a modest yet well-kept building that was surprisingly large given the size of the village. The doctor in charge was a middle-aged man named Castellanos Muriden. He had kind brown eyes and short, sandy hair with a matching beard that was neatly trimmed. Standing almost as tall as Erik, Castellanos gave off the aura of a father rather than a doctor.

"What can I do you for, Burger King and Beggar Princess?" he greeted them warmly.

Erik managed to stifle a scowl at the nickname. "Well Cas, I was wondering if you had any open spots for apprenticeship. Our new elf friend Myr here would like to help out."

"Myrese," she automatically corrected him before hesitantly stepping forward. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Castellanos."

The doctor looked Myrese over, his gaze lingering on her pointed ears. "Ah, yes. A young elf with the ambition to learn healing arts. It's not every day we see one of your kind here. But we're always in need of eager hands."

"Actually... I'm 1,345 years old... and I somehow have the ability to heal whenever I try to kill..." Myrese mumbled.

"Wait, damn, you're that old?" Erik blurted without thinking, "You look so young and curvy- er, good."

Myrese shot him a glare that could have turned him to stone if she had the power. "Thank you, Erik, for your... insightful commentary."

Castellanos chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Young man, I assure you, age is but a number in the grand tapestry of life. Now, Myrese, I'd be happy to have you under my wing. We can always use more healers, especially those with unique talents." He turned and began walking down the hallway. "Follow me, and I'll show you around the medical center."

Myrese hesitated, glancing back at Erik and Talia. They nodded encouragingly at her, giving her synchronized smiles.

"We'll stick out here till you're back," Erik reassured her. "Take care."

With a nod, Myrese followed Castellanos, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The medical center was bustling with activity, and she felt like a small fish in a very large pond. As they walked, Castellanos spoke of the various herbs they used in their potions and the intricate spells that could save lives. She listened intently, eager to learn as much as she could.

As a 5th Circle elven mage, Myrese had learned spells suited for assassination- or rather, they were supposed to be. Every time she used them, she ended up fixing or healing her targets. There was one point where she literally tried to electrocute a target, but instead just gave him a gentle shock that made his hair stand on end and cured his migraine.

Castellanos led her into a room filled with various plants and ingredients. The walls were lined with shelves that held bottles of different sizes and colors. The scent of herbs and the faint smell of burnt incense filled the room, bringing a comforting warmth that calmed her nerves. The doctor continued to briefly explain the various objects in the room before moving along with the orientation.

"Here is where we mix our potions," Castellanos said, pointing to a large wooden table with various cauldrons and mixing bowls scattered across it. "You'll be spending a lot of time here, learning the basics of medical magic. It's a mix of traditional herbalism and modern sorcery, quite the fusion."

Myrese nodded, her eyes wide as she took in the room. She had never seen so many different types of plants in one place, even back in her own village.

"I see you're eager to learn," Castellanos noted with a smile. "That's good. We can always use more healers, especially with your unique talents."

Myrese nodded, her heart racing with excitement. This was a chance to start anew, to put her dark past behind her and do something that truly mattered.

----------------------------------------

As the pair returned to the waiting room, they found a bizarre sight waiting for them.

Myrese and Castellanos stared at Erik and Talia, who were engaged in a rather intense arm-wrestling match. The sight was so out of place in the otherwise solemn medical center that it took them a moment to process what was happening. Erik's muscles bulged as he strained against Talia, who was using only one hand to keep him at bay.

Stolen novel; please report.

"The fuck... how are you... so goddamn strong?!" Erik's arm trembled as he struggled to keep up with Talia's one-handed grip.

"The higher a mage's Circle rank, the more physically fit they are," Talia absentmindedly replied, not taking her eyes off their locked arms. "It's part of the training. But really, I'm not that strong. At least compared to other sorcerers I know."

Talia glanced up, noticing the newcomers. "Oh, you're back," she casually greeted them, ending the arm-wrestling match with a smirk. Erik's arm slammed down on the table with a thud, his entire body flipping backwards with the motion.

He wheezed as he landed on his back, staring up at Myrese. "Oh shit. Hey, Myr."

Myrese's eyes widened as she took in the scene. "What are you two doing?"

"Just... figuring out our strength," Erik gasped, his arm shaking. "I thought I had some magic going for me, but apparently, it's no match for a 12th Circle."

"Regardless Erik, you're strangely strong for someone with a weak magic," Talia remarked, standing up. "I'd put you around the 1st or 2nd Circle, but your strength seems to be around the 3rd."

"W-well, that's good and all, but must I remind everyone that the medical center isn't exactly the best place for such... displays of power?" Dr. Castellanos coughed politely, his eyes glancing at the patients in the waiting area who had stopped their conversations to watch the peculiar spectacle.

Erik sat up with a grunt, rubbing his arm. "Sorry, Doc. Had to settle the score with Talia. Anyways, are you guys done with the orientation?"

"Yes, I believe so," Myrese replied, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I'll be starting my apprenticeship tomorrow."

"Excellent," Castellanos said with a nod. "You'll be a great asset to us. Now, I must return to my patients. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the staff. They'll be more than happy to help."

After the doctor left, Myrese turned to Erik and Talia, her cheeks slightly red. "I can't believe you guys were arm-wrestling in a medical center," she said, shaking her head.

"That's pretty tame compared to some of the stuff we've done," Talia said, casually. "But let's not get into that right now."

"Right," Erik agreed, getting to his feet. "We should probably get you settled in and start planning for tomorrow. You're going to need to be on top of your game, Myr."

"It's- ugh, never mind," Myrese sighed, rolling her eyes at Erik. "So, what's next?"

"We go drinking?"

"No," Erik immediately shot down Talia's suggestion with a disappointed glare. "We check on our businesses to see how they're going. Then, you guys can have the rest of the day off while I plan more scams- plan more things out."

"You're no fun," Talia pouted with a huff.

"It's not even late afternoon yet, dude. Save the drinking for when it's actually time to relax," Erik shook his head, leading the way out of the medical center.

The trio made their way to the water park near the lake, where the secondary burger shack had become a busy place. The park was bustling with activity, children playing in the water, adults lounging on floating mats, and the scent of grilling meat wafting through the air. The burger shack looked surprisingly well-managed, with a team of villagers that Alyssa had hired and trained to keep the business running smoothly.

"Hey, Erik!" Ricteronu jogged up to the three, dressed in the water park's uniform he helped design. The man's enthusiasm was infectious as he gave a crushing pat on Erik's back. "The place is hopping! And the burgers? They're selling like hotcakes!"

"Glad to hear that," Erik wheezed from the hit. "How's managing the park been for you so far, Ric?"

"It's great! The villagers love the new job opportunities and the park's been a hit," Ric said, beaming with pride. "But it's not all fun and games. We had to deal with a couple of rowdy kids who tried to pull a fast one on the burger shack, but nothing we couldn't handle."

"No matter the world, some things don't change..." Erik muttered to himself, almost wistfully. He couldn't help but smile at Ric's exuberance. It was always refreshing to see someone who enjoyed their work so much, especially in a place that seemed to run on magic and wonder.

The water park was bustling with activity. Laughter filled the air as children played in the crystal clear waters, splashing each other under the watchful eyes of their parents. The burger shack was a flurry of motion, with villagers dressed in uniforms that Geritara helped create, taking orders and flipping burgers with surprising efficiency. Alyssa and Ricteronu had really done a number on this place. It was like a slice of his old life had been transplanted into this fantasy world.

"Oh, that reminds me," Ricteronu began, turning towards Erik. "There was a dwarf that stopped by, said his name was Grom. He was looking for you."

"Right, right. He and I were going to discuss plans for a partnership," Erik slowly smiled devilishly. "We're going to see if we can mass produce my rune generators. Where is he now?"

Ricteronu shrugged. "He said he'd wait for you at the village's forge."

"Dammit," Erik made a face. They had just left the village, but now he'd have to walk back. And they hadn't even checked up on the burger shack outlet yet. He turned to Talia and Myrese, who were gazing at him expectantly.

"Can you guys... never mind. Guess we'll end things early for now. You ladies have fun, and we'll meet up at the main burger shack later tonight." Erik waved his hand dismissively. As much as he wanted to check on how it was doing, Erik was completely certain that Alyssa was doing an excellent job of managing both burger shacks.

Myrese looked slightly disappointed but nodded. "We'll be back before it gets too dark," she promised.

Erik nodded. "Take care."