"No need to be alarmed. The news of your survival is rather safe with Lady of Hearth's bosom. Nice to see you kickin' and explorin'," there was no pity in Isa's eye, unlike that of Tor. "So, what brings you here, among the lowest humanity has to offer?" She smiled, at least her teeth were white and aligned like a normal human.

Isa eyed the sword with great interest.

Aeryth forcefully shut the tumbling box of questions swirling in her mind. No one of those mattered, including the fact that people knew who she was. Even if people are aware, I am not someone they need to care about.

"I... It's Tor, the dwarf blacksmith. He's down with a fever, and his child said you were taking care of him."

"Eh, already?" Isa nodded, her expression unchanged. "Wait inside."

"He seemed to be in urgent need..."

"I know what has him down. Don't worry."

Isa turned. She used a stick, one end wrapped with a cloth from where she held it. Each time the stick touched the floor, it made a clicky sound. She walked a bit faster than a normal human, and used almost her entire body to walk. More of a tumble than a walk.

Her coat hid the leg so Aeryth failed to see what might've happened and told herself that was better. She didn't want to know.

Isa stopped and looked at her. Quirking a brow, "you coming in?"

Aeryth followed her in.

The room was cramped. Small, and smelled of herbs, a lot of them, and some unnatural chemical. This place is the nicest in the lower district.

"Do not touch anything in the lower district, there's an infection going around, and you don't want to ruin your figure and beauty because your hand couldn't help themselves."

Aeryth nodded.

There was a small makeshift bed, a person lying on it. Isa swept a glance. "Stay still," She said and went over to the other side.

There was a desk. A box full of small and slightly bigger bottles on it.

On a chair, one of the legs was broken and nailed back—bound by a piece of wood and cloth, an old lady sat on it, balancing herself.

Isa sat on the empty chair.

There was a small bowl. She poured some herbs and began grinding as she heard the woman's woe.

"Did you drink Rain?" Isa asked when the old woman stopped talking.

The old woman didn't reply and lowered her head in shame.

Isa looked at the woman in the eye. "You will have to stop. Next time, it'll be your five-year-old who will come to search me, not you."

Isa made three small pilla from the ground mixture and wrapped them in blade-like leaves. Then another layer of bigger leaves.

The woman took it, apologizing profusely, her head low in shame, and left. She left a ten-jade note on the counter.

A man with a child took the sit.

"I think." He began.

"Let me see," unlike Isa's fragile body, her voice was clear and crisp. She held out her hands.

The man hesitated, but he handed the boy in her hand.

She cleared the table with her other hand and rested the baby on the table. Pulled open his eyes. Down his lips.

"It's just a fever," Isa said.

Jin seemed to be relieved, not as much as the father who brought him here.

She tore five leaves of red-colored shrubs from her bag and three from grey ones. The few grass blades were everywhere in the lower district. And made a gunpowder-like color and handed it to him.

"Boil it in water until it is colorless. He'll be wailing like a healthy newborn by the evening," Isa smiled at the little boy.

The process continued. The words spoken were always little on Isa's side. She didn't seem to mind their words much either. Sometimes medication was simple, while other, she spent five minutes grinding things or mixing the bottle she had.

The curious thing was that most people left a jade slip of ten. But sometimes Isa asked for more, though that was not dependent on grinding. Aeryth assumed it must be related to the price of things she was giving away. S

Isa glanced at Aeryth at intervals, then at Jin with a smile. He sat quietly, eating a piece of bread that Isa gave him.

Once the makeshift clinic was empty, Isa looked over the patient on the ground. His fingers were turning white. Curiously enough, he was the first adult or even the child that Aeryth had seen with this affliction, if not counting those in Isa's clinic.

"It hurts, right?"

The man on the bed nodded. His expression said enough as it was.

"We'll have to cut them, or it'll spread," Isa said.

"N-no," he argued weakly. "I will not get any more job."

Isa pinched his finger, but the man showed no assertion. "You've already lost your job, and any more delay, you might lose your life."

The man groaned, but otherwise remained quiet for a good minute, before nodding. "How much will it cost?"

Isa let out a suffering sigh. "We'll have to see. You can pay me back once you start working again, some other job, of course." Isa handed him a bottle of liquid. "Apply a spoon of it for a week. Visit me once you've used up all of it."

He nodded. Isa gave him a painkiller. He still sat awkwardly. Once Isa waved him away, he hurried out. He was the first to not give her money.

"Penniless bastards," Isa watched him leave.

"That's the last-" Isa stopped speaking. A man yanked the curtain of the hut. Stepping inside with loud steps.

He walked over to the counter, hands folded.

"He's still alive." The man grunted. He pointed at Jin. He kicked the table, and the bottles rattled. Isa hurriedly grabbed the box before they could fall.

"Are you drunk? Behaving like an irrational fool. One of these empty bottles is ten jades, who will pay for that," Isa clicked her tongue. "Of course, he is alive. And he's quite healthy if that makes you feel less better."

The man's face turned red. His teeth creaked, nose flaring like a monkey. He didn't strike the desk again. Neither did his anger leave him any words to say.

He looked at the boy, and then at Isa.

"I have already told you. Kill him." He hovered above Isa.

Aeryth's eyes narrowed. Kill? Why?

"Bil, you have washed your hands off with your child. You don't get to tell me what to do with him, I have rias--"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Her words were cut off. The brute reached over and grabbed her by her coat's collar. Her body hung in the air, her leg kicking in the air to find a footing. He shook her like a weightless doll. "I tell you what to do!"

Isa tried to reach for her coat's pocket. Her hands were shaking from the pressure on her throat, her face turned deathly pale.

"I get to say what to do with my spawn. I've already wasted enough time, if you're not going to kill the cursed bastard, I'll do it myself!"

Jin rushed before Aeryth could even understand the situation. "Let her go."

The burly man kicked. He was close to seven feet, and in front of him, the child was like a small puppy. The kick hurled Jin back, head crashing into the wall.

Aeryth's blood boiled. She saw blood trickle over the white part of his face. Her heart hammered in her chest. She looked at the man—the supposed father.

Never had the disgust and anger been this palpable. Not once. It was like her entire body was set on fire. Feverish need burned in her veins. The a need to cut that man down. Tear out his eyes, kick his man sack until he couldn't scream. To shove the sword down his throat into his belly.

Her steps were unsteady, buzzing in her veins made it hard to walk.

Aeryth stood in front of him. "Let her go..." She whispered, her hand clenched into a fist.

"Bit-" He reached for her, freeing his right hand from Isa's collar.

Aeryth punched his lower abdomen with every ounce of power, she had in her body. The flesh beneath her fist twisted and splintered like a wooden board.

Man's eyes widened. Mouth gapped open, blood spluttered out of it.

Still, this didn't feel enough. Isa fell. Aeryth is too focused on the man to notice Isa yet.

The man clenched his jaw as he lunged at her. She moved to the side. Kicked the back of his right knee. He fell to his knees.

She walked in front of him. Her teeth creaked as she punched again. This time, his nose. A jolt of pain shot through her entire arm. The smoldering rage suffocated all her sense of pain. He was thrown back tumbling like a sack of meat.

A rational part of her mind, raised to be not murdered by her mother and father still lingered. She didn't reach for her sword or the knife. If she did, she didn't trust herself to stop before she had chopped him into pieces.

The man staggard back, screaming in pain.

"B-bastard!" Her teeth clattered.

She stepped toward him again. Her breath was sharp and shot. He crawled back. Fear in his eyes made her feel fulfilled as if it was the sweetest drink she had ever tasted. Then, her eyes took in the disfigured nose. The bloodied face.

The anger vanished, like cold water hailing down on her head. Her mind froze. She felt lightheaded and hollow.

She took a long breath. Calm down. It's alright. I have done nothing wrong. He deserved it.

I did nothing wrong.

The pain shut open her arm, traveling through her shoulder, the neck, which made her head tilt as she shoved down the pained moan. Her hand quivered. It hurt.

She turned away from his face. "Are you all right?" her voice still a little shaky, like that of a child afraid. Isa stared at her blankly.

Isa took her time standing up. Her expression twisted as she forced her leg to stand. Aeryth reached out to help, but Isa's sharp eye stopped her in her tracks.

"Sometimes. I find it hard to believe how irrational people can get over insignificant things." Isa said.

Aeryth didn't know if those words were for her, the bastard on the verge of death.

Isa let out a sigh. "This will be a mess to deal with. Thank you for the help still, Aeryth. Though, you only saved him from a worse fate, if anything." She chuckled and bent over to pick up the stick.

With the clicky sounds of her step, she reached over to the little boy. "Are you hurt?" She grabbed him by the side of his face and moved his head to get a better view. "Should be fine."

"I'm fine." Jin stood up, his hand massaging his chest.

Again, her heart shuddered. Don't ask. She told herself. "Is he your father?" She pointed to the man stuck to the wall, not daring to let out a sound.

Jin nodded. Once.

Aeryth didn't ask further. But there was a disbelief in her eyes. In her mind. Her common sense never once thought there could be a father who would hurt his child was faced with a question. Why? How can he and her father be called the same thing? He's a monster.

"Should I kill him?" Aeryth asked. He was willing to kill his child. He was no better than a monster. No, she had seen monsters dying to let their child escape, die in hunger to feed them. He was much worse and lower than those.

"I'll deal with him later. This has gone too far," Isa wiped the tears from Jin's right eye. "Now, you understand why I didn't want you here."

He nodded. Broke down crying. Isa patted his back, as he hugged her like his life depended on it. "It's fine. He's no one. Forget about him."

Aeryth looked away, her throat hurt.

After a minute, Jin calmed down. His breath still hitched.

I am to blame for this.

"Why would you help me?" Aeryth asked. It was not the time. But, it was an important question. Why would a child go against his real guardian for her?

Isa also looked at him intently.

"You... are nice."

Again my life affinity. It gives them a wrong impression. "I am not nice. I've almost killed two men in the last twelve hours... and a child."

Isa chuckled.

"But, you are. You saved us."

He was a child. She didn't contend him on his words.

Someone knocked on the door. "We are closed for the day," Isa said.

"It's urgent."

"Come to my clinic in the evening," Isa said with an air of finality.

"That's how business works. Otherwise, I'll be hanging here the whole day." Isa said looking at Aeryth.

Aeryth nodded. Even though you seem eager to help others.

"Jin, come help me close."

The boy and the doctor filled the box with the bottles and serum with great efficiency. And closed it. Snapping the lock.

"Let's go. Thank you for your patience."

"What about him?" Aeryth asked.

"He'll be in pain, and there won't be anyone to relieve him. That's punishment enough. Don't worry about me. Of the skirmishes I encounter on a daily basis, he doesn't even make it to the top twenty." Isa looked at the box and then at Aeryth. "Would you mind carrying it for me?"

"I don't mind." Aeryth picked it up with her right hand, her left still throbbing in pain.

They walked in silence. Aeryth kept observing this place for people to live in. In her eyes, it seemed like a hell house. Why did it even exist?

They took a different path. Isa bought breakfast for everyone. Aeryth finally encountered another goblin. Green and small, with pointy ears. He seemed to look at her with greed in their beady red eyes. Still, he didn't try to steal. He was too small and bony to fight someone like her, and he understood that.

Aeryth ignored the feeling of being watched.

They wore rags and carried a sack on their back. It was wet and dripped something thick and yellow tar on the already sticky and oily ground.

Everything smelled here bad, so she was unable to tell if there was something rotten in those sacks.

After a few minutes, they arrived at the clinic.

"Wait here," Isa said. "I need to see if my herbs are growing fine."

Aeryth waited outside, watching people. No one else in this place seemed infected. Malnourished? Yes. Perhaps, even ill. But that was it.

'Cursed Child.' Those words lingered in her mind. She missed her father even more, who, even in his death, fought to protect her, and chose her over everything he ever cherished.

She sniffed, eyes red.

"After all the bravado, the sight of sewer made ya cry?" Isa chuckled as walked out.

"Can we go?"

From there, they took the route that led to the upper district.

"You need to get a better hold of your emotions," Isa said, stopping to look back at her.

"I am trying," Aeryth replied. She didn't need her lecture on how it was bad to get angry. It wasn't like she had any control over it. One moment, she would be calm and collected, then like dry leaves to a spark, her body set ablaze in the flames of anger.

"You should try meditating. It may help."

"I'll try."

After a while, Isa stopped again. She couldn't keep walking for long and needed a break ever so often, Aeryth noticed. "Are you not curious?" Isa asked.

"No. I'd rather not know about people or their life or anything at all, if I possible."

"Ah," Her eyes cleared, shining as if she understood something. Found a piece of a puzzle. "Yet, here you are. In the most unsafe place in the Lesterforge, to help an old man you have met once or twice. Was it out of pity for Fiya or Tor?"

Aeryth continued to walk. She was not going to be angry at an impaired woman for no reason.

So, they did walk. Without any confrontation.

"It's purely out of my own need." Aeryth whispered under her breath, but close enough for Isa to hear her.

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

The journey back was rather pleasant after that one conversation. She liked how Isa didn't try to make any other conversation.

"Of all the wars I fight on a daily basis, these are my number two enemies," Sia muttered as she climbed up the stairs to the smithy.

It was a rather dangerous task, Aeryth realized. First, these creaky stairs sunk upon weight. And they were smooth from years of use. A little mistake and Isa would most likely break her back.

"Should I help?" Aeryth asked.

"I do it daily, what even is the point of a help one time? I'd rather not get rusty with my skills." She grinned.

And hoped up, grinned twisted into an ugly grimace. And another step. A victorious huff, return to pain.

Aeryth stood vigilant, worried Isa might fall.

Once Isa made it to the top, she walked in like she owned the place. Opened the door, waited for her to get in, and then shut it behind her.

She made her way to the room behind the counter with Aeryth in tow.

Fiya looked at them with wide eyes. A relief in those. Aeryth looked away.

"Doctor!" Fiya rushed at Isa, who patted the little girl's head.

"Wait outside, your Da will be up and running in a minute. Aeryth, you can put that here and wait outside. Thank you for your help."

Aeryth nodded.

The door shut behind them.

Fiya looked at her with those shining eyes. "Thank you... Miss."

Aeryth sighed. "I'm Aeryth," Wearing a fake smile, she crouched to Fiya's eye level. "I told you, I'll get her. Now, Tor will be up and running."

"Let's wait in my room," Fiya suggest.

Again, there was a rejection on her tongue. But that never manifested. The little girl was too distressed the whole morning. Playing with her might be the best choice.

"Sure," Aeryth said without any uncertainty. She picked up Fiya in her arms, "Do you wanna hear a story?" She asked, her voice filled with life and joy like that night never happened. She herself had not known, it would be so easy to pretend. "It's about a dwarf who judges a god."

"I wanna!"