After an hour of flying at top speed, Hikaru finally crossing Mugale Mountain and arriving at the Windmore city's bustling south gate. In front of Windmore City's southern gate, Hikaru descended to the ground. Although the southern gate border checks were crowded, one of the guards noticed Hikaru carrying the injured Lucretia, who was showing her Elvira citizenship card. The worried guard approached them, allowing Hikaru to pass through and directing him to the Winmore Military Hospital.

Hikaru swiftly arrived at Windmore Military Hospital, carrying Lucretia straight to the emergency room. A nurse, recognizing Lucretia, guided them to a nearby bed, quickly ushering her into a specialized room equipped with a healing formation. Moments later, a young Frostfolk man, Calvin Fonte, hurried in, directing the medical team to activate the healing formation without delay.

As the healing energies worked their magic over the next hour, Lucretia’s wounds began to mend, her once pallid complexion gradually regaining its healthy color. Calvin, watching over his sister's treatment with palpable relief, finally saw her transferred to a quieter medical ward where she could rest.

Turning to Hikaru with gratitude shining in his eyes, Calvin nodded in appreciation before introducing himself, “Thank you for bringing my sister here, young hero. I’m Calvin Fonte, Lucretia’s brother.”

Hikaru responded graciously: "No need to thank me, Calvin. I just happened to be there. I'm Loki. Glad I could help Lucretia."

Calvin Fonte suddenly noticed Hikaru's stomach growling and offered: "How about I treat you to a meal, young hero?"

Hikaru accepted with a smile: "Sure, a meal sounds perfect. Lead the way, my friend."

Calvin led Hikaru to a restaurant near the hospital called Diana’s Tavern. Inside, they enjoyed their meal and engaged in a conversation.

Hikaru initiated the conversation by asking: “By the way, why was Lucretia alone in Mugale Mountain?”

Calvin answered: “Ooh, it's a long story, and I'm afraid it might bore you.”

Hikaru insisted, saying: “Of course not, I've got plenty of time and nothing else to do.”

Calvin flashed a smile and replied: “Alright, if young hero Loki insists.”

Calvin then started telling the story: “So, the story began after the Aran war, when hospitals and clinics were packed with people in need of medical treatments. Most of these treatments relied on potions created using alchemy ingredients. Consequently, hospitals, clinics, and apothecaries across the city competed fiercely to obtain these ingredients, causing their prices to skyrocket. The Fonte family, including our mother, myself, and Lucretia, were affected as well as we mainly worked in the health industry.”

Calvin took a breath and continued the story: “My mom ran a small clinic that usually relied on the services of Windmore City’s adventure guild to procure alchemy ingredients. However, about two years ago, the mayor instructed the guild to only allow alchemy ingredient quests from hospitals owned by the kingdom, in an effort to control the escalating prices. As a result, over the past two years, my mom’s clinic could only treat a few patients per day using her limited supply of chi. This led to regular financial losses for the clinic, as my mom still had to pay for her employees, as well as a fixed amount of taxes every month, which slowly depleted her savings.”

Calvin paused briefly to gather his thoughts before continuing the story: “Faced with this situation, Lucretia took the initiative to sneak out and gather the alchemy ingredients herself, which is why she ventured to Mugale Mountain alone.”

Hikaru then asked: “You mentioned that a lot of people need medical treatment, but the hospital doesn't seem as crowded as you described?”

Calvin then responded: “Oh, that's because the war was halted about a month ago. However, the adventure guild is still adhering to the Mayor’s order.”

Hikaru’s curiosity piqued, so he asked: "Why the war was halted?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Calvin then responded: "I don’t exactly know, but from the rumors I've heard, it was because Princess Marcela was abducted by the Bailey army."

Calvin then asked Hikaru some questions: “How about you young hero Loki? Why is a human lord wandering Mugale Mountain alone?”

Hearing Calvin's question, Hikaru was taken aback and responded with a question of his own: “Stop being too formal and calling me young hero! By the way, how do you know I'm a Human lord?”

Calvin pointed to his glasses and replied: “Oh, I thought you already knew. These glasses are called Aura Glasses. They can detect any kind of essential energy emitted by living beings. As a doctor, I use them to identify patients who are in critical condition and prioritize their treatment. Although orbies can use special skills to control the amount of essential energy they emit, generally, lord variant orbies emit larger aura than regular orbies. So, I assumed you are a human lord.”

Hikaru's curiosity was piqued again, and he asked: “Just out of curiosity, can you use this special skill to pretend to be a human lord or appear to be critically ill yourself?”

Calvin responded: “Of course, the Fonte family specializes in Body Arts skill. Although we primarily use this skill for healing people, the Chi Control technique is one of the fundamentals of the Body Arts skill.”

Hikaru thought for a while: ‘If I am going back to Bailey with the aura of a human lord, I will inevitably attract unwanted attentions! I need to master this Chi Control technique before I even consider going back to Bailey!’

Hikaru suggested to Calvin: “How about we make a trade? You tell me where to gather all the alchemy ingredients, and I'll collect them for you. You just need to pay me according to the market price.”

Calvin smiled and responded: “That’s a wonderful idea. Perhaps tomorrow, I can introduce you to my mom so you can negotiate directly with her. By the way, where are you staying?”

Hikaru told Calvin a bit of a white-lie: “I lost my hip pouch recently during my adventure, so I've got no money on me.”

Calvin gestured for Hikaru to stop talking politely and suggested: “How about you stay with us for a while? But I still need to finish my hospital shift. Can you wait for me until around midnight?”

Hikaru nod and exclaimed: “You're a lifesaver! How about I wait for you in Lucretia medical ward?”

Calvin responded: “Sure thing, glad I can be of help.”

Hikaru went to Lucretia's medical ward, while Calvin went elsewhere to attend to his duties. As Hikaru stepped into the ward, he was taken aback to find Lucretia awake and transformed. Gone was the disheveled appearance of the girl – in its place, she exuded a captivating charm, her heart-shaped face framed by cascading waves of long, blonde hair. Her piercing emerald eyes radiated warmth and intelligence, while delicate features, including a petite nose and rosy lips, added to her natural elegance.

While looking at Lucretia, Hikaru said: “Sorry, I thought you were still unconscious.”

Lucretia smiled warmly and replied: “No need to apologize, and thank you for saving me. Please, come and sit here, brother Loki!”

Hikaru sat in the chair provided for visitors and said: “So, how is your injury?”

Lucretia responded graciously: “The wounds are completely healed. I just need to rest for a bit to replenish my Chi reserve. By the way, are you by any chance from the Ishihara clan, brother Loki? Your flying ability resembles theirs.”

Hikaru responded with a curious tone: “No, I don't think so, but who is this Ishihara clan?”

Lucretia responded, her eyes sparkling with excitement: “Ah, the Ishihara clan! Renowned throughout the Elvira kingdom as one of the mightiest. They travel around the midland with a pair of crimson wings. Meeting their gaze can risk your very soul!”

Hikaru thought to himself: 'The Kaya clan probably shares the same fiery fowl bloodline as the Ishihara clan, or perhaps the Kaya clan was once part of the Ishihara clan in the past, considering Bailey Kingdom's history as part of the Elvira kingdom.'

Hikaru then changed the subject and said: “I heard from your brother that you go to Mugale Mountain to collect alchemy ingredients. It was amazing how you can go that far into the mountain on foot.”

Lucretia then said: “Oh, that's because I proceeded through the mountain using an Aura Monocle, which has a similar function to the Aura Glasses that my brother used. This allowed me to avoid both people and beasts. However, I missed those darned skippers as they are rather small for beasts. I mistook them for cats, especially since they were near a Genesis Tree.”

Hikaru then asked: “Ooh, that remind me, can you used Chi Control technique like your brother?”

Lucretia replied: “Of course, most members of the Fonte family can use the technique. Why do you ask, brother Loki?”

Hikaru smiled and said: “You can just call me Loki. No need to be so formal. I was wondering if you could teach me that technique?”

Lucretia then answered: “Of course, you're my savior after all. But learning it in a day might be difficult, don't you think?”

Hikaru responded: “Oh, I forgot to mention that I'll be staying as a guest at your house. I'm here to wait for your brother's shift to end so we can go together.”

Lucretia then sighed and thought to herself: ‘And here I thought Loki came because he was worried about me.’

Lucretia felt a mix of disappointment and excitement upon learning that Hikaru would be staying at her house. As they waited for Calvin to finish his shift, Hikaru engaged Lucretia in a conversation about random topics. Soon after, Calvin joined them, and the trio rode in a carriage he had hired from the station near the hospital to travel to the Fonte clan residence.