ILIAS PAYNE

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We asked a couple of people about this Dr Creed and were always pointed to a clinic that belonged to an unathletic blonde man in his early thirties. The clinic currently had no patients and the aesthetic was similar to Mother’s. There were dozens of small and large paintings hanging from the wall, I’m sure that the bookshelves in the back had the same books we did, and aside from the desk that was littered with mail and letters, the clinic was neatly kept.

“You’re not Dr Creed,” Camaro flared.

“I am,” the young doctor said calmly.

“Do you remember twelve years ago when you went to the village of Ilias and helped the doctor give birth to a son named Gilead?”

“Of course, King Arthureus sent me there personally.”

“I see,” Camaro smiled, drawing his sword and pressing it against the young doctor’s neck.

“What the—this is assault!” the doctor accused.

“Dr Creed did go to a village and help the doctor deliver a son. In fact, the kid’s right there.” Camaro glanced at me. “Kid, why don’t you tell Dr Creed your name?”

“It’s Ilias of the village Gilead.”

“People mix things up all the time,” the doctor mumbled. “Ilias and Gilead sound similar and it’s your fault for delivering false information. What more do you want?”

“Yeah? If you are Dr Creed, then how come all of the letters and mail on your desk are addressed to a Milton Brown? I don’t know about you, but you look more like a Milton Brown than a Viktor Creed. You’re definitely hiding something and I don’t appreciate you impersonating someone I respect. So if you don’t tell me where he is, I might just carve you with this sword of mine.”

I want to see what Camaro’s cursed artifact can do, but not like this.

“And then what, Colonel? I know the military can get away with a lot of things, but not carving an innocent doctor. And even if you do decide to attack me, your sword is completely blunt.”

“You’re wrong in both instances,” Camaro said. “Does that painting hold any sentimental value to you?”

“No.”

Camaro dragged his blade against Dr Brown’s chest and, from one corner to the other, slashed the painting he asked about. “This sword is a cursed artifact that I discovered. So I named it Slash. Do you know what Slash does?”

Dr Brown stayed silent.

“Slash has a blunt blade, so you’re right about it not being able to cut physically. However, if I sheath the sword back into its scabbard within twelve seconds, anything that would’ve been cut within those twelve seconds will transfer instantaneously.” Camaro sheathed Slash and just then, the painting was sliced in half from corner to corner, along the imaginary cut Camaro put on it earlier. “If I sheathed my sword one second earlier, then your chest would have a giant gash and there would be no evidence linking the attack back to me.”

It’s a bizarre ability, but it’s not at all that useless. Sure it’ll be awkward to use, but it seems as though the colonel knows how to handle it. And if push comes to shove, he can still deal physical damage by using the pointy end.

“Let’s try this again,” Camaro dragged Slash against all of Dr Brown’s limbs. “Where is Dr Creed and why are you impersonating him?”

The bookshelf at the back slid open as a man with a wrinkled face stepped out. “Don’t hurt him. I’m right here.”

I can clearly remember that wrinkled elderly man as the doctor that delivered me twelve years ago.

Camaro waited thirteen seconds before sheathing Slash. “It’s good to see you, Doctor. This town isn’t holding you captive, are they?”

“Nonsense. Why are you here?” the real Dr Creed questioned. “Have you come to silence me? Have you come to take me back to the Capital and report me to the king?”

“No, no, we were just passing by and I recognized you at the tavern. We don’t mean you any harm and simply want to talk.”

“If that’s all, then follow me,” Dr Creed sighed. “I know that if you wanted to attack me, you would’ve summoned your Marching Dolls a long time ago.”

We followed the doctor behind the bookshelf down to a hidden basement right below the clinic. The basement was more like a simple house, equipped with a living room, kitchen, privy, and even a small area that served as some sort of work corner. Dr Creed poured us each a cup of tea as we sat around his compact dinner table.

The doctor had white curly hair and stubble on his face. Even though he was older, he had noticeably fewer wrinkles than before. Whatever the case was, it was clear that he had been more relaxed these last couple of years. His body had a bit more weight than I remembered, but it was weight an aging man would have. Otherwise, he seemed healthy.

“So, you went into hiding and somehow managed to convince an entire town to lie for you,” Camaro chuckled. “The government spent a couple of months looking for you but gave up. You’re still listed as missing, but everyone believes you’re dead. Even me. We all believed that Scar got you so seeing your face feels like I’m talking to a zombie.”

“Good. If they believe me to be dead, then it means this town should relatively be safe.”

“Why did you run away?”

Dr Creed quietly sipped his tea. “I’ve performed countless experiments and cursed so many lives in the name of research. Gods, it was too much. A doctor is supposed to save lives, not take and play around with them. But the state paid me well and, as long as I followed their orders, gave me a good position in the military. But as time went on, I realized that a little bit of comfort isn’t worth even a single one of the countless lives I’ve toyed with. I deserted to prevent—or at least slow down—whatever sinister things the state has in store. I found myself here in Bel Tine—a town that had no doctors except for a teenager in training because they were all forced into the military. I believe you’ve met Dr Brown. I’ve been teaching him what I know.”

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“I don’t know what they forced you to do and I don’t want to imagine it. I’m sorry for what you went through.”

“Don’t be. They gave orders and I chose to follow them. If you want to feel sorry, do so for the lives I’ve ruined.”

Camaro took a sip. “You helped Trisha deliver her baby and disappeared after. Is there a reason why it was then?”

Dr Creed sat in silence, thinking of the right answer. “That day, I helped deliver a baby. That’s what a doctor is supposed to be doing. Not performing experiments. As I held that baby in my hand, I knew I couldn’t go back to what I was doing before.”

“That baby was your turning point, huh?” Camaro rubbed my head. “Well, that baby has grown up to be this promising child.”

“Ilias?” Dr Creed asked. “My gods, I am so glad you’ve grown up to be so healthy.”

“Uh… thanks for helping deliver me?”

Camaro chuckled. “He’s a bit hungover right now.”

“Was it from the party last night?”

“Yeah, he somehow managed to drink twelve pints of ale. It was his first time.”

“Ha! Impressive! I can still remember my first time drinking ale. I almost threw up from the taste alone,” Dr Creed roared. “So what brought you to Bel Tine?”

“We were on our way to the Capital and were simply just passing through. We were supposed to leave this morning, but my entire party was drunk so I’ve decided to stay an extra day to let them recuperate.”

“Who’s looking after Gilead?”

“Lieutenant Doria and some colonel I asked General Clegane to send.”

Dr Creed sighed. “Someone from the general’s host? That’s good. Why to the Capital?”

“I started training Ilias in jynx six years ago,” Heloise explained. “Skill-wise, he’s on our level. We talked about it and he’s decided to take the State Jynxist Exam.”

Teacher had been so quiet that I forgot she was here with us.

“Six years, huh?” Dr Creed asked as if he was expecting it. “I’m sure you’ll pass. You seem like a good kid.”

He’s not even surprised that I’m only twelve and have already mastered jynx in six years.

I raised my hand. “Doctor, can I ask a question? Has a woman named Odetta passed through here?”

“Odetta? Odetta, Odetta. Hmm…” Dr Creed started at the ceiling in thought. “Anything to narrow her down?”

“Short hair, trench coat, jade or emerald amulet.”

“Ah, yes. Odetta. I remember her now. The one with the deaf brother.”

“Yeah, that’s her. She’s Mother’s friend, how was she?”

“Oh, she was a handful. She stayed a week trying to find out where I was. No one told her so she ate some poisonous berries in front of Dr Brown. She was sick for three days but was ecstatic that she found me.”

“Were you able to help her?”

“Unfortunately, I was not. If her brother lost his hearing, then I would’ve been able to teach her a spell. But I can’t help if he was born deaf. I told her that her best chance was finding the Panacea flower.”

“So she’s still adventuring? I hope she finds that flower.”

Dr Creed glanced at Camaro. “You mentioned Scar earlier.”

Camaro finished his tea and set the cup aside. “The government couldn’t catch him and since his last confirmed kill was eleven years ago, we’ve assumed that he’s died.”

“So you haven’t heard? I mean, you were on the road all this time so it’ll be hard for news to catch you. Scar has returned and killed off a brigadier and colonel residing in Stratham.”

“After all these years? Why now?” the colonel questioned.

“I don’t know, but he emerged around the time Ilias was born.” The doctor rubbed my hair. “It’s almost poetic, huh? He shows up when the three of us were together and he reemerges when we reunite.”

“How long ago was this?”

“About four days ago.”

“I should write back to Seraphim and request General Clegane for more soldiers to be stationed at Gilead.”

“I don’t think Scar is likely to attack Gilead or you. I’d say you and your village are safe.”

“It’s better to be prepared. Bad things happen when you least expect it.”

“That’s true.” By this time, all of our cups were empty and the doctor took them to the sink. “It was nice seeing you two again. And it’s nice being in the presence of Heloise the Heroine. But I do have some patients that are going to show up soon.”

“Of course,” Camaro got up. “Let’s go you two.”

The doctor led us up the stairs and opened the hidden door. Dr Creed grabbed the colonel’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear before retreating downstair.

“Dr Brown, how come everyone in this town is so adamant about hiding Dr Creed?” Heloise asked as the bookcase closed behind us.

“He’s a saviour,” the young doctor explained. “He was staying at one of the inns when an epidemic hit us. He managed to subdue it and we lost no one. Ever since then, he’s been taking care of us without charge. So whatever he wants or needs, we always give him. But as you see, he’s a simple man.”

“The best men are the simple ones.” Camaro stared at the painting he sliced earlier. “How much was that?”

“Two silvers.”

“Sorry for scaring you earlier.” Camaro handed him four silver coins. “Here’s the payment for the painting along with compensation. I truly am sorry.”

A silver coin was worth ten bronze coins and a gold one was worth a thousand bronze.

With the short visit completed, we made our way back to the inn.

“Will you be reporting Dr Creed to the Capital?” Heloise asked.

“I don’t see the need to. We stopped by Bel Tine and chatted with a simple doctor. There’s nothing about that worth reporting.”

“Uh, Colonel, who’s Scar?” I asked. “And why is he called that?”

“Scar is a serial murderer that showed up around the time you were born. For some reason, he only murders higher-ups in the military. There were eyewitnesses to the murders and they all reported seeing a suspicious man with a vertical scar over his left eye. That was the only thing written in reports and so it became his namesake.”

“Are you a target?”

“I’m a colonel so if I’ve somehow angered him, then yes. But Dr Creed reassured me that I was safe, though I don’t know how he would know that.”

“What if Dr Creed is Scar?”

“Impossible,” the colonel laughed. “The first reports of Scar were at a village called Abbey during the time Dr Creed was in Gilead taking care of your mother. And the most recent one was in Stratham four days ago. Bel Tine to Stratham then back would take about a month.”

“It’s just bizarre that he knows you're safe.”

Camaro walked silently for a while. “I want to tell you something involving Jaime. Can I trust that you won’t tell her?”

“Of course.”

“Jaime’s parents were higher-ups in the military as well and she believes they died during a battle. I never had the heart to tell her the truth, but the truth is Scar murdered her parents. He snuck into their house in the middle of the night and drowned them using water jynx. Jaime was still a baby, so he took her forty leagues to our village and dropped her off in front of your house. Seeing as you were due soon, I took her in and formally adopted her a couple of days after you were born. I want to tell her the truth when the right time comes.”

“Why are you telling me this and not her?”

“Revenge is a dangerous thing that clouds a person’s judgement and I don’t want her ending up like me. Scar is back and I’m a higher-up in the military. If something happens, I still want her to know the truth. You’re her closest friend, so it should be you.”

I was still reluctant about Tarot card readings, but I was starting to feel like Jaime’s card being Justice was more than a coincidence.

This was something she needed to know. I understood why Camaro was hiding the truth from her, but painful truths were better than comforting lies.

I’m sorry, Colonel, but the next time I see Jaime, she will learn the truth.

“By the way,” Heloise said, “what did Dr Creed whisper to you when we left?”

“It was a bit cryptic. More like a warning. He said, Don’t trust anyone in the military that you don’t know.”