Selene returned to her more reticent self as we walked through the city streets towards our final stop. I wanted to ask about what had happened, and it seemed my fellow student sensed my curiosity as she glanced over her shoulder toward me.

"What?"

I debated ignoring the question, then decided it would fill the time if nothing else, "Is it alright if I asked you a few things?"

"Sure," Selene replied as she shrugged one shoulder.

"Thank you. For starters, what was in that medicine you gave Lon? I can guess that he injured himself, and I assumed it was something to deal with muscle damage or a sprain, but I would love to know more. Unfortunately, I am no stranger to injuries, and knowing how best to treat them sounds like a smart choice."

I had considered prying into her warmer, more relaxed demeanor with the patients, particularly the children, but the truth was I did not care much. If she wanted to elaborate, she would have and I had more pressing questions to ask regardless.

Selene considered my answer briefly before explaining, "The ointment relaxes muscles and treats swelling, while the elixir dulls pain. Lon injured his shoulder, and though Master Lysandra treated him, it is not fully healed yet. Hopefully, more rest and careful exercise will help him along."

"I see...and if it does not, then you use magic?" I asked, and Selene nodded.

"Yes."

"What about Arrissa's children?" I continued after a few seconds, "I can surmise they were sick with something, but you did not seem particularly worried about growing ill yourself."

"They fell ill about a fortnight ago. Fever, coughing, fluid in their lungs, and several other symptoms. We watched over them, treating the worst of it, and they have mostly recovered, but there are lingering effects. The tea I provided will help with those, and they will be fine with more bed rest."

"Could you not just use a potion of some kind? My understanding is that there are formulas to help fight off diseases and illnesses. Would that not do the same thing but far faster and more effectively?"

"They would, but they are expensive and carry risks of their own," Selene replied, "All potions carry toxins—by-products that your body has to process. For children already weak from a disease, that process might do more harm than good."

I wanted to ask a few more questions, but Selene stopped and pointed to a building not far from us and continued, "We're here."

The building in question was a two-story shop built onto a street corner. I could see a sign hanging beside the door with carved flowers on its face and smelt the familiar, sharp scent of medicinal herbs even from such a distance. It was almost nostalgic.

A bell rang as we walked into the shop, and I screwed up my face as the sharp smell became overpowering. Dozens of conflicting scents vied for dominance, and I tried breathing through my mouth to escape the assault on my senses, only to gag as the taste struck me instead.

Finally, I thought to draw my mana together into my Traveler's Cloak. It took off the worst edge of it, which was better than nothing, and I finally took a look around the shop.

It was plain, not unlike the other herbalists I had visited with Simon in Volaris. Densely packed shelves filled most of the shop, erected in rows and filled from top to bottom with countless glass jars and vials. Herbs, flowers, seeds, plants, and other materials filled these containers, and I could see small, neat labels attached to the shelves below each one.

Selene glided forward through the rows and I trailed after her, my eyes glancing over the selection as we went. It was not quite as extensive as some of the shops back in the capital, and I could sense only flickers of mana from a handful, but it was still an impressive variety in my estimation.

A balding, middle-aged man sat behind the counter at the rear of the shop, head downturned as he scribbled on a piece of paper. He glanced up at our approach, a broad smile coming to his face as he saw Selene, "Good afternoon, young lady. And good afternoon..."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

His smile slipped as he stared at me, and Selene stepped forward before I could speak, "This is Vayne. Master's newest student. He arrived in Aranth several days ago and is accompanying me on my tasks for the day. Vayne, this is Neil. The best herbalist in Aranth."

"High praise," Neil said with a chuckle before nodding to me, "A pleasure to meet you. Any student of Lysandra's is a friend of mine. Ah, but speaking of your master, am I right in assuming you're here for her order?"

"Yes, I am. Is it ready? I can return later in the day if needed," Selene offered, but Neil shook his head.

"No need. I can prepare it now if you're willing to wait a few minutes."

"Of course," Selene replied, and Neil walked from behind the desk before vanishing through a door several steps away.

The moment it clicked shut, I turned to Selene with a raised eyebrow, "An old friend?"

"It pays to be cordial with herbalists when you're a healer," Selene replied.

I could not argue against that, so I nodded and remained silent. We waited for about ten minutes before Neil returned carrying several paper-wrapped parcels in his arms. The topmost package wobbled as he closed the door behind him with his foot, and I stepped forward just in time to catch it as it fell from its perch.

"Thanks," Neil said as he stacked the rest onto the counter with a laugh, "Two trips next time, I suppose, eh?"

I laughed politely at his joke, and the herbalist turned to Selene before continuing, "This should be enough for two to three weeks. And tell your master I threw in a few extra packets of that tea she enjoys."

"I will, thank you. How much did it come to?" Selene asked as she began digging into the pouch by her side.

Neil shook his head and replied, "Nothing."

"Neil, I can't—"

"Selene, you and I both know I'm more stubborn of the two of us," Neil said with another smile, "Call it payment when I need your help someday."

Selene opened her mouth, possibly to protest again, then smiled warmly and nodded, "Thank you, Neil."

I helped Selene fill her backpack, which took us just a few minutes and silently slung it on without a word. The darkness mage looked briefly surprised, then thanked me with another smile, which I accepted without a word.

Truthfully, I had done it because the packages looked heavy, and the walk back was long enough that it might help me get a little exercise. I had been slacking off on my physical training over the past week.

Selene left the shop, but before I could follow, Neil called out, "Young man!"

I turned back to him and asked, "Yes?"

"Your master does a lot of good around here," Neil said, "As does Selene. I hope you follow in their footsteps."

"What makes you think I would not?" I asked, not so much insulted by the implication as I was curious.

Neil chuckled, and this laugh was entirely humorless, "Mages care about money and power and not much else. Not sure if you're any different, but those two sure as hell are."

It was wholly different than his past demeanor, and I was reminded in some ways of Simon's father. People like this had an uncomfortable ease slipping on a mask of easy cordiality.

That, or maybe they just disliked me. I would give even odds for either possibility.

Selene had her arms folded, fingers drumming a beat on her upper arm as I stepped out of the shop. She glanced at me, and I muttered an apology before walking past her and towards the direction of Lysandra's shop.

This time, I made it twenty steps before curiosity got the better of me.

"Why did Neil give you these for free?" I asked, "And why does Master Lysandra not demand payment from her patients? Those are not free things usually, and I fail to see what would drive them to care so little about gold."

Selene did not respond at first. Instead, she seemed to mull over the question, staring forward without saying a word. I got the feeling she was debating how much to tell me or how best to phrase her response.

Finally, she said, "Master has a belief. She feels that her abilities are a gift but also a responsibility. Few can become healers, and she believes it is not her place to demand payment for something she should give freely. She will, at times, but never from the truly needy."

I blinked, and my mind returned to Selene's brief conversation with the healer. Something slid into place, and I replied, "The healer's due."

Selene nodded, "It's her personal philosophy, one she tries to pass on to each of her students. A healer does not barter or demand favors. They heal and expect nothing in return."

I had no idea what to say to that. It was as atypical an attitude as you would find in a mage and one I had never really encountered in my life. No mage was so altruistic, at least none that I had met. Simon was the closest, but even his motives tended towards creating something for the sake of discovery and innovation rather than purely selfless reasons.

It set me on edge. There had to be something I was missing, a hidden advantage that went unnoticed thanks to my inexperience with the city and with healers in general. Yet, as the minutes passed and I turned it over in my head, I could not find the angle. So, I had to accept the only possibility left.

Lysandra truly was that kind-hearted and generous. She really did care more about helping and healing rather than gaining wealth and renown. It fit into place with what I knew of the woman yet left me unsettled for a wholly different reason.

I was not so selfless. My motives were not as pure-hearted. I pursued healing to make myself a more dangerous combatant, not to become a healer in truth. It was an unpleasant truth, but I did not feel quite as guilty as I expected.

If I wanted to save our home, I needed to get stronger. And there was little chance of reaching my goals if I threw away gold for nothing more than a smile and some gratitude. I could not afford to become so merciful and would need to exploit every advantage put in front of me, regardless of any personal misgivings.

It was a simple equation and one I had learned to solve over a decade ago. Girem would not have struggled with the choice, either. If anything, he would have scolded me for having the slightest hint of hesitation.

But none of that stopped my stomach from twitching as I pictured Arrissa's children, sick in bed with a fever and cough. If I had been in Lysandra's shoes, would I have demanded payment for my services?

I found that I could not answer that question, and that, more than anything else, left me shaken. What did that say about me? And more importantly, was I happy being this person?