27 - Mend Wound

Ake watched the sunset feeling utterly lost. There was no denying it anymore. Their names were no longer listed in his [Soul Ledger] as his [Oathbearers].

He cursed inside as this confirmed the two were no longer among the living.

The dusk had come quickly as Rinia finished with her round. It was understandable as the [Healer] had to work extra hard with the kind of clients she had to look after. Anyone who had seen the lineup of the town survivors would have felt the same. Their raw capability was oozing out of them even in the pitiful state they were in.

Most of them were at the top of their game, but each of them was barely alive after the crash. Every single one of them would have died if the Guildmaster hadn’t diverted a portion of the blast for which he paid the price with one of his arms, according to the hushed talks. Nonetheless, either one of the nine people could have easily handled the goblin attack single-handedly if they were not in their current miserable condition.

Obviously, what he had achieved for himself was nothing in these people’s eyes. If he had heard it right, some even begrudgingly claimed they could do it faster or deal with it more elegantly than him. Who wouldn’t have said anything when the victor of the day was pampered by the most gorgeous and fabulous lady around?

The heavily armored lady couldn't stop scowling and the business lady only had Anthon in her eyes. Both couldn't spare a hint of attention to others.

And they were right, of course, Ake had no doubt about it.

These were the people who had survived plenty of battles, perhaps even the whole town combined.

The issue was there were too many who were badly injured and there was only one qualified [Healer] amongst them. Rinia had to make hard choices one after another and she only had healed the most grievous injuries first.

No one complained when there was a young woman with an open wound on her back while Rinia tried her best to recover enough mana to heal her. The young lady had a bandage on but the wound refused to heal because of the powerful intent.

The air was also thin with [Ether] after the attack and any supplies they had were all used up during the airship crash. Who knew how high it was before it was sent down tumbling in the air? Whatever was left was probably already used right after the crash.

In other words, the unfortunate girl was basically in a race either her body gave up first or Rinia recovered her mana first. Of course, he could have used [Healing Hand], but Rinia’s reaction to his whisper had crossed that idea off. He didn’t even try to ask why when her face turned pale from the simple suggestion.

She was probably still in that deep hole she would rather not risk it right now. He must be stupid to even ask as the last thing they needed was for her to lose her [Class] and level because of a broken [Oath]. He didn't know for a fact, but those were the worst he could think of.

But unlike Liara had said, she could never take or announce him as an apprentice, perhaps for multiple reasons. It looked like he would have to do something he hated so he could take this opportunity for his personal benefit.

“Then how about I try something else, something new?” Ake asked the lady after he had made the decision.

Her eyes opened so quickly that it almost made him jump in his seat.

“How sure are you that this will work? I mean, I won’t allow anything that can risk-”

“It will work, but if it doesn't, I’m sure it will have no side effects.”

“What kind of ingredients do you need? As I don’t think it will be a tribal ritual or something, I’m sure only the shamans hold its secrets. That only left herbal medicine and I know enough to outline risky ones,” Rinia said.

She was very cute as she bit her lip in all her seriousness.

Ake couldn't help but chuckle, “No, no herbs or whatever, as I’ll be using the shards.”

Several people rose from their seats.

Ake had his suspicion. They were much further away and he had confirmed that they had been listening. Amongst these people was of course the Guildmaster who everyone looked at and anonymously voted to be their representative.

The man walked over and crouched.

“Do you mean a crystallized ability?”

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“I hoped so, yes,” Ake replied and smiled inside. “I never had a chance to try it, if you are wondering. The time spent in Lady Rinia’s Healing Abode gave me this idea.”

The man looked at Rinia and the lady shrugged. They may have shared many fun times together but they were practically a stranger to each other.

She had not but lunged at him and acted like a hungry beast every single time he showed up. Of course, they had spent time talking between the bouts but not enough to claim they knew each other.

“Do you know what this means?” The man asked him.

“Does it mean women have a better chance to live?”

“No, I mean-”

“I know what you mean,” Ake cut the man off. “Let’s make sure it works first. There is no point counting the eggs before counting whatever laid them.”

“Your appearance certainly deceives, more than I imagined,” the man said and chuckled. “Let’s not waste any more time.”

The man lifted the wooden chair on which he was resting and effortlessly carried him towards the young woman with the deep gaping wound.

Her face was paler than before and it would probably be best if he didn't hesitate.

What he was going to try was the simplest modern method of closing an open wound. He was going to sew it close. The combination of [Strand] and [Flesh] should work as the latter represented restoration and the one that bound them together. It wouldn't be easy even with [Ethereal Sense] guiding him, but he had to make sure all the nerves and blood vessels were properly connected.

Ake hadn’t tried it before because he couldn’t be sure it would even work. There was no way he could just try and risk it when it had to do with an open wound. He felt confident in his answer to the Guildmaster only because of the [Healing Hand] and whatever hidden knowledge came with the ability.

He knew it would work as if the ability had given him the green light. How he knew that was another mystery, but perhaps for another time. There was also no need to use [Thread] as his control over the [Strand] should already be enough.

Gasps escaped the lips of onlookers as the fleshy [Strand] grew off his chest and headed towards the wound. There were some awful remarks for its other uses, but Ake ignored them as what happened next would astound everyone.

His [Strand] was covered in the weakest [Flesh] essence as it pierced the skin on each side of the wound and pulled them closer.

Ake knew he was right when it went very quiet all of a sudden.

He had to grit his teeth when he felt the resistance. It was a powerful intent, but he continued with the tight zig-zag pattern, pulling the wound a little by little until it fully closed.

“The intent is gone,” Rinia said with a gasp. Her gray eyes shone in mysterious light.

“This combination of basic [Strand] and the flimsy [Flesh] essence had more authority than the [Open Wound] or whatever that is? That is impossible,” commented another.

“The intent did not simply vanish,” corrected the tall and currently mummified one-handed man. “It is pushed away little by little, like filling water in a cup and letting it spill. The intent was squeezed out instead of being forced out.”

The only long-eared archer harrumphed, “We still don’t know if it will stay closed.”

“Then let’s just give it time,” the gray-haired man by the girl’s side said as he looked at Ake, and he nodded in return.

“It should work as the ability has just crystallized, and it is called [Mend Wound],” Ake said and shrugged. “Maybe a healing potion will work better now as the intent has already gone, well, if we have any.”

“No, I don’t think anyone has one,” the [Artificer] woman said.

She was looking at him in a different light, well, too bad for her. Ake had to admit that he had been foolish. The [Healer] was by far a lot better at staying out of the limelight than the lady’s shiny [Class].

“Then let’s just wait and see,” Rinia said as she smiled and nodded at him.

It was almost dark when the other girl's natural Healing Point kicked in, and her face regained its lively color. A good amount of surprised curses spread between the small group of people. He could tell everyone shared the joyful moment when the girl mumbled and called for her father, Mack.

Ake was surprised the girl wasn’t the young man’s lover or something while Rinia happily stuffed his face in her bountiful chest.

The girl named Mack-Evie came over to thank him that night. She was allowed to rest fully before her father untold the story of how a stranger had saved her from bleeding to death. There would be a long scar but it was nothing compared to what might have happened.

Oddly enough, Rinia excused herself to take a walk. She acted as if she was giving the youngsters the chance to be alone, but she stayed close enough to eavesdrop. Surely enough, the dotting father was leaning on the wooden hull, spying from his hiding spot.

The short blond introduced herself and thanked him for what he had done. The girl promised to make up for him even though he told her not to worry. Ake just nodded to the rest of whatever she spouted out of those thick lips.

An awkward silence lasted for a few moments too long before a peck on his cheek caught him by surprise.

The girl ran off with a red face while he was still wondering what she had said.

He thought nothing of it because what she was experiencing was only the well-known savior’s crush. That kind of biochemical rush wouldn’t last very long. She would most likely forget everything before she even realized it. Unlike in the old world, scars were nothing to [Healers].

He hadn’t listened to her because his thoughts were not where he was.

Ake realized that he would need the lady to be his shield, and Lady Rinia might be his only choice. He had to do anything and everything to win the noble lady's favor until she couldn’t or wouldn’t even complain about it.

He also couldn’t risk or involve anyone else. It would be best to avoid it, or the guilt would probably eat him in his sleep. The risk would be too much if he was planning to pursue, perhaps, among the most dangerous people alive in this Kingdom.

More good news came on the next day.

A noticeably larger airship suddenly appeared in the sky.