-How in the hell did you end up in this forsaken piece of the world? - she asked me as we left the library, after I once more had to convince the guards that I would be completely fine on my own.

-That’s what you are surprised about? - I replied slightly annoyed. - Or rather that I am still alive?

-What are you on about?

-Don’t act stupid. Your “portal master” sent me to the middle of nowhere.

-Okay, Kalkano is not that bad…

-Kalkano?

-Wait wait wait wait… You did not end up in Kalkano?

-Oh for fucks sake…- I sighed with resignation. - Don’t tell me. It’s not your plan. Your kid is just either a dick, or a shittiest mage on this planet. Judging how you emerged from the portal it is the latter…

-How dare you, after what I did for you, you…

-After what you did for me? - I turned, facing her. -You ditch me on an island that had a population of, what, five? Maybe six? Including me, one of which had died, one disappeared and another one is in a coma. Even then, I managed to leave and sort of get a grip on things, then I got attacked multiple times, probably also your fault if I was to guess, and then captured, kept in the dungeon, this time definitely because of you.

-Okay, I see… you had a… rough couple of days. But how is all that my fault!? - she started defending herself. - Okay, maybe the portal failed, don’t know how that happened… But the rest? What is that all about?

-It’s been more than a couple of days. Anyway, we will talk upstairs. - I sighed and started walking again. - The truth is I was gonna try and look for you anyway. There had been some… developments. This castle is nothing but problems…

-Speaking of - she immediately noticed the opportunity to change the subject - what happened here? I was told that there had been an accident and I am the only person thatFor can turn to… So I came as fast as I could.

-Yeah. As I said. Developments. Again, we will talk upstairs. But in the meantime, who the fuck is For to you? She spoke of you like you were some last line of defense.

She started pondering for a second.

-I guess you should know… - she started as she took a quick glance around. - Her father was a friend of my husband. A very close friend. I guess they both left each other a way to keep in touch in case of emergency, but it’s been a while. So instead of him picking up, it was me.

-Hm. I guess that explains a couple of things.

The rest of the walk we spent in silence.

As we reached the tower and finally the doors to my room, before entering the door I turned to her.

-We are mostly alone so I will try to explain what is going on.

-Is it really that secret of a topic?

I shrugged.

-Not my decision, but I felt like I should respect it.

-Fair enough. Let’s hear it.

-So. I told you I was captured, right?

-I told you that was not my fault…

-Whatever. It was this band of people who caught me. Besides it being a lot of misunderstandings and problems which I am not gonna explain right now, it ended up in Jacob being in a coma, so For called some sort of a herbalist. But…

I explained most of what happened so far and opened the door to the room.

She was still lying on the bed, and as we approached we could smell the smoke along the various herbs.

-What the hell was in that thing? - she asked after smelling the air.

-Hell if I know. She did have an impressive amount of herbs and shit on her, they are upstairs if you want to check.

-Yeah. I feel like I have a hunch what is going on here, but might as well double check.

-Mhm.

We quickly went upstairs and after a brief inspection of the herbs, as well as some remaining ashes that she found under the bed, she asked:

-And you are fine?

-Well, as you can see.

-Hm. Yeah, everything is clear.

-Mind explaining then?

-The man right here - she gestured towards the bed - is suffering from a serious case of mana starvation.

-No shit, that’s the whole reason I’m still here. But is it really that bad? How the fuck did he not recover after all this time?

-Don’t know that, but what that woman did, despite what it looked like, was pretty smart and should have worked. Well, it worked but on the wrong people.

-What, it was some mana herbs or some shit?

-Sort of. It was a mixture of a lot of things, all of which are used to regenerate your mana in different ways. I did not hear about anyone burning them though, but I guess it was effective.

-Not on him though - I stated the obvious. - He’s still as out as it is. And how the hell do you know it was effective.

-I saw the herbalist. She is positively drunk.

I looked at her, confused.

-Drunk? What do you mean? I don’t think they even have alcohol here.

-Alcohol? Well I guess we are pretty far from the capital, but no, I mean she’s drunk on mana.

-What does that even mean?

-Oh? The Great Traveler doesn’t even know that? How sad - I could hear her stifling a laugh.

I had an idea of what she was talking about, but I decided to fake complete ignorance.

-Instead of mocking me, explain.

-Sure, sure. You see, alcohol is banned in Axelrod’s domain. As you would expect, people were not very fond of that decision. It did not take long for people to start creating substitutes, but none of them gained track. That is until some alchemist accidentally got drunk thanks to his own potion - potion that did not contain even a drop of alcohol - so he obviously started experimenting, smelling an easy opportunity. After a bit of reverse engineering, he realized that what got him drunk was just pure mana - nothing more and nothing less.

-How in the hell do you even get drunk on mana? That does not make any sense!

-Well but that is how this works. Apparently, if you try and successfully absorb more mana than your body is naturally able to, you start experiencing very similar symptoms to those of just plainly getting drunk. Plus a few other ones, but those depend on the person.

When she mentioned it, I remembered how Eicam got weirdly jittery after mana fruits earlier. I guess that was one of the “other” effects.

-So the same as getting drunk.

-More or less. Imagine how mad Axelrod got. He tried so hard to ban the alcohol just to create a substitute that was even easier to produce and got more popular! He couldn’t even ban it, because it would’ve basically meant crippling every mage ever - since you could just use anything that can refill your mana.

-Riveting. So let’s get this straight. That herbalist - I waved towards the door - tried to cure his mana deficit using a bunch of herbs that were infused with mana.

-Or just plainly naturally mana rich.

-Same thing - I continued. - And instead of making a potion, like a regular person would, she burned those damn things, so, “It would work better” or something.

-More or less.

-And in the process she managed to make everyone in the nearest vicinity high. Drunk I mean.

-Everyone? Who else was here?

-Oh, you didn’t notice? For is upstairs, in a similar state to the herbalist. I guess she left the room quicker than her so she was a bit more sober…

-Oh… that's why I felt like something was weird…

-No shit. She is basically a different person now.

-And you? How do you feel?

-Completely fine. Why do you care?

She rolled her eyes.

-Weren’t you in this room as well?

-Ah, right. Nah, I am fine. As you are very well aware, those kinds of drugs don’t work on me. You tried that already.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

-Right… Still don’t understand how…

Pretending to be oblivious I just shrugged.

-I guess I have some natural immunity.

-I am not buying that.

-Not my problem.

She looked at me annoyed.

-Whatever. I’ll learn sooner or later.

Just for the sake of being annoying I made a mental note not to tell her anything.

-Sure, right. Speaking of learning, do you know how to “fix” them? Or rather him?

-And why do you suddenly care?

-Actually, you are right. Why do I? - I suddenly realized.

Up till now I went along with For and her requests just to be able to use Jacob’s portals. Him being out of it was an inconvenience, but I was going to deal with it anyway.

Now though things changed - right in front of me there was another way for me to leave this place.

After a long, awkward pause, she continued.

-Anyway… yes I know how to heal them. They don’t really need treatment per say, they will get better on their own in a week or so, but with this guy - she pointed to Jacob - it’s a bit different.

She started pacing around the room.

-He inhaled that much infused smoke and is still out of it while two other people are out of it for the exact opposite reason. Unorthodox or not, the idea was good. I now just need to apply it in a bit more precise and conventional way.

-Meaning?

-As I said, let’s get back to the classics. I just need to make the potion for him and he will be up and running in a blink of an eye.

Sounds easy.

-But…

-Of course, there is always a but.

-But I don’t have the ingredients.

-That woman had a bunch of weird herbs and some other crap on her, probably got what you need.

-Hm. Worth a try, but I doubt it.

Back in my room, she started digging through the bags and pouches.

-What do you need exactly? - I asked, watching her spill out the contents of the various pouches onto the desk.

-I need a good quality base for the potion, a mana fruit and a bunch of other herbs, but those are actually in here - she pointed towards the pile she was making on the desk.

-Well shit, I had a couple of those before but I think they either got confiscated when I was in the dungeon or I just used them all…

-Right… I never asked, but what exactly happened?

-You really did not think that out did you?

-Think what out?

-Ehhh… - I sighed. - I swear people don’t think anymore…

I sat down next to the desk.

-Remember this? - I pulled out my necklace that she gave me.

-How could I forget my own necklace? - she asked, visibly irritated. - Are you mocking me?

-Well are you? This is the reason I was imprisoned. Or rather - I pulled out the second, identical one - this.

-And how in the hell did you get the second one?

-You really don’t know?

-No.

-I swear - I hid both of the necklaces back to their previous spots - I know more about your husband than you…

To my surprise, she did not get angry at me - quite different in fact. She stopped digging through the herbs and leaned down on the desk.

-You can say that again…

She looked… sad. That threw me for a loop.

-Okayyy… Anyways, the other one belongs to For, as I understood correctly, the master, or owner of this place. She gave me this as some sort of mark that was recognized instantly by the guards - meaning that’s most likely her family symbol or something along those lines. She said it was her father’s symbol, but she was absolutely not in her right mind at the moment so it was pretty vague.

She didn’t reply, lost in her thoughts.

-Strange that you both have the same amulet - I started thinking out loud. - If she was a bit older I would say that you might be related… Feels like your husband and her father…

-...are the same person? - she finished my sentence and laughed. - Hah, noo, I don’t know a lot of things about him, but I do know that much. It seems like the man in question was just a part of his party…

-Party? He was an adventurer?

-Yeah. I thought the necklace was just a part of his loot, since he never spoke about it, but seems like it wasn’t. It’s a bit strange though… Why didn’t he take it with him…

-Take it? What do you mean?

-When he came back from his adventures, he stayed at home for a few years, but left again, a couple years back. Since it apparently is their symbol, I feel like he would want to take it with him again…

-Left again? I was under the impression he died?

-I honestly don’t know - she sighed and went back to the herbs. - It’s been a long time without any news… I don’t want to believe it, but…

The room got filled with awkward silence.

-Now I feel bad… - I muttered quietly. - Do you want it back? - I asked, pulling out the necklace.

-Nah, I already made my decision before, and I am not changing my mind. Besides, I have other mementos after him, so I will be fine. You need to keep your appearances after all, right.

-Right… And speaking of, it would be nice of you to explain that to For when she wakes up. I mean, without… some details.

-Why?

-Well, she did imprison me for impersonating a member of their order… guild… whatever this is.

-Oh, sure.

The room went silent once again, only interrupted once she finally finished going through the herbalist’s belongings.

-Well I guess this was not a complete waste of my time - she finally announced. - She was surprisingly stocked. Don’t know what this garlic is for though…

-Vampires? - I asked jokingly - Nah, For said she is also a cook, believe it or not.

-It can always be both.

I looked at her confused, not sure if she is messing with me or not - with her it could be either way.

-Aha. Sure…

-Anyway, I have most of the ingredients. She even had some mana fruit - she said, presenting a small bottle filled with what looked like miniatures of mana fruit.

-Aren’t those a bit small?

-What do you mean, small? Those are the most common ones, for the larger ones you’d have to look at the capital or at least at some city with good trade routes, not at the end of the world.

-Well, true, we are in the middle of nowhere… Also: ”most”? So you still are missing something?

-Yeah, didn’t expect for some random herbalist to have any good potion base… Especially here… Well, I’ll just have to go back home and get some.

Hearing that, I perked up.

-Can I tag along?

She laughed.

-I thought you don’t trust me or my… “means of travel”.

-More like “your means of travel are primitive and don’t work properly” but if you think I am letting an easy way to get out of here escape, you’re delusional.

-Suit yourself. But you’ll probably want to come back with me here anyway.

-And that is because…?

-Because I am not going anywhere near civilization, and I feel like that’s where you want to go.

-Everything is better than taking care of those fuckers for free. I am not some sort of nurse…

-I thought you wanted to pay them back for letting you stay here or something…

-Pay them back? - I laughed out loud. - Hardly. They are paying ME back for imprisoning me without a reason, and basically kidnapping.

Speaking of kidnapping…

-Hey, I just remembered something. How much of that potion of yours you’re gonna make? Can you make a batch for me as well?

-I am not making some energy drink - she puffed. - Nor the poison if you are thinking of that. This is a medicine, and a powerful one to boot.

-Oh, I am aware, that’s why I am asking.

-I am not gonna waste resources just because you felt like it. Maybe if you’d fulfill your earlier promise I’d think twice about it…

-How the hell was I supposed to do anything after being sent to fuck-knows-where?

Not like I was trying to, though.

-Meaning that our deal is still on?

-What, you don’t believe in the Law as well? - I grinned at her.

-Eh - she looked disgusted - I don’t want to use it if I don’t have to. I rather just keep the deals plain and magicless.

-Well then, if you’ll get me some of that potion then I will be a lot more inclined to help…

She looked me in the eye.

-Listen. I can get you as much of that as you need…

-Well that’s a sudden change…

-...but…

-Ah, here it comes…

-...but this is not something that is very… let’s say my potions are not something you can just go and ask some random village alchemist to make. They are complicated and…

-Yeah, I got it, you’re making illegal drugs. I don’t care.

-Well, if you want to be blunt…

-Whatever, I am not gonna sell anything, don’t worry.

She still did not look convinced.

-We will get back to this topic. For now there is nothing to discuss. Literally.

-Eh, fine. Let’s move out then.

-Don’t you want to contact your “leader” upstairs?

-She is not my “leader”, I am my own person. And besides, she is wasted, not like she can stop me from doing anything. Also you seem not very interested in her well-being.

-Is that so? - she said, gathering the herbs back into the bags and standing up. - You told me everything I needed to know already, so I know she is fine. Isn’t that right?

-Sure…

-I know what you mean, I am being a bit too trusting…

Well of course I was concerned about that. Especially after her mentioning that she did not want to rely on the Law of Triple Binding. Although I did not blame her for not wanting to use that janky magic, I can not deny that it was indeed handy sometimes.

-...maybe you are right. Maybe I am wrong. But I have a good feeling about you. That’s it.

-Huh. What, you are now some kind of oracle now or what?

She chuckled.

-I wish I was, oh, I wish I was…

We left the room, and despite what she said, she wanted to check up on For anyways. It seems our luck ran out, because we found her door locked tight, and neither of us even bothered trying to unlock it, knowing very well about the spell put on the locks, so we made our way back to the library.

-By the way, how are we going to get out of here?

-Portals, duh.

-Well obviously - I said annoyed. - But I don’t think you can use them, do you.

-No.

-So then, how…

-I already contacted Il. She should be ready to open it in a second..

-Ah. Her. Wait, when did you do that? And how?

She smiled.

-Woman’s secret.

I rolled my eyes.

-Of course…

Sure enough, when we reached the library, I didn't even have the time to talk to the guards to warn them about the portal, it appeared exactly where it was last time. I had to be quick, because who the hell knows how stable that portal was. Judging from experience, I expected the worst.

-Shall we? - she asked as I finished talking to the armed people stationed here.

-Yeah, yeah. I hope this time it’s gonna work properly…

-Of course.

Without hesitation, she jumped into it. Hell, she was pretty spry for an old woman.

I was having a bit of second thoughts, but I followed her anyway, anything was better than being stuck in that place.