Jeanne watched Leonidas looking over the man as she heard Cid’s footsteps from behind her. She felt a soft chill crawl up her spine as she noted the calmness in his step. He moved past her and over to Leonidas. “How is he?” Cid asked.

Leonidas wiped his brow. “Not bad as the Edmund boy. Mostly he whipped himself into exhaustion.”

“Thank the light for small favors,” Cid said. “At least a good nap will do him wonders.”

“You and me both,” Leonidas said, getting to his feet. “There’s not much else I can do at this point. I’m going to get something to drink downstair if you need anything.”

“Of course, good work, doctor. Jeanne, a word if you please.”

As Leonidas reached the doorframe he locked eyes with Jeanne, giving her a sympathetic look. Good luck, he gestured to her.

It was fun knowing you, she signaled back. She walked into the room as Cid, keeping his eyes on the flagellant, waved his hand towards the door.

“Close the door, if you’d be so kind,” he said to her.

Jeanne did so, letting out small groan.

“I heard that,” Cid said.

“I figured you would,” Jeanne replied.

“So,” Cid said slowly. “I think we know what my first question is.”

“I figured Benkin and Gabriel could handle trailing the rest of the flagellants while I brought him back here.”

Cid turned to Jeanne puzzled. “What?”

“I thought you wanted to know why I left Ben and Gabriel.”

“No!” Cid exclaimed, then turned to the passed-out flagellant before repeating the statement softly. “I am fully confident you can make those calls.”

“Then what was the whole conversation we had a while back about?”

“To make sure you wouldn’t go berserker on a Kolville when we see another one and get one of our own hurt.”

“Oh … oh,” Jeanne said. “So you’re not upset?”

“Confused, yes. Upset, no.”

“Why are you confused?”

“Because we’re becoming more of a medicine house than mercenaries. Though on second thought, that might not be a terrible idea once I’m ready to retire.”

“So wait, what was your question, then?”

“Why did you stop to pick this man up? More specifically, why did you bring him back here?”

Jeanne leaned against the wall next to the door, crossing her arms and looking all around the room. “You’re gonna think this is absolutely stupid.”

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“Not Bukavac-level stupid, at least.”

“So, have you ever heard of The Wanderer, at all?”

“Name’s familiar.”

“Well, depending on who you talk to, he’s either a friend of The Sheperd, the Sheperd in his youth, or the father of the Sheperd.”

“That is a bit confusing.”

“Oh, it gets worse, but that’s not the point. One of the more well-known of The Wanderer’s parables involves him coming across this man, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road by bandits. The Wanderer barely missed him, for ahead of him were two others, a monk and a noble, both devote followers of The Wanderer’s teachings, and both who ignored the man’s cries for help they passed him for he was a non. Uttering only a faint whisper, the Wanderer spots the man on the road, carries him to an inn, dresses his wounds, feeds and provides lodging for him. When he found the monk and the noble, The Wanderer admonished them both for their apathy and arrogance.

“When the noble decried the reprimand, saying the man was a non-believer and was not worthy of such treatment. To which The Wanderer said, ‘How can one bring those into the fold if what we show is the worst of our nature? And does one view of the world deny him the basic worth of life? Would not a follower of my way go and entreat others as they wished to be treated? How can you stand so bold to one who you explicitly declare to be one of. For all I see is one who speaks only what is fashionable and nothing more.”

Cid sunk his chin into his neck for quick moment. “Well,” he said after a long pause, “That was quite the comeback.”

“The Wanderer was known for not holding back, poetic as he was.”

“I wasn’t even the one being chastised and I feel embarrassed.”

Jeanne chuckled nervously. “Fair. But when I saw him on the ground, I was reminded of the story. And I just couldn’t leave him there.”

“I won’t lie, I wasn’t expecting this in the slightest.”

“And you’re not upset?”

“Not elated, if we’re being honest here. But I’ve known you long enough to trust your judgement on these matters.”

“I appreciate that,” Jeanne said. “I’m not sure if I made the right decision.”

“Well, in all fairness, what is right to one, may not be right to another. And sometimes you don’t even know if a simple decision might reshape the world, or if a great effort causes a mere shuffling of the earth.”

“Then what can one do in such situations?”

Cid shrugged. “Only what you feel is the best road, and one that your conscience can with when the consequences come forth.”

Jeanne turned to the man in the bed, breathing slowly and peacefully. “What do you think of them?”

Cid nudged his head towards the boy. “Of people like him?”

“Yeah.”

“Hard to say. Most of the time you quickly discount them as religious zealots who sacrificed logic for some form of religious fantasy to assuage hard truths and harder decisions. But it is difficult not to summon some emotional appeal, watching them do what do. I just wish it was dedicated to some other means to bring forth change to their society.”

“I can’t help but feel some connection between them and myself,” Jeanne said.

“How so?”

“They’re suffering by the same men I’ve suffered, and only the Sheperd knows how many have come to lose their lives in pursuit of something they deeply believe in.”

“Yeah,” Jeanne said. “Sometimes I wished I had their faith.”

“Really? How come?”

“I don’t know. There’s just this comfort in them. Having this unwavering faith in something they believe in. No hesitation, no need for their divine figure to reveal themselves to have their loyalty. If it wasn’t so destructive, I’d find it admirable.”

“Yes, I’ve had those thoughts, too. Especially when much is on one’s shoulders and there’s been little chance to find rest and reprieve from the world’s madness.”

“How do you handle it, Cid?”

“Simple, return crazy with crazy.”

Jeanne looked down. “I thought that was the means to approach these problems, but now I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Jeanne,” Cid said, “Would we like a hug?”

“I think I would like that,” Jeanne replied.

Cid outstretched his arms. “Come on,” he said gesturing her towards him.

Hugging him tightly, Jeanne said, “This sort of feels like I’m hugging a fluffy toy.”

Cid grimaced. “Why does everyone say that?”

Jeanne tried in vain to stifle her laughter.

“Shush,” Cid playfully hissed. “You’ll wake our guest.”

“Then stop making me laugh,” she wheezed.

“Keep talking and you’ll get a furball.”

Jeanne shot back with a disgusted look. “Ew.”

“Not so toy like now, am I?”

“I just didn’t know you coughed up hairballs.”

“Neither did I, but I am full of surprises.”

“You’re full of something all right.”