Sitting on a nearby bench, I withdrew all my gold from my inventory and began counting. The coins felt heavier than they should, considering how little there was—five gold and five silver. Two were reserved for the vailhouse, another two for the academy dorm. That left me with scraps. I sighed and leaned back, letting my gaze drift to the sky. The sun was slowly rising, and the air was warming despite the light drizzle still falling.
I stayed there for a few more minutes before forcing myself up. Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out my map only to find it soggy and illegible.
"Great," I muttered, balling it up and stuffing it back into my pocket. "Now I need to pay for a new map too."
As soon as I said map, the translucent interface appeared, this time displaying an incredibly detailed map of the area. My location was marked with a small arrow, and the vailhouse was clearly indicated nearby. A glowing yellow line stretched from my location to the vailhouse, like a GPS directing me to my destination.
"Right…" I muttered, staring at the translucent box. "I forgot about this weird thing."
The map disappeared, but faint yellow glows appeared on the ground, mimicking the path from the map. Relieved that I didn’t need to buy a replacement, I started following the glowing markers, dragging my injured leg behind me as I limped.
The Queen’s order for free healing still echoed bitterly in my mind. Yet here I was, about to pay out of my own pocket. I couldn’t believe I’d been so reckless last night, barging into her room after the guard explicitly told me not to disturb her. It was a stupid move, plain and simple.
“Have you heard about the tournament?” A man’s voice caught my attention as I passed a nearby stall.
“It’s happening in Redwood,” another replied, setting up goods.
“Yeah,” the first said, grinning. “Always fun to watch. Those students know what they’re doing.”
“My girl’s fighting this year.”
“No way! Really?”
“Yup. Hope she wins. I’m betting on her.”
“You gambler,” the other teased. “Dirty sinner.”
“Says the guy who drinks like a fish.”
“Fair enough.”
Their banter faded behind me as I rounded a corner. The vailhouse was now just a street away. I could feel the dried blood caked on my face and the overwhelming stench of sweat, grime, and that creature’s---the one I crawled inside to hide---blood still clinging to my clothes. People visibly recoiled as I passed, covering their noses or stepping aside, murmuring loudly enough for me to hear.
“What’s his problem?”
“He shouldn’t be here. This district’s too elite for someone like him.”
“Ugh, he stinks. Bet he just discovered fire. Soup’s probably too advanced for him.”
“Hmm," I muttered under my breath, ignoring them.
Finally, I arrived at the vailhouse. The building loomed over me, its exterior in pristine condition, giving a rich aura of wealth. The building was four stories tall, its windows as clean as a whistle, and the walls appeared to be freshly painted or maintained every month or so.
Two women standing near the entrance with black robes spotted me immediately and hurried over.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Gods above,” one said, her eyes wide. “What happened to you?”
“Long story,” I replied, voice flat. “Can I get healing?”
The second woman folded her arms, giving me a skeptical look. “You don’t look like someone who can pay two gold coins.”
I fished two coins from my pocket and held them up. “I lived in a shitty country with shitty laws. I’m used to not getting free healthcare.”
She glanced at the coins and then at me, as if still doubting my ability to pay. Finally, she sighed and took the gold.
“All right,” she said, gesturing for me to follow. “Come with us.”
“Hmm.”
I followed the women into the vailhouse, their soft steps echoing faintly as they led me to a small room on the first floor. One of them helped me sit on the edge of the bed, while the other closed the door and joined us. They began examining my injuries, their quiet words muffled as I struggled to focus. My thoughts drifted elsewhere, tangled in everything I’d been through.
The room was simple: a bed in the centre, a wardrobe and chair to the left, and a window to the right. Unlike the last vailhouse, this one had couches lining one wall with small tables in front of them.
Their voices faded entirely when a warm glow washed over me, snapping me back to reality. Both women extended their hands, green light radiating from their palms as a soothing warmth enveloped my body. My muscles relaxed, and for the first time in days, I felt at peace.
One of them tilted my head to the side, her fingers gently prodding at my shoulder. She frowned and motioned to the other healer.
“The stitches on your shoulder have opened up,” she said. “We need to fix that before it gets worse.”
“Not again…” I muttered, already bracing for the pain.
The healer walked over to the wardrobe in the corner and retrieved a small box. Turning her back to me, she prepared a needle and thread before returning. I shut my eyes and clenched my fists as the needle pierced my skin. She worked quickly, and the sharp pain faded just as fast as it came.
“All done,” she said, putting the needle away, her eyes glowing green. “Let’s focus on your leg now.”
“You’ve been through hells,” the other healer said, her green-lit hands hovering over my injuries. “You should count yourself lucky to still be breathing.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “I should.”
The warmth of their magic eased the lingering ache in my body, though my thoughts still weighed heavy. The past few days had been overwhelming—monsters, strange magic, elves, and cannibals. Everything felt foreign and dangerous. I missed the predictability of my old life, where nothing changed, and I knew what each day would bring.
After about five minutes, the healing stopped. One of the women wiped her forehead, visibly drained, while the other sank into a chair.
“You…” one of them said, her voice tired but curious. “What in the hells happened to you?”
“I was attacked,” I replied, keeping the details vague. “Will I be okay?”
“You’re healed,” the other woman assured me. “But the pain will linger for a few days.”
“Thanks.”
“You shouldn’t head to Redwood today,” the first healer advised. “You need to rest.”
“I can’t,” I said, shaking my head. “I have too much to do.”
“Your choice.”
After a pause, I decided to ask, “Do either of you know anything about… an eye in the sky?”
“An eye in the sky?” the first one repeated, puzzled. “Is that the monster that attacked you? I’ve never heard of anything like it.”
“Never mind,” I muttered, brushing off the question.
They left the room after finishing, leaving me alone. I stood up and tested my left leg, carefully placing my weight on it. The pain was still there, but it was bearable—much better than before.
“Good,” I muttered. “At least I can walk again. Now I need a bath.”
Level 2: Axel
HP: [██████████░] 96/110
Mana: [░░░░░░░░] -1/100
Stamina: [████████░░░░] 75/120
Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]
With my stats displayed before me, I felt a rare moment of relief. My health was nearly full, and my stamina had recovered significantly. Leaning on the windowsill, I stared outside. The faint drizzle continued, but the sun was beginning to rise, illuminating the city in a muted glow.
“Finally,” I muttered, exhaling deeply. “A little break.”
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