Draven was suffering because of death mana. That was the conclusion drawn by 'health sense', estimated by comparing it with others she had seen recently. The evidence that death mana was affecting him was undeniable. Now, aware of what to look for, she noticed the tiny specks of darkness that dotted his body and wondered how she could have overlooked them before.
His condition could be traced back to the same tragedy that took their parents' lives five years ago. Their home had been attacked by criminals, but the details of that night were fuzzy in her memory. She avoided thinking about it; it was too painful. What she remembered clearly was that her parents died protecting her and Draven, who didn’t come out unharmed. She had been told that Draven’s ongoing problems were due to a head injury, which made sense given his wounds at the time.
But where did the disgusting mana come into play? And why had it affected him so differently from the corruption caused by the dark mist? These questions were frightening. The thought that death mana could be behind Draven's condition was terrifying. Had they encountered a witch that night? Trying to recall the events caused her head to ache, warning her not to delve into those painful memories.
Regardless, her focus was on healing Draven. Knowing about the death mana was a step in the right direction, wasn't it? Her magic seemed to be effective against death mana, which meant she had a good chance of helping him. Lily tried to convince herself that this was a positive development, but the fear of something bad happening lingered.
"Get strong, Lily," she told herself. She believed that as long as she was strong, she could face anything. Feeling slightly more hopeful, she stood up and left the room to find food, ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Unable to leave the tower at such a late hour, Lily found herself accepting the envoy's invitation to stay the night. It was far from ideal, but she had decided to be pragmatic; she'd cross each bridge as she came to it, not a moment sooner.
The tower, awash in the soft glow of enchantments – a luxury afforded by those with means – offered a safer, more reliable light than traditional flames could ever hope.
"Excuse me," she approached a watcher, "where can I find something to eat?"
By this point, her reputation preceded her. The watcher, familiar with her deeds, greeted her with due respect and directed her towards the dining room. The space was vast, dwarfing even the treatment room where she had been examined earlier. Ten tables were roughly arranged, surrounded by an assortment of food options that, while more varied than her home, didn't quite match the selection found in the tavern. Nevertheless, the sight of any food was a welcome one; hunger gnawed at her, and she knew Draven must feel the same.
She moved towards the counter with her back straightened. After all she had done for them, she wouldn't shy away from serving herself. Yet, before she could reach her destination, a watcher intercepted her. "Mendicar Lily, Your Excellency awaits you in his private dining room," he informed her, his professional demeanor barely concealing his unusual excitement.
Lily's disappointment must have been visible, for the watcher hastened to add, "It's an invitation to dine with him." Her frustration reduced slightly, though annoyance remained.
"Is everything alright, mendicar?" he inquired, noting her hesitance.
"Yes," she replied, the watcher's genuine concern prompting her to elaborate. "I just need to ensure my brother has something to eat. He's likely hungry as well."
Understanding painted the watcher's face. "Don't worry, Mendicar Lily. Your Excellency's meals are usually brief. You'll be free in no time."
Reassured, Lily allowed the watcher to lead her to a secluded side room. After a few sharp knocks, a voice from within granted them entry.
The room was modestly sized, centered around a table set for six. Envoy Augustus, already partway through his meal, looked up from his plate – a spread far more elaborate than the fare offered to the watchers outside.
"Come in, Mendicar Lily. You may sit and eat," Augustus stated, his voice lacking the warmth of a friendly invitation but not unwelcoming either.
"Thank you, Your Excellency," she responded, taking a seat directly across from him. The meal laid out before them offered some choices: two types of soup, bread, a pie with an indiscernible filling, and a selection of fruits. Opting for modesty, Lily chose the thicker-looking soup, a loaf of bread, and an apple. The envoy ate in silence, and she mirrored his quietude, focusing on her meal until it was time for discussion.
The soup was delicious, seasoned perfectly and made with quality ingredients far beyond what she was accustomed to. It wasn't extravagantly fancy, fitting the straightforward and professional demeanor of the envoy she had come to recognize. Engrossed in her meal due to her hunger, she barely registered her surroundings until the envoy finally spoke, marking the end of their silent dining.
"Well, on behalf of the Watch, Dawnbrook, and the Midorian Empire, I would like to formally express our gratitude for the assistance you've provided in our time of need." Lily nearly choked on her food at the sight of the envoy bowing slightly – a gesture she hastily mirrored, unsure of the protocol in such situations. She scanned the room, half-expecting to have committed some grave social mistake.
"No need, Your Excellency. I was glad to help," she managed to say quickly, her voice marked with haste.
"Hmm, I see you're wary of forming attachments with officials... That's understandable," Augustus commented, his tone neutral, neither reproachful nor overly encouraging. "You don't need to worry; this won't obligate you to undertake any additional tasks. We can only conscript assistance in the event of a threat on the scale of war, which was the situation earlier, but not any longer. Unless, of course, you wish to join the watch," he said, pausing to give her a look that clearly awaited her response.
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"I'm sorry, Your Excellency. My current priority is assisting my brother," Lily replied with respect, feeling no need to elaborate further.
"I see. Well, can't blame me for trying," he conceded with a slight chuckle. "Your abilities would be invaluable in dealing with witches. The witch hunt division would certainly welcome someone of your talents. But the choice is yours, of course."
Lily's heart raced, teetering on the edge of panic. The man's words, no matter their tone, held the power to steer her future in unforeseen directions.
"Well, while I'm not obligated to offer compensation beyond covering material costs, it wouldn't sit right with me to leave your efforts unrewarded," he began, his voice still indifferent. "Your assistance was important to hasten our response to the crisis."
At the mention of a reward, Lily's apprehension vanished, replaced by a spark of excitement. To her, retaining her mendicar license was reward enough, but the prospect of additional recompense was too enticing to dismiss.
Augustus observed her shift in demeanor with an amused chuckle, recognizing her potential even as he lamented her naive grasp of it. If only she would consent to his guidance.
He slid a pouch across the table. "This is your exam fee returned. We'll consider your test as part of the expenses incurred. Additionally," he said, producing a brooch, "this will grant you a few days' stay in any Watch tower."
Lily's excitement intensified, the sight of the coin-filled pouch banishing her financial fears. The relief of securing their survival was overwhelming.
"I assume you're still bound for Silverlight?" he inquired, and upon her affirmative nod, he continued, "This should aid you until you're settled there. Moreover, I offer you one request. If it's within my power, it's yours to claim."
His serious, solemn tone stressed the sincerity of his offer, but also warned her against going too far. Overwhelmed, Lily processed the magnitude of his proposal. The immediate relief of the financial return and the promise of shelter were blessings in themselves. However, the possibilities of his additional offer were both frightening and exhilarating.
And still, she already knew exactly what she wanted. The prospect of gaining knowledge, something far beyond the reach coin, ignited Lily's mind. Though, she was aware of the gamble it represented; knowledge could be invaluable or utterly worthless. Her immediate instinct was to request information pertinent to her role as a healer, without disclosing her unique class, or perhaps insights into witches, not only to prepare for any future encounters but also to understand Draven's affliction, likely linked to them.
Torn between these equally enticing options, Lily wondered if it might be possible to secure a measure of both.
"Your Excellency," she began, her voice remarkably steady given the anticipation contained within. "If possible, I would like access to books or manuscripts on healing and... witches." She hesitated slightly at the mention of witches, noting the envoy's eyebrow arch in response.
Regrettably, the envoy admitted, "I might not be able to assist with information on witches, as we have no such materials available here. However, we can certainly accommodate your interest in healing texts. Do you have any specific topics in mind?" His avoidance of the witch topic, for which Lily was secretly relieved, hinted at the potential costs – not in coinage – associated with acquiring the knowledge, prompting her to consider her request carefully.
"Perhaps I could review what you have and then make a selection," she proposed, a hint of embarrassment in her tone. Seeing his still-raised eyebrow, she quickly added, "I'll be traveling soon, so I can't carry much. My choice will be very... concise. I just want to ensure I make the best possible selection."
The envoy nodded, understanding her predicament, and after a moment's thought, invited her to follow him. They left the dining room, traversed the hall, and ascended the stairs to the fifth floor. Along the way, they passed several watchers on patrol.
Lily's excitement overflowed all the way; the opportunity to access such resources felt like a worthy reward for her recent trials. They arrived at a cozy study, adorned with a dozen shelves brimming with books, flanked by comfortable seating and a table set with chairs. The room, currently devoid of other occupants, radiated a quiet invitation to explore the knowledge contained within its walls.
As the envoy gestured towards the farthest shelves, his words carried undertones of invitation and caution. "This is our collection on healing. Feel free to choose what you like," he offered, then added, "within reason."
"Yes, Your Excellency!" Lily responded, barely containing her excitement as she advanced towards the shelves. Her fingers brushed over the spines of the books and manuscripts with reverence. Among them, she recognized 'Basic Healing' by Healer Elaine – her closest friend in trying times. Tempting as it was, she understood the need to bypass it for now in favor of more advanced or unique texts.
Immersed in the wealth of knowledge before her, Lily felt like a child lost in a treasure trove of toys, momentarily forgetting everything else, even her brother. Envoy Augustus, meanwhile, seemed content to let her explore, selecting a book for himself and settling down at the table.
Despite the absence of a 'Volume Two' or 'Intermediate Healing,' Lily's search was far from fruitless. She discovered the treatment notes of an unnamed tier two healer on the cusp of advancing to tier three, and a manuscript chronicling the journeys of a traveling healer from the perspective of a non-healer companion. While the latter lacked detailed professional insights, it intriguingly referenced tier three spells and skills.
Driven by both need and ambition, Lily also selected a guide on foraging and processing medicinal plants, along with a compilation of miscellaneous works on concoction preparation. She was ready to prioritize the first two if Augustus found her choices excessive, valuing them in the order of their practical utility to her.
Despite the potential for significant learning and growth these materials offered, Lily was aware that they were just a guide, if barely. Mastery would require considerable effort and experimentation.
"Only these?" Envoy Augustus inquired with a hint of sarcasm, eyeing the stack of books in her arms, his eyebrow arching in mild amusement or perhaps challenge.
Sensing the hint in Augustus's tone, Lily resisted the urge to push her luck by reaching for more books. Her answer was clear, her grip on the selected texts tightening – a silent declaration of her determination to retain them.
The envoy's annoyance was subtle, betrayed only by a fleeting twitch at the corner of his mouth. He made no move towards any weapon, which Lily took as a sign that, despite the tension, the situation remained positive. She recognized the risk of appearing ungrateful or greedy, but her priority was to leverage this opportunity to its fullest. It could burn a bridge, but engaging any further with him, potentially revealing more of her capabilities, seemed a risk too great to entertain.
That night, exhaustion could not claim her. Lily remained vigilant, her eyes refusing to leave Draven and the new acquisitions. She couldn’t wait to depart from town the following morning, ready to embark on the next phase of their journey.