Breezy winds in the thick forest, shading them from the scorching hot sun, had brought the groups in a good mood. Eating their lunch in peace, chatting with each other about random stories that they had experienced.
Illumi interrupted the group’s chattering. Looking at Estel, he asked in a serious tone of voice.
“Mr.Estel, I have a request. Teach me the basics of magic skill for medics.”
Everyone went silent, surprised by Illumi’s tenacity. Remi looks at Estel, nodding his head, in a way of letting Estel know that he agrees to Illumi’s request.
Hesitating at first, Estel decided to ask Illumi questions, to make sure he had the resolution for it.
“The skills you need to be a medic are far more complicated than normal magic skills. The most important knowledge you need, is obviously of the human bodies. Such as blood, the nerve and veins. Mess it up and you might end up killing those you tried to help.” said Estel, setting aside his bowl.
“I’m confident in my knowledge of human bodies,” said Illumi. “I’ve spent a lot of time studying them in college.” he thought to himself.
Mane gave his full attention to the conversation, but the young wizard couldn’t care less, and went back into the hut.
“Confidence alone is not enough. In the end, the results will determine whether you’re qualified to be a medic. The second thing you’d need is the level 3 magic. What you know may not be enough, you have to rely on your imagination. Don’t think of it as you’re creating life, more so, you’re regenerating them.” Estel continues his explanation.
“I don’t have any other choice. My teammate is at death's door. I don’t have the luxury to take it slow. It’s either I learn it myself, or have enough money to pay for one of the noble’s medic. Both of them honestly sound impossible, but I think I’d have better odds in learning it myself…” said Illumi, exclaiming his determination.
“Just teach him. Or both of you might regret it later…” Mane told Estel.
Estel stares towards Remi, scratching his head, avoiding eye contact with him.
Estel released a long sigh, “Alright, alright… But promise me you don’t go and try to try it on another human being until I said you can. Or you will really regret it.” he said, as he finally gave in to the pressure.
Illumi stood up in front of Estel and bowed down towards him, showing his appreciation.
“I promise.” said Illumi, deep in his bow.
“I’ll explain it to you more as we continue our scouts. Doesn’t seem like we have any hunts for today.” Estel said, collecting everyone’s bowl while Remi helps.
Illumi quickly grabbed his half empty bowl and finished the leftover, and handed the bowl to Estel. Having finished with the dishes, and cleaning their utensils, they headed back to their scouts area. Estel expanded more on the duty and the things medics do to help not only their group members, but also everyone else who needed them.
They stop their tracks, as Estel spots a freshly killed fox-like creature, wimping its last breath.
“This would be a great lesson. Follow me.” Estel gestures to Illumi, as the young wizard follows around, looking uninterested.
Estel reaches his hand towards the dying animal, gently caressing its body, trying to figure out what part of the animal is wounded. The fox-like creature tried to bite Estel’s hand in fear, but couldn’t muster the strength to, and had let its fate lay on the humans in front of it.
“Unlucky bastard. Seems like its throat has been bitten clean off. I don’t think we can do much here.” said Estel, with his fingers carefully inspecting the wound.
“I-I would still like to give it a try!” Illumi exclaimed.
“I guess you could. But its body is already actively decaying, so it might be hard for you to grasp the concept of life.” Estel said, trying not to discourage Illumi’s enthusiasm.
Illumi kneels down near the fox-like creature, reaching his hand over it. He closed his eyes, trying to conjure up an image in his head. After a couple of minutes of dead silence, Illumi started to feel confused.
“I-Is something supposed to happen!?” Illumi looks at Estel in confusion.
Estel looks back with the same expression. The young wizard got curious and started to get closer to have a better hearing.
“Feel the energy coursing through the creature’s life. Using the energy that you’ve absorbed, you replicate the cells based on the exact energy you’ve taken in.” Estel explained to the confused looking Illumi.
Illumi tried for the second time, closing his eyes and trying to detect the energy that was emitting from the creature. A few more minutes pass, nothing happens, as Estel and the young wizard look at him with a serious look.
The young wizard rushed towards Illumi, putting his palm on top of Illumi’s chest. His expression turns even more confused, looking at Estel, the young wizard proclaims.
“The energy seems to be running through his body normally.”
“So… W-What does that mean?” Illumi started to look nervous.
“I’m sorry… But I don’t think you will be able to help anyone.” Estel laid the news to Illumi without sugarcoating it.
“B-But, I can still generate its cells! I know how to!” Illumi panicked and claimed in confidence.
Estel grabs Illumi by the shoulder, “That won’t help anyone!” he scolded Illumi.
“Look… I don’t know how far your knowledge runs. But one thing that is absolute, is that you need to absorb the energy emitted by the person you want to help. The energy each person emits is unique, it’s not static like in an animated object. If the body rejects the new cells, it might end up worse.” Estel explained more to Illumi.
Illumi started to remember the complexity of human’s body, and how weak they are. He went into deep thought, trying to find a solution to his problem, but soon regretted that he hadn’t focused his study on the human body, and wasn’t able to come up with anything.
The fox-like creature drew its final breath, Estel took the animal corpse, and buried it next to a tree. He clasps his hand and offers a prayer. “May your body serve a purpose in this world, and your death may not be in vain.”
Illumi stood silently, feeling helpless in the situation. He was overconfident in his ability, and ended up having only 1 option to save Eric.
Illumi stayed silent throughout the scouting mission. Dusk approached, marking the end of their mission for the day. They all regroup at the hut to pack their stuff. Remi notices Illumi is being silent and gestures up to Estel, and he shakes his head with a gloomy expression. Mane was still active and playful, teasing Illumi and the young wizard. Illumi didn’t react, and kept his quiet.
The group continued their way back to the hunter’s assembly point, in awkward silence the whole journey. Arriving at the hunter’s assembly room, Illumi bowed to the group once more.
“Thank you for taking care of me for today. And thank you for the help you’ve given me. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused. I will see you guys tomorrow. I have to visit my friend…” said Illumi to his group.
“You’re being too formal! Weirdo!” Mane jokes at Illumi’s awkward approach.
The young wizard didn’t say anything, and went off to collect his salary for the day.
“Mane’s right. We’re in the same group. You don’t have to be nervous anymore. If you need any help, we are all here for you.” Remi said, encouraging Illumi to be more open towards them.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Illumi. I’m not really an expert myself. There’s still many things I myself didn’t know…” Estel lashed out his inexperienced self.
“It’s not your fault Mr.Estel. I’m just too cocky, too overconfident of myself. I need to put more effort in myself. Otherwise nothing will change.” said Illumi.
“See you guys, tomorrow.” Illumi said, waving the group goodbye. Taking his payout, he went straight to the guild's main building, to visit Eric, who’s in the hospital next to it.
Arriving in the dark, Illumi searches through the hospital for Eric, in the dark building, lit by glowing crystals. Greeted by one of the nurses who work there, Illumi was prompted to ask.
“I’m looking for someone. His name is Eric.” he asked, panicking.
“If you’re looking for the people who were injured in the expedition. They were moved to the far end of the hospital, at the top floor. We had no choice but to prioritize those who needed immediate care.” the nurse said, pointing to the west side of the building.
“Thank you.” Illumi rushed after thanking the nurse, as she waved him goodbye.
He ran through the flight of creaking wooden stairs. He stood still in front of the supposed room, nervous. Walking in, a nurse who’s attending Eric was startled. The beds in the room was empty, except for the one occupied by Eric.
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“Sorry… For startling you. I’m here to visit Eric, my friend over there.” Illumi greets.
“No, no. It’s not your fault. I just didn’t expect anyone to come here.” she said.
Illumi walked in closer, looking at the empty beds, he asked, “I thought those who were injured in the expedition were gathered here in this room?”
The nurse pauses her work and faces Illumi. “You’re not wrong. But… Other than your friend, all of them didn’t make it…”
Illumi’s expression glooms, looking down on the floor. “I’m… Sorry to hear that…” he said.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. In fact, I’m the one who feels guilty. To deliver you bad news.” the nurse nervously said.
Illumi knew, his head already filled with negative thoughts, but refused to accept it.
“Don-Don’t worry. I almost have enough money for his treatment! I-I can get him the best doctor! I-I just need a-a few more days!” Illumi lied to the nurse, and himself.
The nurse sat down on one of the empty beds. “Sorry to break it to you kid… But life is just that cruel… His energy flow is already growing weaker by the seconds. At best he can last for another day… If you really care about him, the least you could do is find him a spot for a grave, next to those who he holds dear.” she said.
Illumi refused to accept the fate he’s given. He rushed out, without giving proper goodbye to Eric. Panicking on what to do, he rushed towards the guild’s main building to the front desk, greeting the receptionist.
“H-H-Hello! I-I want to ask something!” he said, anxious and panicking.
“Yes?” the female receptionist asked.
“I-Is it-Is it possible for me to ask for a loan! I promise I will pay them all back!” Illumi continued his request.
“We’re not the bank kid. Though we do offer loans to adventurers. But you need to be at least an intermediate adventurer for loans to be approved. And the higher the amount you ask, you need to be a higher ranking adventurer.” the receptionist explained to Illumi.
“I-I’m not an adventurer. How do I-I apply for a bank loan!” Illumi started to get even more nervous.
The receptionist put down her book, and walked towards Illumi. She extends her look towards him, sighing when she notices Illumi is still a kid.
“You need a few documents for that. I don’t mind helping you with them. But if you don’t mind me asking. Why would a kid like you need money that badly?” the receptionist asked.
“My-My friend, Eric. He’s badly wounded during the expedition. I need the money to hire a doctor from the noble family. That’s the only way I can save him!” Illumi expressed his urgency.
The receptionist takes off her glasses, rubbing her eyes. She looks as if she’s been awake for a few days, the bag under her eyes has even started to blush red.
“Look. I don’t think I can help you. First of all, the doctors aren’t cheap. You’d need at least 500 pieces of gold coins. The bank won’t loan those amounts to a little kid. Even if they’re charitable enough, those loans would take almost a week to be passed by the bank. I’m sorry little one… but I can’t help you on this one…” the dead tired receptionist seems to be holding her tears.
Illumi noticed the condition the receptionist is in, feeling bad for her, to have to deal with his problem. He bowed down and apologized.
“Thank you for your consideration! I-I’m sorry for troubling you with my problem. Thank you again, for giving my thoughtless behavior even a single second of your time.” said Illumi, trying not to stress out the receptionist even more.
But deep down, Illumi knows he’s shit out of luck. He took a seat at one of the tables in the guild’s room. He sat down, trying to figure out what to do. Not having figured out what to do after half an hour of silence, he broke down crying. Trying not to make any noise, as to not alert anyone of his behavior. An hour passed of Illumi crying his eyes out, couldn’t sit down still and figure out what to do, he rocks back and forth on top of the chair. His anxiety only grows stronger. Suddenly, his behavior reminded him of the day he lost his parents in an accident. The feeling of helplessness he felt that day, and the same mental state he was in.
He remembers his regrets of not being able to cherish his time with his parents, and the moment he lost them, he had only been blaming himself since then. Realizing that his self at the moment, had the chance to change the outcome, and him sitting there doing nothing will only make things worse. Squeezing his left hand using his right hand as hard as he can, Illumi stood up, and prepared himself for the worst. He decided to spend Eric’s last time together, of which the least he could have done.
Illumi decided to walk back to Eric’s room, passing by a big billboard of posters. The billboard which is 10 meters tall, filled with posters of request, varies from looking for herbs and missing peoples, to defeating giant monsters. But the only thing that caught Illumi’s eyes is the rewards that came with the posters. Some are as high as 300 pieces of gold, and lowest is a few pieces of gold.
Changing his mind, Illumi grabbed one of the posters with the 300 gold pieces rewards, and rushed towards the receptionist.
He slams the poster on the receptionist desk, trying not to shout, he said. “I-I would like to take on this request!”
The receptionist was a bit startled, but sighs as she sees Illumi again. She takes a look at the poster he brought, and begins to inspect it.
“No.” she said confidently.
Illumi was shocked by the instant response, and asked. “Wh-Why! This is the only way for me to get the money in time! I need to act fast before it’s too late!”
The receptionist took the poster and held it to Illumi’s face.
“Intermediate or experienced qualification needed!” she scolded him.
“Please! It’s the only way I can save my friend!” Illumi screams, begging for permission.
The receptionist refused, and rejected Illumi’s request over and over, bickering over responsibility. Mira walks in the guild’s room with a couple of other hunters, distracted by the bickering, she decides to investigate.
“Something’s wrong Loure!?” Mira said, noticing she’s arguing with Illumi.
Loure pushed the poster onto Mira’s face and said. “The kid seems to be on a suicide mission to save his friend. But I don’t want his suicidal problems affects the guild’s reputation.”
Illumi was embarrassed with the amount of people in the room, and looked away, hiding his face.
Mira took a closer look at the poster. “Let him… There’s no specification of failure to kill the monster. Which means killing the monster is the priority. No matter how many died, as long as the monster’s dead. The request will be counted as complete.”
“I knew you’re gonna say that! Why are you always so adamant on having people kill themself! That is not freedom! No matter how much you spill that bullshit, it won’t change the truth!” Loure enraged by Mira’s statement.
“No matter what you say. You can’t change my mind… Choosing your own death is the only freedom we have in this stupid kingdom!” Mira chose to stand by what she said.
Loure started to cry uncontrollably, she took back the poster from Mira, and stamped the guild’s official insignia, and returned the poster to Illumi.
“I’m going home. I had enough of this place!” Loure leaves the guild’s room in a rush.
Illumi stood still in shock, he didn’t want to trouble the receptionist, but he didn’t want to be refused on his only way to save Eric.
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make it worse…” Illumi apologizes to Mira.
“It’s not your fault. It’s partly my own stubbornness. I don’t want people to die filled with regrets. In the state we are in, our freedoms are already limited. The least we could do is to choose on how we die. Die fighting is what I stood by, and I don’t plan on changing that.” said Mira, expressing her intentions.
The others who came with Mira just stood in silence, listening to the conversation, not being able to do anything.
“I’ll have another person to fill in the information you need for the request. You can take a seat and wait.” Mira told Illumi.
Mira knelt down to Illumi, and whispered in his ear. “I know what I’m going to say contradicts what I just said. But it was at the heat of the moment. Promise me. You will do your best to survive. Don’t die a meaningless death…”
Illumi bowed towards Mira, “Thank you very much! I promise I will do my best!” he said.
Mira had one of the people follow her to call for another receptionist, and had him meet up with her and the group at the appointed location. Illumi sat down at the table once more, waiting for as long as he could.
A few hours passed, midnight fast approached, as Illumi had waited patiently. A male receptionist walks in behind the desk, and calls out to Illumi. Illumi quickly went to the desk, and handed out the poster with the stamp of approval. The receptionist took the poster with a smile, and continued to collect information from the books he gathered from the big shelves.
The receptionist took his time writing down everything he could. Illumi couldn’t help but notice that the receptionist had been muttering to himself, as he works.
“Stupid spoiled brat… thinks he’s some kind of big shot just because Miss Mira took pity on him…” the receptionist mutters to himself. Not even try to hide his intention from Illumi, as his muttering can be heard clearly, thanks to the empty room.
Illumi stood silently, looking at the floor, embarrassed and ashamed of himself. He grips his hand tightly, controlling his emotion, and trying his best not to cry.
Illumi was startled after a few minutes passed by the receptionist.
“Here’s the information you need. Do your best on your request.” the receptionist said with a smile, as he handed the poster and a piece of paper containing the information Illumi needed.
“Thank yo-” Illumi’s gratitude fell short, as he saw the receptionist's obvious fake smile. Almost as if, he’s grinning at him in disgust.
“Thank you!” Illumi grabbed the papers, and went straight to Eric’s room. Feeling embarrassed, ashamed and disgusted with himself. He continues his way, tears falling from his eyes.
Arriving at Eric’s bedside, Illumi quickly pressed his face on Eric’s bed, screaming and crying, wailing his frustration out.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Illumi repeated the same words, over and over, and hours later, he passed out.
A pleasant and wonderful dream emerges, as Illumi is dead asleep. A dream of him, Kori, Mi, Irie, and Eric sitting down on a campfire, talking with each other, having fun with their antics and chatting about their life.
Illumi noticed that everyone had aged for a bit, and he himself is already growing a beard. He had the greatest time in his life, his worries and frustration had been washed away by everyone’s bright smile. Illumi suddenly got up, taking something in his bag. Fumbling in his bag, he noticed Kori’s diary. He picked it up and wanted to surprise Kori, thinking he found Kori’s lost diary. Illumi turned around, but everyone had already packed their stuff and were leaving, and everyone looked young again.
“Wait! You forgot your diary!” Illumi screamed out to Kori.
Kori looks back for a second, and turns back forward, as everyone continues their march. Illumi gave chase, but no matter how fast he’s running, he’s not getting close, as if he’s back to being chained on one spot.
Eric told everyone to wait, and walked towards Illumi. He kneels down, and pats him on the head and says.
“We have to go… You can’t come to us. At least not yet… I’m sorry we have to leave you all alone. I’m sure you can find more friends if you try. But for now… Our journey is over…” Eric said, tearing up.
Eric stood up. “It’s not over for you yet. Remember your mission! Save us! Save those who are still alive! I know you can do it!” Eric said, as if he’s talking directly to his real self, as Kido Haruki.
Kido Haruki suddenly gains consciousness as himself. Seeing Illumi, the little boy crying and reaching out to Eric and the group. With Eric looking at him with confidence. Kido cried out, but couldn’t reach out his hands.
Eric caught up with the group, and went on their way. Waving their goodbyes to both Illumi, and Kido Haruki.
A voice woke Illumi from his sleep.
“He didn’t make it…” a rough elder voice said to one of the nurses, with his hand on Eric’s lifeless wrist.
Illumi rubs his eyes and stands up, as the guild’s doctor and nurse standing in front of the bed, inspecting Eric’s body.
The doctor noticed that Illumi woke up, and asked, “Oh, you’re awake. Is this person your family? Or part of your group members!?”
“He’s the medic of my group…” Illumi replied, expressionless. His bright red eyes staring at Eric’s body.
The nurse handed out a paper to the doctor, as the doctor asked Illumi to sign the papers.
“Your party had reserved a small plot for their grave. It saved us both times. So we’ll just go ahead and bury his body there.” The doctor didn’t hesitate and continued his procedure as usual.
Illumi stays expressionless the whole time. From the moment the guild members carry Eric’s body, cleaning him, and burying him, next to his party’s grave mark.
Illumi says nothing as the coffin finally lowered down in the hole. As everyone left, Illumi stood alone, in front of everyone’s grave. Tears started to flow down like a waterfall.
But he stays expressionless, bowing down he says, “Thank you… For taking me in, and treating me like a family. Thank you…”
The sun rises from the east, lighting up the open space, filled with nothing but graves.