章節 5: Chapter 5: Healer Hut
As soon as I open the door, a loud 'kapow!' is heard through the room as something smashes into the wall. I jump back startled, catching my breath. Slowly looking over to the source of the commotion, I see that a person has smashed their fist on the wall.
The person looks similar to Z'zataria, matching her hair and horns. However, his hair is tied back messily as he wears more ornate clothes than Z'zataria.
He must be her father or something.
As the sound fades, he releases his hand and pulls back his fist, dusting off his palm. A pair of glasses slide down his nose before he pushes them back up. He lets out a stern breath.
"It's taking too long...," he says, not even glancing in my direction.
Then noticing me, he stands up. With a shocked face, he comes over to me and gives a slight bow. "Sorry, you had to see that. I tend to go overboard when I'm upset. My name is Kaigara Aal'ok." He obliviously forces a calm expression, though he still can't manage a simple smile.
Not exactly the nicest greeting but what are you going to do? "Ah, it's alright. No harm done," I reply lightly, "The name's Winston."
Kaigara seems satisfied with this answer and takes another look at me, seemingly trying to make sure I'm okay. After a moment of silence, he clears his throat. "So.. Um... What happened to your clothes?"
My mind blanks for a moment, a little embarrassed, "Oh- my clothes-", I look at the bandages, "I'm okay, it's just... Got in a bit of a scuffle with a winged bear... Heh heh...", I cover my mouth as I begin to awkwardly giggle a bit.
Kaigara chuckles like an old man, "Well huh... But you don't seem like the type to get into fights," he says calmly.
"Oh... Yeah, I'm really not trying to", I giggle again awkwardly. I don't know why but this guy is really intimidating. Is it because he doesn't smile much or because he is somewhat tall? Maybe both?
However, suddenly I notice his focus shifts to the top of my head. "Young sir, are you from outside of town?" He says curiously.
"Eh- well... Um...", I stutter, though he interrupts it quickly.
"Oh, my apologies. I'm a bit curious!", Kaigara chuckles, "You probably are here for a reason, so, I'll be waiting over there if you need a friendly chat", he then walks over to where he was sitting before.
Now I can finally get a look at the place. The healer's hut was smaller than I expected, with a few simple furnishings.
As I glance around, I seem to be in a waiting room. Wooden chairs are cushioned with lead pillows aligned on either side of the room. Then I notice what's at the end of the room, a counter like one of a pharmacy, with less... drugs.
This actually is pretty nice, the lack of chemical smells and blood is enjoyable. And with flowers everywhere, I'm honestly surprised I'm not sneezing everywhere. Though, they do make it smell nice.
I walk over to the counter, however, no one is there. I look around but I can't see anyone at all. Well, other than Kaigara...
I take a moment to breathe it all in as I wait. I'm not a very patient person but there isn't much I can do. However, just as I'm about to lean closer to smell one of the more interesting flowers, a soft voice startles me.
"Hello there, young one. Is there anything I can do for you?" a soothing voice asks from behind me.
Turning around, to see a new figure cloaked in a flowing robe made of shimmering white fabric that seems to shift colors with every movement. Their face is partially obscured by a hood, but, I'm still about to make out the blonde hair drooped down in front of their chest.
"I... uh, yeah...," I stammer slightly, caught off guard by their sudden appearance.
The cloaked figure nods, the fabric of their hood rustling softly. Though, just then they take off their cloak's hood to reveal a chubby soft face of a woman with horns that cross each other as they curve above her head.
I stand stunned for a moment but I quickly shake it off before asking, "Could you perhaps be... the doctor here? Or at least know where I can find them?"
"Oh!", She giggles, "yes, yes I am." She has a gentle smile. After a moment she walks and stands behind the counter.
Her soft, kind eyes exude this certain energy around her that sharply contrasts Kaigara's aura. However, weirdly, it also feels similar.
"I am known as Elara," she introduces herself with a slight nod, "I'm the resident healer and shaman of the village."
I couldn't help but smile as she did, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Elara. I'm Winston," I respond.
Elara gestures for me to come closer, "What brings you to our here, Winston? Have you sustained injuries or have you come just to visit?"
I place a hand on my bandages, now feeling no lingering pain, "I'll be fine. I'm just wanting to make sure Z'zatira's okay."
Elara's eyes softened and so did her mouth as she frowned slightly. Though she takes a deep breath and manages to smile a bit, "She's alive... but she hasn't woken up. I've been working on it but, it seems there is a magic interference that will need to wear off."
With Elara's words, I look down at the cuff on my wrist. I nod slowly, trying to process the situation. Magic interference? What does that even mean? Does it have to do with what Z'zatira was trying to do with the cuff? ...
"I... Is there anything I can do to help?" I ask, my voice filled with genuine concern for Z'zataria as I look back up into Elara's eyes. Though, for some reason, I keep looking away from her eyes.
Elara then looks at me with a mix of gratitude and sadness in her eyes. "If you want to help, then please come." She gestures for me to follow her, "And tell that old geezer to come as well,"
I look back at Kaigara who was already getting up. We both follow Elara through a narrow doorway that leads to a dimly lit room filled with shelves of assorted herbs, vials, and other things I wouldn't see in a doctor's office back home. The air is thick with the smell of a warm, earthy scent with a hint of sweetness, and a soft glow emanates from crystals scattered along the walls of the room.
My eyes adjusted to the slight lighting, and then I noticed some of the crystals shimmered with a deep, enchanting purple, with pointed edges. The other crystals are slightly translucent, glowing a gentle, pure luminescence. Then my gaze wanders back to Elara.
Elara walks over to a bed where Z'zataria lies unconscious, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Next to her on a bedside table is a glass vase. That vase has sticks in it with a subtle smoke emitting from its tips.
I glance back at Kaigara, his expression almost unreadable. He stands by the doorway, his violet eyes fixed on Z'zataria. I can tell by the way he is looking at her that he is concerned. Honestly, same.
I look back to Z'zataria for a moment before looking back at Elara. Her hands move with a grace that seems almost ethereal as she hovers them over Z'zataria, her eyes closed in deep concentration. The soft glow from the crystals begins to grow, bathing the room in a gentle light, and casting long shadows on the walls.
I back up and stand beside Kaigara, our shared concern palpable in the air. I glance at him, noticing a furrow in his brow, a rare display of emotion on his otherwise stoic face. His eyes flicker between Z'zataria and Elara, his thoughts unreadable.
As Elara continues, a faint whispering sound fills the room. Elara's eyes fill and glow with white lights as she whispers along. The air seems to charge with energy. As tension builds with every passing moment, I feel a shiver run down my spine.
Then Suddenly I felt a prick in my wrist as the cuff beeped, "Caution! Unfamiliar magic detected! AA serum activated."
I instinctively grabbed my arm and fell to my knees as a burning sensation flew into my veins. I grit my teeth against the searing pain, my vision blurring as the room spins around me. Through the haze, I catch a glimpse of Kaigara moving towards me as he puts a hand on my shoulder.
The crystals lining the shelves pulse in rhythm with my accelerating heartbeat, casting a surreal glow over the chamber. Each breath feels like fire in my lungs, and I struggle to maintain focus. As I cling to consciousness, an explosion of energy rips through the air, sending shockwaves reverberating through the room. With this, I couldn't help but collapse.
.
.
.
"Aug...", This is a familiar feeling, isn't it? I groan before slowly opening my eyes to see the room I was in before... Without the... Overly magic stuff.
I sit up to notice that I'm in one of the beds that Z'zatira was in. I quickly look around to see Z'zatira in the bed beside my own. It also doesn't seem the magic thing worked. She was probably showing me that her magic wasn't working and didn't expect me to collapse.
"Ugh...", I sigh before looking at the cuff on my wrist. Though, now it has some kind of notification screen that imitates a sci-fi look. I knew before that it had a screen like a computer but I never thought of checking out the icons.
Right now though, the notification reads, "AA serum effect morphed. Effect gained magic resistance level one. And effect gained, mana level one."
"...", I sat there stunned and silent for a whole minute before thinking, "Well... Do these show up every time I hear that robotic voice? But maybe there is a more important question..." I take a deep breath before yelling, "What the actual fuck!?"
"Are you alright?" Kaigara's voice cuts through my outburst, as he approaches my bedside. His usually stoic demeanor is softened by genuine worry. "Are you in pain?"
I hesitate but I shake my head, still trying to process the information from the cuff. "No no..., no pain. Just... a bit... surprised," I manage to say.
Kaigara nods slowly, "Surprises seem to be a theme recently," he says with a faint, wry smile.
Elara joins us by the bedside, her presence calming the air around us. "Winston, I'm sorry... I wasn't aware you were that sensitive to magic," she says softly, her concern evident as she looks toward Z'zatira's still form. "Surely now though you understand there's a lingering magical interference affecting her."
I look down at the cuff again, "Magic resistance and mana... It's like the cuff is adapting to this place," I think to myself.
Maybe... I start to think but end up saying it out loud, "Is there anything more we can do for Z'zatira?"
Elara's expression softens, a mix of empathy and concern. "I've done all I can for now," she explains gently.
"However...", she looks down with her eyes closed. Then Elara lifts her head after taking in a deep breath, "I know of a spell that could potentially disable the magical interference. Unfortunately, it requires rare ingredients-one from a powerful monster and another from a rare plant. Both... I do not own any of them."
Kaigara's jaw tightens slightly as his eyebrows furrow, his worry for Z'zatira palpable. "What ingredients?" he asks, his voice steady despite the underlying concern.
Elara sighs softly. "The monster, a Chimera Serpent, roams its territory, Marcmarsh swamp. The plant, a Moonbloom, grows in the Lovni Meadow and only blooms when the mood is at its peak. Both places are dangerous, especially for those unfamiliar with them."
Kaigara takes another glance at Z'zatira before taking a deep breath. He stands up straight and his expression is even more determined than before. "I'll go then, after all..." He says before briefly closing his eyes, "I need to save my daughter."
Daughter!- oh wait that isn't important right now... Um... Anyway... Elara suddenly interjects, "You can't leave! I recognize you really want to help Z'zatira but you can't leave the rest of the village..."
Kaigara sighs, "But I have to... The village will just have to live without a village chief for a bit."
Elara pulls back her robe almost as she is insulted, "You old geezer! You know you aren't as strong as you were when you were younger! Ask someone like S'uu!"
Kaigara lifts his fists and cracks them up on each other looking offended, "I'm still as good as I was when in my prime.", he puts his arms around his back, "But if I wasn't... And if I do ask S'uu, who would protect the village? They'd be gone for weeks at least..."
"I- I-...", Elara stutters before looking down at herself, looking for something to say.
Woah... did I cause this? If I didn't let Z'zatira touch my cuff- no. If I wasn't so weak and defeated the winged bear on my own... None of this would be happening... Right? Either way, it has happened and it's my fault. I nod eagerly, determined, "Let me go," I insist. "I'll find these ingredients."
Kaigara looks at me with a mix of gratitude and confusion. "Are you sure?"
I steel myself, meeting Kaigara's gaze with determination. "Z'zatira needs our help. I'll do whatever it takes."
Kaigara studies me for a moment before shaking his head, concern etched across his features. "Winston, I admire your bravery, but you just collapsed. These places are incredibly dangerous. Even though we don't know you well, we can't risk you getting hurt or worse."
Elara nods in agreement, her expression worried. "He's right, Winston. The Marcmarsh swamp and Lovni Meadow are perilous, even for experienced hunters. We can't ask this of you."
I take a deep breath, feeling a mixture of frustration and determination. "I understand your concerns, but Z'zatira needs help, and I feel responsible. If there's even a chance I can find these ingredients, I have to try."
Kaigara looks torn, glancing at Elara. "He's right that we need the ingredients, but sending him alone isn't an option. He'll need help."
Elara nods, a thoughtful look on her face. "We can't send him alone, but we also can't spare our best protectors. Perhaps S'uu could guide him, but stay near the village in case of an emergency."
Kaigara considers this for a moment before nodding. "I'll talk to S'uu about this.", he looks over to me, "We'll make sure you're well-prepared, Winston, but remember that this is incredibly dangerous."
Elara steps forward, her eyes softening. "I'll provide you with some supplies. The Chimera Serpent's scales and the Moonbloom flower won't be easy to obtain."
I nod, feeling a mix of anxiety and resolve. They just fucking listed out how this is super dangerous and I'm super weak! Why wouldn't I be scared? Also am I stupid or something? Why'd I do this? I'm going to die... Ugh! I might as well commit since if I back out now I would probably wish I died...
"I understand. When do we leave?", I say with my voice a bit shaky.
Kaigara and Elara exchange a glance before Kaigara replies, "As soon as S'uu agrees to guide you and you're fully prepared. Though, you should rest so you can go at over a hundred percent."
Elara turns to gather some items, while Kaigara places a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, Winston. Your courage means more than you know."
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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