12 — Onward

The previous day, two days before my departure, there had been a farewell party.

“How am I supposed to fearlessly bum-rush monsters without a healer?” one adventurer asked me.

“Don’t go makin’ me have to chew on gross plants or suck down those nasty potions,” warned another.

“How am I supposed to save up for my wedding when healing costs me an arm and a leg?” This particular comment was followed by wild cheering and congratulations.

I heard all sorts of things at the party. Many asked me to return to Merratoni someday, many had their goodbyes interrupted by an onset of tears. All of them left an impression on me. They met my departure for the capital with reluctance and sadness, and that made me happy. The adventurers I had been so afraid of were now my friends, people I could shoot the breeze with. Life was a strange thing.

Then came my last night. I stood face to face with Brod in the training grounds beneath the Adventurer’s Guild, where I had spent nearly every waking moment of the last two years. Memories flooded back to me. Two years. Such a vast period of time, yet so short. My unfaltering drive to survive, Assess Mastery, the delicious food, and my instructor before me. Without a single one of those, I would never have made it.

Pain and suffering filled my memories of this place, and yet I felt reluctant to leave it.

“A lot happened these two years. I’m glad you becoming my master was one of them.”

“I hope you don’t think my course is over after two measly years.”

“Not in the slightest. It’s not over until I land a hit on you, is it?”

“Glad you understand.” He paused. “So, you’re really headin’ to the Holy City.”

“I am. I talked to Monica about it, and apparently, they send inquisitors or throw false charges at you if you refuse, so...”

“If those Headquarters bigwigs are rotten, get outta there and come on back. I’ll raise ya like a real adventurer.”

“As long as my life’s not in danger,” I laughed. Brod’s readiness to pick a fight with the entire Healer’s Guild was a bit scary.

He shrugged, but his eyes stayed focused. “So, what’d you call me out here one last time for? Guessing I can’t get my hopes up for a profession of your undying love, can I?”

I smiled. “Unfortunately not. I have a request. Once I leave, Bottaculli and the other clinics will most likely be back to business as usual.”

“I’d bet money on it. I’ve thought about ways to fight back, but they’re not breaking any laws when you get down to it.”

“Right. I particularly worry about novice adventurers. They’ll push themselves, do whatever it takes to make ends meet, get hurt, go to a clinic for healing, and that’s it. That could be all it takes for their lives to end. You and I both want to avoid that, don’t we?”

“So what’re you saying?”

“If possible, what do you think about starting classes for newbies? You can teach them the fundamentals of training, how to butcher, how to tell different herbs apart... The teachers could be guild staff or even high-ranking adventurers.”

Brod looked pensive for a moment. “You mean, to help keep them alive longer.”

“Yes. Even if it’s just once a week, I think it would be extremely effective. It would also give loners the chance to connect and network. So long as they understand the lessons properly, I think you’ll see a decrease in injuries.”

“I get what you’re saying. But why ask me? Adventurers are responsible for themselves.”

“I’m a healer, yes, but I’m also an adventurer. And I don’t know any other healers, so frankly, I feel closer to the latter.”

“That...doesn’t answer my question.”

“The clinics will do what they will. But ultimately, they still need patients in order to function. Without that, they’re stuck. But in order to keep the clinic numbers down, adventurers need a way to improve. There has to be an environment built around upping the standard, advancing the status quo.”

“And that’s where the training comes in.”

“Exactly. Everyone I’ve met, they’re all good people. I want them to succeed. I want there to be a system that allows them to succeed.”

“I see what you’re saying. What about you? You feel better after training under me?”

“In regards to actual combat, I still have a long way to go. Mentally, though, I think I’m much more prepared now.” The sight of sheathed weapons didn’t make me break into a cold sweat, so yeah, I’d say I felt more confident these days.

“Hm, all right. I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you. That way, I’ll feel better about leaving.”

It wouldn’t mend the rift between adventurers and healers—it wasn’t even close to enough—but I hoped it would be a step in the right direction towards the day the two groups would be on equal footing.

“I’ve got somethin’ to ask, myself. Would you hear me out?”

“What’s got you so formal all of a sudden?”

“It’s about Monica. She does a damn fine job, don’t get me wrong. But are you sure she should stay here?”

Monica had two options: return to the Healer’s Guild or keep her position at the Adventurer’s Guild. I was the one who had dragged her here, but her life was her own.

“That’s up to her, not me,” I replied. “It’s her life. Personally, I want her to be safe, so I’d like her to stay on as your receptionist, but ultimately that’s for her to decide.”

“Right. You two’re close, so I was wondering if she came to you for advice or something.”

“She might’ve talked to Nanaella.”

We had known for half a year that I would be leaving. She probably thought talking to me about whether she should stay at the guild or not would be...insensitive.

Monica, Nanaella, and I took our meals together often. We would chat about all sorts of things, all while I endured the sharp gazes of those around us. It was a risk well worth taking, though. It was nice. First, we’d talk about my training, then they’d talk about weird adventurers or healers they had dealt with, then we’d share stories, chat about what I’d been studying at the time... It was always all over the place.

One thing all our talks had in common was how they had always been, at their core, about me. I wasn’t the one to turn to for advice; quite the opposite, in fact.

“Maybe. Don’t forget, we’ve got our match in front of everyone after breakfast tomorrow.”

That was Brod, all right. A match on the day I was supposed to leave, first thing in the morning. I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m going to land that hit tomorrow, just you wait. I’m not leaving with any regrets.”

“Ha! Well, I’m gonna make sure I wipe the floor with you. You’re gonna have to come back for a rematch someday if you wanna settle things.”

“Your apprentice is leaving; this is where you’re supposed to pass the torch and let me win.”

“Sorry, but I hate losing. Be ready for tomorrow.” Brod’s hearty laughter echoed through the grounds as he headed for the stairs before suddenly stopping. “Go on, you two. I’m not letting anyone down here today. He’s all yours.”

Before I could process what that meant, he disappeared.

“What was that about? Oh well. I’ll finish the day with some magic training, then some combat simulations for tomorrow’s match.”

On my way back to my room, I noticed some movement at the edge of the training grounds. When I looked over, I found Monica and Nanaella skulking around.

“What are you two doing?”

They laughed awkwardly. They must have been eavesdropping on my talk with Brod, but I hadn’t sensed their presence at all.

“Actually, this is perfect timing. I wanted to thank you both before I left. In earnest. You’ve done so much for me since I came to this city.”

“We heard your thanks yesterday, Luciel,” Nanaella said. “You represent hope for beastpeople, so please, stop bowing. A lowered head is only seen when looked down on.”

“Luciel, you saved my life,” added Monica. “I wouldn’t be here without you. I’ll always be grateful for that, and for giving me a place where I feel safe. I want to be able to repay that, to help you if you ever need it, so I’m going to keep hanging in there.”

I smiled shyly. Nanaella’s gentle reprimand reminded me of Lumina and how much I owed her for saving me that first day. The three of us were close now, to the point where they no longer added a courteous “Mister” to my name. So I owed it to them to be frank.

“You were always there for me, Nanaella, whether handling my laundry or to comfort me in times of weakness. You’re the reason I made it through my training.”

“O-Oh, um...” she stammered, flustered and clearly not used to being thanked so unabashedly.

“And Monica,” I continued, “don’t worry about repaying anything. You’ve paid me back plenty, with interest.”

“Oh, no, I haven’t,” she protested.

“Of course you have. You do laundry with Nanaella, clean my room, all sorts of things. Also, I had a bit of a selfish reason for bringing you to the Adventurer’s Guild, to be honest.”

She stepped closer to me. “What do you mean by that?”

“Er, well, Master Brod’s training is tough. So tough that it made me want to run away a few times. But bringing you here was my decision, and my responsibility. Knowing that kept me tied here.”

“You mean I was a burden,” she said meekly.

I gave her a gentle smile. “No, not at all. Running away is addictive. Do it once and suddenly you can’t stop. The moment the going gets tough, you feel the urge to escape. But you kept me from running away from my training. You were my anchor.”

“Your...anchor?”

“That’s right. Ships use them to keep from being washed away by the tide. Right when my lessons were at their worst, I found you and saved you, which made me dig my heels in and see it through. You were no burden. I’m incredibly grateful to you.”

“Luciel...” Tears fell from her eyes, carrying the torment she’d held inside for so long with them. Nanaella rubbed her back comfortingly.

“Affection” didn’t quite capture the feelings I felt for them. They were like comrades in arms, always by my side for two whole years. I didn’t want to leave my allies, my friends, with nothing, so I decided on a promise. Another reason to keep living...to survive, to keep going, to make it in a world where any day could be my last.

“Do you guys remember when you asked about my dreams? What I wanted to do in the future? It was all I could do just to get up in the morning at the time, so I couldn’t give you an answer then,” I said. “Well, I still don’t have one. So promise me we’ll eat together again sometime. I’m sure I’ll have plenty to tell you by then.”

“Of course!” they cried together.

For some time after that, we recounted the past with recollections of old memories, and then finally said our goodbyes.

The next morning, my fight with Brod turned out to be less of a match and more of a one-sided beatdown. Every one of my attacks were swatted away without effort. I was thrown, beaten to a pulp, and even cut up, just for good measure. Middle Heal, attack, Middle Heal, attack. I kept up the pressure, not letting up for a second, until I reached the limits of my magic and our match was decided. Cordial applause came from the onlookers, but I wasn’t satisfied.

So I made another promise.

“Master, one day, I’m going to land a hit on you.”

“Hm, remind me I owe ya a favor if you ever do.”

There was that smirk of his. There wasn’t really anything I wanted from him, though, so I decided to be a bit petty. “How about you drink five whole pitchers of Substance X?”

He winced. “That’s downright dirty, Luciel.”

“I learned from the best,” I laughed.

I finally got back my Adventurer’s Guild card from the reception desk. It had been taken from me so long ago, I only now saw that I’d reached E-rank, to my surprise. Probably a thoughtful touch by my master so I wouldn’t have trouble getting by as an adventurer.

And then it was time for me to leave.

“Well, everyone, this is it. I can’t possibly thank you enough for taking me in and giving me such wonderful memories. But I’ll try nonetheless. Thank you.”

“I think I speak for everyone when I say this.” Brod came forward. “You did good. You saved a lot of lives, a lot of people’s livelihoods, and a lot of families from grief.”

“Thank you. I was happy to help.”

“I ain’t good at this sappy shit. Here’s a parting gift.” He held out a leather sack and a bag. “The sack’s got money. And this is a magic satchel. It’ll hold up to ten things inside, doesn’t matter what. It’s stocked with equipment already... All of it’s yours. Consider it a show of appreciation from us.”

“I... I haven’t...” My voice began to crack. “I don’t...deserve all this...”

Screw it, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Everything I’d done had been for myself and only myself. I was so small and shortsighted, while everyone here was so warm and kind. The waterworks started to flow and wouldn’t stop.

“Quit crying. Just make sure you come back someday and work for cheap again.”

“Don’t forget to bring souvenirs!” Mernell chimed in, lightening the mood with a few laughs.

“Take care, okay?” said Nanaella. “I look forward to the day you open a clinic that treats beastpeople equally.”

“I’m sincerely grateful to you for saving me. And for your kindness. I’ll be waiting for you to make it back,” Monica added.

Tears welled up in their eyes and I could no longer keep my emotions in check. I pulled them close and the three of us shared a hug.

“Thank you both. For everything.”

Destination: The Republic of Saint Shurule’s capital, the Holy City of Shurule. We would make the journey by way of a carriage owned by the Adventurer’s Guild. But before that, I had some business at the Healer’s Guild.

“Hello, everyone. It seems you’ll be my guard for the next few days,” I said in greeting.

“We got your back.”

“Sure do!”

“We’ll beat down anything that comes your way. ’Cept maybe dragons.”

Bazan and his party, the ones who had accepted the guild request to be my escort, gave firm replies one after the other.

“I can’t say I expected my bodyguards to be an A-rank party.”

“We owe ya our lives, y’know?” Bazan grinned. “You’re part o’ the reason we even made it to A-rank. Man, there was a big fuss over who’d get to take the job, though.”

I looked at each of them and wasn’t afraid. My image of adventurers had done a complete one-eighty. Man, I used to be so stuck in my biases, I found myself thinking.

“Before we head out, I’m going to finish up some formalities for my former position at the Adventurer’s Guild and renew my rank. Hold on just a second.”

I hopped out of the wagon and entered the building. It was quiet, as always.

“Welcome to the Church of Saint Shurule’s Merratoni branch Healer’s Guild!” Kururu announced as I made my way to the counter.

“Hello, Kururu. I’m here to wrap up my Adventurer’s Guild assignment and renew my membership, if that’s all right.”

“Er, hold on, what?! Is that you, Luciel?”

“In the flesh. You didn’t recognize me?”

“How could I? You were so scrawny before, but now you’re all big, and grown-up, and...buff!”

“You think so? Oh, and I’m transferring to Headquarters. I was told to pick up grimoires here.”

Kururu’s face took on a slightly red tinge. “Oh, you’re the one going all the way out there? Wait, you’re the one going all the way out there? Didn’t you just turn seventeen?”

“Yep. I heard I’m a pretty special case.”

“My poor womanly heart can’t take all these surprises,” she sighed dramatically.

I laughed. “Well, I’ll take the grimoires I don’t have yet once I finish renewing.”

“Actually, healers who make it to Headquarters are given all grimoires up to A-rank as a gift.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“You’d think so, right? But we only sell those spellbooks to people who have actually made A-rank already.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t make it to A-rank or higher without going above and beyond for the guild. They’re kind of like honorary positions.”

“Which means you’d probably be at Headquarters by then anyway.”

“Exactly. Well, let’s get you renewed.” She sighed as she got to work. “So young and already aiming for HQ. You’re really something. I can raise you up to A-rank now if you want.”

“I’d like to be promoted as high as I can be, then.”

“Got it. And...there. You’re an A-rank healer now. Hang on.” She disappeared into the back, then returned with several grimoires. “This is everything. The books are free, like I said, and your dues won’t be necessary anymore now that you’re a big-time HQ healer.”

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to stop by the next time I make it back.”

“Do me a favor and become a big shot so you can give me a raise.”

“I’ll try,” I chuckled.

We exchanged modest goodbyes, then I returned to the wagon.

“Sorry for the wait. Let’s go.”

After two years, my life in Merratoni had come to an end. It was time to move on to someplace new.

Name: Luciel

Job: Healer IV

Age: 17

Level: 1

HP: 420 — MP: 160

STR: 42 — VIT: 51

DEX: 47 — AGI: 54

INT: 72 — MGI: 64

RMG: 54 — SP: 0

Magic Affinity: Holy

SKILLS

Assess Mastery I — Monster Luck I — Martial Arts V

Magic Handling VII — Magic Control VII — Holy Magic VII

Meditation V — Focus VI — Life Recovery IV

Magic Recovery VI — Strength Recovery V — Throwing III

Butchery II — Detect Danger IV — Ambulation III

Parallel Thinking I — Swordsmanship I — Shields I

Spears I — Archery I — Short Cast III

Null Cast I

HP Growth Rate Up V — MP Growth Rate Up V

STR Growth Rate Up V — VIT Growth Rate Up V

DEX Growth Rate Up V — AGI Growth Rate Up V

INT Growth Rate Up V — MGI Growth Rate Up V

RMG Growth Rate Up V

Poison Resist VI — Paralysis Resist VI — Petrify Resist VI

Sleep Resist VI — Charm Resist II — Curse Resist VI

Enfeeble Resist VI — Silence Resist VI — Disease Resist VI

Shock Resist II

TITLES

Shaper of Destiny (all stats +10)

Protection of the God of Fate (increased SP)

Adventurer’s Guild — Rank E | Healer’s Guild — Rank A