Second World

”Oh, I forgot I still have this quest!” Jack said while reading his Quest page.

”Somethingʼs wrong?” Commander Quintus asked after hearing Jackʼs sudden exclamation.

”Do you know which way to the infirmary run by Healer Society?” Jack asked instead of answering Quintusʼ question.

”Open your map.”

Jack did so. Commander Quintus soon sent him a set of coordinates.

”Itʼs in the slum district?” Jack was surprised. Most of the League factions he had known operated out of the business district.

”Yes, they chose to build there because more people needed help there,” Quintus explained.

Jack thanked the Commander, he then asked another question, ”Say, Commander, do you mind teaching me that move you did when fighting the Grim Sand Drake? Where you split into many shadows to attack?”

”Do you have 100 gold coins and a Basic Master Scrollmaking skill?”

”Uh… the coins I have, but Iʼm no scrollmaker,” Jack said.

”Then we can talk again after you have found one who is willing to help you,” Commander Quintus replied.

”Doesnʼt the kingdom has high-level scrollmakers? Canʼt you ask for their help? I can pay more coins,” Jack had not given up.

”Tell you what, do a couple of assignments for the prince, and I will consider asking.”

Jack guessed thatʼs the best he could get at this time, he said goodbye to Commander Quintus and rode Pandora towards the slum district. He kept her in a light gait to avoid trouble with the city guards. When he passed by the noble district gate exit, the guards there eyed him with suspicion.

”She wonʼt run, she will just be doing a light walk,” Jack told them.

But even Pandoraʼs light gait was almost as fast as the ordinary steedʼs running speed. Jack arrived at the coordinates given by Commander Quintus within a short time.

On the way, Jack was still wondering about Prince Alonzoʼs second assassination attempt. Even though he thought that there was a deeper plot under that assassination attempt, it was not impossible to have the coalitionʼs involvement there. He thought about contacting Cleo to ask her but he realized she was not on his Friend list.

He wondered if she would agree to add him as a friend if he asked the next time they met.

He thought as well about changing into Unrivalled Arcaner and went to Death Associatesʼ base to collect some information, but then decided not to. The Royal Advisor had said that he would take care of the investigation. He should leave that matter to him. Prince Alonzo had given him a quest to take care of, he needed to focus on that.

The infirmary in Thereath was larger than the one in both Themetus and Thesewal. Its large size made it a contrast to the other small houses in the slum. Yet, its fa?ade was simple, expressing humility to blend in with the other slum structures. The one in Themetus looked much grander than this one.

Jack unsummoned Pandora and went into the infirmary. The place was more hectic compared to the other two infirmaries he had visited. As Commander Quintus had said, there seemed to be more people in need of healing in the slum district.

Jack looked around trying to find a healer who was free enough for him to ask for the Grand Healer, but he saw none. Even the receptionist was busy handling the questions of several people at the time.

Since there was no one he could disturb, he started walking around. He figured the Grand Healer should work in a separate office, probably on a higher floor, like that prick Girolamo in Themethus. So, he started looking for stairs going up.

While he was searching around, someone approached him, ”Excuse me, do you need help?”

Jack turned to a mature woman whose beauty was still not diminished by time. She was wearing a dirty healer robe. She must have treated a lot of patients. Since she had taken the time to talk to him, Jack was not going to let go of the chance.

”Iʼm looking for the Grand Healer, can you point me the way?” Jack asked.

”The Grand Healer? What business do you have with her?” She asked.

”Her?” Jack used Inspect on the woman.

Andrea (Rare Elite Human, Grand Healer), level 55

HP: 560,000

ʼShe is the Grand Healer? What a coincidence!ʼ After knowing the womanʼs identity, Jack took out Girolamoʼs parcel from his bag. He presented it to Andrea and said, ”The Grand Healer in Themetus asked me to deliver this to…”

Jackʼs words trailed off when he noticed Andrea was not paying attention to him. She was instead staring at his shoulder, Jack turned and saw that it was the shoulder where Peniel was clinging to.

”You have a High Fairy familiar? Borrow her to me for a while, please!” Andrea exclaimed.

”How rude! Sister, Iʼm not something to be borrowed,” Peniel protested.

Jack instead asked, ”Whatʼs in it for me?” Which awarded him a punch on his cheek.

”Ouch! Iʼm just joking!” Jack uttered.

”Iʼm sorry, I didnʼt mean disrespect,” Andrea said to Peniel. ”Can you please lend me your help? I will truly appreciate it.”

”What kind of help?” Jack asked, still massaging his cheek.

”Follow me please,” Andrea said.

The Grand Healer seemed to not notice Girolamoʼs parcel after seeing Peniel. So Jack just stored the parcel first. He followed her to a quiet hallway and then down into the basement. They went to several doors that had locks and latches. On the last door, Andrea even had to perform a rite which caused the runic symbols around the door to brighten.

Jack assumed that was some kind of protective rune diagram, Andrea might be using some kind of passcode spell to allow them to enter. Which caused him to think further, this room the Grand Healer was taking them into, seems like an important place. Was it okay for an outsider like him to be brought there?

As if sensing Jackʼs question, Andrea said, ”I donʼt usually bring outsiders here, but we are in a hurry.”

They came into a large circular room. At the center of the room occupying much of the floor space was a pool. The walls around were filled with rune diagrams. Above the pool, hanging from a ceiling was some kind of a metal chandelier, except without any lighting source.

Andrea went to a cabinet at one side of the room and searched for something inside. Jack just stood beside the pool. He waited for Andrea to explain everything. He looked at the water inside the pool, though it looked clean, Jack felt somehow it was rather murky as well.

Andrea came back. When Jack thought she would explain things, she cast a spell formation. Her body then floated up to the metal chandelier above. She inserted a large pale stone into the metal chandelier.

ʼPeniel, when will I get the flying spell?ʼ Jack asked.

Once you get to the second rank in Order of Magi, there should be a spell for exchange there.

Andrea soon floated down to Jackʼs side. ”Iʼm sorry, let me explain,” she said.

”As you saw on the floor above, things are a bit chaotic. We have run out of holy water and were just relying on our healing spells. It was simply insufficient to accommodate our needs for tending a large number of patients.”

”This is the place where we produced our holy water,” Andrea indicated the pool. ”We need a holy magic stone to purify this water and turn them into holy water. Sadly, delivery had been delayed. Damn those slow delivery people! There is, however, another way to purify the water, albeit short term.”

ʼHoly water?ʼ Jack asked Peniel in his mind.

ʼItʼs water blessed with holy essences. It can be used to aid in healing, not as effective as a healing potion, but itʼs cheaper. It is also a potent weapon against Undead, Darkness, and Demon creatures.ʼ

”Let me guess, this other way you mentioned need a high fairy?” Jack asked Andrea.

”Yes. Any magical creature with an affinity to healing spells will do, but a high fairy is perfect. I implore you for the people suffering up there to show some compassion and grant us your aid.”

Jack was just about to ask ʼwhatʼs in it for me?ʼ again, but hearing such a plea and for such an honorable cause, he found himself unable to ask for benefit. He asked instead, ”What will she lose? I wonʼt agree if she needs to sacrifice something. I enjoy helping people but not at the cost of someone dear to me.”

Penielʼs cheeks were getting red hearing Jackʼs words.

”She wonʼt lose anything. Aside from the fact that she wonʼt be able to use her healing spells for the next one or two days. I only need to absorb a bit of her spiritual essence to power up that exhausted holy magic stone.” Andrea pointed to the pale stone at the center of the metal chandelier.

Jack turned to Peniel and asked her, ”what do you say?”

”Up to you. It is you who I canʼt heal for the next one or two days,” Peniel replied.

”Hm… I donʼt think itʼs a big deal. Itʼs not like we are going to a dangerous place. We will simply be going to a factionʼs base tomorrow. All right! In the name of all that is good, letʼs help this lady in need,” Jack declared.

”Wonderful!” Andrea exclaimed. ”Now, all you have to do is float below that holy magic stone and above the water.”

Peniel flew over. Andrea then chanted something, Jack saw spell formations appear around Peniel. A thick green light enshrouded her body. She disappeared inside that green light. Jack was slightly worried watching it. The green light slowly flowed into the magic stone above.. The magic stoneʼs pale surface was gradually replaced by shiny white color.

😉