Medicine man

It didn't take long to verify what Lucan had told everyone. After the chaos in the Colosseum, I was brought back to my jail cell, exhausted and drained. The possession came to an end, and I made my demands. The moment played over and over in my mind. I demanded the freedom of myself and Little Mountain, along with his sister.

I didn't know if my demands were met; I just knew that this was where I was now. The cold, damp cell was a far cry from the adrenaline-fueled arena, but it was a place to rest and recover. Cai and I had much time to talk I mainly questioned where he had been for so long. I spoke to him in my mind, and in the once silent darkness I could feel CAI and I connect.

Cai's voice broke the silence, his tone calm and soothing. "I lost you in your memories when you were knocked out," he explained. "Our connection is complex, and sometimes I get lost in your memories. The human brain is intricate, with over a million doors in just one section."

I lay on the rough straw mattress, trying to make sense of his words. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Cai continued, his tone thoughtful. "After a new reincarnation, I usually have issues for a while. I am officially the 20th CAI."

I was confused and puzzled. "Are you like an ant or something? Do you have many family members?" I pointed to the ants I noticed crawling in the corner of the cell.

Cai chuckled softly. "Not exactly. I don't die; I reincarnate. I am CAI XX, via the Roman numeral designation," he said, the tone of his voice like a sword screeching.

"Before me, there were 19 other bodies or people I helped," Cai explained.

"What happened to the others?" I questioned, a sense of unease settling over me.

"They died," Cai replied simply. "It's how I also die. Unlike me, however, they didn't come back."

"How did they die?" I asked, my curiosity piqued and my heart heavy.

"Some of old age, some declaring war on impossible-to-defeat nations, some for wealth and power. But all normally for something they loved. Remember that," Cai said, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

I lay there, absorbing his words, the weight of his experiences pressing down on me. The cell felt even colder, the reality of my situation sinking in deeper. Yet, there was a strange comfort in knowing I wasn't alone, that Cai had been through so much and still found a way to help.

Our conversation was cut short by the hooded man from earlier. He unlocked the cell door and motioned for me to follow. "Well done," he said, leading me out carefully. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the village. I noticed we were heading not towards the cell carriage from before but towards something more regal.

I was brought to a luxurious carriage, its polished wood gleaming in the fading light. Inside, I saw Lady Morgana, the thick white-haired woman, and a younger woman with deep silver hair. Recognition flashed through me, and I felt a pang of panic. I gulped, feeling the tension rise within me.

"Please, we mean you no harm," Lady Morgana said gently as I hesitated at the door.

They beckoned me inside, and I cautiously stepped in, sitting opposite them. The silver-haired woman remained quiet, her eyes averted.

Lady Morgana sighed deeply, her face etched with sorrow. "We owe you an apology," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Lucan confessed not only to this crime but to a collection of others. I am horrified to think that I almost turned our quiet, humble village into a haven of blood and corruption by being a weak leader in my husband's sickness."

"Mom, don't," the silver-haired woman interjected softly.

Lady Morgana bowed her head to me, her eyes filled with regret. "This man nearly lost his life because I was so angry I couldn't save your father. I didn't even bother to consider his well-being. I just saw a target and attacked."

The weight of her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. My mind raced with thoughts of the past few days, the battles, the betrayals, and now, this unexpected moment of vulnerability.

"It's... it's okay," I stammered, trying to find the right words. "I understand. You were trying to protect your family. You were trying to save the man you love. I cannot judge you for that."

Lady Morgana looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you," she whispered. "But it doesn't excuse what happened. I was wrong, and for that, I am truly sorry."

The silver-haired woman finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "We should have seen the signs. We should have known what Lucan was capable of. But we didn't, and you paid the price."

I nodded slowly, taking in their words. "What happens now?" I asked, my voice steady but uncertain.

"Now, we make amends," Lady Morgana began. "We would love if you saw fit not to contact the Alchemist Guild and file a complaint against our village. You see, we had no idea you were an Alchemist."

"What's that?" I asked, genuinely confused.

The door closed, and the carriage began to move. The silver-haired woman looked at me with surprise. "You mean to tell me you do not know what an Alchemist is?"

I shook my head. "I already explained to you that I have no memory of anything."

Both women looked at each other in shock. "Young man," Lady Morgana said, "you say you have no memory, yet you cast such a unique building and those chains. We've never seen chains so strong, wrapped so tightly. It had to be alchemy. Heck, I would even call it pure magic if I didn't know better."

"What's the difference?" I asked, turning my gaze to Lady Morgana.

They exchanged looks of confusion and skepticism. "Aria, my dear, is it possible?" Lady Morgana asked.

The silver-haired woman's eyes began to glow a faint green, contrasting against their unique blue. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. "CAI, what is she doing?" I whispered, but Cai was silent. "CAI, did you get lost again?" I called out again, feeling a sense of panic.

The glow in her eyes faded, and she looked at me with a mix of fear and amazement. "Impossible," she muttered, her voice trembling. "He has..."

She hesitated, unsure of how to continue. Her demeanor suddenly changed, becoming smug and dismissive. "He will serve my purpose," she said, turning her head to the side and angrily looking out of the window.

Panic gripped me. Did she know about CAI? Would she want to kill me? Not again. "What's wrong?" I asked nervously.

She didn't answer, her expression hardening. Lady Morgana chimed in gently, "Aria, dear, we shouldn't keep being rude to him after we've already put him through so much."

"He and I will talk when we get home. I want to rest now, Mom, if you don't mind," Aria said, her voice weary.

The white-haired mother, Lady Morgana, nodded kindly. The stern, imposing figure she had been earlier was now replaced by a caring, nurturing presence. It was like night and day, and it left me feeling both relieved and confused. The carriage ride fell silent, and even I drifted off to sleep.

We arrived at the village just as dawn began to break. I was half asleep, barely aware of being offered the guest room in Lady Morgana and Aria's home. The room was simple but comfortable, a stark contrast to the cold, damp cell I had been confined in. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, hoping that the next day would bring peace.

But peace was not what awaited me.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the heart-wrenching cries of Lady Morgana. I rushed to the source of the noise and found her kneeling beside her husband, the village chief, who lay in bed, his condition worsening. The air was thick with a sense of dread and hopelessness.

Aria stood nearby, looking defeated and weary. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw the flicker of helplessness that mirrored my feelings. By the chief's side, I noticed two familiar faces—Lillian and Alice. Lillian was grieving, her face buried in her hands, while Alice looked on with deep concern.

I approached Alice, greeting her softly. She turned to me, her eyes red with tears, and hugged me tightly, crying into my chest. "It's not enough," she sobbed. "There isn't enough to... to save him. Half the amount was wasted... it's not enough."

A sense of horror and dread washed over me. The realization that the potion, which had been stolen and sold, was now desperately needed to save the chief's life hit me like a physical blow. The room felt colder, the walls closing in as the weight of the situation pressed down on us all.

I looked at Lady Morgana, her face pale with despair, and then at Aria, who stood by her mother, her expression one of quiet anguish. The hope I had felt the night before seemed to slip away, replaced by a crushing sense of futility.

"There must be something I can do to help them," I thought, my mind racing for solutions. But what could I do? 

As I stood there, the weight of the situation pressing down on me, I began to think about how I died. Maybe I wasn't the one who could fix this. Maybe if I knew more about him, I could find a solution. I looked Alice in the eye, my concern evident. "What causes such an ailment?"

She took a deep breath and explained, "He was out hunting and was attacked by bandits. He was stabbed, and we now know it was Lucan who played a role in this as well. He wanted to kill him, but the cut wasn't deep enough. Still, the wound festered, and sickness spread in his blood. He's been huffing and puffing, running a fever."

I listened intently, my mind racing for any possible solution. The sight of the chief, struggling for breath, filled me with a sense of urgency. "I think... I think..." I stammered, feeling the panic rise within me. "CAI!" I screamed out, desperate for his guidance.

Cai's response was sporadic, his voice echoing in my mind. "I recall something... a human invention... a pill."

"A pill?" I repeated, confused. "What's a pill?"

"They are things you take when you are sleepy and need to stay awake, or awake and need to sleep, or when you are sick... medicine."

"Medicine," I whispered, the realization dawning on me. "That's it. I think I know where I need to look."

Without another word, I ran away from the family, heading outside into an open area. My heart pounded in my chest, driven by a newfound determination. I needed to find the answer, and I knew where to start.

"ROOM!" I called out, summoning the familiar energy. Before me, a boxed room materialized, the door behind me closing and sealing with a soft thud. I took a deep breath and stepped inside, finding myself once more in the office of horrors.

This time, the office was bright and vibrant, a stark contrast to the twisted nightmare I had faced earlier with Lucan. Sunlight streamed through large windows, casting a warm glow on the polished floors and clean, orderly cubicles. The air was fresh, devoid of the oppressive stench of blood and despair.

I walked over to my desk, my heart pounding with a mix of hope and anxiety. Looking down, I saw my own lifeless body still sprawled on the floor, a haunting reminder of my previous existence. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, but I pressed on, determined to find the solution I needed.

I began rifling through the drawers and cabinets, searching for anything that could help. The desk was cluttered with items, many of which I couldn't remember or didn't recognize. I picked up a flat, button-covered device, turning it over in my hands. It seemed familiar, but its purpose eluded me.

I continued searching, pulling open drawers and doors, finding an array of strange objects: pod-shaped things, dark ground powder, and various other items that made little sense to me. The chaos of the search mirrored the turmoil in my mind. Papers scattered across the floor objects clattering and falling as I rummaged through the mess.

Frustration mounted as my search yielded nothing of use. I was about to give up, feeling the weight of hopelessness pressing down on me when a memory suddenly surfaced. I remember being sick and feeling abandoned as everyone around me gave up. But there had been one coworker, one person who hadn't given up. They had given me something—some pills, just like Cai had mentioned.

With renewed determination, I ran back to my desk, hoping that the memory would lead me to what I needed. I rifled through the drawers, my hands trembling with urgency. And there they were, nestled in a corner of the drawer—a small bottle of pills. I picked it up, my breath catching as I read the label: Antibiotic/Amoxicillin.

I opened the bottle, the memory of my sickness and the instructions clear in my mind. I remembered taking the pill, having to take one pill twice daily for ten days. The memory was vivid, the taste and texture of the pill imprinted in my senses.

I examined the pills closely, their small, oval shapes and the slight bitterness I could recall. I even went as far as to taste one, letting the sensation trigger more memories. My mind seemed to comprehend it fully, and I knew I could make it. I could create these pills if necessary.

Clutching the bottle tightly, I felt a renewed sense of determination. I left the ROOM, stepping back into the crisp, cool air of the village. The sun was higher now, casting long shadows and illuminating the path ahead.

As I ran back to the chief's house, hope surged within me, but so did a nagging fear. What if I was too late? What if the medicine wouldn't be enough?

Bursting through the door, I held up the bottle of pills, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. "I think I know a way to help him," I announced, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

Everyone turned to look at me, their faces a mix of hope and desperation. "How?" Lady Morgana asked, her voice trembling. "Are you able to use Alchemy to help him?"

"Yes, kinda, maybe," I replied, setting the bottle of pills on the table before them. "These are antibiotics. They can fight the infection in his body. But I need your help to administer them."

Aria and Lady Morgana exchanged glances, their hope growing stronger. "What do you need?" Aria asked.

"Bring me water and an extra bed and blanket," I demanded, my voice firm. Everyone looked confused, but Lady Morgana quickly gave the OK.

"Do as he says," she instructed, her voice filled with determination.

And with that, we all play our part in trying to save a life.

For the next ten days, I was by the chief's side every day, ensuring he received his two pills without fail. The beginning was the hardest. His fever raged relentlessly, and he drifted in and out of consciousness. Lady Morgana and Aria hovered nearby, their eyes filled with anxiety. I stayed with him, checking his vitals and doing what I could to keep him comfortable.

The first few days were harrowing. His breathing was shallow, his skin clammy, and the infection seemed unyielding. I watched over him, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. Lady Morgana would often stand beside me, her stern exterior softening with every passing hour. She rarely spoke, but the look in her eyes conveyed her desperation and hope.

By the fourth day, a shift began. The fever started to break, and his breathing became more regular. He was still weak, but the worst seemed to be over. Lady Morgana and Aria's relief was palpable. They began to trust me more, their earlier skepticism giving way to cautious optimism.

Lady Morgana approached me one evening as I was preparing the next dose of antibiotics. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You've given us hope when we had none."

Her words warmed my heart. "We're not out of the woods yet, but he's fighting. That's a good sign."

As the days progressed, the chief's condition continued to improve. He was awake more often, his strength slowly returning. His appetite improved, and he could sit up and speak in short sentences. The color returned to his face, and the dark circles under his eyes began to fade. The joy in the house was infectious. Lady Morgana's stern demeanor softened considerably, and Aria started to show signs of true happiness.

Aria often brought me meals and insisted I take breaks. One afternoon, she handed me a bowl of warm stew. "You've done so much for us," she said, her eyes filled with gratitude. "We can never repay you for what you've done."

I smiled, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. "Tell you what, Aria, tell me about what you saw that night on the carriage, and we'll call it even."

She smirked, a playful glint in her eye. "Heal him completely, and I promise you, I will," she said, before turning to leave.

I watched her go, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air. Aria had been kinder to me lately, her earlier suspicion replaced with cautious friendship. But something told me she still had a devilish side, a hint of mischief that kept me on my toes. Her challenge intrigued me, and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.