CHAPTER EIGHT: The Quest

DAKU

The walk back to the city was awkwardly silent. No one dared to utter a word - scared that it might attract another corrupt being that would put our life on the line again. The noises that could be heard were whistling wind, rustling branches, unexplained commotion, and our footsteps.

I had a rough idea of why we fell into this unexpected quietness. It was because of me. There was no doubt that I was the cause of what we became into at this very moment. Come to think of it, who in the world would think that a Healer like me could deliver such a deadly bow on a freaking corrupted being?

I had already said that corrupted beings had their physical prowess enhanced and that would be a simple punch that was supposedly ineffective toward it. But that was not the case a while ago. In fact, it wasn't a simple punch in the first place. Whatever that was, I had to find out how it happened and why.

It wasn't long enough when we reached the fortress's gate. Two knight guards were positioned at each side of the opening, holding a spear on their right and a shield on their left. The guards had the most rigid heavy-duty armor including the helm, to ward off potential bandits, terrorists, or worse, corrupted beings. Ordinary monsters were rarely seen wandering by the gate.

A small table and its clerk were located at the midpart section of the gate's tunnel. Their job was to check everything that goes in and out of the kingdom but mostly merchants, immigrants, and refugees from other kingdoms. Among the mentioned groups, the third one had the lowest chance of entering.

Although Thorn Kingdom was known as the most welcoming city in the country, they still had to be very careful when it came to visitors. Now that a war was brewing just around the corner, a spy could be one of these visitors. And that was something the King of Thorn was trying to prevent from happening.

"Back so soon?" Yukio greeted me when Kenshi and I reached the inspector's table. Yukio was Kenshi's acquaintance, hence, the casual greeting. Their kinship was also the reason why we were able to go out into the Amber Forest without the necessary permit.

"He's a fast learner," Kenshi thriftly replied but we both knew it was a lie. Although he was partly right on the fast-learner thing that was not the real reason why we decided to end the training way too early.

"Lucky," Yukio commented. "So what are you going next? You still have half of the day."

On cue, Kenshi and I shared glances, waiting for either of us to say something. That took a minute or two before I decided to break the already awkward silence to become even more awkward.

"I... will help Grosi with the shop or maybe teach his new apprentice everything he has to know."

Yukio's face exhibited a hint of surprise, probably not expecting what he I just said. "Grosi has a new apprentice?"

"You never told me that," Kenshi suddenly said and I gave him a confused glare. Hello? He never asked.

"Y-Yeah! He thought of getting one since he knew I would be out to do some quest more often," I explained, earning a nod of concordance from Yukio.

This was only the second time that I met Yukio but I had already felt comfortable around him. Maybe we could be good friends someday. Or maybe not. Once he knew I was a Healer he would pretty sure feel the opposite.

"Grosi has a point though. I mean, it would be a waste for a Healer like you to spend your entire life within the four corners of that shop. Based on Kenshi's judgment, I'd say you have potential," Yukio complimented but instead of joy, I felt shame. He knew I was a healer. This thought replaced the curved lips I had earlier into a frown and I lowered my head to hide it. "It'd be nice to have a Healer friend."

My eyes widened and my heartbeat intensified. Did I hear that right?

"It's okay for you if I call you friend, right, Daku?" Yukio asked. I slowly raised my head to look at him and was even more bewildered upon seeing his wide and genuine smile. There was no hint of deceit behind it. Just pure sincerity.

"Hm," was the only thing that came out of my throat, accompanied by a nod. I had never felt this happy ever since I awakened as a Healer.

Kenshi and I bid farewell to Yukio when my carriage arrived. As much as I want to talk with Yukio, he had to fulfill his job or else he would lose it. And I could tell he loved doing it. They were right - your life wouldn't end being a commoner. If an unawakened like him found his purpose, how much more an awakened and adventurer like me? After what happened in the woods, I could tell I had more than one purpose than just being a Healer. I felt it.

"I think it's best if only the two of us would know about what you did back there," Kenshi said out of nowhere. At first, I couldn't get what he meant by it but it later sank into my mind in just a snap.

"I was thinking the same too," I agreed. "Let's just hope that tomorrow will be different."

"We'll have a new agenda tomorrow. We are both confused about what happened so I was planning that we look into it. Find some answers about it until we can understand it. Because how much more we think that it's normal, it isn't. That was not something a Healer like you could do," Kenshi explained and there was no reason for me not to agree with it. "I'll be asking some of my friends."

"I'll go check the archives," I suggested.

Kenshi nodded and looked at me. "You did well today. Great even. Go take some rest."

And there it was again. That strange feeling that I couldn't seem to figure out what. What the heck was happening?

***

"Careful. You didn't want to use that potion on yourself," I reminded Shiro as he helped me place the newly concocted potions on their shelves.

"I will, Brother Daku," Shiro responded enthusiastically, earning a smile on my face. I never knew this kid used to fear me the first we met. Today marked Shiro's fifth day of apprenticeship and also the fifth day of Kenshi and I searching for the answer.

I had checked all the shelves in the archive but it came out fruitless. The only book that had something to do with a Healer was the book that I already had. The one that the librarian gave to me. But even that book didn't contain any information about an ability that I used a week ago in the Amber Forest.

And I was not the only one that was unproductive. Kenshi couldn't find some leads. As he just said yesterday, there was only one person left on his list and if that person failed, then we would be bound to keep that ability from anyone.

Shiro and I were disturbed when the bell rang. I stood to greet whoever just entered the shop, while, Shiro walked out of the counter to have a better view of it. The counter was too high for him that even his tippy-toeing gave him a hard time.

"Miss Hanaka, good morning!" I greeted. The woman in his thirties flashed a smile in return. Miss Hanaka was supposed to be a visitor but she was forced to apply as a refugee when she found out that her village had become notorious for bandits and monsters. It has been two months since she got here.

"Good morning, Daku. Go on, Kana, say good morning to Mister Daku," Miss Hanaka instructed her child. Kana was at the same age as Shiro and she got most of her physical attributes from her mother.

"Good morning, Mister Daku," Kana bashfully greeted which I replied with a smile.

"Another errands?" I asked.

"Yes, for Mister Fushiko. Here's the list." Miss Hanaka handed me a piece of paper which I believed was where the list of orders was written. I took it and scanned each item for availability. Luckily, all of them were in stock.

"Shiro? Can you get some guguya and doctrina leaves at the back?"

"On it, Mister Daku!"

"That child is so helpful," Miss Hanaka commented as she watched Shiro enter the workshop.

"He sure is," I agreed. "By the way Miss Hanaka, how was the request for an escort going? Has someone accepted it yet?"

Even if I couldn't see it, I was certain that Miss Hanaka was saddened about it. "Just as usual. Looks like the clerk was right - the reward isn't enough to attract adventurers. That's why I have to continue working not just to feed ourselves but also to add more quantity to the reward."

It was true. Adventurers nowadays are more driven by money than by their call of duty and purpose. If a request offered a little reward, it would just rot until it was forgotten. Another sad thing was the path was not a main road and people barely took that path. Only those that were from Miss Hanaka's Village used it. So others didn't pay attention to it.

"Brother Daku, here are the herbs," Shiro informed me as he handed out a basket containing the herbs that I told him to fetch.

"Thank you, Shiro." I placed the herb into the bag where the rest of the orders were and brought it to the counter. "Don't worry, Miss Hanaka. Someone will accept your quest sooner or later."

"Thank you, Daku. How much should I pay?"

"Oh, right! That would be 147 doquis."

Miss Hanaka counted the money and handed it to me. Miss Hanaka said her goodbye and trudged toward the exit. The moment she stepped out of the shop, Kenshi entered in exchange. And by the looks of it, I presumed he had some good news to tell.

"Good morning, Mister Kenshi!" Shiro greeted. Kenshi slightly smiled and nodded.

"You looked different today," I asked as he reached the counter.

"I found someone." Those three words became celebratory phrases in my ears. I never thought this would come. For four days, we felt hopeless every time we came home empty-handed. But now, we could finally break the pattern.

"Really?"

"Remember the last person on my list, he said he knows someone who could help us but it would be impossible for us to get there," Kenshi announced.

"Why is that?"

"The village where this person lives is a five-day travel from here. The journey alone is not the problem but what comes along with it. Before we could reach that village we had to pass through another village before it. But the latter is inaccessible because of the reports of bandits and monsters residing nearby."

Wait, that sounded familiar.

"What village is it? The latter one?"

"The Geiya Village."

"That's where Kana came from right, Brother Daku?" Shiro intervened.

"Yes," I replied and in just a split of a second, an idea popped into my head. "Wait for me here."

I dashed toward the door and exited the shop. I was certain they couldn't be that far. I searched both left and right until I found them. I ran as fast as I could while avoiding other passersby.

"Miss Hanaka!" I yelled, catching not just her attention but also everyone around us. Miss Hanaka had this confused and worried look on her face as she watched me chase after her. But that face she had would soon be replaced by a smile. A second later, I reached them, "Pack your bags because we're going to escort you back home."

"You're taking us home?" Kana asked with a smile on her face.