Medic?

In the evening we finally had all returned to our barracks and had eaten dinner together.

Once again there were only potatoes and sausages for us to eat.

This diet wasn't very varied, but it was better than nothing. Plus, almost anything tasted good after a long, draining day. So I didn't complain. It could have been much worse in this medieval fantasy world.

I was in charge of cleaning today, so I swept the floor while everyone else slowly retreated to the dormitories.

At the moment only a few comrades were still sitting at the long tables of the dining hall and talked casually to each other.

The ambience here was very pleasant. Once you got used to the musty smell and the stale beer, it almost felt like home.

"Chris?"

I was suddenly interrupted in the middle of my thoughts. I turned to the rough voice, curious.

"C-Commander Braven!" It escaped me hastily and I stood a little tighter on the spot. The broom now firmly clutched in my hand.

The other comrades turned to us curiously. Normally senior officers did not come into the trainees' dining hall. After all, they had their own departments where they took their meals.

So did something happen? Did I misbehave?

I couldn't remember any mistakes on my part, so I got a little nervous.

He didn't just want to talk to me like that, did he? Did he … like me?

Blood rushed to my cheeks immediately.

However, I quickly put that thought out of my head. Our commander certainly didn't even think about dating a boy at all. At least he didn't make the appearance of it.

"Jon told me you finally could remember something from your past." Commander Braven then explained his motives.

I couldn't help but be a little disappointed in that. Still, I tried to pull myself together.

"W-what? Well I... I mean just a little I guess." I stuttered my explanation.

So Jon had said something after all, the idiot.

"It's good if you start to remember something. It shows that your head is healing." Braven continued.

"Yeah maybe... I think."

"Jon said you were probably trained by a Physician before you came here."

"So that... I'm not sure if that's actually true, Commander." I tried to calm down the situation.

Inwardly, I cursed Jon for his naivety. I specifically asked him not to say anything at first. But this boy just couldn't keep his mouth shut. Especially not when he thought that it might help a friend. That's just how he was. Actually, I should have seen it coming.

"Then let's test it." The commander merely replied, so that I hesitated briefly.

"I don't know if-"

"Don't talk back to your supreme commander!" Braven suddenly barked, making me noticeably jump.

"Y-yes sir!"

"Good. Then follow me."

I quickly put the broom aside and followed the commander with deliberate steps. We went straight in the direction of the hospital wing.

"We urgently need a medic for our barracks. We can no longer claim the royal family doctor for that. We lack support in this regard from Ildrega. The country where the physicians are trained. You would be of real use if it what Jon said is true." Braven now explained a little more calmly as I walked alongside him.

"Ildrega?" I have never heard of such a country.

"Does that country mean something to you?" He suddenly asked almost curiously.

"I... I don't know..." I lied.

"Then you better think about it! And now come. I want to check this circumstance right now." Braven said and opened the door to the hospital wing.

I entered hesitantly.

A few nurses and the friendly, grey-haired doctor who had treated me back then were already waiting for me in the big room with the bare walls, which i knew only too well from inside.

The doctor was presumably the Royale physician that Commander Braven had just spoken of. And the nurses... were once again excitedly whispering and giggling. I had to bite back a small smile.

Sometimes I forgot myself that I was so handsome. In our barracks there was no mirror outside the hospital wing. That's why I sometimes forgot that I didn't look like the old me anymore.

"You will stay here for a few days and give the physician a hand. He will then judge whether you can do it or not." The Commander ordered.

"But what about my training, Commander?"

"You will be exempt from this for the time being. I want to see a result soon, understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

Thereupon the commander just nodded and then left the room with brisk steps.

"Your name was Chris, wasn't it? I'm Dr. Meyer." The royal physician introduced himself, so that my attention was now fully with him.

"Thank you again for taking care of me back then, Dr. Meyer. I'll try to do my best here." I just said then, trying to sound as respectful as possible.

"Oh, that's not worth talking about. After all, it's my duty to help the injured or sick. After all, I swore by an oath." The doctor explained with a mild smile.

"Are … are you from Ildrega?" I asked curiously.

I was happy to finally learn something about this country. During our training we were not taught anything geographical, nor did they say anything explicitly about any country. We were only initiated into the general layout of the palace and instructed in our duties as the royal guard. They really made us feel like we were all just interchangeable cogs in a big clockwork. We weren't even worth being fully trained in all areas of knowledge. We were only responsible for the security of the palace and the royal family. No more and no less.

"Ah yes. Ildrega. The land of poets and thinkers. Have you been there before?" Asked me Dr. Meyer with curious eyes.

"I... I don't think so..."

"Ah right, I forgot you lost your memories. But Commander Braven told me you somehow knew about certain diseases. Tell me boy...can you read?"

"I don't know, I've never held a book here before." I said a little bit hesitated.

Even if I understood the language here, I was unsure about the letters of this language. After all, they could be completely different from those from my world.

Shortly thereafter, Dr. Meyer took a large book from the shelf to his right and gave it to me.

A little excited, I accepted it with caution. It was heavy and bound in thick leather. A moment later I glanced at the headline: 'Herbology', stood there written in letters that I could actually read. I felt excitement and joy flood through me.

"I think...I think I can read it!"

"For real?" Dr. Meyer seemed genuinely surprised.

He then picked up the book again and opened it to a random page.

"What is written there?" He asked me.

He probably wanted to test me.

Without hesitation, I began reading out loud:

"The common eyebright or large eyebright is a meadow plant of the broomrape family. It is used as an eye remedy. The dried above-ground parts harvested during the flowering period serve as a medicinal drug, but also the whole fresh plant. Areas of application are both coughs and hoarseness, but especially inflammation of the conjunctiva and the edge of the eyelid as a result of catarrh and overtired eyes. It-"

"That's enough, thank you Chris." I was interrupted by Dr. Meyer.

I tried to pout as little as possible. I would have liked to read more.

"Oh my, he's not only handsome, he's also smart." I heard a nurse whisper from farther back.

But I took that with me only marginally. I was just way too excited for that.

I could read! I really could read!

I could be of use here. My existence here could really be of use to other people.

It was a nice feeling.