Rachel

Daron used some of the money he had brough to pay the church and have them heal Rachel. However, the problem was that the church's healing could not unconditionally heal people, but instead only stimulated the body to heal itself.

Rachel's body on the other hand could not be healed without her having enough nutrients within her to actually facilitate the repairing.

That was why, the church simple numbed her pain from her legs and hand, and began to feed her slowly some liquidised and diluted food. They could not feed her nutrient rich food instantly and therefore decided to slowly adapt her stomach which had starved for god knows how long, before actually beginning the treatment.

The priestess handling Rachel estimated that it would take at least a month before they could begin the treatment, which would cost around 3000 copper; around 30 silver, costing about 1 silver for each day. And the treatment itself would cost around another 30 silver.

Daron simply nodded and handed over 70 silver without hesitation, and extra ten in case needed, and any extra could be used as a donation to the church.

"A donation to the church?" the priestess held her amiable smile, but was slightly confused by how this knight could afford to spend so much on a girl, before suddenly her smile changed to a knowing smile as she patted Daron on the shoulder in approval.

"Take good care of her."

Daron started for a moment before realising what she meant and hastily replied.

"No, no. She is not my… She already has someone she loves. Also, the money is because I know how much churches need donations, since I was brought up in one."

Hearing the first half of what Daron spoke, the priestess simply shrugged, however, as soon as she heard that Daron was an orphan brought up in a church, her eyes lit up and the way she behaved also took a turn for the better. After all, all the orphans of the church were one of them, no matter how long has passed since that time in their lives.

Since it would take Rachel a month to recover, he did not wish to disturb her before she was fully treated, and therefore he left telling the priestess to stop Rachel from leaving alone, and tell her that 'Daron will be back in a month once she recovers.'

Leaving the church, Daron left the city and began walking in the snow. He did not rush as though he was aiming to reach anywhere on time, just walking in a straight line into the forest outside the city.

His mind was extremely complicated just now.

After seeing Rachel, Daron had suddenly recalled something he had been supressing for nearly a whole year. He suddenly remembered Bard city. He remembered the church; he remembered the Silent Hans who wanted to become a merchant, he remembered the Blond twins Hans and Greta and the Chesnutt haired Lily who wanted to become an alchemist.

He remembered Zack and Grey, who had had left behind to escape, and his teacher for Internal Energy, Fals. He remembered Fey, William, and Tom.

He remembered the fact that he had left them beck at Bard, thinking that there would be no problems for them. However, seeing the state that Rachel was in, his heart felt like it was being gouged out. A sense of fear of what happened to every who were in Bard, and those who were outside, crept up in his mind. A sense of loss overcame him as he did not stop walking in a daze.

Suddenly, his eyes gleamed once again as he made his decision.

Rachel is in the hands of the church and is currently safe. IT will take a month for her to recover, so I have a lot of time.

'Let's go'

[Are we going back to Bard?]

'Yes!'

[What about your plan to go to the energy site?]

'Later'