Ch 8 - Good Healer

Albion's eyes slowly flickered as they gently opened. He was lying back and looking up, seeing a wooden roof above him. As he sat up he saw everyone looking at him. All surrounding him, looking at him with hopeful eyes. They were all the men who came in with wounds. Marcus and his father also standing with the other men. In fact, there were some more people in here than before. All wearing armour of some kind. His father rushed to Albion's side.

Alekia: ARE YOU OK ALBION?! ANY PAIN ANYWHERE?

Alekia had a worried face as he looked at both of Albion's eyes carefully.

Albion: I'm fine. What happened?

Albion looked around confused. The last thing he remembered was casting magic on the man with a very bad injury. So why was everyone else around healed? Had it been that long since he passed out?

???: Wow! The kid really can talk!

???: I didn't believe Alekia or Marcus when they said it but he's only 6 months old and he can talk normally!

???: Not just talk! He used magic! On a massive area too!

Albion: {What did I do?}

Lily: You used Purify. On over half of the village. Because your body wasn't used to using so much magic you passed out. You nearly exhausted your mana. Normal babies wouldn't have been so lucky. But since your part spirit, your Mana Lines kicked in to quickly recover your depleted mana. Your mind just needed to rest.

Albion's father was still checking his whole body as well as placing his hand on his chest, specifically over his heart. He felt something weird entering him. It was warm. It gave him a weird fuzzy feeling throughout his entire body.

Albion: {Oh.} I'm ok. I promise.

Alekia: Ok. But how did you do that? How did you heal that wound?

Albion: I just followed what was in the book. That circle and pu… rify.

Alekia: I know. I saw the magic circle. I even studied it and wrote notes down. That is my book. But even if you have a strong affinity with Nature how did you get rid of the dark ####### in the corruption?

Albion: I don't know. I just tried really hard. {I can't tell him I drank the milk of another woman and got some sort of angel blessing that stops corruption. He would see me as some sort of weirdo, it's also embarrassing and it kinda feels like I would be betraying my mother.}

Lily: I wouldn't tell him. He may think you're crazy or hurt your head using too much mana. But you're not betraying her. She is your mother. She gave birth to you. I'm just… I'm your mommy.

Lily was floating above Albion and stroking his head. Lily was gently consoling him the entire time he was unconscious. Knowing exactly what happened to him. Knowing he was going to be fine. But couldn't help but feel worried for Albion. As if he was her own child.

Alekia: {Maybe the sudden large burst of the Nature element is enough to purify the dark magic. But even then it would take an extraordinary amount of magic. Maybe I could do it with the amount of mana I have but… to think my son has a Dragon Heart when I don't.}

???: Alekia you sure have one #### of a son. Maybe he can become a healer one day. Maybe even a famous healer or an adventurer.

Marcus: No he's obviously going to be a scholar! He's 6 months old and he can read and talk.

???: He's going to be a ###### like his father!

???: No way! Look how big he is for his age! He's going to be a warrior!

???: With that amount of magic he'll be a great mage!

Albion watched as everyone started arguing around him about what he was going to be when he grew up. They all seemed to know each other and for everyone that was wearing armour, it would make sense. But why did all of them know his father? The village wasn't that small. It was on the bigger side.

Albion: Err, how do you all know my father?

Everyone stopped arguing and looked at Albion.

???: Don't tell us you've been keeping us a secret from your kid?

???: He must think he's better than us now he has an ######## ######## to practice ########.

Alekia: It's not like that. I just haven't been able to tell him. He's been growing so fast.

???: Kid your father used to be an adventurer. A healer to be specific. After he got a ####### to be a ##### he stopped being an adventurer with us.

Albion: Ohhh. So that's why a dagger was on the shelf.

Everyone looked at Alekia as he gulped.

???: What did we say about your equipment and a baby in the house?!

???: I thought we taught you better than this!

Alekia: I did! I placed it high up on a bookcase so he couldn't reach it.

???: But he's a smart baby! If he wanted to mess around with it he would definitely find a way!

???: I didn't let my kid start with swords till he was 5. Your baby isn't even a year old!

Alekia: I wasn't going to let him until he was at least 4 just like you said.

???: But you still…

After that, the adventures kept on shouting at his father the entire day. All about equipment safety around children and their own experiences. Albion found it kinda funny that his father was getting scolded like a child even though he was the tallest out of all of them. They were like one big group of friends. Even when they were shouting at him his father and all the men seemed to be having fun talking.

But after that talk that would be the last time Albion saw his father's dagger around the house. He wouldn't know where he placed it or hid it. He wouldn't even know if it was still in the house or not.

Time skip

The sky was a hue of orange with a big setting sun. A gradual gentle darkness began to rise as the moon peaked its way out of the horizon. Alekia shut the doors and locked the clinic at which he worked and to Albion's surprise owned. They both waved goodbye to Marcus as he said he was going to go to a bar to get a drink.

Albion: So are we heading to the late-night market?

Alekia: What?

Albion: I used the spell as well as knowing what it does. I win!

Alekia looked at Albion in surprise. A big smile formed on his face as he scuffed Albion's hair.

Alekia: You definitely won! So let's go!

Alekia went to the late-night market and while it was nowhere near as busy as the morning market it was still in use. There were fewer food stores.

Albion looked around with his father as he saw jewellery, weapons, and wine. But one thing caught his eye. A book. He didn't know why but his developing sense for mana was attracted to it. After using magic the first time he felt mana everywhere. His father looked at him and smiled. He had seen it too but he was surprised Albion noticed. But he was running out of surprise with how much Albion was growing up.

[Eyes has reached max level 10. Eyes has grown to Observing (F+).]

Alekia: Do you want that book?

Albion: Yes, please.

???: Good eye. It was brought back from a dungeon close to here. One silver coin for it.

The store owner said. He was short and stumpy with a stubbled chin and a bald head. Wearing plain cotton clothes. A grin on his face as he looked at Albion and Alekia.

Alekia: 70 bronze coins.

???: No. The lowest I can go is 85 bronze coins.

Alekia: Come on Gell. You know no one else is going to buy it.

Gell: I can't make myself look easy in front of your "genius" son. 80 bronze coins. Final offer.

Albion noticed word seemed to travel fast in this village. Alekia smiled as he put out his other hand.

Alekia: You got yourself a deal.

Gell shook Alekias hand as he went into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin. Gell gave 20 bronze coins back and Alekia placed them in a pouch. Taking the book and leaving.

Gell: If you need anything from me kid just ask!

Gell shouted as they walked off. Albion turned around in his father's arms and waved to Gell with a smile as they walked back home.

Albion: Dad. How does money work? Like what's the difference between a bronze and a silver?

Alekia: Ahhh. So let me work up so I make sure I don't get it wrong. 4 bronze pieces are 1 bronze. 100 bronze are 1 silver. 100 silver is 1 gold. 10 gold is 1 big gold coin. 10 big gold coins are 1 platinum. Bread often costs about 2 bronze coins but it can vary. And then there's one more. But you won't have to worry about that one.

Albion: Why not?

Alekia: That coins only so the kingdom has as a ######. A special coin to make sure the kingdoms ######### ######## are small and easily ######## and hidden. Having a large ####### or thousands of gold coins didn't go too well for another kingdom.

Albion: What kingdom was that?

Alekia: The Dwarf Kingdom Shard.

Albion: What happened to them?!

Alekia: There… there is not a kingdom anymore. There is a race called demons that invaded and since they owned a border with them other kingdoms couldn't aid them in time. They got wiped out. All their money and resources were stolen and their kingdom was destroyed. Now it's just ruins while Dwarfs live in other kingdoms. Not having any ####### to create a new kingdom.

Albion: {What?! The demons wiped out a whole kingdom already! I thought it was a thousand-year-long war because it was a stalemate.}

Albion was completely shocked that nearly a whole race was wiped out. As they got home and Alekia opened the door to their home Albion's mum rushed in. Taking Albion from Alekias' arm and hugging him.

Souvee: I MISSED MY BABY BOY SO MUCH! DID YOU MISS ME TOO?!

Albion smiled as he hugged his mum with his small arms. Embracing his mum's solid but gentle and warm hug. Her larger chest was soft and comfortable.

Albion: I missed you too Mum.