Questions

It was difficult for the man to talk continuously because he was coughing a lot

'We can't have a proper conversation while he is in this condition, I'll cure him first'

Leus quickly devised a plan

'I'll cast Cleansing first, If it doesn't work, then I'll use Examination and see what organs are having issues then decide accordingly.

I don't mind giving him a bit of Life Force, but I'm not planning on becoming vulnerable here.

It also isn't practical, Based on the cause he might need multiple sessions, Which isn't ideal.'

Leus cast Cleansing, and he immediately felt his mana influence the Neutral Mana around him to transform into Light Mana, Then he willed the Light Mana to enter Orison's body

For a second, Orison's body shined brightly.

Light engulfed him and he felt the warmth course through his veins, From his head to his toes, Then he felt a burning sensation in his chest, Then nothing, The warmth disappeared, and the pain did too.

This was the first time Leus had actually used this spell on a person, so he had no idea how it worked.

He activated Advanced Mana Vision and observed the movement of the Light Mana until he saw it dissipate inside Orison's body.

After he could no longer see Light Mana, Leus asked

"Did it work?"

Orison cleared his throat

"Yes! Yes it worked! I don't feel the pain anymore, Thank you! Thank you so much!"

He got up from the bed and bowed to Leus

"I can't thank you enough Young Man, I'll remember your favor until the end of my life."

'It was really simple'

"No need sir, We have a deal after all."

"Ah of course, What is it that you need to ask"

Leus sat on the bed and asked Orison to take a seat as well, So Orison sat beside him with just a little distance between the two

Leus began by asking

"How are you living? Where do you work?"

"I work in a workshop outside.

I work around 10 hours a day and it takes me 1 hour to go and 1 hour to come"

"How much do you earn?"

"2 Bronze coins per day except on the first day of the week I earn 3"

"From where do you bring water?"

"Normally, My eldest daughter brings the water in the morning from one of the wells that are about half an hour away from here.

Then she prepares the food, cleans the house, and spends the rest of the time teaching her younger sister how to read or how to create woodwork.

Although ... The young one isn't as talented with wood as her."

'That's a busy life'

Leus continued

"What do people normally work here?"

"Here? Most jobs are about helping out or fixing things at home.

There are jobs for women like midwives and for men like house repairs.

Some folks get paid every week to bring water, and there are cooks who make meals for single men.

But most of the stable, decent jobs are outside.

Things like carpentry, smithing, and tailoring are good options. A bunch of guys also become farmers, signing up to grow crops in villages.

There's also the Military enrollment."

Orison sighed then continued

"And of course, there are the so-called Protectors"

"Protectors?"

"Yeah, You pay them money daily or weekly and they protect the area from other protectors and maintain the peace.

If you don't pay them then expect yourself and your family to be continuously harassed, and if you survive that then they'll just break things around your house or even the house itself."

'Pay them to get protected from them.'

Leus asked

"Is that guy, Scar, one of the Protectors?"

Orison nodded

"Yeah. But honestly, he's better than the old one.

I was bedridden for some days and Scar didn't bother my daughters about money.

The old guy would harass us if we didn't pay, Or take our water as compensation."

"What happened to him? "

"That's ... a long story"

Leus was interested

"Please do tell."

"Alright, I'll tell you from the beginning"

Orison took a deep breath and then started

"Scar was just a normal kid. His parents died when he was young and his older brother basically raised him.

Unlike other kids who spent their time playing, Scar would spend most of his day training, until one day, both Scar and his brother qualified to sign up for the military, and the two immediately signed up and left.

Usually, their story would end here, and we'd never hear about them again, but only a couple of weeks later, Scar came back without his brother and with a scar on his face.

The first thing he did was kill the old Protector and take his place, and since that time, he's been the protector of this area"

'Interesting ...'

"How much do you pay for protection?"

"1 bronze coin every 2 days.

But if there are damages, like if rivals have attacked the Protectors, or if many people signed up to become farmers and moved out leaving no family behind and didn't pay or delayed the payment, it becomes a bronze coin per day.

But that didn't happen since Scar became the protector"

Leus nodded, He didn't have any more questions

"Thank you for the information"

Leus extended his right hand for Orison to shake

"No, Thank you, Young man, If there's anything I can do for you then please, let me know."

Leus nodded with a smile, then walked out of the room to the lobby where the two girls were waiting

Meli asked in a worried tone

"How's dad? Did it work?"

"Yes, He's just fine"

Melanie shouted in excitement

"YES!! I knew you'd do it! I didn't doubt you even for a second"

then ran inside the room

Melisandre's eyes welled up and she came closer to Leus and said

"Thank you, Thank you so much"

"Ah, it's alright, By the way, do you have a glass?"

"A glass?"

"Yeah, A glass for water or anything like that"

"Yes just a second"

Melisandre went to the kitchen and brought a glass of water to Leus

"I don't need the water, Just the glass"

Meli repeated in confusion

"Just the glass?"

"Yeah, Just an empty glass"

She went back to the kitchen, emptied the glass, and came back

Leus took the glass then he cast Potion and added Cleansing properties to the Light Mana, Creating a healing potion for sickness

The glass became filled with white colored liquid

Meli looked at the glass in confusion

"What is this?"

"Cover the glass, and if your father becomes sick again, give it to him.

But do NOT tell anyone that you have this, Okay?"

'I have no idea if that's how to preserve it, but well, I gotta improvise

Meli nodded

"Thank you so much for everything"

She took the glass and went back to the kitchen

Leus looked through the window and realized that it was about to be dark

'I think it's time to go home'