Chapter 2: Fried Banana or Happiness

The book was enlightening, and, after Leander placed it back on the shelf, he had a game plan!

The book stressed the habit theory and explained it in detail.

The theory stated that habits made up the world's creatures. Everyone had a routine during which they gave little or no thought to their actions.

So, if Leander added the thirty minutes of running in place daily to his routine for three weeks, he would stick to it for life!

It sounded too good to be true, and yet...

Leander had stopped doing things he found uninteresting before, even after the three-week mark. Yet, the rewards that the book had suggested were enticing.

He was already looking forward to cheat day, when he could indulge in a fried banana or a cup of hot chocolate, knowing full well that he would burn them the next day!

He went to the library's medical section and took a paramedic textbook from the shelf. Sure, he knew how to close wounds with mana and was quick about it. But, sometimes, people couldn't be treated with mana.

He had read many books on how to bandage someone, give them injections without putting air in their veins, and even place limbs in casts.

But today, he was interested in discovering what he could do if someone had nearly drowned.

Sure, as he was now, he wouldn't be able to pull them out of the pit or moat they fell in, more so if they were in full plate or even leather with weapons strapped to them.

But parties never consisted of just two people. He was sure the third or fourth person would dive and pull the fallen member out.

And then it would be up to Leander, as the healer, to step in!

Information about saving someone from drowning started with how to pull them out of the water without allowing them to drag their rescuer down with them.

Leander read it dutifully. He allowed himself to dream that, one day, he would be fit enough to pull people out by himself.

That was followed by twenty pages of pictures about heart massages, mouth-to-mouth, and forceful heart and lungs start-ups.

Feeling like he had learned much, Leander returned the book to the shelf. He went to the nearest doll in the practice section of the library.

It was in a tub of water, face down, and the mana through the see-through fabric was purple. Leander pulled the doll out and began with the mouth-to-mouth.

The mana turned a couple of shades closer to pink, and he began with the heart massage and the slow circulation of mana.

He struggled to concentrate his mana into a beating pattern around the heart, yet he managed!

The doll's mana turned bright red. Leander did another mouth-to-mouth and gave the lungs a quick mana-made jolt.

The doll spat out the water!

Leander returned it to the tub, again face down, so that it was ready for the next person.

He went to another doll, this one missing a hand. Some bone was sticking out of the stump left behind, unevenly cut.

Leander took a marker and made a dotted line around where he cut. Then, he got to work.

He knew he was still inexperienced, no matter how much practice he had on fish and dolls. He would remain like that until he got a party that was willing to get him to something like a slime or fungal dungeon.

When he was done practicing the most commonly used interventions, the librarian gave him the evil eye. He hadn't even noticed her come into the practice room.

"Is it closing time?" Leander was stitching some fabric to keep up his finger dexterity when he saw the librarian coming his way.

"Yes, half an hour ago. I nearly locked you inside!"

Leander blushed and stood up, leaving his half-finished stitches on the table. He left the library and went back to the inn.

Falling into bed, he could not help but think there was hope for him...

0000

The following day, after he washed up and ate a plate filled with eggs and sausages, instead of his usual breakfast of fried bacon, he headed to the Adventurer's Guild. Hoping beyond hope that someone had picked him up for their party.

Despite his rank and picture.

When he came to the ledger, his name remained the only one still on it. He bowed his head low, suddenly having the strong urge to eat a fried banana.

Then, he looked up and slapped himself.

Fried banana or happiness?

He asked himself, then marched back to the faucet with the poster to begin his thirty-minute fat-burning, muscle-building session! This time, he had taken a sand clock with him and watched as each grain fell.

After he was done, he went to the library again, this time to pick up a book about marathon running.

Leander did not kid himself. Once he was picked for a party, he would need to run a lot.

Horses were expensive and, until the average adventurer became rank A or higher, they didn't make that much money.

After he was done with the book, he went back to the Adventurer's Guild. He went to the front desk and looked at the half-orc receptionist.

"Hello, I would like to go out on a quest. My rank is F," the bored man snorted, but then he noted the slightly ruffled hair and wrinkled clothes.

The man decided that, if this adventurer could get his hands dirty, there was hope for him.

"Here. A hamster ran away from home. They have a sewer entrance next to their house. Look for it there," the receptionist said, handing him a thin scroll and nodding at him.

 Leander took the mission scroll and held it like it was a precious treasure. It might not be the best mission, but it could still earn him points!

Sure, it was not a dungeon delving or rescuing a princess.

But it was his first mission! He needed to prepare!

Quickly, at that!

Before the hamster ended up floating in the sewer waste, dead, as Leander's future and dreams would be, if he failed…