283: Reunion

Leaving the main chamber, I couldn’t help but hear murmurs from other acolytes and priests who were around when the breeze came through. Although I saw several looking at us, none of them said anything. It was far calmer than the times when the goddess of fate had reacted.

Moving through a small hallway, the entire appearance had changed; it went from a rustic, wooden feel to smooth stone. Everything felt clean.

“This is our medical wing of the temple. In keeping with the god of life’s name and philosophies, we will treat anyone and any race who comes here for care,” Lital explained.

Looking around, I was surprised just how large it seemed to be, as we were already passing several rooms.

“How many people are here?” I asked.

Lital seemed to consider this. “Probably twenty or so in critical state. A lot of people who can’t function in their old day-to-day lives join the temple and get constant healing over their lives.”

“Can’t function?” I questioned, unsure how that worked.

“People who lose limbs or burn their mana channels usually, Trev,” Liane whispered to my side.

“Your friend is correct. We can’t regrow limbs, and reattachment or magical attachments are very expensive, so they often join the temple and help out where they can. And yes, those who burn out their mana channels struggle to rejoin society normally, as such, they will always have a home here. But there are injuries that surpass even those,” Lital explained.

“The soul,” I muttered to myself, remembering my own ability to nourish the soul.

I was, however, overheard by Lital. “Quite right, though they are usually unable to partake in any activities if the damage is too severe, and it’s just about making them as comfortable as possible until the inevitable.”

Not knowing fully what my ability did myself, I felt it best not to say anything, though part of me wondered if I could perhaps make a soup or a stew and provide it as a donation to the temple here, even if just to help the other sick individuals.

“Ah, here we go, Acolyte Amanda!” Lital called out.

I saw Amanda spin around, and I was surprised to see she appeared to have grown considerably since she left the orphanage, having shot up in height, though she had a beaming smile on her face.

“Priest Lital, how can I assist?” she said.

“I was led to believe that Lord Ashmoon was a friend of yours,” Lital said, gesturing towards us.

There was a look of confusion on Amanda’s face as she repeated, “Lord Ashmoon?”

But as she looked over at the group, she spotted me, her eyes going wide and looking shocked.

“Trevor?!” she said loudly, before Lital gave her a soft ‘hush’.

She completely ignored him, rushing over. “Trevor, is that really you? How? You look incredible!”

It felt like she wanted to go for a hug, but holding the nest of Clacks, there was no real easy way to do that. It also didn’t help that Clacks was currently sitting on the edge of her nest, where she let out a chirp at Amanda as she approached.

“It’s me,” I said with a smile, feeling embarrassed.

“Oh, sorry, I’m being rude. Who is Lord Ashmoon?” She looked to the rest of the group.

It was Liane who broke it, with a laugh, pointing to me. “He is. Say hello to the kingdom’s newest Lord, Trevor Ashmoon.”

Amanda stood there staring at me, stunned.

“How is that possible? We’ve been out of the orphanage for a year or less,” she asked, seemingly taking me in.

Lital looked surprised, hearing this from the side. I had assumed this was information he knew, but clearly not.

“It’s been a wild ride,” I said awkwardly.

Lily must have looked through the scarf at that moment as Amanda jumped back in fright.

“Oh, don’t mind her, that is Lily. She’s with me also, though it might be dangerous for her to walk with us through the temple,” I explained.

Off to the side, I heard Lital whisper, “Shadow cat.”

Amanda just let out a laugh. “I thought I had a crazy tale to tell you when I saw you next, but it seems I’ve had the boring life in comparison to others.”

“Others? Who else have you seen?” I asked.

This question seemed to wipe the smile off Amanda’s face, and I wasn’t so naive that I couldn’t put two and two together to know that most likely my other friend was a resident in this medical wing at this point.

“Is it Sara?” I asked.

Amanda shook her head. “No, I’ve not seen her. It’s Lukas; he’s been here for two weeks now, though he’s still not conscious.”

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This statement hit me hard. I had not seen or heard of Lukas since the incident at the inn, and of all the people, he was the one I was most confused about. He had completely ignored me, and I had no idea why.

I quickly moved on from that thought, however; he’d been here for two weeks.

“What happened?” I asked, worried now.

“Wait, was that the kid from the inn you mentioned?” I heard Liane say behind me, but I ignored it.

Amanda bowed her head. “He was attacked in an extermination mission with his group. They lost a member, and Lukas was in critical condition when he was brought to the temple.”

I heard practically a growl behind me, “Idiots,” from Hari of all people.

Though I knew his stance on up-and-coming groups taking jobs that were beyond them to prove something, and it wasn’t good.

“Will he recover?” I asked Amanda.

Again, a pained look on her face, and she didn’t answer right away.

“We’re giving him as much help as we can,” she finally said.

I didn’t even think about it. I could worry about my grievances with him later. I remembered being told that if people paid for the materials, they could get better care.

Turning to Lital, “I’ll pay whatever needs to be paid, please help him.”

“It’s not that simple, Trev, he’s lost a leg,” Amanda said.

I turned to Lital. “You just mentioned there are magical attachments. I’ll pay for it, I don’t care the cost.”

As I said it, I pulled out a bag of gold I had in storage, causing Amanda’s eyes to go wide, though I couldn’t help but notice there were tears welling up.

No one in the group protested this either.

Lital looked very seriously for a moment. “It’s not a quick process. He’ll need to want to heal, and fight for it.”

I shook my head, not accepting no for an answer. “He’s a fighter, I’ll try anyway.”

Lital looked to Amanda before saying, “Acolyte Amanda, if you could please gather the senior healers, I’ll take Lord Ashmoon to see his friend.”

I followed Lital in silence, though I felt Hari’s hand on my shoulder where he gave it a squeeze, clearly in support.

Through the whole thing, I felt Crisplet just sending across optimism and strength.

Even Clacks joined in, chirping in the nest where she once again returned with her leaf at the entrance.

Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile, and break through the roiling emotions I was feeling.

“It’s alright, Clacks, he won’t need your leaf,” I said.

Lital took the moment to speak again. “I must warn you, even if you spend the money, there is no guarantee that the attachment will be accepted, or that your friend will recover. Sometimes money doesn’t fix everything.”

I nodded in understanding, but I had to try all the same.

Approaching the room, I felt Hari’s grip again. “Trev, we’ll stay outside, that room is about to get very crowded. If you need us, though, just ask.”

I nodded, looking back at Jen, Milo, Luis, and Hari.

Clearly, Liane decided she didn’t care and was coming with me anyway, and Crisplet was always going to follow regardless.

Opening the door, I saw a curtain around a bed. When Lital pulled it back, I saw with my own eyes.

Lukas.

He was incredibly beaten up, cuts on his cheek, even a scar on his neck. I couldn’t see the missing leg as it was covered in a blanket, but it was obviously gone by the missing lump under the blanket, just above the knee if I’d guessed right.

“He’s lucky to be alive at all, they managed to stop the bleeding just in time,” Lital explained.

“How did he get here?” I asked.

“The medical pavilion in Dunhearth couldn’t save his life, so with the help of a couple of healers, he was stabilised and brought here for care,” Lital explained.

This explanation only posed more questions for me, and I turned to Liane for answers.

“What happens if they are attacked on the route here? That road is dangerous, right?”

Liane nodded, not answering.

It was Lital who spoke. “Not everyone makes it here, this is true.”

Conversation was interrupted as a rush of activity could be heard at the other side of the door, before it opened and four much older individuals entered the room.

Lital spoke first. “Lord Ashmoon here would like to save his friend with the best healing possible, no expense spared on materials, and organise a magical attachment for his leg.”

I held out the bag of gold again.

They had a look of concern as they looked between Lukas and myself, but for the third time, there was a breeze that could be felt in the room, despite the door being closed, which Lital appeared to register immediately, saying something that even surprised me.

“His group has the blessing of the god of life himself, receiving personal leaves.”

Clacks seemed to understand fully as once again the leaf was in her beak with a chirp.

This reassurance seemed to be all they needed, however, as one of them finally spoke.

“He’s in a bad shape, we were preparing to just make him comfortable. However, we will do absolutely everything we can to help him.” The man bowed.

“Can he eat anything?” I asked.

This must have seemed like a crazy question, as I just got surprised stares, so I clarified further.

“Soup or broths or anything?”

It was Amanda who spoke from behind the four seniors. “Yes, he swallows broth, but it’s all he can eat at the moment, Trev. He’s not woken up since he was here, so it’s difficult.”

I pushed the bag of gold into Lital’s hand. “Do whatever you can. Liane, we need to leave. I need a kitchen.”

Lital just looked confused, holding the bag of gold, but Crisplet and Liane seemed to know what was going on, as Crisplet let off a tiny burst of sparks that vanished incredibly fast. Liane was already walking towards the door.

“We’ll be back, it seems,” Liane said.

“I need to make something that will help, I’ll be back as soon as it is done,” I told them as everyone looked at me, confused.

They didn’t question it as I was half expecting them to do, rather the elder healer who spoke just bowed. “We’ll start immediately, and source a magical attachment as soon as possible.”

I just nodded, heading out the door and catching Hari by surprise.

“I need to get to a kitchen as soon as possible,” I said.

Hari nodded. “Back to the inn then, Jamal has one I'm sure you’re free to use.”

I couldn’t help but smile, breaking the concern I had. It was hard to explain but knowing that my friends had gone with my request, not even questioning it.

“Thanks,” I muttered, not knowing what else to say.

“We have your back, Trev, let’s get going,” Jen said, now leading the way at a quick pace.