Grateful Rest

Leaving the awkwardness behind was my first goal. I needed to clear my mind. My body dragged some as I looked back at the house once more. ‘Just get it out of your mind.’ It left a fog around my head. I needed to get away.

Once things cleared a little, I decided the Markets would be the best destination. Though I remembered along the way that I still needed to visit Mrs. Erina to tell her of what happened. I didn’t look forward to that. Today wasn’t going to be a good day.

Returning to the Markets, I found Hoyra along with Denica standing together. They broke their chat when I approached. “Minoru! All rested?”

“Yeah, they're sending someone back down the cave?”

“They’re already putting together a team. Going to be dragging us back into there.” I hoped that the demon remained away. But I realized they might take me along as well. Though I didn’t know if I could offer anything at this point. They cleared the monsters effortlessly without me. “No need to stress kid, you’re fine. No, there’s something else that you need to do.”

“Something that I need to do?”

“That’s right. I was waiting around figuring you’d show back up. Follow me.” She gave me a wide motion of her arm towards somewhere in the back of the building. The way she walked everything mended well. It was a relief.

Stepping out the back of the chamber, we returned outside, though there was a fairly large gathering of people that I saw. After a little bit of searching I saw Renold and the others which we joined. Everyone was gathered around a wide pedestal that was smoking. I couldn’t really tell what it was, but all around there were beautiful shimmering flames of blue. Hanging from poles were banners with symbols that I didn’t recognize.

As I watched, everyone passed around something that was glowing blue. Flickers and sparks rose up from each person until it came to me. Denica nodded, handing to me in her bare hands what looked like a blue coal on fire. “It’s cool to the touch. Just take a piece and pass it along.” It was a little confusing, but I accepted it from her.

She was right, it was surprisingly cool, almost like I was holding an ice cube in my hand. Was it a magic flame that I was seeing like in the lanterns around the ceremony? The magic coal was brittle. It was easy enough to keep a small nugget and give it over to Renold.

It made it around to everyone. Looking around I just watched, realizing this was some ritual that they were doing. I just matched their actions. Closing my hands around the blue coal a little bit of the spark spread around my fingers giving them a soft halo. And then I brought it against my chest as they did. They hung there almost like in prayer before opening their hands out. The flame grew stronger and brighter as embers rose up into the air.

Hundreds of twinkling lights of azure danced in the air. As the wind lifted them I could swear I actually felt something tugging at me. It was difficult to find the word. There was warmth and happiness to it, but it wasn’t that closer to pride and gratitude. And even that I felt didn’t do it justice. I felt sadness and relief to bring tears. It was like the joy for so many wonderful years together only known between a pet and master upon their final parting.

The emotions swept me up and I caught myself on the edge of tears constantly while watching. Like a sea of shining gems cast upon the salmon colored sky, they sparkled rising higher. Before they could leave my sight the coals of magic burned away the last of their fuel and disappeared. All that remained was that cinnamon smell once more thick in the air.

Everyone remained somber as the ceremony slowly concluded. It looked over to Denica for an answer now as it seemed rude to interrupt in the middle. “I wanted you to see. When we let those that we care for depart. We let them return to the land in good company so that they know that they were loved and appreciated. That they know they can rest in peace.”

I looked around at the gathering again. It was amazing honestly. I was so used to just tossing out something I was done with. At best it might be recycled, but I didn’t care. They were so different. It wasn’t so bad to cherish something. I smiled. “Thank you. It was beautiful.” This was something I’d never forget.

The departing ritual came to an end and everyone started to break away. I didn’t exactly have a plan, but Denica tapped me again. She pointed me back to the Markets. They weren’t done with me apparently.

We came to Hoyra. Denica motioned over to her as she was in the back corner working on something. “Got the thing for him?”

“Yes! A rush job was put on it. It was cleaned up and repaired.”

They had something for me? I looked over to Denica who seemed to know what was happening, but she just gave me a smirk and made me wait. It wouldn’t be long I guess. The attendant went back to pick up a medium sized container that had some ribbon binding closing it. She promptly returned to politely slide over the box.

It actually looked like a present. Was this some reward for the mission that we sort of succeeded in completing? But Denica just nudged me to go ahead with it. I pulled off the bronze clasp that secured the ribbon to the container lid. Removing the lid, I saw what looked like new clothes inside it. They were far more stylish than what I wore. I still looked pretty basic, almost like a background character. I gave Denica a bit of a probing look.

“One of the sets of armor found among the three dead in the cave was a mage set. Uriath said it was pretty old, but didn’t seem like it had too much mana in it. So it probably was fairly new. Give it a try.”

I looked back down at it. Drawing my hand over it, it felt soft, more like fabric than the leathers I had now. It had white as the primary base with indigo as the secondary color. Black stitching neatly closed in the trim. “Looks pretty fancy. It's alright for me to have it?”

“We wouldn’t be giving it to you if it wasn’t.”

“Right…” I pulled it out of the box to get a proper look at the whole thing. It was a robe from what I could see, but also had pants still in the box. And it looked like a flowing cape along with a hood came part of it. Much like with Eri’Sol’s there were metal plates and clasps that attached along the shoulders and arms with some tassels coming off.

‘Ranthor Royal Mage Robes – Royal robes of the Kingdom of Ranthor given to mages that had earned distinction in the eyes of the King.

Few of these robes were ever made and with the collapse of Ranthor, these hold special significance in the eyes of the three Kingdoms.’

These were far older than they claimed. I wondered if they even knew how old it was. But the people it belonged to were long dead. It was in need of a new owner. This felt a little too much for someone still as unproven as me, but I would have to accept it.

I took a couple of minutes to get changed into the new gear. It actually fit surprisingly well to me. Did they know my size because the humans here are far taller than me? Or was this made for a hero in mind?

I stepped out giving them a little test as I walked around. There was nothing to complain about. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of it. Denica gave me an approving nod. “Looking like a proper hero now!”

Striking a bit of a pose playfully for her, it did feel more real than before. “Now I can be the Official Cursed Healer. Continuing my journey of being a terrible healer.”

“I’ve got nothing to worry about with you and that sense of humor. What’s your next goal?”

That was something that I hadn’t been giving much thought to. Ala Pena had been me just wandering until I ran into something. It didn’t seem like a bad thing for now. I think I got lucky not running into that demon and I shouldn’t go chasing my death right now. “I got something to wrap up in town first. But probably hit the road again. See what else is out there.”

“It’s a big world out there. Though probably a good idea to stick to the kingdom for now.”

“Trouble with the neighbors?”

“When aren’t your neighbors being a pain in the ass. Just a friendly bit of advice.”

“I’d like to keep myself free of political troubles, so that shouldn’t be a problem.” I visited Hoyra to check on my earnings from what we brought in. It had been enough time for that bear thing.

She went and pulled up a tray that carried a healthy amount of coins. More than I was expecting to see. “This for the Vertil, the Crimson Greater Theric and reward for the completion of the mission.” It sounded like they upgraded the title of that boss we fought. It must have been far more dangerous than I realized. “It is a total of seventy-four gold and eight silver.” That was far more than I had yet. I didn’t even know what to spend that much on. Though I guess buying materials for my potions could be a thing now.

They put out another tray with the same amount of money. “Is Eri with you to receive her portion?”

I looked down and away feeling the pangs of that memory biting at me again. With some hesitation to push through, I answered her. “No, she’s staying behind. You can probably just deliver it to her house.”

“I understand.”

Remembering Eri’Sol, I recalled I still needed to see Mrs. Erina. “Thank you for the robes! I have someone I need to visit.” Denica gave a polite nod as I turned around. A bit of dread came over me for the bad news I would need to deliver. How would she take it?