The past everyone posses

I dropped out of my bed with a loud thud after hearing the unexpected voice from near me.

“Oh, my goddess! Are you okay?” Rushing from behind the curtain a small girl around Juni size comes rushing towards me to help.

She has red scales on her skin and dark crimson braided hair. Her yellow eyes are easy to see in the room that’s getting dark with the setting sun. From her orange one-piece dress, I can also see a lizard-like tail. Apart from her size she reminds me a bit of Volkan.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to scare you like that. It is just that I was not making any noise, and your friends started to show up and next thing I know it would have been too awkward to speak up.” She speaks very fast and almost trips over her words a couple of times.

As she gets close to me, she starts casting a blessing.

“Holy Dream blessing: Full Night's Rest.”

The pain I felt from my small fall fades away immediately.

“It’s fine, really. I wasn’t that hurt by the fall either. After all the training I’m doing this doesn’t hurt me at all!” I say, trying to look tough.

“Right of course. You are the ace recruit that is getting ready to go on sightings, of course you would be okay with this.” She says in a flustered look.

“How do you know who I am?”

“Well, I saw you on the day of the exam. And after that you become really well known around the base. Your name is Akihiko correct?”

“That’s right. But wait, you were there on the day of the exam, but you don’t have a dream catcher on you. Are you a recruit perhaps?”

“Well yes, actually I also took the exam with you and the other three.”

“So you’re the non-combative!” The realization makes me raise my tone of voice. “But wait, if you don’t want to go fight the slumberwalkers what do you do here in the HQ?”

“I don’t have the courage to face them. But I wish to support those who do. So, when I discovered I had the potential to use blessings decided to become a healer.”

In that case, it makes sense for us to never have seen her. Our lessons are way more combat oriented. Even utilities and healing blessings we learn are more akin to field medicine than proper medical care.

“I’m sorry, you already know my name, and I haven’t even asked for yours yet.”

“Yes! I’m Olivia of Kobold Kin.” Just saying her names is making her blush with embarrassment.

“Well very nice to meet you, Olivia! I take it since you’re studying to be a healer you were the one looking after me when I was out?”

“Yes. But I still have a lot to learn. So, are you feeling better?” All this time she has been healing me.

“All the pain is gone. Thank you very much. I will be going now I have to meet with the other on the cafeteria.”

“Of course. If you ever need any more care, feel free to come back anytime. I’m pretty much always here or out in the library reading.”

“Wait, are you all by yourself all this time?”

“We have very few like me who are also not training for combat se I’m pretty much alone most of the time except when practicing with the main healers. But it’s okay, I’m already used to it so is no problem at all.” She gives a forced smile.

I can feel it in her voice. She’s not okay. I can tell she’s not okay with being alone; she wants to do things together but is too shy to ask. Or maybe too afraid of rejection. Maybe being non-combative is making her feel like she can’t be together with other guild members.

As I’m heading out of the infirmary I stop by the door and look back.

“Tell you what Olivia. Did you eat yet?”

“Oh, not yet. I usually wait for all the other members to eat so I don’t bother them.”

“Well, I know two, or should I say three members who wouldn’t mind your presence at all and if they do, I’ll give them a piece of my mind.”

“What? No, it’s fine, really. I couldn’t possibly…”

I don’t let her finish, and I start heading outside to the cafeteria.

“C’mon!” I wave at her to come along.

She doesn’t know what to do. She keeps going back and forth in the same place unsure if it’s okay to come along. But eventually she gives in and follows me.

At the cafeteria I can see Juni, Lafanda and Mimi at a table.

“Hey guys, mind if one more joins us right now?”

They all look at me and seen surprised about bringing another one to eat.

“I mean we don’t mind but who is she exactly?” Juni says.

“She’s the non-combatant the passed the potential exam with us.”

As soon as I finish saying that Lafanda jumps over the table and heads directly towards Olivia.

“OH, MY GODDESS I WANTED TO MEET YOU SO BADLY!!!” She gives her a big hug.

Olivia is speechless and can’t resist being picked up.

Mimi goes up to Lafanda’s ear a lets out a low hiss.

“Oh no, you’re right Mimi. I’m so sorry, I should have asked if you liked being hugged and spun around first. That’s so rude of me!”

“I-I mean, I don’t think I h-hate it.” Olivia hasn’t gotten her bearings yet.

But as soon as Lafanda heard what Olivia said, she just immediately picks her back up.

“See she doesn’t mind.” Lafanda says to Mimi with Olivia in her arms. “Now you won’t be the shortest of the group Juni, except I think she’s taller by a couple of centimeters.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHORTEST?! PUT HER DOWN RiGHT NOW, WE ARE SETTLING THIS.” Juni is standing on the table.

After I couple of minutes calming everyone down and measuring both Juni and Olivia to see which is taller, with Juni only winning because he obviously was staying on his tippy toes, we all settle down and start enjoying dinner over some conversation.

“I understand that you don’t want to face slumberwalker Olivia, but even so being a healer puts you very close to the frontlines of the conflict. Any reason why you joined?” Olivia asks.

“W-well you see. When I was younger, the mesa where I lived was attacked by slumberwalkers. As we were fleeing from the attack onto the higher ground, my father was hurt. But when my mother and I were also going to get attacked, a Guild member came to our rescue. He managed to push back the slumberwalker, but he also got hurt in the process and as a result they were both at death’s door. When his team member appeared to heal my father, he refused treatment saying the guild member who saved us need it more.” Olivie grips the cup she’s drinking from.

It must be a painful memory.

“Because of that he got back into action, but my dad died in the process. I was really sad and didn’t understand why my father would do that. But then, I heard that because that guild member got back to the fight so fast, my dad was the only casualty. I understood why he died with a smile. Because of the resting guild members many were saved, so I swore to help them any way I could.” As Olivia finishes her story she has a smile on her face.

“I guess we’re more similar than I thought Olivia.” Lafanda says “Me and Mimi had two sisters way back when we were young, also of Chimera Kin. We awakened together and we were adopted together as well. Everyone called us a miracle. To have two rare kins of the same kin like that. But one day slumberwalkers also attacked the small village on our mesa, and she was among the casualties. Losing someone is a sort of pain I never want anyone to experience again. So, we joined the guild. We hope that if we could protect them no one would ever have to experience losing someone you cared the way we have.”

Me and Juni look at each other:

“Well, looks like we are all opening up to each other.” Juni says.

Since he’s the one who spoke up, we all look at him.

“What are you looking at me for? Is not like I was volunteering to say something!” The peer pressure is clearly making him cave in.

“Alright fine! My reason to join is because… Look around, you see any more Slime Kin here? Even though we are one of the most common kins around you never see us in any positions like in the guild or as guards. We are always the ones being protected. Is just… I got tired of that. I don’t want to always be the one who has to get behind someone bigger. I… I also want to protect people damn it! Even the ones who are talented with Blessings still have to stay in the backlines. I’ll learn protections, I’ll learn to fight and grow stronger. And I’ll protect everyone.” Juni resolve is visible.

“Wow Juni, I had no idea. I thought you just liked to start fights.” Lafanda says

“To want to go on the frontlines like this is beyond noble Mr. Juni. You have my full support.” Olivia seems to be getting more relaxed.

The four of them start looking at me. Guess it is my turn.