Chapter 3: Heal deal

By the time they saw the buildings in the distance, the sun was already peeking up from the horizon.

Elara breathed out in relief once she entered the city, Cross trailing behind her awkwardly, their staff slung over the shoulder.

The town people were already beginning to start their day. Shop owners setting up their stalls, farmers on their way to their fields and children already brimming with energy as they ran around the disgruntled adults.

“Well! If it isn’t little miss helper. Finally back?”

A stall owner greeted her as she walked past him.

“Why, hello dear. It has been too long since I’ve seen you here. You really should stay here for good, you know. I always appreciate your help on my farm.”

An elderly woman pressed an apple in Elara's hand as she walked by.

“Sorry, but my work requires me to travel around all over!”

Biting into the apple, she waved the elderly off as she was headed into the fields.

“Being a drifter is now work, is it? Ha!”

A stout woman laughed as she was setting up in her bakery.

“Why you..I’ll have you know I take my work as a her-”

Elara’s words were interrupted as several small figures barreled into her.

“Hey hey! Elara! Won’t you play with us again? You can be the dragon again, and we can be the knights who slay it!”

The children surrounding her pulled on her sleeves.

“Maybe later guys..I’ve been up all night. I’m super sleepy..I don’t know you are always so energetic so early..”

“You’re just old Elara.”

“Super old!”

“I bet your bones are as beat up as your sword!”

Elara could only sigh, flicking their foreheads one by one.

“Run along or I’ll smack you with my sword next time.”

“That sword is too dull anyway!”

“Probably can’t even cut a log!”

“Bye Elara!”

The children ran off before she could retort.

Shaking her head she continued on, looking back at Cross.

“What are you staring for? Are you coming?”

Cross stiffened slightly, having been caught staring, before nodding quickly.

She led the way through the town, towards a small clinic, which was already busy even during the early hour.

“Hey nurse.”

“Ah, Elara! It’s been so long, how is my best customer?”

A short plump woman in white robes greeted her, the dark circles beneath her eyes betraying her exhaustion despite her cheery appearance.

“About to make your day, actually. I need a refill on all the vials I bought before.”

Elara patted her empty satchel.

“Already? It’s only been a month. Don’t tell me you used them all so quickly, don’t you know how dangerous it is to-”

“I didn’t come here for a lecture. Just prepare the vials for me today, and I have another surprise for you, if you manage to prepare them today.”

Elara smirked at the nurse.

“What a surprise..”

The nurse eyed her suspiciously.

“This hunk of rust.”

Elara pushed Cross forward, causing them to stumble forward awkwardly.

“Is a HEALER. Not only that, their magic is pretty potent. If you prepare the vials for me today, I’ll lend them to you for the day.”

Cross looked back at Elara, confusion evident in their posture.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing odd. You’d just be healing people. See all those people inside?”

Looking deeper into the clinic, Cross noted that it was indeed filled with many beds, most of which were filled with patients.

“They are people whose injuries are not life threatening. So the church won’t spare any healing for them. I mean it would if they donated, but these are people who have nothing to donate.”

She smacks the front of Cross’s chestpiece.

“That’s where you come in. You will heal them all today. Anything from chronic pain, to arthritis, to scraped knees and broken bones. You’ll do it all. In exchange…I will go buy those supplies and bag I mentioned. Deal?”

Smiling at Cross, she tilted her head.

“Well? Deal or no?”

Cross jolted out of their daze.

They began to gesture at her, then at her scars, then at their staff.

“What, you thought I was going to make you follow me around and heal me in exchange? No way. A hero travels alone! Besides I got my vials. I’ll be fine. Now, get to healing, I’ll be back soon!”

Rushing out the door, she gave Cross a quick wink.

Cross stood still, watching the doorway for a while, deep in thought.

With a nod, Cross turned towards the patient and brought out their staff, which had now begun softly glowing.

–

Only when the clinic was fully empty and the sun nearly set, that she came back.

Flinging a giant bag stuffed with goods at Cross, who was caught in surprise.

“You treated all the patients without getting tired? I honestly figured you’d be collapsed by now. Guess being able to lug that armor around means you have pretty impressive stamina, huh?”

Elara waved the nurse over, who had the healing vials prepared and in hand.

“Here you go, Elara. Oh yes, this one was very helpful. Just kept on healing without pause. You should have seen the faces of everyone. It’s like they barely remembered their own injuries. Even the elders were walking out the door without a single hunch in their backs. Think we can keep em?”

She chuckled at the nurse's request.

“They’re not mine to give away, but..maybe for a few more vials..”

She glanced over at Cross, who was repeatedly making an X sign with their arms.

“Ah, look at the time. We should get going. The inn is still doing cheap mutton stew for dinner?”

“Elara. It’s always cheap mutton stew for dinner. You’re the only one who actually enjoys that stuff.”

Shrugging with a cocked smile, Elara left the clinic with Cross in tow.

Before long, they found themselves at the local inn, sat at the only table large enough to accommodate Cross’s armored frame.

“This stuff is great. Reminds me of my home village..the local church used to give out mutton stew exactly like this, to those who needed it.”

Speaking in between bites of hard bread and spoonfuls of stew, Elara looked up at Cross, who was sitting opposite her, staring at the second bowl of stew.

“What? Don’t like stew? It’s good! If you won’t eat it I will eat your share.”

She warned, while Cross continued to stare at the stew.

Slowly reaching out, Cross took a spoonful of stew and deposited it inside their helm, which they lifted only slightly to accommodate the utensil.

“...You don’t even take off that thing to eat huh?”

Elara muttered while looking at the strange manner in which Cross ate.

Pausing only slightly to acknowledge her words, Cross continued to eat.

Having finished her meal, she sat back and watched.

“Don’t tell me you even bathe in that thing?”

She joked.

Cross didn’t reply.

“....That’s supposed to be a joke. Don’t tell me you actually really do bathe while wearing that ridiculous armor..?”

Cross didn’t reply, eating at the same leisurely pace.

“Don’t tell me that’s why your joints are so noisy and creaky!?”

Rubbing her forehead in frustration, she looked up at the ceiling.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that? I put some oil in the bag too. Make sure you lube up that hunk of rust before you venture somewhere again. Though I don’t think you should, since you don’t even seem to be able to fight..”

Stretching, she got up.

“Well. whatever. Our deal is done. I paid for two rooms, you can have a bed just for tonight. I’ll be leaving in the morning. There are some supposedly monstrous foxes eating the local farmhand's chickens..See you if I see you, Knight without a face.”

With that, she climbed the stairs, yawning, while Cross looked down at the empty bowl of stew, deep in thought.

…

That morning, Elara woke early. Even earlier than the morning calls of the roosters. Her satchel was full of basic supplies and most importantly full of the vials she needed for fighting.

Her sword was oiled and sharpened. Holding a surprising edge despite its sorry state.

With her cloak wrapped securely around herself to keep the morning chill away, she left the inn.

Walking through the town which had yet to wake up, the morning mist hid her figure as she walked towards the city’s border.

She was met with a familiar figure, sitting on a small stone fence. Staff in hand.

“What are you doing out here so early?”

Cross pointed at her in answer.

“Me?”

Cross nodded.

“What about me? You don’t owe me for the bag or the rented room. Your work at the clinic paid for my vials. Those were quite expensive.’

Cross shook their head, pointing at Elara again.

“You want to..come with me?”

Cross nodded in response.

“...Why? I am not going to be doing anything worth joining. It’s mostly menial tasks..”

Cross simply stared at her, then pointed at her again.

“You still want to come? Seriously..I’m telling you. It will be menial tasks done in order to gain recognition which I won’t get much of to begin with.”

Cross nodded.

“And you still wanted to join.”

Cross nodded again.

“...You are a strange one. Fine then, but I’m not saving you again, you better be quick on your feet.”

Cross nodded, joining her as she walked out the town. The joints of the armor creaking slightly as they kept pace with her.

“And I told you to oil up those joints! Do you want to wake the entire forest!?”

Cross scrambled to open their bag and take out the pint of metal oil.

“Absolutely ridiculous..”

Despite her complaint, she smiled slightly.