Checkup

The moment the hovercraft landed safely back into the airship Bryson inwardly screamed with joy. He wanted to scream in joy outwardly as well, but with all these staff members awaiting them. It would be unbecoming of him. Besides, there were other matters still to deal with.

As they landed, several Coldwater staff members rushed to meet them. Bryson quickly told them to leave and get back to work. Once satisfied knowing that Bryson was alright the people loitering in the hanger quickly dispersed. Nico proceeded to help deal with the gathered herbs while the mechanics looked took care of the hovercraft.

His gaze fell onto Florence, who tried her best to keep a neutral face the entire time. But Bryson noticed how her eyes were now slightly unfocused and she was swaying.

“Hey, don’t collapse on me.” Bryson said.

“I’m fine. It’s just spent a bit too much mana.” She assured him.

“Speaking of, what was that thing you were using?”

“This.” She said pulling out what looked to be a blunderbuss with an extra-large muzzle.

Bryson blinked in surprise at the weapon. Firearms, in general, were very uncommon as the use of magic made them obsolete. Any decent warrior with some magic could deal more damage than a gun.

They were rarely ever used, with a few rifles in more well-off villages for non-magic users. But even then, a minorly enchanted crossbow would cost just as much and be easier to maintain. Some nobles would have more technologically advanced firearms either for display or for hunting. But even then, they were more of a novelty than anything else.

That isn’t to say that these types of weapons were obsolete, however. Larger artillery pieces were far easier to enchant and were a standard in the military. There was also another option that could be taken to make firearms more effective, and it seemed that Florence’s weapon used it.

Bryson could see that the blunderbuss was modified to the point where it was missing several pieces that were essential for it to fire normal lead balls. It didn’t need to, that wasn’t its purpose. From the etchings, this gun was made to channel magic straight from the user and shoot it out in a concentrated blast.

It’s an extremely useful tool that a decent number of magic users would use. It was essentially a variation of a wand or staff that a classic caster would use. Only that this was a bit easier to make and limited the user to certain attacks.

Bryson personally looked down on these types of weapons. He felt that they limited a magician’s abilities. Actual spells couldn’t be cast through it just energy blasts. Those with large amounts of mana within them but lacked spellcasting abilities tended to rely on these things.

Still, the amount of power from the shots she fired and how she was still standing scared Bryson. But more importantly was how she even got her hands on something like this. Bryson was under the impression that Florence was a nomad for her entire life. How in the world would she have gotten this?

“Where did you get this?” Bryson asked.

“I’ve had it for as long as I could remember.” Florence said simply.

“It’s a better-quality weapon than most on sale.” Bryson said.

“It has been very useful.” She replied before asking, “Why did you come down?”

“Because you were still there.”

“Why did you save me? You didn’t need to.” She asked her eyes narrowing.

“Because it sounded like you would’ve done the same.”

“But you’re not me. You’re a noble, you’re a Coldwater.” She argued.

“You’re right, I’m Bryson Coldwater and I don’t like feeling indebted to people.” Bryson said before he started walking, “Come on, let’s get you back to your room.”

“You don’t need to guide me. I remember where my room is.”

“Can you guarantee to me that you won’t collapse on the way there?” Bryson asked. He had noticed the natural glow of magic around her was different now, weaker.

“… No.” She said after a long pause.

“Then let’s go together.” Bryson said walking out of the hanger and beckoning her to follow. With Bryson acting as a tour guide they reached her room.

As Bryson was about to leave, he asked, “What are you planning to do once we get back?”

“I told you before, I’m going to check the other villages once this one gets cured.” She answered.

“Are you not going to take a break?”

“I can rest when this is over.”

Bryson gave a troubled look before asking, “You aren’t going to take a break after this are you?”

“I can rest after.”

“And you’re going to walk to the other villages?”

“Yes.”

After a long inward debate, Bryson gave a small sigh, “Okay, I’ll take you too wherever.”

Florence blinked in surprise, “Pardon?”

“I said I’ll take you to the villages.”

“You said you were only going to be here for two days.”

“I did.” Bryson said, surprised that she remembered that offhand comment.

“Even with the airship we can’t get to all in time.”

“I know. I guess I’ll have to take a couple extra days.” Bryson said shrugging.

“Why? You’ve already done enough.”

“Because my father gave me this job and I need to complete it.”

“Would he not be angry with you coming back late?”

“I don’t know. Guess I’ll find out after this.” Bryson lied. Father was not going to like this. Bryson thought. He knew that this was going to get him in trouble, but he just couldn’t bring himself to just abandon everything.

“Are you sure about this?” Florence asked again cautiously.

“Yeah, I still owe you for saving those people. So call us even after this.” Bryson assured her, “I’m going to rest now, you should too. There’s going to be work when we land.” He said as he walked off leaving Florence in front of her door.

***

“So that’s it then?” Bryson asked as he took a sip of his strawberry lemonade. He sat near one of the windows of the airship looking at the small village houses.

“Yes. Everyone in this village is safe now.” Florence answered.

It had been a couple of days since the trip to the contaminated zone and they had traveled from village to village giving the cure out. Thankfully this meant that Bryson didn’t really have to do anything but wait while everyone else did the work for him.

Now that they were done with villages, the next trip for the airship was back home. Bryson did his best to try and ignore the potential consequences of disobeying his father.

“How can I repay you?” Florence asked, “I know you’ll say that you did this because you wanted to. But I want to thank you.” She said before Bryson could say anything.

“Hmm.” Bryson pondered, “What are you going to do after this?”

“What I’ve been doing.”

“Wander around and help whoever you find?”

“Yes.”

“This all you want to do for the rest of your life?”

“I just want to help people.” She said simply.

“You managed to learn all your medical knowledge just through wandering around and learning?” Bryson asked.

“Yes. I taught myself to read.”

“Huh.” Bryson said impressed, “You want to repay me?”

“Yes.” She said giving a confident nod.

“Work for me then.” Bryson offered.

For the first time Florence looked completely flabbergasted. She was surprised when he showed up with the hover craft, but this was a look of utter disbelief and confusion.

“I’m sorry, what?” She asked, not quite sure if she heard him right.

“I’m offering you to work for the Coldwater’s as an official herbalist or nurse, or assistant medical staff or whatever.” Bryson said with a shrug.

“… Why?”

“Because you’re good at medical care, despite not ever getting proper training.” Bryson said. Plus you have insane strength apparently. He thought inwardly, “Someone like that is useful.”

Florence looked troubled at this offer. As she silently pondered Bryson continued on, “You could do a lot more good once you get properly trained.”

“Could you even get me a job?” Florence said.

“Maybe.” Bryson admitted, “It might take some convincing, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

Florence looked to the ground deep in contemplation. She never really liked the large bustling cities the few times she ever visited them. But this was an opportunity of a lifetime, it could change her life and she would learn all she wanted. Besides, she owed Bryson for his help.

“Alright.” She said with a slow nod.

“Great.” Bryson said with a grin as he called the pilots to prep the airship back to Darlington.

***

As the airship descended down on the landing zone on the Coldwater estate Bryson peered through on the viewing platform. He wished he hadn’t he could see his father awaiting him down below.

Bryson immediately tried to hide himself out of view, gaining a perplexed look from Florence. Father is mad. Bryson thought. He couldn’t see his expression, but he knew why he was out there.

A minute later the airship landed, and Bryson exited out. Bryson did his best to move as slowly as possible.

“I’ve heard stories, but is he really that bad?” Florence asked.

“He is to me.” Bryson said shakily.

Bryson wasn’t even able to make it all the way across the landing zone as Duke Coldwater met him halfway. Bryson stared straight down at the ground as his father loomed over him.

“You’re late.” Duke Coldwater rumbled out, “Why is that?”

“I was trying to complete my task father.” Bryson said quietly.

“You only had two days.”

“I sent a message that I would be. I wanted to be thorough. The villages on the north are all safe now.”

Duke Coldwater stared at his son for a long moment, “Phillip informed me of your task. To deal with some type of sickness?”

“Yes.”

“You achieved this?”

“Yes.”

“Who is this girl?” Duke Coldwater asked his gaze shifting on her. Florence found herself trying not to flinch away. The look on his face was intimidating even for her.

“This is Florence Marsh, I met her on the outskirts. I found that her medical knowledge was essential for completing my mission, she would be an asset for us.” Bryson said quickly looking up at his father.

Duke Coldwater simply stared at Bryson, “You managed to cure every village up there with the girl’s aid?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Head to my office, I will consider it after your report.” Duke Coldwater said, Bryson swore he could hear just a hint of approval in his voice.