Azrael couldn't suppress her grin as she guided doctor Martin to their division's infirmary. She was successful in hiring a doctor and on top of that, she had also found a way to secure some funds.
Azrael grimaced at the thought that she had to clean someone else's mess and feel responsible for their past actions. Azrael wasn't one to meddle with someone else's business but she also wasn't one to tolerate negligence and incompetence especially when it can potentially kill innocent people.
"We're here."
Azrael halted in front of the infirmary where the door was left ajar. Martin's eyes widened from shock and horror. He was overwhelmed by the pitiful state of the soldiers as they cry in pain and plead for help. As a doctor, he couldn't help himself but feel sympathetic towards the soldiers.
"You can start."
With Azrael's signal, he rushed to the side of the female soldiers who were trying to treat the patient's injuries. At first, they were taken aback by the doctor's sudden appearance but quickly accepted his presence and listened to his instructions on how to properly tend to the patients' injuries.
...
Soon, the sun's dazzle began to dull and with the stars sparkling one by one in the sky, the moon had also emerged to reveal its luster. The painful cries that enveloped the headquarters earlier had began to subside. Everyone had a busy and tiring day.
Azrael handed something to August without saying anything. Reluctant, August eyed her with a suspicious gaze before taking the bag from her. Upon opening, his eyes widened in confusion. His words fumbled as he spoke to her.
"Where did you get this?"
"Not important. Use that to buy everything that this division needs. Weapons, armors, everything."
Their conversation was interrupted when they heard a knock. With Azrael's permission, the door opened slowly and revealed the exhausted doctor Martin. Sweat trickled from his forehead as he walked towards Fleur, his eyes lowered and tired.
"My lady, the infirmary had ran out of medicines and herbs to treat the soldiers' injuries."
Azrael looked at him and replied promptly.
"Understood."
...
"Hey! Another bottle of Astregrape brew!"
The tavern bustled with loud chattery and laughter as they fueled their mouths with beer and oily junk foods. The tables were all occupied by customers drinking beers and gossiping. It is a place where people gathered to let off steam after a tiring day at work but also the best place to collect intel for others.
"Hey! Where's my order? Why is it taking so long?"
Several customers turned to look at the person who is fervently yelling with contempt. As they realized the person's identity, everyone turned to look away and minded their own business. The person continued yelling and throwing insults to the bartender.
"Shut up."
A man whose face was covered with a mask spoke with a hoarse and deep voice. The man was wearing a cloak, making it difficult for the other person to see his face.
"What did you just say? Do you know who I am?"
The Vanguard member who was clearly drunk, turned to look at the man with provocation. With just a few stride, he had made it in front of the man. Everyone was taken aback as the soldier gripped the collar of the cloaked man's shirt. The Vanguard soldier spat in the man's face as he throw insults to the man.
The soldier lifted his fist to land a punch to the man's face but the man took him by surprise as he headbutted the ill-tempered soldier. Corporal Lee groaned as he clutched his head. It turns out that he wasn't as thick skinned as he acts. Taken aback by the man's attack, the corporal's subordinate spring from their seats to back up their pathetic leader.
Thud!
"What a f**cking loser!"
The Combat division's captain slammed his hand to the table in anger. Captain Arnold Cayton had received news of his men's disturbance at the local tavern. His hands trembled in anger, his nostrils flaring up as he glared at the men who were kneeling before him.
Captain Cayton looked at the battered soldiers before him. Their uniforms were covered in grime, torn and disheveled. Their faces were unrecognizable with several bruises and cuts. The Captain felt ashamed of his subordinates and even more enraged that his good for nothing men let the cloaked man in the tavern to get away.
"Post a wanted poster on the bulletin board. Don't come back until you catch that bast*rd!"
...
Azrael followed the trail in the woods, searching for herbs and medicinal plants. Leaves rustled as she softly brushed past the trees, leaving a crunch every time she stepped on a dried leaf. She hummed as she held the herbal guide book that Doctor Martin gave her.
Doctor Martin listed the required herbs for concocting a medicine and asked Azrael to collect it from the Royal herbal and breeding ground. The Royal family of Astre has their own grounds for cultivating medicinal herbs and breeding different creatures that could be used as an ingredients for alchemy and other ritualistic practices. As a member of the royal family, Fleur has the privilege to enter the grounds and collect any herbs which lessened the expenses of the division.
Azrael hummed as she carefully read the list, her brows furrowed. The list had all kinds of medicines with healing and regenerative properties and its main ingredients for concocting it.
"Amarynthe Potion"
A potion that speeds up the healing process of an internal injury.
Main ingredients:
- Wormtail
- Sea conch
- Rose ember thorn
- Hogsmear antler
- Purified water
"Amenthus potion"
A potion that speeds up the healing process of an external injury. Also has a regenerative property.
Main Ingredients:
- Wormtail
- Electrocuted eel
- Amber wood
- Lavender oil
- Purified water
"Osealis potion"
A potion that can enhance the physical strength and durability of a person
- Nightflower extract
- Bull's horn
- Purified water
The potions were usually named after its creator and founder, hence the strange names.
Azrael walked around the whole forest to search for the ingredients. By evening, Azrael had finally completed the ingredients. With trembling knees, Azrael followed the path towards the ground's exit.
Just as she was about to exit, a soft whisper called out to her, like a sweet melody, tempting and enticing. For a moment, Azrael felt dizzy and the next moment, she found herself standing in front of a lake, its water glowing under the lustrous reflection of the moon.
"My lady,"
A voice snapped her out of her daze. Azrael blinked several time before turning to look at the direction of the voice.
"What are you doing here?"
Azrael was greeted with a questioning look on the man's face. It was the Second Prince Luke Astre. The prince exuded a gentle yet elegant aura, his blond hair neatly brushed, and clothes adorned with expensive jewelries and brooch. His hazel eyes twinkled with innocence as he stared at Fleur.
"What are you doing here?" Azrael returned the question as she glanced around her. She had no idea how she got there and could vaguely remember the whisper that called out to her in the woods. As she fidgeted her fingers, she felt a cold metal wrapped around her palms. Azrael slowly put her hand inside her cloak to hide whatever's in her hand.
The prince cleared his throat and replied briefly.
"Mother asked me to collect some herbs for her. Lady Fleur, you should get going now. The forest is dangerous at night."
The prince continued venturing deep into the woods after saying goodbye to Fleur. Azrael took her hands out of her cloak to see what's in it. Clasped in her hands was a silver necklace with an emerald pendant. The necklace was covered in dirt and grass as if buried before.
Azrael turned to look at the lake and her surroundings to try to find out how she got ahold of the accessory but everything was too peaceful and serene. In the end, she decided to return to their headquarters and hand the herbs to their division's pharmacy.
Azrael walked in stupor, her head held down, brows furrowed in confusion. Azrael recalled the incident at the grounds earlier, her hands still clutching the emerald necklace. She tried to remember how she got to the lake but nothing seems to come out no matter how hard she tried to rack her brain.
After a period of time, Azrael finally reached the division's pharmacy. With a light knock on the door, a timid girl with a ginger hair and round glasses emerged, her eyes lowered, not daring to look straight at Azrael. The girl let Fleur inside without saying anything.
Upon entering, Azrael noticed the dried herbs that were messily scattered across the long table. Specimen jars and empty potion bottles filled the shelves along with other apparatuses. The pharmacy looked almost empty, the ingredients and herbs stored in jars were few and the equipment displayed on shelves were outdated and substandard.
The timid girl hurriedly tidied up the place and helped Azrael place all the ingredients on the table and organize the needed materials for the potion. Gigi clasped her hands together as she waited patiently for the captain's order.
"Do you know how to concoct a potion?"
Azrael turned to look at Gigi with a questioning look. Gigi nodded and walked over the table. She started preparing the ingredients and followed the steps in concocting the potion with focus.
With trembling hands, Gigi glanced at the captain who was watching her actions with nervous eyes. Azrael noticed her anxiety and decided to watch her discreetly from the couch. Gigi reached for the earthworms that Azrael dug earlier in the forest. With a swift motion, she cut the head of the earthworm, its body losing its luster as it loses its head. Then, she put the wormtails in the cauldron along with the other ingredients.
After an hour, Gigi finished concocting all the potions. She turned to look at the captain with a hesitant look and told her that she had already finished before the captain dismissed her.
With haste, Gigi removed her apron and bid farewell to the captain. Azrael stood up from her seat, inching closer to the freshly concocted potion. She eyed the door with caution, making sure that there was no one else in the room.
Azrael flicked her index finger with her thumb, her nail cutting the skin of her index finger. Blood trickled form her pale skin down to the cauldron.