Mixed herbs and floral scents welcome Rosa as she steps further into the room.
The blonde nun tilts her head as she smiles warmer.
"You may sit on the bed."
Rosa nods. Taking more steps towards the corner of the room.
She sits down. The mattress is barely soft enough to sit on.
Greta sits across her on the wooden chair shortly after.
"Can you show me the burn?"
At least she already changed into her tunic and short skirt.
She grabs the hem and lifts it upward, baring her stomach.
On the left side of her belly, angry red patches flare with blisters.
Under it is an equally strong purple.
Both coated in a thin layer of soothing green salve.
"There's one on my hand as well"
Rosa gazes at another flaring red on her left hand.
"My… that looks quite painful…"
The nun stares at the wound for quite a bit.
"Excuse me…"
Her hand hovers towards Rosa's side.
"Nnn!"
Rosa's stomach twitches as an urge to giggle rushes to her throat.
"I apologize, does it hurt?"
Greta's eyes look at her with concern on her face.
Rosa casts her gaze down, shaking her head as a quiet heat creeps to her cheeks.
The fingers gently press right at the edge of the wound.
"Hmmph!"
Rosa's jaw clenches. She grits her teeth.
She's lost count how many times she's done exactly that today.
"Does it hurt after all?"
Rosa shakes her head more firmly.
A chuckle from Greta follows.
"Ticklish?"
Rosa shakes her head even more violently.
Another chuckle from Greta.
"Then, can you endure it for a bit? You may giggle if it helps you."
Absolutely not.
Various squeaks and noises escape from Rosa's mouth while the fingers press, drag, and poke around the wound.
The nun softly laughs each time as if she enjoys it way too much.
"The greenish thing, is it salve?"
Rosa nods.
"Thank goodness."
Greta clears her throat as she removes her hand from Rosa's side.
"Good news, aside from blisters and bruise there is no complication!"
She tilts another smile.
"Then, I'll clean off the salve."
"Even though I just applied it before coming here?"
"Yes. Paste of betel leaves and neem is quite common, even better with aloe vera. It is meant to be a first aid. To prevent the wound from going worse before an actual treatment."
Greta grabs a washcloth and brings it to her stomach and gently wipes the salve off.
"It has done its job."
Rosa's stomach curves in slightly.
For a church healer, the steps were almost identical to what a clinic would do. Examine. Clean. Treat.
Like when she was burned by a crimson cockatrice in another trip to the northern mountain.
The only difference was the room itself.
The nun's hand gently holds Rosa's left wrist and puts it on Rosa's lap.
The washcloth wipes her hand.
Then she puts away the washcloth and hovers her hand over the wound.
No sting. No flinch. Just the ache that was already there.
"Fleisskennaun."
Magic circles appear in front of Greta as the wound glows blue around it.
Rosa's eyes twitch. They drift to the circles.
She sees a familiar pattern, yet she still can't piece together what each of the sections means.
Could it be…
"Fleissvinden."
Greta softly mutters.
Pink replaces blue.
Rosa's jaw slackens. She feels it.
The same sensation of her flesh being mended from inside out.
She's felt this spell before. At the clinic. From trained medical wizards.
And Greta is one of them.
"Heilen…"
Warmth seeps on her skin, soothing the ache on the surface.
A green hue replaces the pink.
Rosa ponders as she glances at Greta's reverent smile.
Someone with her skill could work anywhere. Clinics. Expeditions. Places that would pay handsomely for it.
Yet she chose a church.
The green glow fades.
Greta's gaze falls to Rosa's side.
"May I?"
Rosa lifts the hem again.
"...Can I ask something?"
Greta tilts another warm smile.
"Not now, child. I will need every focus."
A throb pulses at her temple that has nothing to do with the wound.
"I am twenty three and I have my guild card…"
"My~ How careless I am. My apologies."
The nun's sincere smile helps to ease the pulse a bit.
Once the glow fades from Rosa's stomach as well, Greta lets out a soft sigh.
"Now, I believe you have a question to ask"
Rosa nods.
"I notice your spells… They're not a spell you can just learn on your own."
"I learned them at the university after all."
The university, The Grand Magic University.
Greta's words sink in.
It was obvious. Yet hearing it makes something settle in Rosa's chest.
"Why would a wizard like you settle in a place like this?"
Greta stares in silence for a moment.
Then light chuckles escape from her as she curls her fingers over her lips.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding."
Her voice shifts, she shakes her head.
"I was never a wizard. I never graduated, after all."
Rosa's eyes twitch.
"But why? You have the-"
The words come out before she can stop them.
"I… ran out of money. So I wasn't able to continue. Unlike most students, I am but a commoner."
Something sinks in Rosa's stomach.
"Sorry to hear that… and for asking"
Greta softly waves her hand.
"It's alright, I have mostly made peace with it."
"...Mostly"
"Mostly. I wonder sometimes."
Greta takes a deep breath.
"If I had taken all the help I could, I wonder if I would have made it."
Rosa's gaze drops.
Greta stands and walks towards the table near the window.
"I receive quite a lot of help. But there was one I vehemently refused."
Rosa's gaze follows her as Greta sits on the chair.
"I had a classmate, a close friend."
Greta continues as she dips a quill in ink, then scribbles on a parchment.
"She was a backwater noble, small house, not much of influence. Yet she was a hardworker. We went through thick and thin."
She continues to scribble, one line at a time.
"The help you couldn't accept…"
"Right."
Greta seizes the words just as Rosa is about to ask.
"She helped me a lot. Taking notes when I skipped my class just to scrape coins, explaining things I didn't understand."
She dips the quill and continues to write.
"When I actually ran out of money, she asked if I would let her pay my tuition."
She stops her hand.
"I couldn't accept that."
Something pierces Rosa's chest.
"...May I ask why?"
Greta turns her gaze to meet Rosa's and tilts another warm smile.
"I was afraid. What if I grew expectant of it? What if I took her help for granted?"
Her words twist that something deeper. Rosa's breath catches.
Greta's hand resumes.
"Maybe there was pride too. And fear. What if I lose her?"
Then she chuckles lightly and exhales.
"Funny thing is… when I dropped out, she soared too high. In the end, I couldn't reach her anyway. Not anymore."
She shakes her head, takes the note, and walks back to the seat in front of Rosa.
"What am I even doing? Sharing all of that with a stranger. Sorry for making you listen to all of that."
Rosa softly shakes her head.
"I… likewise. I was prying too."
Greta offers the note.
"Here's a list of things to watch out for."
Rosa takes the parchment. A list of symptoms, ingredients, and instructions are written neatly on it.
"The salve and potion are optional. But they do help you for recovery."
Greta explains as Rosa tucks the paper into her satchel.
"I can make them if you want, but it'll take me quite some time."
Rosa shakes her head.
"I am an alchemist myself, I can make them."
The recipe mostly doesn't require alcohol nor distillation after all.
"You are? Do you run a shop by the chance?"
"...I am. Is there something about it?"
Greta's eyes widen with her smile as she leans forward.
"May I visit sometimes? I am surveying the rates for potion supply, tried many shops, yet none is…"
She clears her throat.
"Suitable for our budget situation"
So a cheapskate.
Rosa catches herself.
She did receive free help, so letting her is the least she can do to repay.
"Well, I suppose I won't mind if it's just a survey."
"What's your shop name?"
"Rosa's Elixir & Enchantments. It's in Handverk district."
Greta's smile widens, brighter.
"Then, I shall visit you sometime."
Her gaze falls to Rosa's stomach.
"The swellings and blisters should be gone soon, but try not to add too much friction or break the skin."
"Understo-"
"Even if they itch."
She cuts Rosa off.
Rosa's throat bobs.
She is suddenly very aware of the itch.
Even though she was fine earlier.
With it comes the strong urge to scratch it.
"Alright, we're done here."
Greta chirps.
"Make sure to visit two days later for a checkup."
"...Thanks for taking care of me."
"You're welcome anytime. And please do come if you need anything, you hear me?"
"I'll… keep it in mind."
"I insist. I heard from Akira how stubborn you could be."
Warmth spreads to Rosa's face.
"I-… I'll keep it in mind."
Rosa stands up and walks towards the door.
She leaves the smiling nun behind.
Rosa sighs, wondering where she goes from here.
She had to lean on freebies just to survive.
I receive quite a lot of help. But there was one I vehemently refused.
If I had taken all the help I could, I wonder if I would have made it.
Maybe there was pride too. And fear.
Greta's voice echoes in her mind. She made it.
She made it to the university. Where Rosa has been fighting to reach. What every coin, every sleepless night, every batch of potions has been for.
When I actually ran out of money, she asked if I would let her pay my tuition.
Rosa clenches her jaw as a memory flashes in her mind.
A chest full of gold bars, with her mother holding it.
Her sister's effort. Her sister's money. Her sister's accomplishment.
The night she refused to step into her shadow.
And left the safety of her home.
Rosa shakes her head, dismissing the scene in her head.
As well as the warning from Greta's story.
She will make it work. Every coin earned, every debt paid. On her own terms.
So much so that the tuition won't matter.
Her hand grabs the handle of the wooden door and opens it.
"I don't doubt the amount, no, I am asking are ya sure yer gonna donate all of 'em?"
Akira's voice reaches Rosa's ear as she enters the prayer hall.
Near the podium is the nun with pointed ear shaped veil.
In front of her is a girl dressed modestly with brown hair tied in a ponytail.
Just slightly shorter than Akira, and definitely taller than Rosa.
"I said I am sure! In the name of Hoffman's farm. Ten thousand gold."
Ten thousand!?
Rosa's gaze snaps to the coin bag in the girl's hands.
That's twice her monthly installment.
Akira takes a deep breath.
"...Fine. But don't go cryin' and beggin' once ya… Y'know what? We'll keep it for three days. Ya can take 'em back until then."
The girl pouts, averting her gaze as she crosses her arms.
"I said I won't."
"Guess so. I'm keepin' the door open anyway."
Rosa approaches both of them.
"What was going on?"
"Ah, Rosa, how's yer burn? Greta treat ya good?"
Rosa nods.
"More than I thought."
Akira grins, as smug as ever.
"Glad to hear it then."
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
The girl beside her raises her voice as she points her finger towards Rosa.
"You're Rosalina Grace!?"
Rosa's face freezes.
The last time a stranger recognized her full name, she ended up in a death cave near the mountain.
"...You're looking at her"
"Adorable mage with crimson eyes, jet black hair tied in low tails! As short as a youngling! Eyes as sharp as a scared kitten!"
Rosa's temple throbs once again.
"...Come again?"
"You know 'er?"
Rosa shakes her head.
"I heard a lot about you from grandma!"
The girl rushes towards Rosa, grabbing her hands without hesitation.
"My name is Pauline! Nice to meet you!"
Rosa steps back, yet her hands are tugged as the girl grips her quite firmly.
Her vein pulses even more. Smiling a dry smile.
"Excuse me… Could you let me go? I believe I don't know you"
"Ah, right! My apologies!"
The girl lets go of Rosa's hand.
"You saved my grandma a few weeks ago! Or so I heard."
"Saved? You have to be more specific"
"The fruit caravan! You helped to fend off-"
Groooowl
"Rosa?"
Akira asks, the ear like veil twitches above her head.
"My stomach doesn't sound that undignified!"
The girl's cheeks start to redden.
"Pauline, was it? Have you had your breakfast?"
The girl weakly smiles as she softly scratches her own cheek.
"Well… I was about to- Hya!"
Her words get cut off as Akira begins to drag her by the arm.
"Yer getting a porridge. Now."
"Wait! I have- There's something I want to talk about with her!"
"Do that AFTER ya fill yer belly."
Groooowl…
Another sound. Softer. Higher pitch.
Rosa twists her body to the opposite direction. Sweating.
Yet her arm is tugged before she could take a step.
"Where do ya think yer going?"
"...I just ate a bowl"
"And yer body is begging for more."
Akira marches on. Both of her hands don't let the starving girls go.
Dragging them. Rosa sighs in defeat.
…
Rosa's expression is bone-dry as she brings a spoon of porridge to her mouth.
"Lilia… I believe we talked about personal space. For probably the hundredth time."
"Did we? Words sure fly fast when you enjoy them~"
Something warm nuzzles against her bare shoulder.
"That's not even a real- Forget it. You better let go after I finish, unless you want your ribs to be tenderized."
"I got time, then~"
In front of her, the brown haired girl takes one chomp after another.
She probably doesn't savor the taste at all.
"Mmmm! I never thought a church porridge could taste th- urk!"
Cough! Cough!
Lilia grabs a glass of water beside her and immediately offers it to the girl.
"My! Be careful."
The girl snatches the glass and takes quick chugs.
"Eating or talking? Pick one."
Rosa comments with her usual dry tone.
"Pwaaaah! You guys are a lifesaver!"
The girl wipes her mouth with her own sleeve.
"You mentioned you have something to talk with me. What is it?"
"Ah! Right! You saved grandma Ursula from bandit attacks and helped her levy the carts!"
A memory floods back as she recalls that specific event.