Once I opened my eyes, I saw that it was now dark. Thalen lay next to me, thankfully this time in his human form. A fur blanket was laid over me, keeping me warm. I try to slowly inch away from Thalen, but he grumbled in his sleep, wrapping his arms around me tighter.
Great...
It was so dark that I could barely make the shapes out in the room. But my immediate problem was the stranger whose arms were wrapped around me in his sleep as if I were his lover.
With no immediate threat and no other option, I sigh. I could feel his chest rise and fall, his breath against my neck where he had marked me. Though a stranger, something about him made me feel like I could trust him.
Thalen let out another low moan in his sleep, snapping me back to the present. I had a much bigger problem to resolve. "System."
I opened the shop section, which was now conveniently unlocked. I was shocked to see the variety of items available. They had everything, from food and books to makeup and medical supplies. Then I saw the prices and thought I was going to black out again.
---
Novel - 500 points
Notebook - 200 points
Textbook - 500 points
---
I frantically flicked through the catalogues, trying to find the medical supplies section.
If just the books cost 500 points, how much do medications cost?
I did not like the knawing feeling inside me. I clicked on the Medicine Supplies category and closed my eyes. I inhaled, taking a deep breath before daring to open one eye.
---
Paracetamol [24 capsules] - 100 points
---
Seeing this, my breath instantly halted.
100 points? That furball said 100 per life, right? So I have to save one person just to buy paracetamol... how much would antibiotics be then?
I bit my lip in frustration. Picking at the skin with my teeth, every passing second made me more anxious. I wanted to scream out loud about this unfair situation.
I tracked down the medication I needed for my wound. The antibiotics cost 300 points for 21 pills, and the vaccine costs 800 points per shot.
I gulped as I saw the prices. I needed both, but I was certain I couldn't afford both.
"It's ok, Ivy, it's not like you can change anything." I looked at the points and saw that there were only 500 points.
I squirmed as I covered my face with my hands in frustration.
Wait, I don't need the rabies vaccination right away! I have been vaccinated before, so I just need boosters!
For now, I had bought myself some time. Since I could afford the antibiotics for now, I purchased them, leaving me only 200 points. I had to find a way to get more points. I immediately switched to the quests and sighed with relief to see that some quests had been assigned.
---
Bond Progression: Part 1
Basic Rounds
Find a Disciple
---
I pressed the first quest and read it carefully.
"What?!" I gasped, my voice slipped out uncontrollably. I instantly regretted it. The peacefully asleep Thalen was now awake. He let out a large yawn and looked over at me.
"Finally awake, huh?" He mumbled, his voice husky, still half asleep. "I was worried for a bit there. My first mate to die to a silly frothing hyena... that would have been embarrassing. Why are you making so much noise in the middle of the night?" He gave me a fuzzy smile, not entirely focused in his sleep-deprived state
"N-nothing! Go back to sleep!" I squeaked. Face burning in embarrassment, I hid under the blanket and went back to sleep.
-------
I woke up to the sound of metal clanking. The room was now bright. Sitting up, one of the boys from the day before, next to me, stood still in his tracks. He had dropped my sutre kit onto the floor.
"L-l-luman, the girl has woken up!" the kid shouted, his voice panicked. He quickly scrambled to pick up the items and place them on the table before running out.
Taking this chance, I walked over to where the sterile water was and opened the lid, taking the pills out of my inventory. I popped one and drank the water. Not knowing if the situation would be hostile, I couldn't let them see it for now.
"Another strange item, you do keep getting more and more interesting by the second," Luman came up behind me, looking at the packet of pills in my hand.
"Argghh!" I had not noticed him enter the room. I screamed, hearing his voice so close behind me, "Oh my GOD! Can you not sneak up on people like that? I could have died of a heart attack!" I grab onto my racing heart, trying to calm down.
"What is a god?" Luman asked, "Is that what you call healers?"
He looks at me with a face that clearly did not recognise the word. Hearing him, a sudden thought dawned on me.
Of course, since they possess magic, the concept of a god is essentially useless to them. They are basically one themselves.
"It's this magical being in the sky who created all creatures in the world. He sees everything. I guess he is like a powerful magician who sometimes makes miracles happen? Well, I don't really know much, but a lot of people from where I come follow the being known as god." I struggled to explain a concept even though I did not fully understand it myself.
"A powerful magician in the sky? Magical flying beastman?" Luman questioned, "They usually live in sky islands. Though I have not heard of them making any sort of miracles."
"No higher than that.. above the clouds..." I saw Luman try to wrap his head around it. Unsure what else to say, I decide to change the subject. "Anyway, that is not important... I...I want to know if I can help with your healing practice?"
Luman looked at me wide-eyed, "Oh, females normally don't heal, so that is surprising, but then again, I doubt you do hunting. I am worried for you, Ivy. It's the first time seeing such a weak and squishy female." Luman leaned in close, poking my arm.
"What the hell! I am a perfectly healthy person, ok! Stop calling me squishy. I have an ideal BMI! You asshole!" I roared. I swung my hand to push him away, but he had already dodged it, seeing it beforehand.
"Well, there you go, saying weird things I don't understand again. Thalen has gone to hunt for you, so you don't have to worry about that. It's been an interesting day so far." Luman laughed and then shifted his focus onto my thigh, "I guess you can help. Seeing your skills, you are more than qualified to help. It will be a bit difficult for the others to adjust to your new methods, but at this moment, we need all the help we can get. Let me get a few things, then you can follow me."
"Sure." I masked my relif. I was unsure if he would allow me but thankfully that he truted my skills nough to help him treat patient in his clinic. I gather my tools and follow Lumen out.
I am glad Luman agreed. This should help me finish my quest.
The quest 'Basic rounds' required me to look after and treat patients.
Still, how the hell can they give me a quest like that one! Bond Progreession!
When I read the quest, Bond Progression: Part 1, I felt my sheeksburn just reading it. The quest required me to mate with my bonded partner to complete it.
I don't even know the man, and it wants me to 'bond' with him. Such an unreasonable quest. Thankfully, there were others. With 'Basic Rounds', I just have to check up on 10 patients. Still, I find it hard to find a disciple... how am I supposed to find a person to teach in this world? Would they even trust me?
Luman escorted me outside and into another room, which appears to be his bedroom. Confused about what we were doing here, I stiffened. He looked at my expression and smirked. Ruffling around a box, he threw a bunle of fabric at me.
"Change into those." He instrusted me, "It was clothes from my youth. It should fit you. I doubt you want to keep walking around in that bloody and torn outfit."
"O-oh! Thank you!" Luman steped outside allowing me to cance in privete. The outfit was snug, fitting perfectly. Just like a hanfu, I wrapped the fabric around me and secured it with a belt. Tearing up the clean part of my old clothes, I used it to make a ribbon to tie my hair up.
When I came out, Luman looked me up and down, "Wow, I would have mistaken you for a child if I did not know you. It suits you, it's good that it fits." He continued walking as I grumbled under my breath, still following.
Reaching a door Luman sighed before walking inside. The stench of blood was extreme, hitting me in the face like a crashing wave. Multiple patients, grunitn and screaming. The stench of death was pungent. There were over a dozen patients here, with only one doctor.
"So many patients, are you treating them all by yourself?" I looked around to see only teens doing mechanical work, such as wiping them down, packing clay, and feeding people.
"Yes, it did not used to be like this. Wounds would normally heal on thier own since they are warriors. But recently an epidemic of the beseark virus has caused fatalty in mere bites. If they get bitten by a beast with this illness, the wounds won't heal themselves. Nearly all people dies after conracting the berserk virus after a few months. Some have survived using my purification power, but there is only so much I can purify." Luman expression grew sorrowful as he explained this to me.
"Isn't that just rabies?" I blurted out, shocked by the similarity.
He must mean purify the rabies like water. He did say he can only do it once a week... that must be hard, but I think I can help them!
"What is rabies?" Luman asked the word unfamilier to him.
"It's a viral infection." I explained carefully. "If someone infected bites or scratches you, or if you somehow ingest their saliva, you will also contract it. When a beast gets infected, it starts to become anxious and irritable. Then it either becomes erratic, screaming at thin air, foaming at the mouth, attacking others, or are scared of water. The other type is when they become completely weak, and they drool constantly like a lifeless being. Slowly, they stop responding and are unable to move. Eventually, anywhere from a month to half a year, they die. Is this the symptoms they follow?"
Luman's exression was filled with horror. It was blantes that I had described the illness to him perefctly. What shoced him more was fingding out all the ways this virus could be transfered.
"Saliva..." A distent thought before snapping back, "Do you know how to treat them?" He asked voice cracking in a pleading tone.