He gently spun his legs off the side of the bed using his arms as leverage and stood up.
He was looking all around the room for the water Mera had given him earlier. He was unconscious for four days, and now his throat is as dry as the southern kingdoms' deserts.
He spotted the jug on the table in the corner, walked over and proceeded to drink straight from it, no thoughts on if someone else was going to use it.
The door opened, and Mera walked in mid gulp.
"Gabriel, you're not a boar, use a cup." She scolded.
The young man placed the jug down, "I don't know where you keep them".
"There in the kitchen through the door," she pointed to the left of the house. "Wait a moment, I will go and get you one. I've paid the peasant boy to bring more anyway, I need some for the stew."
Gabriel's mouth watered at the mention of the stew. Over the last four years, the only real time he got to eat properly was when Hanitz gave him meals at the guild for a discount.
"Also, there's 8 silver coins for you." She walked over to the table and threw a small bag clinking onto it.
"Why is there 8? We agreed on 3." He said, confused.
"Yes, but Hanitz took the vampire corpse and wanted you to be fairly compensated for the kill. It's a C-class monster worth 8 silver coins."
Gabriel picked up the coin bag and looked inside. Light reflected off the silver, making the interior light up.
This could keep my room at the tavern for two months and provide me with food for a month.
Gabriel walked to the kitchen, where Mera was preparing the stew. "How much do I owe you?"
Mera turned towards him, smiling. "You owe me nothing. I got the Vampire liver and heart out of it. I told you I prefer favours from you instead of coins."
Gabriel's eyes didn't move.
"But you need to stay here for a few days while you heal, so food, plus the bed, will cost you 2 copper coins a day. and I'm not negotiating on the price"
2 copper coins a day? No wonder she doesn't have many patients!
"But you pay me when you're better. Deal?"
"Deal."
Mera began preparing the stew whilst Gabriel stood behind her.
"I need my equipment," the former Paladin broke the silence.
"Swords are upstairs, placed on the bed you'll be staying in. Your breastplate and belt have been damaged beyond repair."
Gabriel placed his hand on his chest, checking for any pain.
"I thought I only got hit in the stomach?"
Mera turned to him with her usual gentle smile.
"You did, I had to cut it off you".
"And my belt?" His face unchanging
"That woman you saved, cut holes into it." Her jaw tightened as the words left her mouth.
"Hmm," Gabriel replied as he was turning away.
They cost me a silver coin for both of them!
The small pouch of coins he had been given suddenly felt lighter in his hands.
Mera didn't turn back to the ingredients she had spread on top of the counter. Her eyes lingered on Gabriel. Watching the way he was gripping the pouch. The way his fingers squeezed it as though it offended him
"You're going to need a new one, unless you plan on fighting bare-chested like a savage."
Gabriel didn't answer.
He walked from the kitchen, each step making the wooden floor creak.
"And if you do, let me know, I want to watch," the apothecary shouted from the kitchen, her laugh filling the house.
Gabriel proceeded towards the stairs that led to two small rooms, one where Mera slept , the other for patients who needed overnight care.
Each step up the staircase sent a sharp tug to his abdomen, reminding him that the wound was still fresh.
He stopped halfway up.
"Where's my robe?" he called down louder than intended so Mera could hear.
A sudden sharp pain rushed to his stomach, he instantly reached down to cover his wound, his body folding over the railing as his stitches pulled tight.
Ahh… Why am I still in so much pain?
A small thud sounded out as he dropped the coin purse.
Mera, hearing the sound, stepped out of the kitchen towards the staircase.
Gabriel began straightening up as he heard her footsteps approaching.
"You're not going to heal quickly if you keep exerting yourself," she sighed.
"I had to cauterise inside. It's not a small flesh wound." She continued.
"Where's my robe?" Gabriel said again through gritted teeth.
Mera sighed and crossed her arms. "That woman took it. You did strip her after all"
Gabriel stood up straight, the pain seemed to vanish in an instant. His face turned a bright beetroot colour.
He continued walking up the stairs at a slower pace. "I'll get it back tomorrow".
"Tsk". Mera turned and walked back towards the kitchen.
He finally reached the top of the stairs and proceeded to the room where his possessions lay.
The room itself was the same setup as his room back at the tavern, a small bed pushed against the back wall, a small desk to the right with a chair underneath it, the only exception was that this one had a small cupboard where clothes could be placed.
He walked over to the desk, noticing stacks of books and notes lying across it.
He began rummaging through.
This is my stuff. From the Tavern.
He picked up one book - Monsters Of The Northern Kingdom.
Then another - Field Guide To Wild herbs
He rubbed his hand down the spine of the guide.
Mera must have gathered everything while I was unconscious.
He placed the book down and opened the cupboard.
Inside was a new robe matching the colour of the one he gave to Tess.
He pulled the robe out to inspect it. Two holes were cut perfectly in the back, not jagged like the ones he put in the previous robes but professionally done by a tailor. The robe itself was thicker, lined with fur to keep the cold away.
He placed the robe over his shoulders, fastening it around his neck, and continued inspecting the room.
Moving to the bed, his swords were lying perfectly in the X formation, their sheaths crossing neatly, and between them was his medallion, the centrepiece of the display.
He stared at it for a moment before picking it up in disgust and placing it around his neck.
…
Mera was still in the kitchen, stirring the stew. She heard the creaking of the stairs. Her lips began to curl upwards.
"How do you like it?" She said, eyes still fixed on the stove.
"How much is it?" Gabriel hadn't even walked into the kitchen before he started his sentence.
The Apothecary turned towards him, eyes as sharp as daggers.
"It's a gift, you silly boy!"
"Thank you," he replied, completely shattering her hardened face.
Mera turned back to the stove. The corner of her lips almost reached her ears.
"Dinner won't be ready for a few hours yet. You should be upstairs resting."
"I need some Dullhorn root," Gabriel replied. His eyes were fixed on the back of her head.
She froze for a second, dropping the ladle into the pot. "And what do you need it for?"
"The vampire caught me. I need to train."
"The root won't heal you. It will dull the pain. Yes, but that only allows silly boys to hurt themselves more because they cannot feel their limit." She turned to him with daggers back in her eyes.
"I know. I'll pay for it," Gabriel replied abruptly.
Mera shoulders slumped in resignation.
"I can see you're not going to listen to me. So fine, there's a root in the cupboard above the alchemy station." She looked at him with a false smile "It's five copper coins, plus any damage you do to yourself, I'll charge you double to fix"
Gabriel turned away without a word, walked to the station, retrieved the root and continued outside.
He snapped the root in two, placed half in his boot, and the other half in his mouth to chew.
Behind the apothecary was a small patch of grass before the tall wooden walls. Guards barely patrolled this section of the wall, so Gabriel could train to his heart's content.
He sat in the middle of the patch of grass. His legs crossed, hands clenched between them, eyes closed. This is how he was taught to meditate back at the academy.
He sat there for a moment, the icy bite gnawing at his exposed face.
He remained still until all his senses went silent. His eyes opened slowly. Bright red embers glowing in the sockets.
Like two torches positioned in an abandoned castle. The air around him started humming.
The grass beneath him started to go a shade greyer.
Dogs began to bark in the distance.
A red fog started emerging from his hands, consuming the grass like a terrible storm.
Blood began dripping from his nose. He tightened his face and pushed out more.
Vibrations reverberated through the air.
He clenched his teeth and forced out more.
"Gabriel! Gabriel!"
The fog began shaping into two separate hands.
The effects of the Dullhorn had worn off, the pain in his stomach sharper than ever.
His body began shaking.
A tearing sound cut through the air. Gabriel fell backwards, gripping his stomach, wincing.
Mera's face came into view.
"You're not ready yet, Gabriel," she whispered. But her eyes lingered too long on the fading fog