"You've torn your stitches. Come inside, your body isn't ready for training yet"
The apothecary helped him inside and onto the patient's table.
"Lift up your tunic. I need to redo these stitches."
Gabriel's eyes widened.
He shook his head. "I can do it myself," he said, while trying to push her off.
"Enough!" Mera's voice rose as she forced him back down onto the bed.
"I've seen your marks already. When I first stitched you up."
Gabriel froze.
He knew she had stitched him, but it had never occurred to him that she might have seen his scars.
He stopped resisting, lay back on the bed, and lifted his tunic.
His head turned away, facing the wall.
Mera began stitching, taking longer than usual so she could look at the mural on his stomach.
He really was sent by the creator.
The vein-like raises, twirling around the new, fresh chunks out of his skin
Tears began to well up in her eyes.
She finished the stitches and wiped them.
Regaining her composure.
"If you train again before they are healed, I will beat you with a sword." She turned and walked back to the kitchen.
Gabriel lay there motionless, still staring at the wall.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound of the door, echoed through the room
Gabriel sat upright, pulling his shirt down.
Mera, being closest to the door opened it.
"What do you want, girl?" Mera scowled as she spoke.
"Hi Ma'am, I am erm…" she noticed Gabriel sat on the chair behind Mera.
"Erm…"
"Spit it out" Mera spoke more agitated.
"I'm Ennu, I have a letter for the dem-"
Mera's face turned from annoyed to fury in seconds.
"I have a letter for Gabriel", Ennu shouted with her eyes closed. Threw the letter to the ground, turned and ran.
Mera turned to Gabriel with a smile on her face.
"I believe you have a letter from Hanitz"
Gabriel walked over and took the letter from Mera.
He began opening it as he walked back to the patient's bed.
The messy handwriting almost made it unreadable.
Got a job for you, lad. Once you escape from the Harpy, come by the guild.
Gabriel immediately threw the letter into the fire and began to gather his equipment.
"What's Wrong?" Mera questioned.
"The guild has a job," Gabriel replied whilst collecting his things.
"If you go and split your stitches again, and I'm not there, you could die," She replied, agitated.
"The guild has a supply of Redamere essence".
"Yes, and you know how addictive that stuff is. You do not need it, it won't heal you any faster!" she snapped back.
Gabriel finished collecting his equipment and walked out of the house.
"Don't move my things".
Leaving Mera feeling more alone than she had ever felt before.
Just don't die, you stupid boy.
The walk to the guild was quicker than usual. He wasn't his usual self. Those last few hours replaying in his mind
Why has she moved my things?
Why did she buy me this robe?
Lad!"
Why wasn't she scared of my scars?
Lad!"
Was the smoke taking shape?
"Lad!" Hanitz shouted. Drawing all the eyes of the townsfolk walking passed the guild
Hanitz's deep voice broke through Gabriel's thoughts.
"Did the Vampire hit your head as well? I've been shouting you"
Gabriel snapped back to the present and glanced up.
"Why are you outside?' Gabriel asked
"The demon-eyed adventurer caused a lot of stir, killing that vampire by himself," Hanitz explained. "So I've been waiting here ever since poor Ennu came screaming back".
The former Paladin turned his head towards the crowd of people walking past the guild, noticing that they were staring at him longer than usual before quickly turning their heads and moving on once their gaze met.
"Aren't you afraid?' Gabriel turned back to Hanitz. His eyes turning a shade brighter.
"Ha Ha Ha, no lad, you don't scare me." Hanitz face turned serious, he stood up straight and his chest began puffing out "I could squash you like a bug"
"Enough of the horseplay, a scout picked up two more of the vampires fleeing south towards the winding woods. The scouts followed them for 2 days before they lost them over the eastern side, just before Blackhaven village. He paused for a second. "You know what this means, right?"
Hanitz stared at Gabriel, coaxing him into answering.
Gabriel nodded. "There's a nest."
"Exactly, let's just hope it's full of them lesser buggers, Ha Ha Ha!"
"I need a breastplate and some Redamere essence before I go, plus 8 silvers for the bounty when I return". Gabriel spoke whilst still glancing at the people staring at him.
Hannitz nodded in agreement.
"The witch told me to put all your supplies on her tab, but lad, be careful with the Redamere essence."
Tess will be waiting for you at the southern entrance at sundown, with your supplies. Be ready.
Gabriel's face tightened. He hadn't spent a week with a single person in 5 years.
Why is she going?
She almost got me killed last time
"Be nice to her this time Lad, she won't shut up about how rough you were with her last time Ha Ha Ha!"
Hantiz walked away, leaving Gabriel silent, just staring at the back of his head.
After a few seconds, Gabriel's body finally allowed him to move.
He straightened his back, forcing his breathing to become steady.
A week round-trip with her. He sighed
Another thought ran through his head.
It could be longer, we don't know where the nest is! He sighed again, this time using his whole body
He began making his way to the southern gate. The sun in the sky had already begun its descent. Sundown wouldn't be long.
The townsfolk kept glancing his way, then suddenly found something interesting on the floor.
A week with someone else. Five long years since he'd tolerated someone for more than a few hours
The cold northern wind bit at his face, snapping him back into the world. Back into the mission mindset.
His eyes became focused. Spotting the gate in the distance. The pain in his abdomen was spreading but still manageable.
The sound of dogs howling as he passed.
Righteousness begets cruelty. Replaying in his mind.