Jasper counted the coins in the pouch as he walked along the street. Mr. Erminio had paid a total of forty-five gold coins for the entire sack of crystals. With those forty-five, the fifteen gold he had earned earlier, and the twenty gold coins he had saved over the past six months, the total came to eighty gold coins. He believed that would be enough for the medical checkup.
When Jasper arrived home, his mother was already dressed, and his sister had put on the new gown she usually wore when going outside. Thinking about it, he realized he had not even been able to buy another new dress for his little sister. The world was truly unkind to those who were not awakened or who lacked talent—and Jasper was both. He had failed to awaken and did not possess the talent to learn any skilled profession. His inability had placed his family in a difficult position, and as the eldest son and brother, he had not been able to properly provide for them.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
The three of them left the house. After reaching the busy street, they hired a horse carriage to the medical house, located at the other end of town, more than five kilometers away.
They soon arrived. The building stood on the eastern side of the town, near the outskirts.
"Featherfall Medical House."
A plaque hung at the front of the structure. It was one of the finest medical houses in Gruoce Town. Rumor had it that the chief healer there was above level 150. He was highly sought after and said to be capable of curing nearly any disease. That was why Jasper had saved his gold and chosen to come here—to discover the true cause of his mother's illness.
They entered the large hall, where several counters were occupied by men and women discussing matters with patients. Jasper asked his sister to sit in the waiting area while he and his mother stood in line. Soon, their turn arrived, and Jasper stepped forward.
"Welcome to Featherfall Medical House," the receptionist greeted in a professional tone.
Jasper returned the greeting and explained their purpose.
"Hello, madam. My mother has been suffering from a health issue. We are here to determine the cause. Could you explain the procedure and the cost of diagnosis?" Jasper asked. It was his first time visiting a proper medical house. Most of the time, if he felt unwell, he would buy herbs or simple potions from street vendors. Fortunately, neither he nor his sister had suffered from any serious illness.
That was how they had initially treated his mother as well—when she began experiencing dizziness and constant fatigue. They purchased herbs and potions, believing the symptoms would fade. But they did not. The dizziness became more frequent. Over the following months, her weight decreased, and her face gradually turned pale and yellow. When her condition worsened the previous year, they had sold household items to visit another medical house. However, the healer there had been unable to determine the cause. Without knowing the source of the illness, proper treatment could not be prescribed.
At that time, Jasper had believed that once he awakened, everything would change. But he had failed the awakening. After that, he tried several jobs before turning to mining, saving slowly with the hope that one day he could bring his mother here.
"Sir, the price varies depending on the level of apothecary you choose," the receptionist explained.
"We offer five grades. Grade one costs fifteen gold coins; grade two costs thirty; grade three costs fifty-five; grade four costs seventy-five; and grade five costs one hundred gold coins for diagnosis."
Jasper was not surprised by the prices. He had already prepared himself. Given the reputation this medical house carried, such costs were expected.
"Madam, we would like a grade four apothecary," Jasper said. He would have chosen grade five, but he only had eighty gold coins—twenty short. He believed grade four would be sufficient to determine the cause.
The receptionist nodded and recorded their personal details. Jasper paid seventy-five gold coins, leaving him with only five. Even so, he felt relieved. Before coming here, he had feared the cost might exceed what he had. Now he knew he could at least afford a proper diagnosis.
After a short while, the receptionist handed them a token and instructed them to wait at the indicated room number. Jasper and his mother climbed the stairs to the second floor. Numerous numbered rooms lined the corridor, with patients entering and exiting quietly. He found room number seven and stepped inside.
The room was small, with two wooden tables placed at the center.
"Mother, sit here," Jasper said gently, guiding her to one of the chairs while he stood beside her.
After several minutes, the door opened. A woman who appeared to be in her forties entered. She was of medium height and wore a long green gown with a shawl draped around her shoulders.
"Hello, madam," Jasper greeted respectfully.
"Hello. How can I help you, young man?" she asked as she sat across from them.
"Madam, my mother has been suffering from an illness for over two years. Could you please diagnose what is wrong with her?" Jasper explained.
The woman gently took Jocelyn's hands and closed her eyes. She remained still for a moment, then slowly opened them and looked at both Jasper and Jocelyn.
"Young man, your mother is suffering from a disease called 'Seance Decay.' It is an inherited condition passed down through the mother's bloodline. As those affected grow older, their bodies gradually weaken and begin to fail," she explained calmly.
Hearing the diagnosis, Jasper felt a brief sense of relief. At least they finally knew the cause. He believed that once the cause was identified, treatment would follow. With his Blue Gem, he felt confident he could handle whatever was required.
"Madam, how much would it cost to cure this disease?" Jasper asked, holding onto that fragile relief.
The woman did not answer immediately. She remained silent for a long moment before slowly standing up.
Jasper's heartbeat quickened. The relief he had felt vanished instantly. Anxiety gripped him so tightly that he almost wanted to shout at her to speak.
"Young man," she said at last, "I am sorry to tell you this, but as far as I know, there is no cure for this disease. Those who suffer from it are destined to die without treatment."