Waking up, the tents haven’t been fully set up so those of us remaining had to be treated on the cold and harsh ground.

Seeing as a medic was going to tend to my wounds, I grabbed her by the hand and pointed at someone else for her to look after.

Tilting her head, she then carried her baggage towards Alleus.

Grabbing the fire hero’s sword, I used it as a clutch to walk myself to a table. Looking around, there was medical equipment spread all over.

"Scales... let go of... my abdomen" Dispersing back into the armor, it regained some of it’s length.

Taking off the chain mail and light armor, it served me well but now it’s of no use to me. I should get ready looking for a replacement soon.

Grabbing a needle, I put a synthetic thread through it and sat on a chair.

Angling my body, I bit on a piece of cloth.

Forcing my hand to steady themselves, I began to stitch my wound close.

"Urgh..!"

With every piercing of my skin, a sharp pain made my brain numb.

Every move was difficult since my ribs and forearm had been fractured from the fall.

Soon I then stitched the wound closed, but I still have a wound on my back... and I also have some internal damage which needs to be attended to right now.

Looking a lantern, I grabbed some sheets of cloth and wood before putting it into a pile. Taking out the candle, I set the pile to blaze.

Holding the fire hero’s sword over the fire, it slowly heated up.

Grimacing, I pressed the blade on the back of my sword.

Damn it, this hurts so much!

My skin then molded close.

Dropping the sword, I grasped for air.

Walking slowly towards the largest tent standing, multiple bodies of the dead and barely alive, only managing to twitch a finger or toe was being tended to with upmost haste.

Looking at the patients, I saw as Vertere was convulsing.

"Nurse, he seems to have entered a state of mana instability, go grab me the drop of pure mana!"

Bumping me by the shoulder, a nurse in white and blue ran out of the large tent.

Walking deeper amongst the ground, I saw as Lieur was wrapped in bandages with splints on her arms. Kraken was next to her, making sad noises.

Tilting her head at me, she faintly mumbled:

"...Captain?"

"Yeah." I nodded my head.

Running back into the tent, the nurse gave a glass sphere to the doctor with a single drop of something glowing shades of blue and purple floating in the middle of it.

Taking the glass, he held it over Vertere and shattered it.

The singular drop falling into the mage’s stomach, being absorbed by it. His body pulsed in illuminating blue waves.

Calming down, Vertere slowly sat up.

"Where am I..?"

"You’ve just been treated of mana instability, you’ve pushed your mana pool too much. Mana potions won’t cure mana overflow, it just hides the symptoms. I advice you to not cast any magic for at least a week or two." The doctor patted the glass shards off of the bed.

Looking down, Vertere paused for a moment.

"What happens if I do use spells?"

"Your mana pool will collapse and you’ll die. Even patients who do survive cannot use magic and live sickly for the rest of their lives."

Stepping off the bed, Vertere sighed.

"I see. I’ll make sure not to use any magic."

Walking with his head down, I extended my hand to stop him.

"Which rotten ingrate dare to touch my hair—!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Meeting eyes, he then put my arm over his shoulder.

"Why are you standing up you fool, let’s get you a doctor."

As we walked, our ranger in stilts.

"Pwahahaha! No way is that you Lieur? I never thought I would get to see somewhat like you in such a pitiful state, I’m literally going to die, hahaha!" Pointing in laughter, Lieur raised an arm and crushed his finger.

"Argh!"

With a smirk on her face, she scoffed.

"Ha, loser."

Stopping in anger, he began blowing on his broken finger.

"Who are you calling a loser, you loser!"

Turning her head away, Lieur closed her eyes.

"Yeah that’s right, look away you big baby!"

And with that we maneuvered through the bodies.

Tapping a medical worker, she turned around in horror.

"Oh my, you’re badly hurt! Come take lay him down on the ground."

Spreading a thin mattress on the ground, Vertere helped me lay down.

Getting on her knees, dirtying her clothes, she extended both hands over me.

"Healing light."

A dome then conjured over my body as a warmth I’ve never felt before flowed through me.

Closing my eyes, I felt my body getting better. It didn’t hurt but it was gentle, the only complaint that I do have that the process is slow.

"Do you know the status of hero Incus?" Vertere asked.

"No, I don’t." Would you look at that, my throat’s gotten better.

"The hero? She’s currently being treated by the saint alongside her knight Steinen." The healer replied.

A beat of silence permeated but was interrupted by another question.

"Do you know where they are?"

"They’re in a different tent, the saint didn’t want to be interrupted."

Soon it was over.

Looking at my body, I patted at my abs and back. There was still a scar formed around the area, it seems the healing magic she used merely accelerated the healing process whilst fixing any problems within the body.

So I stitched and burned myself for nothing, tsk.

"Thank you." I stood up, and walked towards the exit with Vertere.

"You’re welcome!" She waved happily.

Going back to where I woke up, I sat next to Alleus as she was in the process of being healed.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked.

"It’s difficult to say, her wounds are very deep. I’m going to have to ask you to stay quite for now, I would like to focus on this." The healer was sweating heavily.

Grabbing a towel, I wiped her face and gave them water.

Watching intently at the process, all of her wounds were gradually closing, leaving a scar once shut.

The healer would occasionally stop to rest to restore her mana and catch her breath before continuing.

After a while, Alleus blinked her eyes open.

"...That look doesn’t suit you partner. Wipe that sad look on your face."

"Save your strength, don’t speak."

"But—"

Interrupting her, I made my voice stern:

"No buts."

***

Reaching the time of night, the tents were finished being set up and the healing process for Alleus was drawing it’s end near.

Putting down her hands, the healer sighed.

"I’ve finished healing your friend, help yourselves to a tent and rest for tonight. Make she doesn’t push herself." She grabbed the towel in my hand and walked away.

Helping Alleus stand upwards, I grabbed her pouch and put it over my shoulder.

"It’s okay, I can walk."

Stepping behind me, Alleus lifted up a lantern that she got nearby.

"Your hair has gotten more white."

Reaching for the back of my head, I asked:

"Really?"

"I’m not the type to lie you know."

Walking towards a small tent, Vertere hastened his pace.

"All we’re missing now is Lieur, you should’ve seen her—!"

Punching him in the head, we all looked behind us.

"Hey." Lieur’s bandages and stilts had been taken off, Kraken laying around her shoulders.

"Good to see that you’re doing well... Let’s hit the sack shall we?"