Edited by Iseul

This was another waste of time.

Leonel scoffed, entirely unimpressed by this unnamed challenger that dared to approach him. He did not bring his witch slayer with him, but he was more than confident that he could take on this woman without it. 

From her stance alone, he could tell that she was a fighter but not a very experienced one. “I’m sure you’ve already heard of me,” he said coldly. “Word’s gone around by now, no doubt.”

The woman was just barely out of her teenage years. Her eyes narrowed, chin tilting up, and Leonel thought she resembled a small dog playing guard. “I’d like to hear from the man himself,” she declared bravely. “I’m not someone who would trust so easily in rumors.”

“There isn’t much to say.” Leonel shrugged. He matched her attempts at intimidation with a sharp glare of his own. “Inquisitor. Male. Cirousian descent. Name’s Leonel.”

“So what are you really doing down here in our peaceful Gotsven? There aren’t any mages for you to hunt here,” she said.

Leonel quirked a brow. Was she an idiot? Any inquisitor would have been able to easily pick out the defensive tilt in her voice. It seemed to tell him that there was definitely a mage in this village.

But he made no comment, deciding not to antagonize her more than necessary. Leonel was completely disinterested in both her and the village. So he told her whatever was necessary, in hopes of getting her to leave him alone. “I was injured. Your good doctor saved me. It's hardly that interesting.”

“Do not impede on the doctor’s kindness.” With narrowed eyes, shoulders tense, Leonel thought her a little kitten ready to pounce. 

Leonel could laugh, sneer and mock her if he so pleased. Because judging from her words it was almost as if the doctor was the very mage that she so desperately fought to hide from his knowledge. Except she had only gone and exposed him instead. How typical. Inquisitors were trained to deal with mage sympathizers like this woman.

But all of this was merely in Leonel’s mind. He said nothing to her and only tapped his finger against his arm with visible impatience. 

The door of the house at which he stood finally creaked open. 

“One more to go and I’ll be home free!” the doctor roared with glee, prancing out the entrance like the fool that he was. “Let’s go, let’s go.” He waved obnoxiously at Leonel, only to pause when he caught sight of the sword-bearing woman.

His tired visage instantly broke into a genuine smile. “My! If it isn’t little Katie. Back from your trip so soon?”

Katie’s suspicious glare eased into bright-eyed joy. “Hello, Doctor! I hope you’ve been taking care of your health. In the cities, they say that doctors make the worst patients, is that true? O-oh um,” she smiled sheepishly and cleared her throat, “I came back to help with the farm. Mom’s caught a cold like she always does. You know how the season treats her.”

“A good lassie you are.” Julian walked over and patted her on the head, as though she might have still been a small girl and not a full-grown woman. “We’ve much to talk about!”

Julian was very eager to meet Katie of all people during his trip. He hadn’t expected to see her, for she was due to be in Fauster, taking jobs in a local mercenary guild. But she was back! And likely had the news that he so sought, answers to give where Leonel was silent. 

"What happened to one more and being free to go home?" Leonel cut in the conversation. He made a face, clearly dissatisfied with the change of pace. "I'm hungry."

Julian rolled his eyes. "I haven't eaten in two days because of you. So put up with it!"

Katie instantly gasped at the doctor’s words, stepping forward to grab his wrist at once. She seemed to startle at her own actions, her face going a little red, but she didn’t let go. "What did I say about taking care of yourself!? I won’t allow you to do this to yourself. Come over and I’ll make you something to eat.”

“Oh really?” Julian perked up at the mention of free food. "I would be mighty delighted to join you but I'll have to drag this awful creature with me if you don't mind." He pointed toward Leonel with a thumb.

The way she scrunched up her nose in obvious distaste was rather indicative. She minded a lot. But somehow, Katie still managed to hiss through clenched jaws, “It’s fine I suppose. He can come along.”

There was no way that Julian didn’t miss her apprehension. That didn’t stop him from ignoring it and smiling brightly. “Marvelous! We will be intruding on you then.”

Leonel had about a thousand complaints on the tip of his tongue but he remained quiet, thanks only to the promise of food. Conveniently, Katie’s mother just happened to be Julian’s last patient as well, so everything lined up quite nicely. After the entire conundrum, Leonel would be able to relax in that strangely comfortable hammock. 

Leonel lived a life that didn’t offer much reprieve. And usually, he would be one eager to get a move on with his search.

But the whole mess that unfolded in Fauster not only made him feel absurdly tired, it also forced him to think about his next move carefully. Leonel might have angered some people he probably shouldn’t have…but he also wasn’t entirely certain if they knew of his betrayal. The situation was rather confusing and extremely precarious.

So for now, he could only rest and recover in the midst of a quiet town, hoping that no one discovered his location.

Ugh.

Just thinking about it left him exhausted. 

Leonel mindlessly followed Julian into Katie’s humble home and her family of nine. Children squealed in welcome, grasping at the hems of his and the doctor's clothes.

"Move aside, little devils!" Julian barked at the kids. But despite his roaring voice he kept his smile and patted their little heads, even sneaking them bits of candy when they came to hug his legs.

Katie glared at her younger siblings and drew in a deep breath. "Alright, my little minions, listen closely! Don't bother our guests! Don't be rude! Don't scream too loudly! Just because Pa's not here to scold you and Ma's sick doesn't mean I won't spank you!"

All the children stiffened and saluted her like a tiny army of little trolls. They boomed with their high-pitched voices, “Yes General Sister Madame!" before running off in shrieking laughter.

The moment they were out of sight, Katie sighed and smiled wryly, "Sorry, they're a bit rowdy today."

Leonel was privately thankful for her command over the bratty little demons and how she got them to disperse so quickly. He couldn’t quite understand when Julian merely smiled and shrugged. “Kids will be kids. I don’t mind so much.”

The doctor had a surprisingly high tolerance. Even when he shrieked and whined, much of it was for theatrics and show, the truth was, he didn’t actually mind children so much. It wouldn’t even be that much of a stretch to say that he liked them.

Leonel found a corner of the house to put all the groceries temporarily. All the while, Katie commanded her siblings like an evil overlord, barking at them to get the stove going and start cooking. They squealed at their sister's commanding tone and laughed as they scurried to make food for their guests.

Julian took the time to see the old woman of the house who, though bedridden, was not in any serious danger. It was just the usual spring flu coming along. Perhaps it might have been dangerous without a remedy but the doctor was there to prescribe the proper herbs and medication to soothe such ails.

"In my days," the old lady coughed, "kids be dropping like flies from a little old cough. And now my youngins are running around with a snotty nose or not. This is all thanks to you, Doctor. Even when they're sick, they're healthy," she laughed.

Julian scrunched his nose. "Just because they're lively doesn't mean they shouldn't rest. But that's good to hear. I can give you a bit of extra medication for your kids as well, I saw that Will had a bit of a cough too. Soon your whole herd will be sick with a cold so you'll have a lot on your hands."

She only chuckled at that. "In a different age, I would be scared of losing my youngins. But now I'm looking forward to pampering them when I wrap them up in bed."

He wasn’t doing much but received the woman’s graciousness nonetheless. Basic remedies for common colds and flu had long been developed and available. But away from the cities and in remote little villages like Gotsven, useful medication was few and far in between. 

It had only been due to some miracle that the man who built the hut on the hillside was a real, legitimate doctor. When he had come along, it was quite easy to steal the man’s identity, resuming the role of doctor, thanks to all the notes and books left behind. The village owed thanks to that man, but he was already long dead.

Footsteps shuffled into the room, stealing Julian from his wandering thoughts. Katie peeked in and asked, “How’s Ma’? Is she going to be okay?”

That was right, there were still a few things that Julian wanted to ask this young woman. He smiled at her reassuringly. “She’ll be as fine as she’s always been.” 

Katie exhaled. "I don't know why she always falls ill around this time of year. It's really bad for the heart, you know?"

The mother laughed lightly. "Stop fretting, Doctor here takes good care of this old woman."

Julian cut in, “By the way Katie, you were in Fauster not long ago, were you not?”

“Hm? Yeah, the guild’s doing well in the city so I got a few odd jobs there.” She blinked and tilted her head, her lips pulled down into a subtle frown. It seemed that she understood the subtle implications of his questions. “There was a lot of commotion due to a mage in town, but I wasn’t too deeply involved in the affair.”

Perfect. That was just what Julian wanted to hear.

“That’s fine,” he hummed, “just tell me what you know.”