**It was a bright, sunny evening, and the turmoil from yesterday had subsided.**

Birger had given Arjana permission to get up and move around a bit, provided she didn’t overdo it. With a hint of excitement, Arjana explored her surroundings while Birger prepared dinner.

Carefully, Arjana navigates the cabin to get familiar with her new living arrangements. The first place she stumbles upon was the washroom. Peering into the door, she was surprised to see light pouring in from the ceiling from an open skylight. Looking around, she spots a large wooden tub with metal strips wrapped around it. 

"Mister Birger! Where is the toilet?", she calls out to him.

"It's the wooden platform by the window!", he calls back. Arjana scans the room following his description before her eyes settle on a wooden ledge against the wall. Curiously, she approaches before quickly averting her eyes from the hole. As she averts her eyes; she notices vines crawling up the walls and butterflies dancing on the flowers. Arjana gasps in wonder before noticing plants and flowers growing along the walls.

"Mister Birger! What are these flowers?", she yells out to him. Strangely, there is a long delay in his response, and then silence. "Isn't it unsanitary to keep plants growing like this in the bathroom?"

"No, in fact, doing so keeps the bathroom.... smelling nice.", he answers as his footsteps can be heard drawing nearer.

"But what if snakes get into the toilet?", Arjana asks as Birger enters and leans against the door frame. "Or rats?", she adds gesturing to the open skylight. Birger lets out a chuckle before patting her on the head.

"Youngin' snakes don't like the flowers in here.", Birger explained touching a red flower. "They can't stand the smell.", he added plucking the flower and handing it to her. Eagerly, Arjana sniffs the flower before sneezing, scattering the red pollen everywhere. Arjana giggles, oblivious to Birger's concerned expression as he watches the pollen dissipate. 

"It smells like cinnamon! Can I make tea from this?"

Birger pulls out a cloth from his pocket and wipes her nose tenderly. 

"...It's not safe to boil, youngin'.", he replies calmly before ushering her out of the bathroom. As they leave the bathroom, they pass by her room, and then another door. 

"What's in here?" Arjana asks, stopping and attempting to open the door. It's locked, but that didn't stop Birger from pulling her hand away from it.

"It's my room, Arjana.", Birger replies while discreetly moving her to the living area. The carpet was made of fur pelts, and there were shelves filled with carvings. Before Birger could say anything, Arjana bolts down to the carpet to feel the fur.

"Animal fur! What animal is it from?", she asked before pulling it up revealing the head of an animal still attached to it. "Eeek!", she drops it and bolts behind Birger.

"It's bear fur, Arjana.", he sighes before grabbing a hold of her hand to keep her still. As she watches the carpet, fearing that it may come to life, Birger knelt to her level.

"Arjana, remember what I told you.", he says firmly, "You can look around, but please, don't overdo it.", 

 Arjana, though a bit hurt, understood that she may have gotten too excited for his liking.

"Just....settle down now.", he adds before getting up and returning to the kitchen. 

--------

 For the next hour, Arjana explores the living area, avoiding the carpet, and examining the carvings on the shelves. All of the carvings were of animals, some made of wood and bone. It wasn't long before she got bored and decided to check in on Birger. 

Once in the kitchen, she was surprised to find it mostly empty. She knew it was empty, but she was never able to process just how empty it was until today. There were cabinets, a shelf, a small countertop, and a table, but no wooden stove. After looking around, she spots Birger struggling to cut potatoes, his hands shaking as if he had to force himself to continue.

"Um. Mister Birger, are you okay?"

"Yes, I... I'm... not very good at cooking," he hesitantly admitted.

"Can I help?" With some hesitation, he handed her the knife.

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Yes! I used to cook all the time with my father!"

"The king cooks? He didn't have servants to do that for him?"

"He did, but sometimes he preferred to cook. It was a way for him to spend time with us when he finished work."

"Your father, what’s his name, do you remember?"

"Yes, his name was Kokolo," she said, reminiscing about her family. It dawned on her that the last time she saw them was a couple of months ago. She didn’t know where they were or if they were okay.

"Mr. Birger, is it possible for you to take me home when I get better?"

"I don't know, youngin’, it depends on how far your kingdom is," he replies before walking down the hallway to the back and returning with a scroll in his hand.

He unfolded the scroll, revealing a map. "Point to where your home is here." Arjana examined the map and recognized the Brymshire Empire, but when she looked for her home, it wasn’t there.

"…It’s… not on here…"

"Where would it be if it was?"

"Right here," she pointed, "where it says Galupa territory."

"Galupa? When did Galupa become Paria?"

"Maybe… this map hasn’t been updated to include your kingdom."

Arjana didn’t know how to respond, could her kingdom really be too new to be placed on a map?

"Sir, where am I?" she asked quietly. He shook his head before pointing to the map.

"You are in newly occupied territory of the Prioria Empire."

"Prioria..? How did I wind up here!?"

Birger, sensing the young girl’s distress, puts away the map.

"Youngin’, stay calm. When you get better, I promise I'll try to get you home," he reassured her. She steadied herself, trying to remain calm, but so many thoughts raced through her mind. Taking a deep breath, she tries to remain calm as tears trickle down her face.

"Promise...?"

"I give you my word, little one," he answered firmly. He stood up and patted her on the head to comfort her.

"Ingredients are in the cabinets. I'll be drawing your bath when you are ready," he states before walking down the hallway. Arjana, still overwhelmed, struggles to take a deep breath as she tries to get her mind off things.

"I can… make mashed potatoes and poached fruit for now," she says to herself as she continues to look through the cabinets. Not satisfied with the lack of choices, she opens the bottom cabinets to see if there was more food. Upon checking, she finds a jar full of gray and white mushrooms.

"Oh! I can make roasted mushrooms!"

---

Night fell, as Arjana waits for the poached fruits and mashed potatoes to cool on the counter. The mushrooms were still roasting in a skillet over the fire, filling the room with a dry aroma. Concerned, Arjana walks over to check on the mushrooms, sensing something was amiss. The mushrooms had a strange purple color and secreted a blue substance.

"Maybe… I didn’t cook them right…"

She took the skillet off the heat, wincing at the oily smell as she set it on the counter.

"Something isn’t right…" she thought before Birger walks in.

"Youngin’, your bath—" he stops when he spots the mushrooms on the counter.

"Mister Birger, can you help me with the mushrooms?"

Birger rushes over, grabs the skillet, and tosses the mushrooms into the fireplace.

"Arjana, you didn’t eat any of those mushrooms, did you?!"

"N-no. I didn’t. Why?"

"Those mushrooms are not meant to be cooked, heating makes them poisonous."

He put out the fire and carefully fans the smoke out the window. As he did this, Arjana made an extra bowl of poached fruit and mashed potatoes. Feeling guilty, she offers the bowl to Birger.

"Arjana, please, just go eat," he says dismissively as he fans the smoke away.

"…Please, I want to share."

Birger hesitates for a moment before accepting the bowl and placing it next to him.

"I’ll eat it when I’m done. Go on and eat, Arjana," he said, patting her on the head. Satisfied, Arjana smiles before sitting at the table to eat the remaining bit of food she had left.

---

Later, after Arjana finished eating, it was time for a much needed bath. Grabbing a washcloth, she approachs the wooden tub, its clear water inviting. As she lowers herself into the bath, an excruciating pain shot through her body. She screams, collapsing onto the floor, clutching her thigh in agony. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps. It wasn't long before Birger burst into the washroom, quickly averting his eyes from her vulnerable state.

"Little one, are you okay?!"

"It… hurts… It hurts so much…" she managed to whisper. Birger left swiftly, returning with his pouch of supplies.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked, dipping a cloth into a jar of ointment.

"My upper thigh…"

Birger's eyes widen as he examines the area, freezing in shock at the culprit. The silence was palpable as he stared, his expression stricken. Suddenly, he dashes out of the room, the sounds of frantic rummaging and moving objects can be heard down the hall. He returns in a hurry, throwing various items into the bath—herbs, oils, and tiny pink flowers.

"I need to move you now. You have to soak in the water, okay?"

"But… it’ll hurt…" she whimpered, tears streaming down her face. Without waiting, Birger carefully lifts her and places her back into the bath. Arjana yelps and cries out as she was immersed, but the pain gradually ebbed away.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, sir… What… happened..? What… was it?" she asked weakly, too drained to examine the wound herself.

"A very, very nasty cut," he said, rummaging through his bag before grabbing a grainy white block.

"I need to wash you with this,". Too weak to protest, she allows him to assist her as she bathed.

****

Night fell, and Birger administers more medicine to Arjana than he had when she first awakened. Some of the herbs made her nauseous, but Birger insisted she take them. He helped her to bed and gave her a final examination for the evening.

"Does anywhere else hurt?" he inquires. She points to the back of her neck.

"Sometimes it hurts back here." Birger examines the area before applying a strange purple ointment. Satisfied with his work, he left the room briefly, returning with large stalks of purple plants.

"What are those?"

"The pollen has healing properties," he explains, arranging the flowers around the room.

"Don't touch them, and let me know when they wilt," he adds, tying some of them to her bed. As he prepares to leave, a question popped into her mind.

"Sir, who is your friend?" He pauses as she continued, "You know, the one who found me?"

"....His name is Izzimar. Now, get some rest." He left the room and closed the door. Arjana exhausted agreed to lay down for the night.

"Izzimar..."

---

The next morning, Birger knocks on her door.

"Arjana, may I come in? I have your medicine," he calls out.

"Yes, you may," she answers groggily. He enters with a tray of ointments and medicine. She sits up and stretches as he carries a small stool to sit across from her. Birger gently places his hand on her forehead.

"How are you feeling? Are you still hurting?"

"Not right now. Why did the cut hurt so badly?" Birger seems momentarily lost in thought, unsure how to respond. He grabs a gauze and smears some ointment onto it. "It appears the cut got infected. That can happen when you don't clean a wound properly. May I?"

Arjana hesitated but eventually nods. Birger carefully moved her gown up to inspect the wound. Arjana panics upon seeing it for the first time—a deep slash. She felt nauseous at the sight of the open tissue before Birger applied the gauze. Immediately after, she felt a searing pain creep up her thigh. She began to cry and attempts to remove the gauze, but Birger restrains her with one arm. Quickly and calmly, he grabs the red medication from the tray.

"Here, take this—", barely finishing the sentence before she grabs the vial and downs the bitter liquid. The pain subsided as quickly as it had come.

"Mister Birger, how did I get hurt?"

"I... don't know. All I remember is that Izzimar found you."

"What were my injuries?"

Birger reaches into a small pouch on his waist and pulls out a notebook.

"You had a head injury, a small concussion, and a few cuts here and there. Some of them got infected, but others were minor. You also had a bit of venom, maybe from a snake bite." He quickly closes the book and shoves it back into the pouch.

“Right now, I think it's best that I monitor that wound until you get better.”

“Just that one?”

“And the one on your neck.”, he adds as he gets up to go to the workbench.

Curious, she follows him to the workbench again, wobbling slightly to not disturb the gauze too much. He looks down at her in slight annoyance, but sighs as he looks through the jars. He grabs a small root from the jar and sets it aside to grab a purple thorny stick from another. Birger moves over to his water basin and soaks the two items.

“What are you making?”

“Medicine. Some items require soaking in water to bring out their healing properties.”

“May I help?”

“Another time, youngin’, we can’t have you making poison now can we?” he teases as she pouts.

He takes them out of the water and grinds them up in the mortar and pestle. Arjana watches in awe as he works. The science of it all so fascinating, she can’t help but to get close to the boiling water. Birger sees this and gently pulls her away from the boiling mixture. A slow lilac smoke comes from the basin, filling the room with a spicy aroma. She starts coughing lightly as he scoops up a bit of the lilac mixture and places it in a vial.

“Do I drink that?”

“No, I’ll mix it with a base to use as ointment for the wound on your neck,” Birger answers, placing the vial into one of his leather pockets.

“Once it cools, that is,”, sitting back down on the stool, clearly exhausted. Arjana sat on the bed across from him, deciding to wait with him.

“Mr. Birger, am I your only patient?”

“No, Izzimar is another patient of mine,”

“How old is he?”

“He’s around your age,” Birger answers, giving her a quick glance. “Just about…maybe fifteen?”

“You don’t know his age?”

“No, he’s a runaway. He comes and goes as he pleases. He never mentioned his age or birthday to me, but I’m guessing he’s fifteen.”

“Will anyone else come this way seeking your help?”

“Maybe. I haven’t had too many people come this way,” Birger admits.

She looked down in thought, feeling that creeping sense of isolation once again.

“Will I ever meet Izzimar?”

“Why would you want to see him?”

“I… I just haven’t seen anyone else since I’ve been here…”

“You’ll be able to see him. He’s just on a trip for a bit. When he gets back, you can see him in person. Right now, just focus on getting better.”

He goes to the workbench and mixed the vial’s contents for her ointment. Returning to her, he gently applies the medicine to the wound on her neck. As she waits, Arjana’s restlessness stirred within her, she wants to go home. But right now, she faces another day of focusing on her recovery.