A tall, broad-shouldered man in a long black trench coat and a tall hat was lingering near the entrance. His black hair was slicked back neatly, and a lit cigarette hung loosely from his lips. Despite the sharp, cold lines of his attire, there was something striking about his pale skin and piercing blue eyes.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you lost?" Benjamin asked, stepping outside.

"Is this a clinic?" the man asked. His voice carried an unexpected warmth that immediately softened his imposing figure.

"It is. Are you in need of care?"

"Forgive me, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Dr. Wren Baek," he said, extending a hand.

Benjamin shook it, but the moment the man revealed his profession, a familiar unease settled upon Benjamin. "I'm Dr. Nystrom," he replied, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "What brings you here, Dr. Baek?"

"I heard there was a clinic here dedicated to working families," Dr. Baek said. "I wanted to see if you were looking for additional help. I'm looking for work."

"That's very commendable, but I'm afraid the clinic is too small to require a second doctor," Benjamin replied quickly.

"I see. I apologize for the intrusion," Dr. Baek said, though he didn't seem particularly deterred. "However, I've traveled quite a distance and I'm a stranger to the city. Would you do me the honor of sharing a meal? I'm at a loss for where to find a decent place for a meal."

Benjamin hesitated. "The clinic is open for another few hours, but I can certainly give you some recommendations."

He listed a few local favorites, but his curiosity got the better of him. "Where did you travel from?"

"Oh, here and there," Dr. Baek said vaguely. "I was recently in Zephyr. Before that, Xenos. My work requires quite a bit of travel."

"A traveling doctor?"

Dr. Baek smirked, the smoke from his cigarette curling around his hat. "You have a lot of questions, Dr. Nystrom. Are you sure you won't join me?"

"Perhaps dinner, then? I should be finished around five."

"Six o'clock, then. I'll come by and pick you up."

After Dr. Baek departed, Benjamin retreated into the clinic, his mind racing. A doctor who travels for work. He was curious what had really brought him to Isadora.

As he was closing up for the evening, he saw a familiar face outside the clinic.

"Off somewhere?" Charles asked as Benjamin stepped out.

"A doctor stopped by today. It was strange. He wanted a job here. I turned him down, but we're getting dinner tonight."

Charles felt worried and annoyed at the same time, but spoke calmly. "I see. Is he planning on staying in Aster long?"

"I'm not sure. I know very little about him. Would you like to join us?" Benjamin asked, the invitation slipping out before he could stop it. "I'm sure he has some interesting stories."

"I'd like to, but I can't," Charles said. "I'd draw far too much attention. Perhaps another time."

"Right. I'm sorry, I didn't think." Benjamin felt a flush of embarrassment and a bit disappointed. He had wanted Charles to join him. "So, what brings you here today?" 

"I just wanted to see you," Charles said simply. "And don't forget, the duel is this Sunday. I'm eager to see you with a sword."

"I think you'll be surprised," Benjamin said, flashing a wide, genuine smile.

Charles smiled back at him. It's always nice to see you smile. "Well, I should let you get to your dinner. I wouldn't want to keep you."

"Alright. See you tomorrow," Benjamin said. He froze. Why did I say that? He had become so accustomed to Charles's daily visits that the words had felt like second nature.

"Tomorrow?" Charles's face lit up. "Okay. Tomorrow it is then."

** ** ** ** ** ** 

Wren arrived at the clinic five minutes before six, finding Benjamin already waiting outside.

Wren was still dressed in the same imposing black trench coat and tall hat. He opened the carriage door for Benjamin, and in return, Benjamin offered a polite bow before stepping inside.

"Do you have a preference for where we go, Dr. Nystrom?" Wren asked as the carriage pulled away.

"Not really. If you let me know what you would like to eat, I could recommend a few places."

Benjamin admitted to himself that he hadn't actually visited the restaurants he'd suggested earlier. He only knew them through the chatter of his patients. He had no idea if they lived up to the hype. "Did you find any of the places I recommended earlier to your liking?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to check them," Wren said. "I did find a small family restaurant while walking around the city center. It looked decent enough from the outside. Would you like to try it?"

"Anything is fine with me," Benjamin replied.

On the way, Wren kept the conversation light. He steered away from asking personal questions and instead focused on the kingdom of Isadora, its customs and its people. He spoke with the cadence of a man who was highly educated and well-traveled, mentioning that while it wasn't his first time in Isadora, many years had passed since his last visit.

The restaurant was tucked away in a narrow alley. Inside, it was humble and cramped. A young girl, barely fourteen, hurried between tables taking orders, while an older boy scrubbed down the wooden surfaces.

The menu was sparse, mostly grilled meats, and they only offered homemade wine. When asked about it, the girl beamed. "It's my mama's recipe. Would you like a glass each, or the jar?"

"A jar?" Wren raised an eyebrow.

"The jar it's made in. It holds about three or four glasses of wine," she explained.

"I'll have a jar," Wren decided.

"Just a glass for me," Benjamin added.

As the girl scurried away, Wren let out a low laugh. "I find this to be quite the experience. I'm rather enjoying it. What about you, Dr. Nystrom?"

"Same here, Dr. Baek. I'm curious to see what they serve. I'm glad you found this place."

The girl returned with a single glass and a dust-coated glass jar. The wine inside was a deep, bruised purple, with dark remnants of fermenting grapes swirling at the bottom.

"Since we're both doctors, I suppose if the wine is actually poison, we'll have to help each other," Wren joked, twisting off the lid. "Cheers.

Wren took a large gulp, his expression showed a brief moment of disappointment before he continued drinking. Benjamin took a cautious sip. It was thick and sugary, tasting more like fermented fruit juice.

"It tastes like juice," Benjamin noted. They shared a look and laughed.

The food was mediocre, consisting of large portions of charred meat. They spent the meal discussing the academic circles of Xenos, comparing the professors they'd endured and the grueling hours of their doctoral residencies.

"So, tell me more about your recent travels," Benjamin prompted.

"I was just in Liang Guan. A friend called me there. He needed help."

"I've heard the situation there is grim," Benjamin said.

Liang Guan was a notorious border town situated between the kingdom of Xenos and the kingdom of Shen Zhou.

The town was a skeletal remains of its former self, run by syndicates who specialized in the illegal trade of people and goods between the two neighboring kingdoms. It was a place for the displaced and the desperate. Infrastructure was non-existent. There were no clinics, only mobile units sponsored by distant universities that rarely stayed long for fear of the local mobsters.

"My friend was running a mobile clinic and had students there," Wren explained. "One was nearly beaten to death by a local gang. He had to evacuate them. I took over his mobile unit until the university gave him permission to close it."

"That sounds incredibly dangerous."

"Have you ever worked at a border town? I know most students stay in the safety of the Xenos hospitals. Only the brave go to the border."

"I went as a student," Benjamin replied carefully. "It was rough, but it taught me a lot. I think every doctor should experience that at least once, but I understand why most avoid the risk." He held back the rest of his thoughts.

He wasn't ready to tell Wren about his time in Mong La, a border town notorious for gambling and the widespread use of drugs. There were many who entered wealthy and then left with more debt than what they had previously owned. The rich lived in golden towers while the poor died of overdoses in the gutters.

"We think alike, Dr. Nystrom," Wren said, his blue eyes sharp.

"You mentioned you were in Arcadia, too?"

"In Selene. It's beautiful there. The beaches there all have white sand and warm tides."

"I've never been. I hear it's summer all year round."

"It is. Seeing different cultures... it expands your world. You learn so much."

"So what brings a man of your experience to Isadora?"

"You wouldn't believe it, but I'm actually in need of work," Wren laughed.

Benjamin felt the wine starting to go to his head. "Why Isadora? And surely someone with your background could find a post at the Royal Institute?"

"It's not that simple. But let's not talk about work. I've talked about myself all night, and I still don't even know your first name."

"Oh, I apologize. The wine is... stronger than it looks. My name is Benjamin."

"Benjamin. A solid name. Should we use our first names? 'Dr. Nystrom' feels too formal."

"If you prefer."

"I do. And I think we should call it a night before neither of can walk back."

Wren insisted on paying, dismissing Benjamin's protests with a wave of his hand. As they rode back, they debated the latest medical journals and the emerging theories on pheromones. When the carriage stopped at the clinic, Wren walked Benjamin to the door.

"I almost wish this conversation didn't have to end," Wren said, tipping his hat. "I'll see you around, Benjamin."

"Thank you, Wren. I hope to see you too."

Benjamin watched the carriage disappear before stumbling up the stairs to his room. His head was spinning slightly.

I'm not sure if I trust him yet, he thought. But it was nice to talk to someone who also understands the weight of responsibility that doctors have.

He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The silence of the room felt heavy. I wish Charles was here, he thought, surprised by the sudden longing.