Chapter 3: Respite

Despite its seemingly miraculous properties, healing arts are still limited in a number of ways, one that still necessitate the needs for medicine and regular medical procedures. A universal limitation is that healing arts cannot cure diseases, only injuries, and the extent on how much and how fast the healing takes will depend on the healer. Shining had said that for most healers, cuts and scratches are the only wounds they can heal effectively and instantly, and that for major wounds the most healing arts can do is to keep the patient alive until they can be treated properly with medicines and other medical procedures.

Those limitations do not apply to herself or Shining. Liz knew for a fact that her healing arts is potent enough that even injuries like slash wounds could be healed relatively quickly, and that given time she could even heal internal injuries and broken bones. It is much harder than healing external wounds, but she could, and that's all that matters when getting to a clinic or hospital is practically impossible in the middle of Terra's wilderness; while Shining would normally needs surgery and at least a month of recovery before she could fully recovers from the ambush and point-blank arts explosion, with her arts it'd only take around a week as long as Shining is healed every night and doesn't push herself.

In other words, travelling to places they usually frequent – such as an area hit by a Catastrophe or a battlefield – would only slows down or even makes full recovery impossible.

Thankfully, Shining perfectly understands the situation she's in and had agreed to take it easy until she fully recovers; Liz knew that the Sarkaz's devotion to saving others can be overwhelming at times. So they searched for the nearest village in hope of staying for a week in order for Shining to fully recover from her injuries, and Liz hoped that they would be allowed to stay. The last thing they'd need is to be thrown rocks and harried out with weapons.

Thankfully they did find one just before the sun sets over the horizon - a village named Dewville – and Liz was thankful that while the villagers took notice and openly stares, none had hurled insults or rocks at them. Shining, seeing the neutral reception, had quickly made her way to a villager and asked for direction to the village's chief or leader, and just as the lights of lanterns started to be lit when the sun sets, they've found themselves in the house of the chieftain, seated across a simple wooden table.

The chief was an old female kuranta, with grey hair and prominent wrinkles on her face, but Liz knew the woman is assessing them both even as she speaks. "Welcome to Dewville, travelers. For what reason do I owe this visit?"

"We are looking for a place to stay in this village for about a week." Shining answered evenly. "Unfortunately, we do not have the local currency on our person."

Liz thought she remembered Shining mentioning this once, in one of her bedtime stories. While Lungmen Dollars, or LMD, are widely used throughout Terra, in the wilderness and more remote villages like Dewville, foreign paper money basically has no value in comparison to local currency. Not that they actually hold much money in the first place, except for the occasional payment the people they've healed and saved insist on giving them.

"I see." The elderly Kuranta murmured as a teenage Kuranta girl emerged from the kitchen, bringing four cups of hot tea in a tray; Liz whispered a thank you to the girl while Shining gave a nod of appreciation as the girl took a seat besides the chieftain. "And of course, I assume you came here to offer your services in exchange for payment?"

Seeing a nod from Shining, the chieftain leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms. "Are you mercenaries, then? Or bounty hunters, perhaps?"

"We are healers, actually." Shining replied with a small smile. Liz took a sip from her tea and found it to be calming. "We can heal injuries, treat diseases provided we have the materials needed to make a cure, and lessen the pain and give some advice to those suffering from oripathy."

The chieftain raised her eyebrows. "Healers? Even though the two of you are Sarkaz?"

The white-haired Sarkaz nodded. "I understand if you are doubtful, but it's the truth. I can show you a demonstration right now."

Shining gave her a glance, and understanding what it meant, Liz put her tea down and readies her staff while Shining took a small knife from her cloak. The chieftain tensed while the girl jerked back on her chair, obviously frightened, but Shining simply slashed her left palm open without batting an eye.

Liz was already chanting before the action was even done, and the moment the first droplet of blood dropped to the table, a pale blue glow embraced Shining's palm, and in a few seconds the wound has already closed; the only sign that it was all real is the single drop of blood that now smears the wooden table.

The look of surprise and amazement on both Kuranta's faces were as clear as day.

"… I see that you're telling the truth." The chief finally said after regaining her composure, Shining putting the knife back to her cloak before turning to the girl besides her. "What do you think, Carol? Should we let these two Sarkaz stay?"

"Eh?!" The girl – Carol – let out a surprised squeak before seemingly sinking into her chair. "I- I don't know…"

"You are going to be the next chief, Carol." The woman chided. "You'd have to handle matters like this in the future, so speak up! Speak honestly on what you think we should do."

Liz was surprised to hear that a girl that young would become the next chief, though it doesn't show on her face; seeing as Shining is patiently waiting by drinking her tea, she decided to follow suit. Carol, for her part, seems to fidget with her hands for a bit before nodding quietly, looking at her and Shining before speaking up.

"I-I think we should let them stay." She said. "Dewville doesn't have any healers or doctors, so they'd be a great help to the village… Mister Robinson and Miss Connifer are sick too, so hopefully they'd get better with their help."

"And the children sometimes play rough and gets hurt too." The chief added, nodding approvingly at Carol with a smile. "Well done."

The girl blushed, muttering a "It was nothing" quietly as the chief returned to face them. "I'll approve your stay in the village in exchange for your medical service. The two of you can stay in my house and gets three meals a day, as long as you do your end of the bargain. Would you mind setting up the guest bedroom, Carol?"

"… You are too kind." Shining said as Carol scurried upstairs, mild surprise evident in her voice. Liz understands the white-haired Sarkaz's feelings, as no villages previously had treated them this kindly before. "You don't have to trouble yourself with our meal as well-"

"Hush, I won't be hearing any of that nonsense." The elderly woman interrupted. "I can see that both of you have travelled far, and your blonde friend is so thin I doubt she's had a good meal in a while. The two of you can't really cook, can you?"

Shining pulled her collar up to hide her face in response – Liz had never seen Shining do that before – but she thought she should say something in response. It really wasn't her friend's fault that they mostly eat rations and canned food. "Shining did her best."

"My point still stands! Besides, I missed cooking for more than myself and Carol, so you'd better accept it, understand? Young women like you two need to eat well!"

"… I understand." Shining finally said with a small smile, bowing her head in a clear gesture of appreciation. Liz followed her example. "We'll accept your kindness, Miss Lewis."

- - - [Spreading One's Wings] - - -

Their stay in Dewville has been the most pleasant in their journey thus far.

The news of their stay as healers spread through the village like wildfire, and Liz soon found herself and Shining falling into a rhythmic routine. After having breakfast, they would go around the village in the morning and afternoon, looking for anyone in need of their service; they made regular stops at the place of the sick Mister Robinson and Miss Connifer, and sometimes a villager would be injured from their work and need a quick heal, but more often than not their mornings are actually rather free. As such, unless there's an emergency Shining would help do the chief's chores around the house in the morning while she sits patiently in the veranda to listen to the birds chirping and receive anyone who needs their help.

At noon sharp Carol would be looking for them to tell that lunch is ready, and they'd have a pleasant meal before resuming their rounds; a few times someone approached them at those hours for personal consultation regarding their oripathy, and they'd bring them to their room at the chief's house so they'd have their privacy. When night arrives, children would be looking for Shining just before dinner, and the white-haired Sarkaz would tell them a story while using her light arts to illustrate her tales, captivating the children and ensuring they'd come back for more on tomorrow's night. They'd then have dinner, and after retreating to their room Liz would inspect her friend's injuries and heal them with her arts before going to bed.

This routine would go on for five days.

On the sixth day, however, a curious thing happened.

During their morning rounds, rumor has it that a knight has entered the village on the night of the previous day, and that said knight is currently staying at the local inn. Liz has to admit that she's curious – especially when some of the tales she remembered Shining told her was about the noble Knights of Kazimierz – but when she asked Shining whether they could look for this knight, Shining had shook her head.

"Why not…?" She asked with a tilt of their head as they walked down the village path to Miss Connifer's home for her regular check-up. "Aren't the Knights of Kazimierz good and noble?"

"They used to be." Shining quietly answered, and Liz blinked. Did she forget that little detail? Or has Shining never told her this before? "Most knights in the present cared little for chivalry. If one came to a village as far and remote as Dewville, then it is likely they only do so to collect taxes or other form of tributes."

Liz nodded, understanding where Shining is coming from, before asking another question. "What do we do if the Knight needs our help?"

"Then we'd help them. Nobody should be denied salvation when they need it."

She'd turn out to be right. That evening, as they were just about to finish their rounds for the day, a blonde kuranta clad in armor approached them. Liz thought she looked noble, but Shining had told her numerous times that appearance can be deceiving, so she'd reserve her judgment for now. Shining, for her part, subtly stepped forward to shield her in case a fight breaks out, sword still cradled in her arm as the blonde kuranta looked at their horns.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but tense silence, until Liz decided to break it.

"Do you need our help, miss knight?"

The knight blinked in surprise, looking at her in silence for a few seconds before nodding. "I do. Though… can we do this somewhere more private?"

"Oripathy, then?" Shining asked. The knight nodded, and Liz could see Shining relaxing her posture as she turned her back from the knight. "Follow us."

They went back to the chief's house, and after explaining that they'd have one more patient to take care before dinner, went to their temporary lodgings in the village. As usual, Shining took the chair before the desk as she gestured to the knight to take the one in front of her, while Liz sat on the edge of their shared bed.

"I suppose I should introduce myself first." The blonde knight began, still standing as she bowed. "I am Margaret Nearl, a former Knight of Kazimierz. Please be assured that I came here with no intention to harm the two of you or any of the villagers."

"Former?" Liz questioned, and Nearl nodded as she stood back up. "They didn't like an infected among their ranks, so they kicked me out."

"Please take a seat, Miss Nearl." Shining gestured to the chair in front of her, sword still cradled in one arm, and the former knight obeyed, the chair creaking as she did so. "I am Shining, and this is Liz. I assume you seek us to ask about your oripathy?"

"Please, just call me Nearl." The knight fidgeted a bit, and Liz wondered why. Perhaps she's shy? "And… yes. I didn't really have the time or opportunity to have it checked before my banishment, so…"

Nearl began to strip, gently putting down her armor so it didn't make a sound, but paused before she removed her long-sleeved shirt, clearly looking conflicted and hesitant. Liz shared a look with Shining; was her earlier assessment of Nearl being shy correct?

"I can wait outside if you aren't comfortable being seen by more than one person." Liz offered, but Nearl shook her head. Is she not shy then? How strange.

"No, it's alright. Both of you are healers, so it's okay. I'm just…"

"There is no need to feel ashamed, Nearl." Shining intoned calmly, looking at the former knight in the eyes. The surprise on the blonde Kuranta shows that Shining is right on the mark, though Liz doesn't really understand it. "Oripathy doesn't discriminate, no matter who you are, and neither will Liz or I look at you differently just because you are infected." The white-haired Sarkaz gave a small, reassuring smile. "So there is no need to be ashamed."

Nearl nodded silently after a few moments of silence, and soon enough the former knight has stripped her top half bare. Liz noted with her eyes the lesions that have formed, getting a good grasp on how advanced Nearl's oripathy is as Shining undoubtedly did the same. After a few minutes and some questions, Shining gave the okay for Nearl to get dressed, and soon enough the former knight was once again dressed in her long-sleeved shirt.

"Your oripathy is still in its early stages. As long as you are careful in using arts, then you should be okay." Liz delivered her verdict. Shining hummed in agreement before giving some advice.

"If you avoid combat and areas hit by catastrophes, then you can live a relatively normal life. Staying in a place like Dewville would be ideal to prevent it from getting worse."

"I see…" Nearl muttered in relief. "So it's still in early stages. Thank goodness."

Liz thought that would be the end of it; really, there's nothing more that she or Shining could do. But Nearl took a deep breath before looking at Shining straight in the eyes and spoke something she didn't expect. "May I join you in your travels?"

From the look on Shining's face, Liz supposed her friend didn't expect that either.

"To be a knight is to be the light that illuminates the land." Nearl said resolutely. "That is what I believe a knight should be, but the Knights of Kazimierz are not what they once were; chivalry and helping the weak is the furthest thing from their mind. But now that I'm no longer a knight, I hope to finally be able to practice what I believe in."

Liz and Shining stayed quiet as they listened to the former knight. "When I heard there is a pair of Sarkaz travelling everywhere as healers and helping the infected… I thought to myself that I've finally found kindred spirits, and my belief only gets stronger as I heard what the villagers have to say about the two of you." Nearl bowed her head. "I realize that compared to the two of you, I am still green, but I promise I'd do my best; even if my healing arts are nowhere as good, at the very least I believe I can be of help in a fight. I swear on my family name that I'd protect the two of you and the innocents with my life, so please… Please allow me to join you."

"But Nearl, it's dangerous." Liz said matter-of-factly. "You don't have to do that."

"But I want to." Nearl easily replied. "It is my duty, my calling as a knight to help others however I can."

She really is a noble knight like in the stories, Liz thought, and if it were up to her then she'd let Nearl join them. They could use the extra help, and having someone strong like Nearl would lessen Shining's burden considerably.

But in the end, this would be Shining's decision to make, and the white-haired Sarkaz was silent for a few moments before she finally speaks.

"Do you realize that your oripathy will likely get worse if you join us?"

"I do."

"Do you realize that you'd see pain and suffering in its purest form? That you'd see how cruel people can be? That sometimes, people don't want to be helped?" Shining asked as she looked at Nearl in the eyes, hazel meeting gold. "Do you think you can handle that?"

There was no hesitation in Nearl's voice. "I can."

"Even though the road ahead is long and our journey might be endless? Even though we are chasing the dawn, when it is still so far away?"

Nearl nodded, her golden eyes resolute, and Shining gave a satisfied smile.

"Then welcome, Nearl. Liz and I will be in your care from now on."

- - - [Author's Note] - - -

Nearl sent a letter to Grani on the Knight's Treasure event about Dewville, so I assume she'd been there before, which is why I have her meeting Shining and Nightingale there.

As a side note, Maria Nearl and chapter 8 has been excellent, Arknights writing keeps getting better as time goes on. I'm so happy they did the Followers justice with so little screen time, and chapter 8 actually exceeds my expectations.

Thank you for the guest who reviewed!