Fighting is not worth the pain.

Ding! Ring!

"Welcome! My name is Will, how may I help you?" William said reflexively as he heard the bell attached to the shop's door, despite the store almost closing.

"William Acuter?" Kara asked lightly.

"..." William sighed secretly, his slight smile turning into a respectful smile. "What does the young Lady from house Kinus want from a humble commoner such as myself?"

"I never thought I'd hear the God of Deals refer to himself as humble. Stories spoke of your extreme ego." Kara chuckled.

"Ego doesn't really match a commoner now does it?" William's professional smile was replaced with a condescending frown. "What do you want from me, girl?"

"Now, now. I AM older than you." Kara expected as much. A man of his stature was not someone she could contend with in terms of status. "I'm not here for 'the God of Deals'. I'm here for 'William Acuter'."

William's eyes narrowed. "And why would that be?"

"I have a certain friend you helped this morning, she wishes to thank you." Kara smiled brightly.

"...the woman. I thought she just needed treatment. I didn't think she'd be acquainted with the Kinus household." William sighed. "Tell her that no thanks is needed. No gifts either."

"Trust me...I did." Kara said as she secretly grit her teeth. She spent a few hours convincing Phina that it was just easier to let it go. If the man wanted thanks or gifts, he'd have stayed, yet all her efforts were in vain. "She was very insistent you come with me. She even told me that she'd blow your cover if you refuse. You either accept her good side, or you'll have to face her bad side."

"...shit." he said with a sigh. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If someone recognized him entering the Kinus household, the Kinus might be destroyed through noble assassinations. "Fine, give me a few minutes to close the shop."

"Can't really close it well, now can you?" Kara raised an eyebrow as she glanced at the hole in the wall covered by planks.

"I can only guess that your friend did that." William said as he started cleaning up and storing the important merchandise in a backroom, it took him a about 6 minutes to finish. "Let's go."

"Finally!" Kara rolled her eyes.

"It's only been 5 minutes and 28 second. Stop being a drama queen." William said as he led her out of the shop.

Kara glanced at the clock on the wall. "Someone's internal clock is off."

"The clock is behind by 2 seconds." William said as he locked the door behind him. He then called for a carriage that was stopped in the street. Although luxurious carriages were readily available, normal horse carriages were the most popular. While well-known tamers supplied nobles with carriages, the city supplied the average commoners with carriages as well.

As the carriage arrived, though was almost midnight currently, people still crowded the clinic. William dropped out of the carriage and leisurely started walking.

"You forgot to pay!" Kara called out after him.

"I'm sorry, I thought you invited me." William said in a tone that suggested that he was wronged.

'Mother...fine.' Kara paid begrudgingly. 'Why'd you call for a carriage if you had no intention of paying?'

"Open up the path people! This is not a zoo!" Kara said to the crowd. All the nobles and their representatives returned to their dwellings at night. The only people who stayed were either desperate commoners who were begging for some medicine, or young doctors, alchemists and forgers seeking guidance from Marrow.

She led William into the empty clinic, then into their cozy home.

"Nice home." William said lightly.

"Thanks, I decorated it myself." Kara proudly smirked. She led him upstairs where they were greeted with the painting and 2 doors. William took his time appreciating the painting. "Absolutely beautiful. Would you be willing to sell it to me?"

"No." Kara said coldly.

'Holy shit, it's that important?' William thought as he examined Kara. "I apologize, I didn't mean any offense. I just took a liking to the painting."

Kara looked to the side as she opened the door to her room. She sighed, "None taken, just get in."

"Did you bring him?" Phina's voice came from the inside. "Or did you not find him again?"

"He's here." Kara said helplessly. How the hell was she supposed to look for a man only using a name? It was a miracle she found him in a day.

"Seriously?!" Phina sat up before she grimaced in pain.

"Good evening." William said as he came in. "Great to see you recovering, Phina."

"You remembered my name!" Phina smiled excitedly.

"Of course. It was difficult trying to forget the incident this morning." William smiled nervously. Even if he stood up to nobles, he never felt such a fear from someone as he did from Phina.

"Don't say it like that, man!!" Phina pouted, yet a smile quickly bloomed on her face. "Anyway, I wanted to thank you for helping me! I don't know what would've happened to me! Someone would've definitely attacked me when I was dazed."

'Poor thing...she knows exactly what would've happened if I left her alone.' William looked at Phina's smile with pity, he then smiled. "It was my pleasure. Please, I do not expect any gifts or any extravagant thanks."

"Come on, let me do something for you." Phina fell into thought. She then looked at William innocently. "How about we do lunch in two days?"

"I...I really didn-"

"Come on!" Phina interrupted, "Let me do SOMETHING for you!"

"...very well then." William smiled. "It would be an honor, Phina. There's a nice restaurant next to the place I work at. Miss Kinus should know the way."

"Alright! Thanks for saving me again." Phina smiled victoriously.

"It's pretty late. I should get going." William got up from the couch he was sitting on.

"But-"

"I do apologize, but I am a busy man." William said helplessly. "I will see you for lunch in two days."

"Alright then, have a good night." Phina smiled.

William nodded as Kara led him to the door. He called for a carriage and went on his way to his home.

As he looked at the clinic, a sad frown was plastered on his face. 'Poor thing's aura had happiness, sadness, guilt, confusion, pain and even acceptance all at the same time. She wasn't a danger to me back then...she was a danger to herself.'

"If it wasn't for my back, I could've asked him for lunch tomorrow." Phina frowned as she laid on the couch.