The Doctor of Darrakh Forest

The night was calmly quiet. Settled in the center of an open plain, surrounded by a dense forest, a small campfire blew a long endless trail of smoke between an arrangement of pinned tents.

It has been a few months since Sodifery began his journey. His party of friends had reached various hurdles to get to this forest. Darrakh forest was the last resting pitstop before they entered Misty Woods; the Dragon Gyric’s Den and somewhere within it, was the lair where it slept.

Sodifery stared into the etches of the firewood, glowing slowly like taking breaths. The beginning had been admittedly difficult. It was the first time he travelled with three other people, especially when two of them weren’t used to the Mercenary way of travelling. They were likely to get ambushed by Dark Minions every now and then.

They adjusted quickly, and helped villages who were at the mercy of Dark Minions, hitting two birds with one stone while honing their combat skills and their ability to work together.

A small shower of rain started and put out all the ember the campfire had left. When it stopped, the plain was brightened by moonlight as the clouds parted. The Sword he was wiping down, reflected a light above him, his purple eyes met with the entity who appeared before him.

“What’s the matter this time?” Sodifery said, wiping his sword down in an act of defiance.

[You know exactly why I’m here.] The Light Deity said. It had no mouth, but there was sound from its glowing form. Two feathered wings were sprouted from the center, he noticed that it grew a bit in size. It was a recent development.

“We’re humans, we still need to eat and sleep.”

[You’re also helping the villagers way too much!] It complained, shaking its feathers in mid-flight. [The Dragon Gyric is about to awaken in a month’s time and you always, always get involved with every problem a village finds themselves in.]

“And what exactly is the problem with that?”

[You can’t solve everything. You do know that if you slay Gyric before they awaken, they won’t have to deal with the Dark Minions? In fact, delaying your fate will only strengthen the Dark Minions?]

“They’re manageable for now.”

[You’ll wait and see. I didn’t want to say this Dragon Slayer, but the power I can imbue into that sword is limited.]

Sodifery raised a brow at the Light Deity who perched itself on the handle of the sword.

“You look fatter to me.”

[This is only because I have to feed myself on the Minions’ power! If I disappear, I won’t be able to reach the next milennia!]

“Fine, we’ll leave after we secure their harvest.”

The Light Deity growled at his answer. [Tomorrow! Leave tomorrow!]

“It’s nearing winter, storing their harvest is important for a number of villages.” Sodifery pulled over his hood and sheathed his sword, not giving the Light Deity a chance to negotiate. “What’s the point of having this much power and yet do nothing once we put the dragon back to sleep.”

However, he paused and didn’t want the Light Deity choosing another Dragon Slayer in the meantime. He still needed the Light Deity to make the Sword work against Dark Minions in the first place.

“Don’t worry, we’ll leave tomorrow night.”

The Light Deity imbued power into the sword and disappeared with the final words,

[This is the last I’ll help you before you reach Misty Woods. You’re not getting any more from me.]

Sodifery sighed deeply once he was alone. He held the sword, ready to throw it against one of the tents, but held back.

“Why do I have to charge it every time to use it?” He murmured to himself. He knew the Light Deity didn’t give him much power into this sword. Like every other time, the ball of light only appeared whenever they felt like it, nagging him to hurry and kill the dragon. It won’t even die, it will just go back to hibernation.

“Is the Dragon Slayer talking to himself again?” a voice commented with a chuckle.

Emerging from the darkness was a young man with blonde hair bordering pink. Their eyes were always closed, and they donned a hospitable smile like usual.

“Dr. Yofiel, what brings you here?” He asked, gripping onto the scabbard out of reflex.

Although Yofiel claims to be a volunteer herbalist or village doctor for the surrounding villages, he stood out yet had zero presence, appearing at random times and at a distance like just now.

“I brought soup.” the doctor announced, holding up a clothed-covered pot by the metal chain.

Sodifery held back the saliva threatening to leave instantaneously from his lips. He had tasted the doctor’s cooking before, and while he was out with the young prince, the other two were feasting on his home-made meals. He wondered if his team members were sleeping deeply because of those precious meals.

While helping around Darrakh Forest, all the villagers were familiar with the only Doctor who lived in seclusion here. They were tight on medicinal remedies and helpers since no doctor would want to be stationed so close to Misty Woods, so both parties worked together until the end of the harvest season.

Dr. Yofiel stepped out from the shade of the forest and hooked the pot over the fireplace. Nimble fingers easily sparked a fire between two rocks. If not for the smooth texture of the doctor’s skin, it wouldn’t have been obvious that he could easily emerge out of a spar unscathed.

The one knight among them, who never left their enemy standing from his meticulous spearmanship, had found it difficult to stand himself when confronted with the doctor’s kicks.

“Are you staring at me or the soup?” Yofiel spoke up in the silence. “And no, I didn’t poison the soup. I used ‘fresh’ ingredients.”

“Who told you?” Sodifery asked, flabbergasted. He tried his hand at cooking only once, and the entire party forbade him for going anywhere near meal preparations.

“The tall woman, Miss Lopal, I believe. Speaking of which, what were you talking about with that pigeon earlier?” The Doctor handed him a bowl of chicken soup, a wafty steam of herbs and mushrooms touched his face. Yofiel was met with a blank stare when he added, “It’s hot, by the way.”

“You mean the Light Deity? The usual.” Sodifery replied, but then continued seriously, “What’s in this?”

Yofiel seemed to have frozen on the spot before speaking again,

“I’m afraid that if I tell you, your friends will kill me.”

“Because I can’t cook?”

“Because that man with a spear dibbed first for the recipe.”

“Who, Reas?” Sodifery sipped silently, eyeing the other tents where soft snoring sounds could be heard. “I didn’t know you two were close.”

“He made a bet, and lost.”

“That’s the second time now. What were your conditions?”

“That he helps me with the distribution of orders for the day.”

“…He would have offered to have done that anyway.”

“Mr. Spearman requested to spar with me.”

“And why exactly did you turn me down?”

The doctor smiled in silence before responding,

“I’d feel bad to hurt the ‘Sir Sodi’ that the boy looks up to so much.”

“Don’t call me that. And his name is Yowan.”

“You mean His Highness?”

“You knew that Yowan is the prince?”

“Golden eyes like his are a special trait among the royals, I heard. I was surprised to see him in robes meant for Circle Mage graduates.”

“You know a lot, are you sure you’re not a mage yourself?” Sodifery enquired between mouthfuls of soup. He was handed a tissue before the Doctor replied,

“I can do a bit of magic,” He shrugged, putting away the pot and utensils. “Healing, revitalising, buffs. None that can do offensive damage. I’m suited as a herbalist.”

“You do well in spars. I won’t be surprised if you can fight all the Dark Minions yourself.”

“That’s different. I’d be in big trouble if I met even two of those monsters.”