Chapter 25: The Clinic Proprietor; Miss Ella Valirren

Alright, quiz time everyone! When you hear the word injury, what comes first to mind?

First aid, of course. Hospital as well. Clinic, as a matter of fact. And healing, obviously. The answer is all of the above. Injuries are meant to be tended the soonest possible as to not get worse and get infected. That should be kept in mind.

Now then, why post such nonsensical and obvious quest? Well...

Here in Saint Isle, there were two types of medical facilities: public hospitals and private clinics.

The hospital was generally in charge of the masses—both check-ups and long-term meds. Clinics, on the other hand, were more on the emergency side—they often provide rapid care for badly injured people. Despite the fact that they are referred to as hospitals and clinics, the majority of their healing was done by the grace of healing magic. As a result, no matter how bad the injury was, the person gets cured almost instantly.

Talented people from the academy with affinity to healing magic were often recruited to work in the public hospital than not. Some of them were scouted to act as a healing-fighter unit at HARMONIA, the ultimate opportunity. While they had this opportune choices, some opted to work from home; they establish their own working hours and are essentially the boss of their own—free on how they operate—that is how clinics works.

We stood outside one of Saint Stella's proud clinics. Looking at the illuminated signboard of the establishment, it says 'Healing Grace,' which I was overly familiar with. After all, it is this clinic that looked after me when things went wrong during my missions. Aside from that, this clinic and my residence were only and literally a door away from each other.

The facility was a two-storey building and the upper level was occupied by miss Ella as her place of residence. As a result, it became her personal workplace. Her home and her clinic at the same time.

As I planned to go to the clinic area on the first floor, I pushed the doorbell.

Honestly, I feel realy guilty about this. Given how her workday had already ended, I feel as though I was bothering her in her time of rest. I don't want to burden miss Ella in any way that isn't essential. But she's the only one I can absolutely trust and rely on in this situation. Besides, I deemed it an emergency as Claudia needs to be patched up before things become really complex. This counts as something necessary.

"Who might you be?"

As the door creaked slightly open, a lady peeked out from inside the edifice. It was miss Ella. Her eyes was first filled with caution, which was only reasonable given how late it already was. Then, seeing as it was me knocking at her door, she let out a smile of relief.

As I lift my hand in a tiny wave, miss Ella opened the door fully. "My, oh my. If it isn't Gleren… and uh, company?" Taken slightly aback she tilted her head cutesy to the side when she saw miss Claudia and the girl sleeping on my back (Ara-ara appeared. Heck yeah!).

As I was celebrating my reunion with my ara-ara neighboor, I was brought back to reality when the bell ringed our intrusion. I greeted the proprietor.

"Good evening, miss Elle. I'm sorry to bother you this late at night."

"Oh, no. Don't worry about it. I was just doing some cleaning. It's no bother at all. But what can I do for you? Did you just got home from work?"

She scanned me with her naturally droopy eyes seeing as I was still in my school uniform. I was thrilled obviously. Say a gorgeous lady in a lab coat examined your entire body with her oh-so-kind looking eyes coupled by a mole under it, would you be anything else than thrilled? One can only be thrilled. That is the final answer!

"Ah, yes. I just got back from the office. And uh, you see, we got a little emergency here."

Letting my thoughts hide deep within myself, I glanced across to miss Claudia who was standing by my side with a strange silence. As I did, Miss Elle followed my stare and noticed the bondage that was winding around Miss Claudia's arm. She understood the situation right away.

"Oh, my! Please come in. Please get inside and let me help you."

Miss Elle urged us to enter as she lead the way to the clinic. My sense of smell was greeted by the scent of disinfectant magic the sooner I came in. There was enough room for six to eight people and the facility itself was intentionally made spacious. Three single beds that are often seen in hospitals rested empty and were draped by white curtain. A sofa at the corner after the entrance and a study table on the other side. The accommodation was made comfortable and spotless and it was unbelievably clean. An appropriate sight that matches the beholder of neatness that of Miss Elle herself.

"Please take a seat."

Miss Elle persuaded Miss Claudia to do so. She directed her toward the sofa and invited her to relax for a bit. Now that I think about it, miss Elle… she's wearing her sleepwear under her lab coat.

I averted my gaze. Unlike miss Claudia's teasing personality, miss Elle was overly a prim and proper woman. Just looking at her in her nightwear stings my conscience with guilt. Even my perverted self can't win against miss Elle's saintly visage.

"Oh, my? Is something the matter, Gleren? Your face is red, you know? You look feverish."

Miss Elles left Claudia's side to put her hand over my forehead. Such unbelievable softness coming from her slightly cold hands! Please don't. My eyes are being pulled over her holy mountains!

Ugh! Darn it! I cursed inwardly. This is going to be a tough battle between my self control and her innocently tempting advances!

When I tried to avert my gaze from the heavens, I saw Claudia looking at me as she snickered amusedly. I'll get you back for this, Claudia.

"I-its nothing." I pulled my head as I answered her in a cracked voice. I shifted the topic. "Anyway, is it okay if I let this girl rest in one of the beds? She seemed to pass out from exhaustion. She doesn't seem injured, though."

"Yes, you may. Please do make use of the bed."

Miss Elle answered as she begun helping Miss Claudia. When she finally successfully unwrapped her wounded arm, miss Elle grimaced. She was surprised in an unpleasant way.

"My, such a hideous wound. How on earth did you get this?!"

"I got careless, hehe. You could say, it's a badge of honor? Yep. Something like that."

Such a carefree response for a worried question. Well, I guess that's just how Claudia is.

Miss Elle looked really worried, but seeing how carefree miss Claudia about this, she resigned herself giving her light sigh together with a wry smile.

Miss Elle is a good-hearted lady who goes above and beyond when helping others. Too much of a goody two shoes, really. Most of the time would even offer to perform healing magic with no charge at all. Whenever I questioned her about it, she would just respond, "Well, it's not a big problem now, is it? It hardly even used any of my mana" she would say all that with a sweetest smile on her ever-so lovely face. Hey, how old was she again? I don't a peck of idea who Saint Stella is, but if I had to nominate someone for sainthood, Miss Elle would be at the top of the list. Nay, I'll nominate her for the position of a goddess!

I'll keep this to myself, though. If Sofy knew about all this thought, she would be fuming. Nah, scratch that. She'd breath fire.

"Don't worry, I'll fix you right away." Miss Elle beamed as she begun her work of miracle.

"You can do that? It's a strange wound, you know? I myself have a regenerative ability, but strangely, I can't seem to heal this wound with it."

Claudia stated her doubt, only to be answered with...

"Fufu. Not a thing there is that needed a worry. I may look like this, but healing magic is my strong point, see? I take pride in this blessing." ...as she thumped her closed fist over her abundant chest. Cute.

At times like these, Miss Elle's giggles was quite mesmerizing. Nah, not quite. Very mesmerizing. It brings comfort to her patients as they feel their fear and anxiety fly away.

Oh, and did Claudia just said that she had the power to regenerate? Not a healing skill, but rather the capacity to recover organically to patch one's own wounds?

While I was lost in ponder, Miss Elle extended her hand toward Miss Claudia's injured arm. She closed her eyes and as she chanted her healing prayers, a faint green light started emanating out her body. The palm she raised towards Claudia then started to emit a brilliant golden light tinged with a slight comforting green. The light subsequently steadily faded out, taking with it the wound that miss Claudia had to suffer with mere ten seconds count.

"A-amazing! Wow! You really did healed me like it was nothing.."

Claudia was a mature woman on the outside. She's beautiful, well proportioned, smoking hot and is really sexy. The way she dressed herself was striking, too. But her personality really is of a child. The way she looked surprised was even more childish. A gap in character, if I say so myself.

Seeing how amazed she was, miss Elle just smiled pleasantly at her. Honestly, this sight ain't so bad. True, Claudia is a beautiful woman with a true aura of an adult lady. Nevertheless, miss Elle's self-conduct, graceful manner and her demure character really brings out the theme of day and night as I looked at them. Day that Claudia's bright golden hair brings and night by miss Elle's silky black hair.

Contradiction to Claudia's carefree behavior, miss Elle's calm demeanor was what makes her entirely soothing. In fact, she rarely speaks that it would be a blessing to hear her melodic, therapeutic voice whenever she does.

Her pale, milk-colored skin radiates with the light of the room, undeniably highlighting her delicate existence. Her jet-black, silky hair that's reaching to her lower back—though it was bound with a purple ribbon—sways with her every little movement. Her dark marbled, droopy eyes that's as if represents the night sky itself. Deep and mysterious yet it emanates the kindness of her soul. The mole under her left eye elevated allure of her beautiful visage. Why, her lips and that pointed noise of hers couldn't be more stunning.

Should I expect bad thing to happen to me for being blessed with this wonderful sight?

Seeing both of them side by side was as if a modeling instead of a healing session. Except, they wore a tattered dress and a lab coat over a sleepwear. I'm totally going to get punished for this. Not by the hand of Sofy, I pray.

And then, as the night grew older, a thought visited my mind,

"By the way, miss Claudia, where do you intend to spend the night?"

"Ah."

With my question, she looked as though she just left the most important thing behind. If her blank expression was the clue, she had no plans at all.

Well, I actually knew this would happen. I mean this should be obvious. They were being chased and to top it up, Claudia had no money for lodging. I'm actually amazed how they manage to survive without the power of money. If the NatGeo was still around, I'd like to see Claudia join one of its survival show.

Seeing how empty miss Claudia's mein was, miss Elle raised her hand for some reason.

"If I may be so bold. You can just stay here for the night. It's already late and miss Claudia just got healed. She must be overburdened. Luckily, we have three beds here with one to spare, there's no need to worry where you both would sleep. If that's acceptable for you."

Ahh… miss Elle really is a saint. No, she's an Angel.

Claudia must have felt the same for she looked like she was revering miss Elle just now, her eyes misting over.

"Well, I guess we also have that option. Ah, about the payment for her treatment, I'll take care of it."

I was trying to get Point Card from my pocket, but miss Elle shook her head to refuse.

"You don't need to. They were your friends, no? Gleren's friends are by all means welcome here."

See? This is what I am talking about. She really is an angel! Ah, she just passed past that existence. She's a goddess!

"Thank you, miss Elle. In exchange for all of these, I'll bring you some food here for tomorrow's breakfast."

"My! Gleren's cooking. I can ask for nothing more."

She beamed brightly as she grinned in anticipation.

Miss Elle was perfect. She's a beauty with amazing talent in healing. She's neat too and she loves to clean. But for some reason or another, she just can't cook… No, well, l digress. I call that fact is also one of her ultimate charm. I can't help to think that it was kind of adorable.

Cathing some another weird wind, the poor lady—I mean, Claudia's looking at me with teasing eyes again…

"Ah, before we forget, my name is Claudia Asmodeus. The girl in the bed was called Maria. Thank you for letting us stay."

Claudia bowed her head.

"Nice to know you, miss Claudia. My name is Ella Valliren. I am happy to be of service."

She bowed her head in response. They exchange handshakes. After that, miss Elle shifted her gaze from Claudia to me.

"By the way, Gleren. Your house was still dark. Is dear Sofy not home?"

Ah… I'm dead.

I forgot what time it was already. So, my punishment finally came to me, eh?

"I might not live to see tomorrow…"

When I said this, miss Elle unconsciously let out a flabbergasted "Huh?!"

It was so darned cute.

Well... I guess I'll die, huh...