Chapter 21
Adam's eyes snapped open, and a noise close to him woke him. Disoriented, he reached for his weapon, ready for a fight. Instead of a monster he was prepared to face, all he saw was a serving girl bringing in his washing water. The vase of water hit the ground, and the serving girl ran away screaming. He was back in the inn, not the cold, crushing depths of the dungeon.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes as the events of his forced introduction to dungeon diving came back to him. He had arrived at the village gates last night, and the guards said he was only gone for 12 hours. But he had been in the dungeon for at least a few weeks—he had lost track of time down there, with no way to measure it. How could only hours have passed when everything had changed for him?
Character Status:
Name: Adam
Class: Herbalist (Level 8) 2545/7000
Race: Human
Patron: Airmed
Titles: Master of a Legendary Class, Giant Slayer, Overkill
Traits: Slowed Aging, Enlightened Mind, Mastermind's Ingenuity
Current Status:
HP: 450/450 (5.8/min)
MP: 310/310 (6.0/min)
Stamina: 230/230 (8.1/min)
Abilities:
Herb Identification (Passive): You can identify and analyze any plant or herb nearby.
Alchemy (Active) level 8: Can craft with herbs.
Garden Sanctuary: You create a personal garden space that allows you to plant, grow, and nurture herbs and plants at an accelerated rate. At Level 8, 1 day in the outside world equals 8 days in the garden.
Skills:
Inspect Level 5
Taunt (Active) Level 3
Small Blades Level 7
First Aid (Passive) Level 3
Negotiation (Passive) Level 2
Instinctive Awareness Level 3
Dodge Level 5
Cultivation (Passive) Level 2
Leap (Active) Level 1
Pain Resistance (Passive) Level 3
A knock at the door broke Adam's spiral of thoughts. He spoke, "Come in."
The innkeeper walked in with a man and a girl Adam hadn't seen before. The innkeeper was upset and spoke first.
"Adam, I know you helped my daughter, but pulling a knife on Lissa was too much. I don't know what has gotten into you since you've come back, but it's obvious something has happened. The guards were here drinking after their shift, and they spoke about your haggard appearance and how confused you were. If you need to talk, I'll be here for you, but if you ever pull a knife on anyone under my roof again, you're gone."
Adam shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'll apologize to Lissa and explain myself to you later. On another note, who are these people you have with you?"
Adam was still processing the shift in reality, from the dungeon to the village. He couldn't blame the innkeeper for being concerned. Adam, too, felt like something had changed within him, but it was hard to understand exactly what. He had spent more time in the dungeon than he had in this village with these people.
The innkeeper spoke, "These people have been waiting for you. I'll let them introduce themselves while I bring up your new wash water."
The man with him was dressed in a white robe that looked as if it had just been made, with gold threads woven through it. He spoke first.
"I'm Father Cole from the church. I've heard about your... talents."
Father Cole didn't miss a beat. "You've been healing people, yes? Helping those in need, offering your gifts freely. Admirable, but it's not the best use of your talents. You see, there's a way to do this work more efficiently—and more effectively—that can help a great deal more people."
Adam's brow furrowed. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Father Cole's smile was sharp, almost predatory. "The church has resources, infrastructure, and connections. We have a way to ensure that skilled healers like you can have a far greater impact—by focusing on those who can provide something in return. Imagine being able to heal those who can truly benefit from your work—those who can afford it or whose needs align with our priorities. In return, we'll ensure you're well compensated, and your work will truly make a difference."
Adam felt a flicker of unease. "So, you want to pick and choose who I help based on their wealth or importance?"
Father Cole's smile never wavered as he spoke. "No. We heal all who can contribute to the cause we believe in. But I'll give you time to think it over, and when you're ready to accept, just come to the church. It's very dangerous out there for anyone with a healing gift to be alone." And with that, he walked out.
As Father Cole exited, Adam saw red. It took all he had to pull a Moonshade Blossom from his inventory to help calm himself so he wouldn't attack the Father from behind. After chewing on it for a moment, he felt calmer. He turned to the last person in the room—a young girl, or teen, for all he could tell—who was looking at him.
"Uh, hello, sir," she said, her voice quiet but determined. "I'm... I'm Lafayette, and I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment."
Adam glanced up, still a little unsettled from the earlier conversation, but he nodded. "Of course."
Lafayette stepped inside, her hands fidgeting with the fabric in her arms. She shifted awkwardly as she looked at him. "I, um... I heard you were planning on leaving, and I wanted to ask if—if maybe I could... um, tag along with you?"
She spoke quickly, as if all the words had been bottled up inside her and she couldn't get them out fast enough. "I don't need much, just food, really. I heard about you from some of the people in the village. They said you helped kill a wolf on the road, and they said you're really strong and that you've been helping people, and I, well, I thought maybe I could be of some help too! I could run errands or help with whatever you need. Maybe I could learn some skills, like... like how to heal or maybe clean things for you. I—"
"Whoa, whoa," Adam interrupted, raising his hands. "Slow down, Lafayette. One thing at a time."
Lafayette's face flushed even more, but she pressed on. "Right. Sorry. I just... I don't know what else to do. I don't have much of a choice."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to travel with me? I'm not going to be around villages all the time. And sometimes, when I heal, I don't make much money, so I can't really pay you."
Lafayette's expression shifted, a faint sadness flickering in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then said, almost in a whisper, "Well, I... I'm about to turn 13. And when you turn 13, they either send you off to an apprenticeship or... or you get kicked out. I'm an orphan, so I don't really have anywhere to go. I don't have a class yet, so I can't really do much. And the only offer I've gotten so far is from Father Cole, but he just wants me to be his 'assistant'—and that doesn't seem like something I want to do."
Her voice grew a little stronger now, though there was still a hint of uncertainty. "I know I'm not strong or skilled like you, but I can learn. I can help however I can. I just don't want to be alone out there, and I don't want to end up on the streets."
He sighed softly, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Lafayette... I understand where you're coming from. It's not easy, but I can't promise you money, and you'll have to be ready for a lot of traveling and a lot of hard work. I have roots, so we won't starve, but there may be times when that is all we eat."
Lafayette nodded eagerly, her face lighting up as if she had expected this response. "I know. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes. Even if it's just carrying things or cooking or cleaning, or anything at all, just... please, let me come with you."
Adam hesitated for a moment longer, the weight of her situation pressing on him. He had never been one to turn his back on someone in need. All of a sudden, he had an idea to just give the girl some money and ask the villagers he healed today to help her, but then he heard the voice in his head—one he thought he wouldn't hear again.
Airmed's voice boomed in his mind. "Take her with you; protect her; teach her."
The word teach echoed in his mind, making this decision easier. He was going to repay Airmed for this life.
"Alright," he said finally, a reluctant smile forming. "You can come with me. But you'll have to pull your weight, Lafayette. And if you want to learn something useful, we'll figure it out as we go. But just know this isn't going to be easy."
Lafayette's face lit up with relief, and she quickly nodded. "Thank you! I promise I won't let you down."
Adam gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You don't have to promise that just yet, kid. You haven't even seen what I'm like on the road. Lafayette is too long of a name to be calling you all the time. How do you feel about being called Faya"