Rin woke up with the light streaming through the window. Although she could barely remember how she could to sleep, the noises outside were definitely why she woke up. Raising herself up from the bed she took a look outside, seeing a glimpse of Leon going through several motions she couldn't understand. Walking outside, Rin felt the chill of the early morning air as she drew closer to Leon. Leon had his bow out as he practiced notching the arrow while quickly pulling out from its quiver. The speed surprised her as she could barely notice the arrow disappearing in front of her. Drawing his bow back, Leon relaxed his fingers as the arrow flew true. Striking an innocent tree from 100 paces away. Leon continued letting arrows fly as his whole quiver became empty, relaxing his arms he let his bow drop to his side. Rin walked up to him as he had been concentrating so hard that Rin didn't want to disturb him at this time.
"You're awake" Leon commented, looking Rin up and day as he realiased she still hadn't changed clothes. Her slightly ruffled was a good sign that she had woken up and rushed over to him. For some reason it warmed his heart slightly.
"It's hard to sleep when you practice. I bet the local wildlife are shivering when they hear your bow" Rin said in a teasing manner. Rin's smile was too hard to push away and Leon let his face relax a little.
"Would you like to try?" Leon said inviting Rin to come closer to him. Rin hesitated initially but stayed by his side. Leon handed over the bow as Rin tried to copy what she saw Leon doing before. However the strain of trying to draw the bow was already causing Rin's forehead to glisten from the effort. Leon smirked as he saw her hold her breath and try to pull the bow to its full draw. Sliding close to her, Leon laid his hands on top of Rin's. The new touch almost caused Rin to drop the bow but Leon had a firm grip on both her hands.
"It's a little hard when you have so little muscle. Keep an eye of the target when facing with the bow" Leon drew an arrow out that he had left on the ground and notched into Rin's drawn bow. It was obvious to see Rin's struggle as she trembled from having the bow kept drawn for so long. Leon returned his hands back and Rin felt his strength relax her slowly aching muscles.
"Direct the arrow to where it should be and watch the wind" Leon whispered into Rin's ear. Rin begun to focus heavily on what she was doing and Leon's soft talks that were initially tickling in her faded away as she stared at the tree in the distance. Relaxing her fingers the arrow shot true and hit the trunk. However the recoil from the bow string vibrated through her arm causing Rin barely hold onto the bow. It wasn't painful but it was quite uncomfortable. Leon begun to rub Rin's arms as she inhaled from how sore it was.
"In time you might do quite well" Leon said letting out a chuckle.
"I refuse, as a woman of the forest I truly cannot take a man's job" Rin replied with snark. Leon laughed and went inside, preparing for breakfast leaving Rin outside. Bathing in the sunlight, Rin inhaled the fresh air. This was the place she could be, somewhere where she cfould still have excitement and could still be with the land. Walking around the area Rin was already checking and seeing what was needed to bring the herbs and gardens back to life. She had already noticed that some of the trees had begun to form spirits she could talk to but personally it was too impolite considering they only moved in yesterday. It would take a bit of bribery before she saw any major results around the area. Leon called out for breakfast being ready, Rin already walked over to enjoy the meal of the day.
After many days and tender care Rin had already seen the fruits of her labour shine. The gardens and trees were already back in full health, some even blooming proudly. While the herbs she had recovered were definitely rare to find. Truly she had trouble thinking to herself who was the previous owner to keep some of these valuables. Shuffling her way through the rows and rows of medicinal plants Rin kept note in her head of each one she had and any improvements she could make. As she concentrated a pair of footsteps crunching along the light gravel of the pathways brought her out of her concentration. Turning around, Leon was standing right behind her and seemed to be itching to say something.
"I've had a talk with that wily merchant, he's already spreading around about some of your talents so expect some customers soon" Leon continued with a grin. Rin frowned at that and had a moment in thought.
"We're still missing some things. I need a proper mortar and pestle and a pharmacist torch" Rin commented. It's nice knowing that she could make medicine or prescriptions for people but if she didn't have the equipment wouldn't people think she was a hack?
"Pharmicist torch?" Leon asked confused. It was definitely the first he had heard of this.
"It's a small bottle with flammable liquid and rope coming out of it" Rin said trying to gesture at what it would look like. Leon nodded dumbly, then followed up by shaking his head.
"I'll ask Ernesto for that but hopefully you can adapt to this. You have to let me know if something comes up" Leon said reassuredly. Leon left abruptly, Rin was left alone in her new garden pondering over what may happen. But from the sense of calm she could feel from Leon it wouldn't seem like it was too troublesome.
Unfortunately it never turns out as expected.
Shortly after Leon left, Rin could hear the someone shouting in panic near the front of their lot. Running out Rin followed the source of the sound and saw a woman wailing while holding something wrapped in a blanket.
"Someone, I heard the was a medicine lady here. Someone help my poor child" the woman continued whilst weeping. Rin rushed over to the crying woman and hurried tried to figure out the situation.
"What's wrong?" Rin asked.
"My child, he's burning up. He has a fever and I don't know what to do. He's been burning up and he's not getting better" the woman said in between sobs, clutching the tightly wrapped pieces of cloth. Rin peeled back the layers to reveal a small three year old boy that was breathing heavily and was sweating profusely on his forehead. Rin helped the weeping woman up on her feet.
"Come inside, I'll make a medicinal soup for him" Rin swiftly gestured for them to come inside. Luckily the fire was still going and Rin poured out the hot water from the cauldron into a small tub grabbing a thick cloth she handed it over to the sniffling mother.
"Make sure the water is warm and not hot. Wipe him down and don't surround him in blankets" Rin instructed.
"But he'll freeze if we do that" the woman said with her mouth agape at the suggestion.
"We're trying to cool his body down, if he is wrapped up I can guarantee he will sweat himself to death" Rin said in a firm and grave tone. The woman, afraid for her son nodded in reply and wiped down her son's body. The young child was already breathing heavily and closed eyes from the pain of the fever. Rin rummaged around in the kitchen where she had left a number of her medicinal compounds since she hadn't had time to setup an area to grind and mix her medicines. Grabbing a couple jars of powders she placed them in a small earthen bowl and mixed it with some of the warm water. Hurriedly running over to the boy who was lying on the room with the blankets thrown open, his mother quickly dabbing away at her sons sweat to keep him stable. Rin placed the bowl down and lifted the boy partial upright. Double checking that she was correct Rin took the boys pulse and confirmed her previous diagnosis. It was only a fever. Placing the bowl at the boys mouth he slowly gulped down the medicine. The mother looked on expectantly.
"We'll bring him over to my bed so he can recover. If all is as expected then he should wake within a couple hours" Rin said comforting the mother. Nodding her head in thanks she carried the boy while Rin lead the way to her room. The child was placed down while his mother sat beside him with the tub being carried over as she watched over him. Rin would occasionally check if his temperature dropped, holding the back of her hand against the child's forehead as she could feel the originally burning heat was beginning to cool down.
"His fever is definitely dropping, I'll feed him with some water and we can prepare some gruel to make sure he has something to eat." Rin advised, although on the outside she didn't look flustered her heart was already in a panic at having her first patient and in such a dramatic fashion as well. Walking back to the kitchen she pulled out some dried oats and prepped them with the small fire going in the kitchen, although smouldering an extra couple bits of kindling had it roaring again. After a few minutes of stirring the oats had become a slurry of porridge. Dolloping it out into a bowl she sprinkled with some ground cinnamon and ginger to ease the taste and stomach. Returning to where the mother and son where, Rin handed over the bowl of porridge to the mother. The room was beginning to fill with the scent of cinnamon that made the mouth water but the mother diligently fed a couple spoonfuls to her son. The young child fell asleep almost immediately afterwards, his mother already shuffled one of the lighter sheets over him as he begun to rest peacefully. The mother turned to Rin as she fiddled with her hands nervously.
"Truthfully young miss. We heard of you as passed by a couple of traders as none of the other doctors could treat him so well. It has been so many days and everyone knows that a fever is a slow killer. But because of this we do not have money to give for this and for that we beg the young miss." The mother said as she held onto Rin's hand tightly keeping herself in a bowed position. Rin felt a little awkward at the intimate gesture.
"I have no interest in taking the wealth of others for my treatments" Rin said in a comforting gesture. The mother pulled her head up in shock at the response but beamed at her son's saviour.
"However I do not give my treatments out for free. Donating medicinal plants, labour or food are my payments" Rin could already begin to see the multitude of hands working together on her dream plot of greenery.
"If the young miss wishes that so. If I may ask for your name?" The mother asked.
"Rin" Rin said curtly.
"A wonderful name. My name is Maria" the mother said still holding a defferential pose.
"Maria we can talk about the payment after your son gets better" Rin said reassuringly to the worried mother. Maria nodded satisfactorily and turn back to a son and she wiped away the remaining sweat. Rin went back to the cauldron and poured another tub of warm water for the young child.
"And your son?" Rin asked as she handed over another tub of warm water.
"This is Ben. He'll be turning four in the fall" Maria responded as she smiled at her peacefully resting child. Her hand tussled the boy's hair lightly, Rin could feel the motherly love coming from Maria.
"I'll leave you two alone, he will wake soon and make sure you feed him some warm water. He'll be very thirsty from breaking the fever" Rin said as she left the two alone. Walking outside she let a breath of relief. What they had at the moment wouldn't be enough. They will need much more if they were going to treat people. As Rin was pondering outside wondering what would need to change, Leon came running back into view. The sweat and panting made it apparent he had run all the way back Rin waited as Leon tried to catch his breath so he could speak.
"Ernesto told me... That someone had come to look for you. I ran as soon as I found out. Is everything alright?" Leon said while catching his breath. Rin nodded reassuringly.
"They are both resting now we shouldn't disturb them" Rin said as she beamed a smile at Leon.
"Thank goodness for that. I was worried it would be too much for you." Rin let out a laugh.
"Truly I have worried you so" Rin said between chuckles. Leon rub his neck awkwardly, he knew he had to look after her but it was still embarrassing that she knew.
"Leon,looks like we're going to need a few extra hands since I could barely take care of this pair"
"Did you have something in mind?"
"I'm not sure I think we'll have to go over it with someone." Leon held his hand on his chin while he thought deeply.
"There's an old man in town that's a good woodworker he probably has something we could work with" Rin grinned at the thought, she might actually have a room clinic. There was a small commotion coming from inside the cottage. Rin and Leon turned around and walked inside. The mother and son pair were together, the young son looked much better his complexion was rosey and healthy.
"I'm not sure how we will ever repay you" Maria said thankfully clutching onto her son tightly as he tried to work out of her grip.
"Come back tomorrow I do need some help tending to my garden" Rin said as she waved them off. Before they departed Rin gave over a small bag.
"This is the remaining medicine for the fever if it acts up again just give him a dose of it mixed with water otherwise if it gets worse come see me." Rin gave a gentle smile to the mother. Tears welled up in Maria's eyes, giving a bowel and deep appreciation the two headed off.
"you know you're pulling off this doctor thing a lot better than I thought" Leon gave an and awkward scratch at the back of his neck.
"Who said I wasn't a doctor?" Rin smirked at Leon as she walked out to 10 back to her garden. Leon Amos forgotten what he actually went into the town for.
"I had a talk with Ernesto. He said if you were starting to produce medicines then they would be happy to help sell them for you" Rin nodded in response so she went back to her collection of plants, thinking of some easy remedies that could be taken and that weren't too dangerous. After the excitement for the day the two of them ate dinner and went to bed early as surprisingly night had already come.