I stare at the paper in my hands. Damn. Just as I was enjoying my lovely mid-day lunch.
Breaking news! The battle has now entered the Crystaline forest!
I groan. I hate it here.
"So Magi," I hum. "Do we move? Or do we stay here?"
"Meow."
I nod. "I didn't want to move either. I'll stock up on more food today. If I'm not back by 10 then you're welcome to assume I'm dead."
The cat glares at me. I can hear her telling me that there was no way I was going to die that easily.
"I'm off then," I grab my basket, and I hide the house with magic. The walk to town is always short, and though there are rumors about me being a witch, I actually work as the village healer every once in a while.
"The witch is in town!" The gates are forced to be closed, and all the wounded are gathered into a building.
"Will you be grabbing food this time too?"
"I have until 10pm," I smile. "Who's hurt this time?"
I go through the patients, and I heal them one by one. The line was getting shorter thankfully
"By the way miss witch... are you the blessed of the eclipse?"
"No," I sigh. "I heard the blessed this time around was a male who was fully grown. According to the rumors that is."
"I see," The woman mumbles. "I have brought you some pebble berries as a payment. My family is still low on funds..."
"No worries aunt," I smile. Pebble berries are actually delicious. Magi loves them even more than I do.
"Is there anyone else?" The woman leaves and the room is empty.
"Ah miss witch..." The man mumbles.
"Yes?"
"Is there a way that you could cast a protection spell on the village? The battle is less than a couple hundred meters away... and we might end up hurt."
"It'll take too much magic for that," I mumble. "But here are some mana crystals for the magicsmith to make a protection barrier. They should help,"
"Thank you," The man mumbles. He heads out the door, and I follow closely behind. Sure enough, my basket's been filled to the brim with food.
"I shall see you all in a month then," I smile.
"WAIT MISS WITCH!!" a group of kids rush up to me, and they grab my hands. "There's more people!"
"Huh-"
I get yanked into a military camp before I know it.
"Why... am I here...?" I stare at the soldiers around us. "I thought your parents said to not visit the military camp!"
"But you were in town!" The kids whine. "You can heal people!"
"But you know the military hunts witches," I hiss. "What if I'm caught?"
"Make up a lie!"
"Yeah!"
I glare at the kids. "I'll make up a lie about how you all ended up dead at the military instead."
The children scramble and I sigh. It would be easier to keep my hair black then. I cast a quick spell, and I hear footsteps approach.
"Are you the witch the kids said they knew?" One of the commanders run up to me.
"No sir," I shake my head. "I am but a village healer,"
"Good. Please help us cure the wounded." The man leads me to the tents, and there are hundreds of men there.
"I..."
"You are only responsible for the few you can actually heal."
"It'd be easier to sort them into groups if I were to use potions or magic," I mumble.
"Most of them are already sorted." The commander mumbles. "We are the fourth battalion of the seventh prince. The prince managed to find sorcerers and they ambushed us earlier."
"Hundreds at a time..." I mumble. "How cruel..."
The commander sighs. "It is what war brings us."
"They could've kept the fight for succession a simple assassination battle yet they brought the people into this." I mumble. "I shall help only this once. The seventh prince is better at commanding than this I feel."
The commander looks away.
This was just what war was. When I had written it, it was just another event in a book to me. Now that I'm living in this very world, it almost hurts. My past is a haze, but I know I'm responsible for more than half of the shit going on here. I hate myself
I take off my gloves, and I start working with what I can. If I was the cause of all of this, then I'll be the one responsible to heal everyone. I work with the wounds, and I heal what I can with the sun setting. Shadow arts can give stitches, but it can't heal like light arts can.
"This is all I can do," I sigh. "I am weaker when there is no sun. Please take these potions and mix them in with the meals."
I take a spoon and swallow it. "It's not poisonous. I promise."
"Will you come back for healing?" the commander tests a drop of the potion.
"I come once a month. The potions should be able to heal them up quicker. Those in the very back struck with the first hit of the shadow... have a very little chance of making it. I will come back tomorrow to check on them only. They still have a glimmer of hope" I put my gloves back on and grab my basket. "I'll bring more potions tomorrow as well so please let the guards know that a noirette maiden will be entering the camp"
"Yes," the commander smiles. "I will also let our prince know of your deeds."
"No thank you," I shake my head. "I don't wish to see any of the royalty. I just wish for the war to end."
"I see..." The commander mumbles. "Let me know if there is anything you desire. I trust that his highness will grant it for you."
"No need," and I leave.