After spending time and enjoying the festival for several hours with the Apothecary, they both returned to the apprentice and acted like nothing happened.
Apprentice: Welcome back! How was the festival?
Apothecary: Oh you know, it was ok, would have been better if I wasn't the only one talking.
Man:…
Apprentice: That's suck, but at least you two have fun right?
Apothecary:… Yeah, I did enjoy his company.
Man: *nod*
Apprentice: I'm happy you two did. I was so bored, there was no one here for treatment… I thought you said it's usually busy on this day, Master?
Apothecary: Huh, really? Like no one got into any accident?
Apprentice: Did you lie just so you don't have to attend the festival… or am I just really, really unlucky?
Apothecary: Are you wishing for people to get hurt? That's not very apothecary-like.
Apprentice: I mean, you did say there will be many people to tend to… then no one came-
*The door suddenly opens in the middle of the conversation and a group of young boys and girls come in*
Apothecary: Look like your wish come true. I'm gonna go change and then help you. And you *point at the man* follow me.
Apprentice: I didn't mean for this, and they are young too.
The apothecary walks away and the man follows her while the apprentice takes care of the youngsters.
The man followed the apothecary to the second floor of the building.
Apothecary: This place suddenly becomes quite noisy, I think you can put off that act for a bit.
Man:… So let me guess, you did lie to her. Locking yourself in this place because your condition always acts up during the festival.
Apothecary: Hmp, I guess, traveling so much makes you better at reading people.
"This is my fight, so fewer people worry is better… There are two beds, you can rest here if you want or you can go to the inn."
"For now, I have to go change and treat my patients."
The apothecary went into one of the rooms on this floor and within seconds she returned in her normal outfit and rushed to the first floor.
The man quietly followed the apothecary down the stairs but not all the way down, and just watching her and her apprentice treating the wounds on those kids.
Apothecary: So how did they get these kids got these wounds?
Apprentice: Firework accident. They were playing with fireworks then things suddenly went wrong.
Apothecary: That explains the ashes, but why some of them are wet?
Apprentice: Jumped into the river to clean themselves just so their parents don't know what they did. The only bad thing is they can't treat their wounds.
Apothecary: Did these kids tell you that?
Apprentice: No, it's from experience. I used to do this with other kids in the village when I was younger and the same situation happened. I got scolded by my parents when they found out what happened.
Apothecary: You then learned your lesson and never played with fireworks again.
Apprentice: *chuckles* of course not. I'm still the same but since I'm more mature now, I watch over these kid to make sure they don't hurt themselves and cover up their wounds.
Apothecary: So you just let them accidentally hurt themselves?
Apprentice: Better than dying. Failure and pain are what make you grow. Plus I don't want these kids to get scolded by their parents.
Apothecary: You…are also reckless… wait if you did attend the festival, will these kids get hurt?
Apprentice: Oh they will and I'm just gonna treat them right there, so they don't have to go here.
Apothecary whispers to herself (I think the village will be ok.)
Apprentice: Did you say something?
Apothecary: Oh, it's nothing. I can't believe you can watch over this many kids.
Apprentice: They're quite a handful I tell you.
The man observes the apothecary and her apprentice treating the kids for a bit longer before whispering to himself (I hope I don't see you tomorrow) and going to sleep on one of the beds upstairs.
…
The next morning, the man woke up, looked around the room, and saw the apprentice sleeping soundly on the other bed, but her master was nowhere to be seen.
He then quietly made his way downstairs, where he saw the apothecary sleeping on the counter, drooling from her mouth. While walking past her, toward the door he suddenly heard.
Apothecary: You will take me right? Helping me cure this condition I have.
…
When he turned around, the apothecary was still sleeping soundly and she was sleep-talking.
Apothecary: Of course you will. You enjoy my present… haha… me too.
Man: *sigh* I will but I travel alone.
The man quietly walked out the door and closed it. Then his vision starts showing him the direction to the swordmaster.
(No time to waste)
Within a minute of running across the roof of all the buildings in the village, he landed in a huge yard where a boy was sweeping it.
The boy suddenly fell to the ground when the man appeared out of nowhere. Terrified by the man present but his courage was able to mutter up a question "Who are you?"
Man: I'm here for your swordmaster.
Boy: Yo-ou are real.
Man: Come on, I don't have all day.
The boy immediately ran off into the building inside the yard while screaming "HE HERE! HE HERE!"
After waiting around for a few minutes, the swordmaster comes out of the building.
Swordmaster: So, you are the mysterious figure that's been going around on a killing rampage.
Man:… I only aim for important figures such as yourself, no innocent life needs to die except for your and mine. A fair duel to the death. Are you ready?
Swordmaster: I'll risk my life in order to keep the peacefulness of this village.
Man: There is nothing to risk.
Both of them draw their sword and at the same time, many students come out of the building to watch the fight.
Both of them dashed at each other, their swords clashed and the master's sword was shattered on impact, then he got grabbed by the collar and thrown back into the building.
All of the students were shocked to see their teacher being defeated so easily.
Man (as expected, their strength are the same.): All of you get out of here now, this is not a place for you to hang around.
Immediately, from inside the building, a giant water serpent lunged at the man with incredible speed but was easily cut in half.
The Swordmaster walks out of the building with a water sword in his hand.
"This is just the beginning!"
The swordmaster dashed at the man and their weapon clashed again.
Man: So, you suddenly got stronger.
Swordmaster: I told you, I'll risk my life for this village.
Man: We both know that is a lie, you are risking your daughter's life.
The screen suddenly glitched and switched from the man's point of view to the apothecary view.
Apothecary: Uggghh *stretches herself* morning already? *wipe her drool with her outfit* no one needs to see that.
She made her way upstairs and saw her apprentice sleeping in one bed and the other bed was empty.
Apothecary: *sigh* he left… well, I can only drag him around for so long… or he just left to buy some food… I hope so-
Her body suddenly collapsed onto the floor.
(Why does it have to happen right now?)
(Why is it worse than normal?)
(I can't move my body, I can't feel anything!!!)
(Blood? Blood is spewing from my mouth!)
(I'm not fainting, I can see my body breaking…)
(I-I can't do anything.)
Then she heard footsteps rapidly approaching her and a worried voice calling for her.
Apprentice: Master! Master! Can you hear me, can you move? Please tell me you keep those pills in your pocket.
In front of her is the worried apprentice, rummaging through her outfit until she finds two identical pills. After pondering for a few seconds, she put one of them in the apothecary's mouth.
…
Apothecary: t-th-thank you.
Apprentice: Master! You ok right? Did your condition act up again?
Apothecary: I'm only stable for now, it'll wear off in a bit, I hope.
Apprentice: Is it worse this time? You weren't able to move at all.
Apothecary: Let's hope that it's just a one-time thing.
Apprentice: There is so much blood.
Apothecary: Don't worry I'll clean it up *cough*cough* hahah… or not.
Apprentice: I'll do it, you need to rest first.
Suddenly their whole body and the building felt a big vibration.
Apothecary (No don't tell me): There is no time for that, we need to *standing up* go to the 'Sword Ground' right now.
Apprentice: Why? Do you know something, I don't?
Apothecary: Sadly yes… the man that was with us is that person.
Apprentice: Wait what, you lied to me.
The apothecary grabbed her sword and grabbed her apprentice's hand.
"I wish I could explain more but we have to now."
The apprentice just nodded and got dragged out of the door at extreme speed and to the entry of the 'Sword Ground'. Where they can feel more of the vibration and fighting sound.
Apprentice: What are we supposed to do?
The apothecary suddenly falls to her knees and coughs out more blood.
(My vision is getting blurry, I'm losing myself)
Apprentice: Master!Master! You are not ok. What am I supposed to do?
Apothecary: *panting* take…me…inside…to the yard.
The apprentice followed what her master said while still wanting to know more.
Apprentice: Why are we here? What are you trying to do?
Apothecary:…
Apprentice: Who are you trying to help? Him or your father?
Apothecary:… why did you suddenly ask that? Isn't it obvious?
Apprentice: It's not. I now know that he is the bad guy, but for some reason, he brings out the real you. I've only seen you that normal when talking to me.
Apothecary:… let's wait and see.
Apprentice: Please just don't put yourself in danger, that's all I'm asking.
Apothecary: *panting* I'll try.
Before they got close to the yard, a dust storm suddenly blasted from the yard direction for a few seconds before calming down.
When they got closer to the yard, no one noticed their presence and just focused on the fight.
The fight is very one-sided with the man having a few scratches on himself while The swordmaster has wounds all over. Then they saw that he was about to deliver the final blow.
Apothecary: Sorry…
She immediately pushed her apprentice away and dashed directly into the fight, interrupting it by impaling herself into the man's sword. Which shocked both the man and her apprentice.
The man tried to pull to sword away but was stopped by the apothecary holding on to his hand and pulling it closer to her.
Apothecary: Just, just stop resisting.
The man clenched his sword and suddenly, they are both surrounded by smoke.
"What you doing, I was trying to cure you?!"
Apothecary: Well, you took too long. As the best apothecary, I already know the cause and root of my condition. The cure… your way is a valid option with unknown results.
Man: If you already know then why try to interfere?
Apothecary: You simply took too long and my body can't handle anymore… but that might be a good thing. You were planning to die anyway, so I'll be there first waiting for you.
Man: You are acting selfish, killing yourself just because I'm not with you anymore. This village and your apprentice what will happen to them, did you ever think about that?
Apothecary: I think can be a little selfish after knowing how many people I've saved and treated. If this village turns into chaos after I die, then they deserve it.
"At least I know that my apprentice will do fine. She is just me without the condition and special eyes."
Man: *sigh* You are definitely not normal. Don't worry, I know how the water blade skill works, so you will be fine.
Apothecary: *giggle* oh you are so naïve, I'm the one with the condition, not you… I'll be waiting, and told my apprentice that I know she can be a greater apothecary than me.
After saying that her whole body shattered into white light and disappeared in front of him, leaving behind only her sword.
Man: *sigh* not again.
He picked up the apothecary's sword and put it on his side, then he cleared the surrounding smoke and saw that a hundred swords were pointing at him.
Swordmaster: You murdered my daughter! Now you must pay!
Man:…
He pointed his sword to the sky and within a few seconds, the sky turned dark, strong wind started blowing and out from the dark clouds, a giant water serpent emerged circling the whole village.
The man then pointed his sword at The swordmaster, which made the giant water serpent immediately dive at him from the sky into the ground, leaving nothing behind.
The wind stopped and the sky turned blue again.
Man: I'm not here for any of you. Any aggravation will result in the fate as your master.
Everyone was terrified of what the man just did and the words he said forced all of them to sheath their weapon.
The man silently dashed out of the 'Sword Ground' grabbed the apprentice and brought her back to her house.
After carefully placing her back on the ground, she slowly walked toward the bed and sat on it while the man leaned against the door.
Apprentice: So… she's gone, right?
Man: I'm sorry.
Apprentice: I'm also at fault *sob*sob*.
Man:…
Apprentice: If only, I had become an apothecary faster, then she *sob* could have spent more time on researching. *sob* then she wouldn't have died.
Man:…
"Haizz, you two are such a mess!"
A familiar voice echoes the room, but no one was there except for those two.
Apprentice: Master? I-is that you?
Then a figure of light appeared between the two of them and turned into the apothecary. Her whole body emitted dim light around her.
The apprentice jumped off the bed and tried to hug her master, but was unsuccessful.
Apothecary: Oh you silly, you can't hug me. I'm dead! *giggle*
Apprentice: I'm *sob* so sor-
Her sentence was interrupted when she felt a familiar warmth hug.
Apothecary: There there, no need to say that. You already did your best and I know that.
Apprentice: I-I'm, I just wish you could stay a lot longer.
Apothecary: Me too, but I think this is a good place for my journey to end. I've taught you everything I know, you and I are the same. Now I can watch you grow in your own way.
Apprentice: *sob* I-I promise I'll be a better apothecary than you.
Apothecary: That's what I've been waiting to hear.
She released her apprentice from her arms then grabbed her sword from the man's side and held it toward the apprentice.
"I want you to hold on to my sword and use it well."
Apprentice: I will *grab the sword from the apothecary's hand*
Apothecary: So… are we done sobbing over my death?
Apprentice: Yes… but don't say it like that, it's still hurt.
Man: So? How are you able to *hand gestures* do this?
Apothecary: I don't like seeing you two sad… is a lie. I was frustrated seeing how both of you feel after my death, so I'm here to lighten the mood.
Man: You take this like it was nothing.
Apprentice: She had always been an odd one after all, haha.
Apothecary: I've endured that pain for most of my life, so I'm glad it's gone.
Her body suddenly starts to flicker.
Man: Look like times up.
Apothecary: It is. So before I go, you *point at the man* I know that you gonna die soon so we can catch up later.
Man: Wow, that's heartless.
Apothecary: Of course, you stabbed it. And you, my apprentice. I hope you take your time and die of old age.
Apprentice: You are bad at saying goodbye, but I'll promise.
Apothecary: It's great to ease you two emotions…
After saying that, her body slowly disappears in front of their eyes.
Man: So our path ends here.
Apprentice: Until I die we'll meet again.
Man: Her personality is rubbing on us.
Apprentice: Kind of. Well, good luck on your journey of killing the master.
Man: And you, will become the best apothecary we'll ever see.
…
The screen slowly faded to black.
Violet:…
Sword:…
Violet: So we just watched one of your memory, again. The more sentimental part of your memory. Too bad that he fell asleep through half of it.
Sword: That means his body already recovered.
Violet: What? I thought we needed to do something to make him wake up.
Sword: When he falls asleep again, he will appear in here. What we did was, letting us choose where we can meet him.
Violet: You have a point… So why did you want him to see your memory and specifically this one?
Sword: I just want to see his reaction, I guess. Also, his partner is kind of similar to mine.
Violet: Good or bad similar.
Sword: Hmm… I would say almost identical, just different job.
Violet: I guess he killing her then.
Sword: Let's hope not.