Aura looked at me with expectation.
"Cory, I do not have any more potion. Can you use your healing magic? Like the way you healed me." Aura asked hesitantly. "I will pay you later."
Did she think I used magic?
I see. I forgot. On this planet, civilization is not as advanced as on the Federation. There is no medicinal technology, or cure able to close a critical wound, even regrow a part of the body. Not even the Federation can do that. It is thanks to Nia.
Now I am in a dilemma.
There is no way I will show them Nia's existence, or show them, by drinking my blood, they will get their cure. I will get jailed and they will drain my blood periodically. The thought gives me a shiver.
-- I do not want you to get discovered Nia, any suggestion? --
[Suggestion. Push your middle and ring finger to your palm, then place your palm to the boy's mouth.]
I do what Nia suggested. A little bit of blood trickled easily from my palm.
I see, this way they will not see me giving blood to the boy's mouth. A little bit is enough to transfer Nia into the boy's body.
I pushed my palm to the boy's mouth.
[Need permission to Connect Partially. Will you give permission]
-- Yes, do it. --
Perhaps a little improvisation to make it real.
"Pspspspspspsps." I make a sound like an ancient video I used to see.
In the video, the guy called the cat colonies. With the same logic, they will think I called some little fairies to use their healing magic. This way they will think it is real.
The boy's complexion getting good, and some wounds getting closed faster. Aura, the Girl, and the used-to-be frozen boy looked at me with reverence in their eye, amazed.
[...] Nia.
-- What? --
***** ***** *****
"So Kloa, and Gran. What are you guys doing in the forest far from home?" Aura asked.
We are on our way to their village. Aura walked beside Kloa and Gran. Meanwhile, I walked in front of them while carrying Darren on my back.
"Because of This." Kloa showed Aura a basket of herbs. "Our Father is sick and bedridden. Mother is foraging for food. So I and my little brother, Darren, going out to the forest for herbs."
"Then Gran tagging along with both of you."
"He said he will accompany us."
"I, uh...that was embarrassing. Please don't tell my father and all of the villagers." Gran scratched his head.
"I will not. Thank you for helping us, Gran." Kloa smiled.
Gran scratch his cheeks. His ears red hinted.
I see what happened now. Love is in the air. I smiled and keep walking.
"By the way, sister and brother are strong. Are you guys ########## (Adventurer)?" Kloa asked curiously.
"Right, that's a big fireball sister. And big brother too, the way you moved into the ogre and slashed the Ogre's neck while circling your body. That was so cool."
"What is ##########?" I asked Aura.
"Right, Cory never heard that term before. Adventurer is the people who take a task or request from the guild to get money. Subjugating monsters, guarding people, and collecting monster-specific parts. And they are ranked based on their skill and experience." Aura told me. "No, we are not adventurers. We are uh...Mercenary." Aura tells the kids while looking guilty.
-- Nia, record that too. Collect every information we got about Adventurer later --
[Will do Major]
About an hour we reached a wooden wall and gate.
"Stop! Who are you?" A guard stopped us from entering.
"Uncle Saft, it's me." Kloa appeared from behind Aura.
The guardsman stood silently and then his eyes widened. "Kloa?" He then directed his eyes to the boy and the kid I am carrying. "Gran! Darren! My god. We are preparing to search for you. I will inform the Head village." He then runs inside the village.
The ruckus he made created attention, and the villager's attention shifted to us when we entered the village.
A bulky man with muscle and some other villagers ran to us. Some bring spears, bows, and rucksacks, prepared for the expedition. Suddenly a woman runs to us, hugging Kloa.
"Kloa! my kids!" She cried uncontrolled. Then looks at her face, rubbing her cheeks and hair. "You okay? Where is Darren? Darren!"
I lowered Darren who had already woken up five minutes ago. The Woman then hugs them both. "My Kids! Thanks, Ashtary, thank you!" The three of them cried together.
The bulky man then approached Gran. He squeezes his shoulder. "Where have you been?"
Looking at him, Gran does not utter a word. He cast his eyes to the ground while kneading his finger.
"I am sorry father." His eyes glistened.
The bulky man then hugged him tightly. "Thank god you are safe. thank god."
Gran cried. There is no sight of a brave boy facing an ogre in him now.
***** ***** *****
"Thank you for helping them, both of you. My name is Gandor, the head Village of Kanakan." The Bulky man said.
"My name is Aura, and he is Si..Cory, Cory. We are mercenaries."
Both Aura and I are walking with Gandor toward his house. The village is a stone-based house. The path is naturally made, with no stone no gravel. A bit of mud when I tried to step.
Some kids are running and playing. Some housewives are hanging the laundry in front of the houses. Looking at us with a strange sight.
"Sorry about them. We are a small village and very rare to get a visitor except for the merchant. We bartered with daily necessities. You both look noble, so they are a bit wary." Gandor smiled. "But there is no way a noble will come to this small and isolated village."
"Even helping a commoner like us." He slaps my back and his smile widened.
"Do not think about it."
Gandor's slaps are strong, I feel my body almost inched to the front.
We reached a small house, I believe it is only a room size.
"Is this your house?" I asked.
"No...on second thought, I believe you are both tired. You can rest here. I am sorry there is only one vacant house and it's the smaller one. I hope you don't mind." Gandor said shyly.
"We will hold a party on the field in the middle of the village in the night. Our specialty is Kanakan Wine made from Holy Berry, please join us later."
"We will join," I said to him.
"Great, and this is a gift from me. I believe it works wonderfully." He gives a small bottle to Aura, directly to her hand.
"Thank you. What is this?" Aura asked curiously.
He did not answer but then approached me in silence and whispered close to my ear. "The wall is thin, so please." He then grinned and leave us.
"Join us later okay!" Gandor shouted.
What does that mean?
"He is a good man despite his appearance, isn't he?" Aura said to me when Gandor was already far.
"Yeah, you are right. His looks might be scary but have the heart of a good man."
When I entered the house I saw a single bed, a small room with a single bed. Meanwhile, Aura opened the small bottle.
"Wh..what!"
"What is it? Poison?!"
"N..No." Aura's face becomes redder.
I took the small bottle and tried to smell it. It smells fragrant and strong.
"What is this?" I asked Aura.
"Nothing!" Aura grabbed the bottle fast from my hand, like an eagle grabbing a mouse. Then running inside the house.
-- What is that? --
[Answer. A bit of vapor was detected. Some can be identified but need more samples to identify further]
-- What is already identified? --
[Answer. alcohol and Aphrodisiac substances detected]
I am stood still in my place. The room, the bed, the drug.
I retract my opinion of him.
What the f*ck old man.