# Chapter 19: Herbalist
In the confines of a swiftly moving carriage, a youthful man adorned in the regalia of a knight lay sprawled on the floor, his hair touched by shades of orange.
Gradually, his eyelids fluttered open, unveiling vibrant amber irises. As he hoisted himself into a sitting position, he was promptly confronted by the lifeless figures of two fellow knights, their countenances veiled in cloth, and another knight, a comrade in arms with whom he fought beside, apparently asleep.
"Oh, Kevin you're awake"
Suddenly, a deep voice of a man spoke from his right. The man, despite the lines of age marking his face, had hair of a dark purple that seemed untouched by time, vibrant, and full of life. His attire matched that of Alfonso's knights, complete with armor that bore the unique insignia of the Quiñones, etched into the chestplate.
However, Kevin could not bring himself to care of his presence and abruptly asked;
"Where is Valentina? Is she okay?"
But the aged man swiftly comforted him."Easy there, buddy. The lady's all good. Gotta admit luck was on your side. We stumbled upon you while on our merry march to my lord's spot. Otherwise, you might've been left in the dust—we were kinda on a roll."
Upon hearing his reply, a wave of relief washed over Kevin, prompting him to pose another question.
"What do you mean in hurry?" He thought that Alfonso should be dead already—
"Could it be that Valentina is in a critical condition?" Kevin panicked once more, but the Aged man dismissed his concerns with a nonchalant wave.
"No stress, it's not your lady, it's my lord. But man, am I no— we are in a tight spot! Honestly, it's a mystery how he's still kickin'. But I'm glad he is alive or else we would be deadmeats."
The aged man spoke, his gaze drifting towards the window with an air of disinterest laced with amusement. "So, what went down? Why's he in such a mess?" he inquired further, his tone light yet filled with curiosity.
"How would I know that?" came the somewhat evasive reply.
"Wait, weren't you on the scene, though?" he pressed, a playful skepticism in his voice.
Kevin fell silent, caught in the headlights of his conscience. He couldn't admit that he had fled while Alfonso stood his ground to protect Christine and the little commoner girl. Ignorant of the aftermath, since he had left them behind, Kevin was at a loss, scrambling internally for the right words.
And so, "He was attacked by a beast because of his carelessness. That's why. And I tried to take Valentina that time with me to save her but I lost consciousness because I was out of mana." he tried to slightly twist his words.
"—Ah, classic Lady Valentina! Bet she was all in, trying to protect Alfonso and the two girls. She's the hero who took down the beast, wasn't she?" the aged man quickly quipped with a laid-back chuckle.
Kevin, unable to halt the flow of his fabrications yet not wanting to directly confirm the man's assumption, cleverly skirted around the question and continued with a pretentious laugh.
"Oh, she's fantastic, isn't she? And that worthless fellow... Honestly! There I was, handling the assassins, and he? Just watching Valentina as she fought."
With a playful smirk dancing on his face, the aged man casually quipped, "What a useless piece of shit!" He figured they were all doomed anyway, having failed in their duty to protect him. Might as well air out his frustrations while he had the chance, all in good jest.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Scoffed Kevin with a smile.
"Yeah, we're toast anyway, so why stress? Knowing him... we'll likely get the ax for fun, as some sort of punishment," his laid-back attitude gone as he remarked with a casual whisper, frustration coloring his tone.
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The breeze toyed with the strands of the little girl's auburn hair as she gazed out of the window, the reflection of the nearby village shimmering in her eyes.
"Quiñones..."
She muttered under her breath. As far as she knew, the Quiñones family was not something to scoff at after knowing who Alfonso was from Valentina.
Renowned for their formidable strength, they bore the title "The Guardians of the Sword" across the kingdom. Yet, over time, their pride in such power waned as tragedy struck, claiming the lives of nearly all their kin.
Almost everyone knew the story of how the Quiñones fell from their grace.
It started when rumors of the family executing dark rituals, forbidden magics, and unholy alliances spread.
As a result, their reputation took a massive toll and they were deemed as evil.
Vorvains who deeply hated dark magics continuously opposed the Quiñones and one day a clash between the two happened. The result was a massacre.
It was assumed that their fall was destined to happen because of their evil deeds.
Furthermore, it was whispered among the people that the king had fallen under the dark influence of the Quiñones, for he stood unwavering in their defense, attempting even to divert retribution away from them and onto the Vorvains. Alas, his efforts were in vain, thwarted by the considerable sway the Vorvains held and the populace's loyalty to them, for it was the Vorvains who had delivered justice upon the malevolent family.
Due to the king's actions, he became the subject of the citizens' curses.
Shortly thereafter, the throne was claimed by one of his descendants, while the whereabouts of the former king became shrouded in mystery. Rumors spread, hinting at his end being met through either execution or sinister means.
She was well acquainted with this knowledge, for her father had frequently regaled her with tales of the Quiñones, expressing his sense of betrayal upon learning through the grapevine of their alleged malevolence. All she could glean from his narratives was that her father had once held them in high esteem.
But, encountering Alfonso's selfless acts and generosity, she couldn't shake off the nagging uncertainty that crept within her.
‹ Did the king indeed succumb to corruption? Was he ensnared in manipulation? ›
She doubted.
For reasons she couldn't quite place, something was amiss.
‹ The rumors...Are the Quiñones even evil to begin with? ›
After she saw and experienced how much different Alfonso is compared to other nobles. Even risking his life to save a commoner like her. For the first time in her life, she doubted the world.
She realized just how little she knew of.
As she delved deeper into her contemplation, the sudden halt of the carriage snapped her out of it.
"Looks like we have arrived," uttered the blonde girl from the other side of the seat.
Arianna who was in her own world quietly gazed at her.
‹ I should think about it later... ›
Gradually the entrance was opened and the noble girl stepped out. Followed by Christine and her.
After they stepped out.
"Mary is over there," Valentina spoke while pointing to a certain maid—Mary and two knights carrying Alfonso with a stretcher behind.
The petite Auburn girl, upon hearing, swiftly moved in the direction of Mary.
‹ I must assist them! ›
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They made a temporary halt in the village, recognizing the folly in delaying Alfonso's treatment. His grave condition screamed for immediate attention, a silent testament to the urgency of his need for care, lest death should claim him.
Yet, the quandary lay in their unfamiliarity with this village. Mary and her companions, a band of knights, found themselves in unknown territory, a place seemingly devoid of any skilled herbalist.
Despite the odds, Mary was prepared to gamble everything. If pushed to the brink, she contemplated the drastic measure of acquiring an entire tavern to employ her ability for Alfonso's healing. Why hesitate? The thought nagged at her.
The presence of paladins within the village, however, cast a shadow over her plans, stalling her decision with the weight of their potential scrutiny.
Her indifferent expression was soon worn by a frown on her face.
‹ Tsk! Why are there squires and paladins here? ›
She silently lamented, her head spun looking and searching for any alternative solution. As she was about to seriously risk everything—
"Uhmmm!"
A voice of a girl interrupted her.
Mary's azure gaze gradually shifted to the young girl, who was catching her breath, having dashed towards her.
"I-I... um, I know a lady 'round here who, um, knows lots 'bout herbs and such," the little girl murmured, her voice as faint as a breeze, each word timidly peeking out amidst her quick, shallow breaths.
"'Cause, um, I live here, see," she added, a bit more confidently after catching her breath, her eyes darting around as if seeking permission to continue.
Mary then abruptly gave her a response.
"Lead the way"
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