The evening air in Vekara was thick with the scent of wood smoke and the distant murmur of the villagers as they settled into their routines. The sun had long dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the village's growing fortifications. Inside one of the small buildings on the outskirts, Leon, Rourke, and Gorak gathered around a rough-hewn table, their expressions tense.
Leon leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Grig's been making deals, and I don't trust him. He says he's working for the good of the village, but there's something off. He's always looking for an advantage. I need to know if he's doing anything that could jeopardize us."
Rourke, his ever-present grin nowhere to be found, nodded grimly. "I've had my eye on him since that wagonload of supplies arrived. The man's slippery, I'll give him that. But if he's pulling something behind our backs, we need to shut it down before it becomes a problem."
Gorak, his hulking figure casting a shadow over the table, remained silent, but his brow was furrowed in thought. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and deliberate. "You want him watched."
Leon nodded. "Every move. I need to know who he's meeting, where he's going, and what he's trading. If he's stepping out of line, I want to know before he makes a mistake that brings trouble to Vekara."
Rourke rubbed his chin, considering the options. "We could put one of the mercenaries on him. Someone who knows how to stay out of sight. Grig wouldn't notice a thing."
"Do it," Leon replied, his tone decisive. "I want a report every day. If Grig so much as sneezes in the wrong direction, I want to know about it."
Gorak gave a grunt of agreement. "I'll pick someone reliable. Someone who can handle it quietly."
Leon pushed away from the table, his mind already moving on to the next task. "Good. I'll leave it in your hands. We can't afford any more surprises."
As the meeting wrapped up, Leon made his way back through the village, his steps purposeful yet heavy with the weight of leadership. He had trusted Grig with a task, and while the man had delivered the supplies they needed, Leon couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. It wasn't just paranoia—it was survival. Vekara was still fragile, and one wrong move could bring the king's forces crashing down on them.
But tonight, there was something else on Leon's mind. His clinic. After weeks of building, planning, and organizing, Leon had finally decided to open his practice to the village. It wasn't much—a small room in the back of his home, outfitted with basic supplies and tools he had salvaged and traded for. But it was a start.
Mara was already waiting when he arrived at his home. She stood just outside, her arms crossed, her face lined with determination. She had been a steady presence by his side ever since they began rebuilding Vekara, and tonight, she would take on a new role—as his apprentice in medicine.
"You're late," Mara said with a teasing smile as Leon approached.
"Had to deal with Rourke and Gorak. We've got a situation with Grig," Leon replied, his voice lighter than it had been in days. "But that's for another time. Are you ready?"
Mara gave him a nod, her expression turning serious. "I'm ready. You're the one who needs to teach me."
Leon chuckled softly as he pushed open the door to his home. The interior was simple—wooden beams and stone walls, sparsely furnished with only the essentials. In the back room, however, Leon had transformed the space into a makeshift clinic. A large wooden table served as a treatment surface, with shelves lined with herbs, cloth bandages, and rudimentary medical tools.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to start.
Mara followed him inside, her eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. "So… what do I need to know?"
Leon turned to her, his tone taking on the seriousness of a mentor. "Medicine is about precision and patience. The first thing you need to understand is that not everything can be fixed with brute force. You have to read the signs, listen to the body, and make decisions based on what's in front of you."
Mara nodded, listening intently as Leon began explaining the basics of wound care, infection prevention, and how to treat different kinds of injuries. He showed her how to properly clean a wound, how to apply a bandage that would stay secure, and how to check for signs of infection. Every movement was careful and deliberate, and Mara mimicked his actions with a level of focus that impressed him.
"You'll need to be ready to handle this on your own soon," Leon said as he handed her a piece of clean cloth to practice bandaging a wooden arm he had fashioned for demonstration. "Once the word spreads, people will come to us. Not just from Vekara, but from outside. We'll be treating more than just cuts and bruises."
Mara tied the bandage neatly, then looked up at Leon. "I can handle it."
Leon smiled faintly. "I know you can."
The hours passed quickly as Leon guided Mara through the essential skills she would need. They went over herbal remedies, how to boil water to purify it, and how to recognize the signs of serious illness. Leon's knowledge came from years of practice, honed during his time as a military doctor in his former life, and he spared no detail as he taught Mara.
As the night deepened, they sat together at the table, surrounded by the quiet hum of the village outside. Mara had picked up everything quickly—quicker than Leon had expected. She was a natural, and her sharp mind absorbed the information like a sponge.
"Why do you trust me with this?" Mara asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Leon looked up from the herbs he was preparing. "Because you're capable. And because I need someone I can rely on."
Mara's expression softened. "I've never done anything like this before."
"Neither had I, once," Leon replied, his voice gentler now. "But we learn, and we adapt. Vekara needs more than just fighters. It needs people who can heal, people who can build, people who can lead. You've shown that you can do all of those things."
Mara smiled, her confidence growing. "Well, I'll do my best not to disappoint you."
"You won't," Leon said, his tone firm. "But remember this: healing isn't about fixing everything. Sometimes, the best you can do is ease someone's pain, or give them a little more time. But that's still worth doing."
Mara nodded, taking his words to heart.
As the night wore on, Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of calm he hadn't experienced in weeks. For the first time, he wasn't just reacting to threats or planning for the next battle. He was building something—something that would last.
The practice was small now, but in time, it would grow. And Mara would be at his side, ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.
As they finished their work for the evening, Leon stood and stretched, his body weary but his mind clear. "We'll start seeing people tomorrow. Be ready for anything."
Mara nodded, her expression serious. "I will."
Leon turned toward the door, pausing for a moment as he glanced back at Mara. "Thank you, Mara. For everything."
Mara smiled, her eyes warm. "We're in this together, Leon."
With that, Leon stepped outside into the cool night air, his thoughts already shifting back to Grig and the unknown threats that still lingered. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace.
Tomorrow, they would continue building. But tonight, they had made something new.
And that was a victory in itself.