Reached 10 stones, here the bonus chapter.
Next: 25
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The heat from the forge still clung to my muscles as I made my way through the village the next day. The soreness reminded me of the hard work from the day before, but I had something else in mind today. In this world, I needed more than just strength and weapons, I needed knowledge. And after thinking about it, medicine seemed like the next step.
Injuries were common around here. I'd already seen people patching up cuts, scrapes, and bruises with simple remedies, and I knew if I was going to survive long-term, learning how to heal would be just as important as any weapon I could forge.
I made my way to Ayako's herb stall. The old woman had been a helpful guide since I'd arrived. She'd taught me bits and pieces about the plants and remedies the locals used, and today, I wanted to learn more.
When I reached her stall, she was already busy at work, sorting bundles of dried herbs. Her silver-gray hair was tied back in a loose bun, and her small, wrinkled hands moved with practiced precision. She glanced up as I approached, her brown eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and kindness.
"Good morning, Ayako-san," I greeted her with a small bow.
Ayako smiled, the lines on her face deepening. "Good morning, Darius-san. How are the muscles after your blacksmithing lesson?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, chuckling. "Still a bit sore, but I'll live. Actually, I was hoping you could teach me more about medicine today. I think it'd be useful."
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, though her smile never faltered. "Medicine? You're a curious one, Darius-san. Most young men who come through here are only interested in strength and fighting."
I grinned. "Well, I figure I should know how to patch myself up after all the training. Besides, healing's as important as anything else if you want to stay alive."
Ayako chuckled softly. "Very well. Come, sit. Let's see what you can learn today."
....
Ayako was a fountain of knowledge. She taught me how to identify the various herbs and plants that grew in the village and the surrounding woods. There were leaves to stop bleeding, roots to reduce fever, and flowers that could numb pain. She showed me how to grind the herbs into powders, mix them into salves, and even brew simple teas that could soothe a sore throat or calm the nerves.
"This is shinsei," she explained, holding up a small, leafy plant. "It's good for treating infections. You grind it into a paste and apply it to the wound."
I nodded, committing the plant's name and its use to memory. As she spoke, I couldn't help but think back to my own knowledge. Basic first-aid principles and some biology gave me a good foundation, but the herbs she used were new to me. I could already see ways to improve the techniques with a bit of thinking.
"Wouldn't purifying something strong, like alcohol, make a good disinfectant too?" I suggested, as if I'd just come up with the idea. "It could help keep wounds clean and avoid infection."
Ayako gave me a curious look. "Alcohol? We sometimes use sake to clean wounds, but not as a focused treatment. Why do you think that would work?"
"Just a thought," I said casually. "If something burns the way sake does, maybe cleaning it up and using it more directly could make it better at killing infections."
She hummed thoughtfully. "You might be onto something. It's worth experimenting with."
As she continued to show me how to treat different kinds of injuries, I began to connect the dots between what I knew and what I was learning here. There was a lot of potential to combine these herbal remedies with techniques I had already figured out on my own. Stitching wounds, for example, could be a real game-changer.
"Have you ever considered closing wounds by sewing them shut?" I asked. "It could hold the skin together while it heals, instead of just bandaging it."
"Sewing?" Ayako raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Yeah," I said, thinking out loud. "You could use fine needles and thread to close deep cuts. That way, the wound stays sealed and heals faster. You'd still use the herbs to prevent infection, of course."
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "We've never done anything like that here. It could be quite useful."
I smiled, glad that my ideas were blending well with what Ayako was teaching me. "I think it's worth trying. It'd make a big difference for deeper wounds."
....
We spent the next few hours testing out the stitching idea. Ayako provided a few thick leaves that acted as a stand-in for skin, and I found some suitable thread and needles among her supplies. The technique was delicate but straightforward, small, even stitches to hold the wound together while it healed.
"You have to be gentle but firm," I explained as I demonstrated. "If you pull too tight, it could tear. Too loose, and it won't stay closed."
Ayako watched carefully as I worked, her face a mix of concentration and amazement. "This is incredible, Darius-san. Such a simple technique, yet so effective. You truly have a gift for thinking outside the box."
I grinned, finishing the stitches and tying off the thread. "It just made sense. The herbs you have here are great for healing, but combining them with more structured techniques could be even more effective."
"You're right," Ayako said, nodding. "We'll have to continue experimenting with this. You've already brought new ideas to our village."
....
By the time the sun began to dip, I had learned enough to feel confident in my basic medical skills. Ayako's herbal remedies were effective, but with the addition of techniques like stitching, they could become even more powerful. And if I could improve those methods even further, I'd have a serious advantage.
Before I left, Ayako handed me a small pouch of herbs and a few basic tools. "You've earned these, Darius-san. Keep experimenting with your ideas. You may just become the village's go-to healer one day."
I bowed deeply. "Thank you, Ayako-san. I'll keep working hard."
Her warm smile followed me as I walked back through the village, my mind buzzing with new possibilities. I'd learned to forge weapons, mastered basic chakra control, and now, I had the beginnings of real medical skills. If I could blend all these together, there was no telling what I'd be able to do in this world.
As the evening air cooled my skin, I knew I was only getting started.
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