The child's recovery brought a sense of peace to the village, but the effects of what had happened were far-reaching. People began to talk, whispers of a healer unlike any they had known. To them, my "miracle cure" was something they'd never seen, and while it raised my standing in the village, it also drew mixed reactions.
Some were grateful, viewing me as a bringer of life. Others, like the older villagers, were more cautious. They looked at me with a guarded respect that bordered on fear. The village elder, a man named Eirik, summoned me to discuss the cure, his gaze sharp as he studied me.
"You saved the boy," Eirik said, his tone measured. "Lora tells me you created something powerful, something… unnatural."
"I wouldn't call it unnatural," I replied carefully. "In my world, it's a common treatment."
He arched an eyebrow. "And yet, in this world, it is a rarity." His voice was low, but the respect in it was clear. "We have suffered many losses from fever over the years, Doctor. Perhaps we could learn from you."
I nodded, relieved to find that the elder was more open-minded than I'd feared. "I'm willing to share what I know. But it won't be easy. It will take time to gather ingredients and to refine the process."
Eirik's expression softened. "Time we are willing to give, so long as it brings hope."
The elder's support was a victory, but it also meant new responsibilities. Soon, villagers began to visit my hut, seeking remedies for ailments they'd long thought untreatable. I found myself overwhelmed, juggling what limited resources I had to help them.
Despite the exhaustion, I knew that every cure, every life saved, was a step forward. The people were beginning to trust me, and in a world as brutal as this one, trust was more valuable than gold. But even as I focused on their ailments, a small part of me waited for the system's next quest.
I knew it was coming, and when it did, I would need to be ready.