We left the store with the medicine in tow. Kana led the way while I struggled to keep up, her long strides making it look effortless.
"So, where'd you learn to read and write?" Kana asked abruptly. It was the kind of question that had probably been bugging her for a while, but she never got around to asking until now.
I sighed, already feeling the weight of the conversation. "I learned from my mom."
'That was a lie.'
In truth, I didn't remember anything before I turned ten. As far as I was concerned, I had just woken up in the slums one day, my name and age the only things etched into my mind. Everything else was a blur. Only recently had memories of a past life started bleeding into this one.
"Your mom?" Kana gave me a skeptical look before clicking her tongue. "Tsk. Didn't expect you to come from an educated background."
I shrugged but didn't say anything.
Honestly, the fact that Kana had a friend like Ave was more surprising to me.
'With connections like that, how the hell did she end up working for David?'
I wanted to ask, but it felt like prying too much into something that wasn't my business.
"What's with that look?" Kana frowned, noticing my gaze.
"Nothing. Just mesmerized by your beauty." I said, dramatically placing a hand over my heart.
"Tsk, brat." Kana scoffed, but her hand still came down to ruffle my hair with enough force to nearly knock me off balance. "Come on, let's go. Lena and the others are waiting."
She kicked off ahead, moving like she had somewhere urgent to be. I sighed, patting down my hair before jogging after her.
....
arrived, it was already lunch, and I spotted Nana sweeping the floors just outside the inn.
"Kayle!" She rushed up the moment she noticed me, eyes wide with concern. "Did you get the medicine?"
"Mhm." I nodded. "Let's head inside first."
Without another word, we all entered the inn and hurried upstairs. On the way, I instructed Nana to ask Boarrat to heat up a kettle of water.
Inside the room, Hannah was still tending to Lena, who lay on the bed, her chest rising and falling heavily with labored breaths.
"You're back?" Mana's voice came from the corner bed. She glanced at me before her eyes locked onto the sack of herbs and vials I was carrying.
"We got the medicine," I said briefly, walking over to Lena's bedside. "How's she holding up?"
"Not great," Hannah sighed, brushing damp strands of hair from Lena's forehead. "Her fever's been climbing since you guys left. She's been breathing like this the whole time."
"I already sent Nana to boil some water. I'll head down in a bit to help her brew the herbal tea," I reassured her.
Hannah nodded, turning her attention back to Lena.
After making sure things were under control, I headed downstairs to help Nana prepare the tea. While I was at it, I picked up the lunch Boarrat had prepared and carried the trays upstairs for everyone.
As I walked down the hallway, Kana's voice drifted from the open doorway.
"We only got the medicine because the brat agreed to work for her until we repay the debt."
"Kayle?" Hannah's voice carried a note of surprise. "That's unexpected. Alchemists aren't known for letting strangers into their workshops so easily."
"How come she chose Kayle over you? Weren't you two close?" Mana asked, a mix of curiosity and confusion lacing her tone.
"Well…" Kana started, but before she could continue, I stepped into the room, drawing all eyes to me.
"I brought lunch," I announced, handing out plates of food to everyone. Nana followed behind me, carrying a cup of the freshly brewed herbal tea.
She made her way to Lena, who had managed to sit up, leaning weakly against the bedside wall.
"Thank you…" Lena's voice was faint as she accepted the tea from Nana.
After distributing the meals, I walked over to check on her myself, taking out the supplements Ave had provided.
"Here, you'll need to take these with your meal and tea," I explained, carefully adjusting Lena's position to help her sit more comfortably.
She simply nodded, a gentle smile spreading across her face.
"Hey Kayle," Mana called out as she poked at her food. "I heard you're the reason we got the medicine this time. How'd you manage to convince the shopkeeper?"
"I got lucky."
"Luck?" Mana raised an eyebrow.
"Don't listen to his nonsense," Kana cut in with a smirk. "The brat got the job because he could read."
"What?!" Hannah and Mana spoke at the same time, both looking equally shocked. Even the ever cold Yana had a slightly surprised expression as her hand holding the fork froze.
Nana's eyes were twinkling as she looked at me. "Kayle, can you really read?"
I blinked. "What's the big deal? Is it really that surprising that I can read?"
Mana stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "... Uh, I'm not sure if you're saying that because you really don't know, or you're just being humble."
I sighed. "I really don't know. I learned to read from my mom at an early age, and we moved around too frequently for me to have any formal education."
Hannah leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "In that case, let me explain it to you. In the Alvalah Empire, most people are uneducated. If you want to learn to read and write, you have to go to the church. They offer lessons once a week—for a monthly fee."
"How much is the fee?" I asked.
"Fifty crowns."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's not too bad of a price—"
"Per week," Hannah clarified.
I nearly choked on my own breath. "That's daylight robbery…"
"It is," she agreed, stabbing her fork into her food. "And it's the reason why so many people across the empire are illiterate. Only nobles and wealthy merchants can afford it."
"That's why it's so surprising that you know how to read and write at your age," Mana added. "I don't know what kind of background you had, but you definitely weren't poor if your mother was able to teach you."
Seeing that the lie was beginning to grow out of control, I hesitated for a moment before answering. "... Actually, I don't know much about my background. I was always moving from place to place with my mother, and she taught me what I know as we traveled. When we arrived in Utopia, she got sick… and not long after, she died."
A silence fell over the room.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Hannah murmured, her voice softer now. Even Mana seemed to freeze up a bit at my words.
"It's fine," I said, offering a small, dismissive shrug. "It happened a while ago."
The conversation died down after that, but at least they stopped questioning me.
If they kept pressing about my background, I was bound to slip up sooner or later.
Once everyone finished eating, we got to work and opened the inn while Lena remained in bed, too weak to move. As the night went on, business wrapped up as usual as David completed his report.
Lena couldn't work in her current condition, and predictably, David didn't care—he revoked her meal for the night, enforcing the inn's rule that those who don't work don't eat.
'I can't understand his intentions.'
Watching David walk back upstairs, my expression remained unreadable. If he wanted money, wouldn't he prioritize the recovery of his best worker?
'Or does he have other motives...'
Even after thinking about it, I couldn't come up with a logical reason for his actions, so I just stopped thinking about it.
'Maybe he's just an unreasonable man...'
Thankfully, the rest of us weren't as heartless. One by one, everyone chipped in bits of their own meals, quietly setting aside small portions until we had enough to keep Lena fed for the night. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
As I wiped the last few tables, Nana slide up beside me, her broom held with both hands.
"Don't worry. While you're gone, I'll do your portion of the morning work. David won't even notice you're missing!" she spoke softly, a wide grin spread across her face.
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Without thinking, I reached out and patted her head. "Thanks, Nana. That means a lot."
The moment my hand ruffled her hair, her expression fell. Her shoulders stiffened, and she pouted, turning her face away.
'Hm? Did I do something wrong?'
I pulled my hand away, not understanding why she was suddenly upset.
"Why does he still treat me like a child..."
I briefly heard her mutter something under her breath, but I couldn't make out the words.
She sighed. "I'll go help clean up the kitchen. Good luck."
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." I responded awkwardly.
As Nana turned to walk away, she shot me a serious look. "And Kayle?"
"Yes?"
"Next time, don't pat my head." After speaking, she walked off towards the kitchen, leaving me staring in confusion.