Tale Of A Berserk Healer

"So, can I get started, Milady?" Ryth said with a large amount of sass in the last word.

"Why, my knowledgeable lord, does thou begrudge me my caution?" The initiate took a step back in mock horror, a hand raised to her c.h.e.s.t.

Ryth struggled to contain a laugh. "Why yes, a man as honorable in ethics as I should not be judged a trickster by a temptress such as you!"

The mock horror fell away as she smiled knowingly at him. "Temptress?"

Ryth rolled his eyes and turned away as he got up, grabbing the beaker and letting golden essence fill it as he burned away all that he could find-

He froze.

"...huh?"

He looked at the water again, shook it, and put more energy in.

"...um. Well that's gonna piss off Master Benedict."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, our well seems to have an issue, small amounts of a toxin are present, but in higher amounts than safe or normal. Just means we gotta purify all our drinking water from now on I guess."

She frowned. "Don't all the wells in the city draw from the underground reservoir?"

"Most... I'll check with Master Benedict." A growing sense of alarm was filling Ryth, as he felt a strange familiarity with the feeling the poison gave as he purified it...

(I know I've purified this kind of poison before, what plant is it? I've done so many experiments and testing with poisons to find my range of antivenin it's hard to tell!)

"Just to be safe... tell your head priest to check the water you pull from the church's well."

Ryth refocused on his current task, and said in a strong tone full of confidence; "Antivenin!"

Sun essence flared from his hand holding the beaker by the bottom, and as it swept into the water it met the impurities, burning them...

The initiates eyes widened as she watched as a golden flash came from the apprentice's hands, and as it entered the water it began to burn as a golden flame swirling in the water and spreading through it!

"Alright, that's good."

He took his palm from the bottom away and used his other hand to pour the water into the 3 bottles, and sealed them.

"That good?"

"Y-Yes? That was fast..."

"Skills. They are to die for, it's why skillstones have lead people to murder one another."

She nodded, and they headed back, and as they entered the storefront Jonathan muttered "finally," and picked up he remaining bits of his sandwich as he went into the back.

Ryth walked her to the door, opening it with a mocking graceful bow. "Go, Milady, and report on these matters as you like."

"Why thank you sir." She laughed as she went out, hurrying her steps a few seconds later as his words reminded her of the poison in the waters.

"So."

Ryth jumped at Jonathan's voice from behind him.

"What the HECK? Are you a darkness fighter?"

"No, you just were too distracted by that girl's a.s.s to notice me."

"I was not!"

"Uh-Huh. What's her name?"

"Um... I've no clue."

Jonathan stared at Ryth for a moment before looking down with a sigh.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!" Ryth demanded seeing his sigh.

"Hopeless. You're hopeless. You're one of those legendary eternal-v.i.r.g.i.ns aren't you."

"NO!"

*ding!*

The bell attached to the door rang as someone entered, unnoticed as the yell covered it.

"...are you a V.i.r.g.i.n?"

"..."

"Yeeeeeeah. Hopeless."

"F.u.c.k you."

"Excuse me?"

Both of their backs straightened as a guilty look flashed over their faces at the sound of their mentor's voice.

"Hey, Master Benedict! I got something to tell you about the water." Ryth said, mostly out of panic and seeking an escape while acting innocent.

"Uh Huh." Benedict walked further in holding a bundle of... cloth?

"Hey sir, what's that you're holding?" Jonathan asked, hopping into the "we're innocent and please follow along with a new topic" carriage.

"Well these are new clothes for Ryth."

"Huh?" Ryth let out a puzzled noise.

"But I fixed my old ones?" He said, pointing a a barely-noticeable line on his sleeve From when he'd stitched it.

Benedict places the clothes on the counter, bracing his hands on either side of the pile as he hung his head and sighed. "That's not the point Ryth. You're outgrowing those, due to no-longer being starved or some unexplored reason."

"Okay, but a whole new wardrobe-"

"Ryth!"

A shocked silence.

"People will scrutinize you and judge you because you being my apprentice means I saw potential in you and your skill with magic. They will seek out your flaws like vultures to cause drama if they can prove my opinion faulty."

Master Benedict rose from his hunched position against the counter.

"When someone sees you, they use your appearance to judge how they should treat you. Someone ill-kept, dirty, with torn clothing, is someone with no respect for themselves."

"However, someone like you who maintains clothes and dismisses the needs for show, is someone who also shows they don't demand respect. Both of these kinds of people will be bullied into submission by society, constantly."

Jonathan stood up, as he interjected. "Being well dressed means you should be respected!"

Benedict's eyes pierced through him as he said "No. Being well-dressed means you have confidence, opulent is arrogance. Wrong someone has confidence means you give them some respect as you gauge what they are like."

"So... by dressing well and professionally, I project an image of confidence?" Ryth asked.

"Yes. If you are an apprentice, you should expect and demand respect. That is the lesson you were meant to learn from that arrogant merchant we visited."

Ryth mulled that over.

"No matter how he felt, he couldn't touch us. We were in the position of power, despite his guards and wealth."

"EXACTLY. Because as apothecaries, nay, as HEALERS, we are to be respected for the power we wield. We decide who lives and who dies. It's not just a responsibility, it's also a power and a privilege."

Master Benedict gestured. "Now try them on. I tried to aim a few sizes big to be grown into."

"The fact I'm suddenly growing again is still hard to fathom..."