The Healer of the Red Flame
Neir handled the reins with surprising ease. Though she had stumbled and lost her balance at first, she soon found a comfortable rhythm. She took to looking around, occasionally reaching out to touch the low-hanging branches of the trees we passed. Sometimes, she would even pat the horse’s neck to soothe it, a soft smile playing on her lips. I was relieved; she didn't seem to hate the journey to Stakpin as much as I had feared.
We didn't speak much to each other. We had agreed to start as friends, but the awkwardness remained. I drove the horse forward without rushing, trusting that time would solve our problems.
.
.
.
We traveled throughout the day until the sun finally dipped below the horizon. Following Adam’s orders, we halted our movement and set up camp. Neir and I sat on a fallen log nearby, watching the other members bustle about with their preparations.
“Is anything bothering you?”
It was the first thing I had said to her in a long time. Neir turned to look at me, and just as she was about to shake her head, she hesitated and stroked the inside of her thigh instead.
“Actually, my thighs are a bit sore.”
I chuckled, remembering the days when I first started riding.
“It’s bound to hurt if you aren't used to it. But you’re holding up well. You’ve got some muscle aches, too, right?”
“...Yes.”
Baran approached us from a distance. In his hand was the drink I had requested. He smiled as he looked at Neir.
“Good evening, Madam.”
“Yes, good evening to you.”
True to our agreement, Neir continued her performance. Ever since that march in the Blackwood territory where we hunted the leader beast, she had worn a mask of sorts in front of the mercenary corps. I was simply grateful for her effort. If I had ended up with a much crueler woman, she wouldn't have even bothered with this much.
“Vice-captain, here is your drink.”
“Right, thanks, Baran.”
“Don't mention it.”
Baran handed over the drink and walked away without another word. He seemed to have his own tasks to attend to. I downed the liquor he brought. The burning sensation as it slid down my throat washed away the day’s fatigue.
“...You seem to like alcohol quite a bit.”
Neir remarked from beside me. I rolled my eyes to look at her and nodded.
“It makes the exhaustion melt away.”
“What kind of drink is it?”
“Rum. Want to try some?”
I held the glass out to her. Neir looked at it with curiosity and took a sniff. She immediately wrinkled her nose and pulled back.
“It smells terrible.”
I giggled and took the glass back. I thought it might be fun to share a drink with her sometime in the future.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out. Someone was raising their voice, and the heads of the other members turned one by one. Neir and I followed suit. The noise was coming from the wagon where the injured were kept.
“...Damn it.”
I felt the gravity of the situation and stood up immediately. Neir followed suit. We rushed toward the noise with long strides, pushing through the gathering members to reach the center of the chaos. Neir stuck close to my back, following me.
Adam was already at the center. Jackson was there, too.
“Hey! Wake up, man!!”
Theodore, who managed the wounded, was there as well. They were shouting over a member who had collapsed. It was Shawn, a member of the leader-beast squad.
“Shawn...!”
I cried out in shock. I felt the blood drain from my face. He had only suffered a minor arm injury, yet here he was, collapsed and trembling violently. He had been fine just this morning. But now, he had lost consciousness, and red spots were spreading across his body. It looked critical at a glance.
“Shawn...! Get a hold of yourself...!”
Theodore, the officer, slapped his cheeks and shook him, but Shawn showed no signs of waking.
“Theodore...! Is there nothing you can do?”
Adam shouted, but Theodore looked confused, as if he had no idea what was happening.
“I don't know why this is happening...! Why so suddenly...!”
There had been cases like this before. Members who died because their wounds festered despite perfect treatment. Whenever that happened, we could only watch them die, unable to do a thing. I felt frantic. Had there been a part of Shawn’s wound that had festered? I approached him, knowing I had to take some kind of action.
“Theodore. Get some water. Take off the bandages on his arm. First, just-”
And then, Neir appeared beside me.
“Be...Berg, wait a moment...”
She stepped past me and knelt beside Shawn. Everyone fell silent at her sudden action. We were helpless, and Neir was a Wolf-kin skilled in medicine. I doubted what a noble lady could really do, but we had no choice but to gamble on her race. Though, given that he had lost consciousness from a festering wound, I didn't think there was much to be done.
Neir examined the spots closely and turned to me.
“Berg, I can save him.”
Her answer was so confident, yet her shoulders were hunched. She seemed burdened by the gazes of so many members, so she kept her eyes fixed only on me.
“...It’s not because his wound festered. He was bitten by a ‘Herun Spider.’ They only inhabit the areas near the Blackwood territory.”
Even if she said that, we were all ignorant of such things. We knew how to treat wounds sustained on the battlefield, but we knew nothing of insect venom.
“What do you need?”
I asked her.
“Water and... Calyx leaves. They’re in my... my luggage.”
“Theodore, you heard her.”
Theodore was in charge of supplies. When I called him, he barked orders at his subordinates.
“Go get Neir’s luggage! Quickly! You there! Get the water!”
.
.
.
Neir continued to tell me what she needed, step by step. Whether we needed to change his position, if she needed more space, or if we needed to strip his clothes to find the bite mark. Following her instructions, Theodore and I treated Shawn. Neir ground the leaves the members brought, and in the meantime, we stripped Shawn and found the bite mark. When we found the mark exactly where she said it would be, everyone gasped in admiration.
We squeezed the wound and drew out the blood. We washed away the dark, clotted blood with water. She continued to issue orders from the side, and we didn't question her even once. Finally, when we fed Shawn the medicine she had concocted, his trembling gradually subsided, and his ragged breathing slowed. He was stabilizing.
“...Did it work?”
Theodore whispered.
“Seems like it.”
Adam said. A long, relieved sigh escaped my own lips. I had spent four years with Shawn. Aside from Adam and Baran, he was one of the people I had known the longest. Could I have ever imagined losing him so pointlessly? Just a few days ago, he had been laughing and joking with Gidin. It was a moment that made me realize once again how fleeting life truly is.
I had never been more grateful for Neir’s presence. It wasn't the first time I had lost a member so helplessly. As they watched Shawn return from the threshold of death, awe began to fill everyone’s eyes. No one values a healer more than a mercenary corps. Everyone was putting themselves in Shawn’s shoes. If not for Neir, he would have died.
I was glad I had suggested we start as friends. If our relationship had been any worse, would Neir have stepped up to save Shawn? Neir, unaware of the shifting atmosphere, sighed as she looked down at Shawn, who was now breathing comfortably.
“...I think it’s done, Berg.”
She even offered a small smile.
“...It’s my first time saving someone like this. It’s quite...”
Neir turned to look at me. Realizing she was sitting in the center of a silent crowd, she began to look self-conscious.
“...Ah.”
She tried to put her mask back on, but it was too late; a hiccup escaped her lips. Neir blushed, looking embarrassed. She pressed her lips together. Her tail curled up.
Compliments began to pour in from all sides.
“She’s pretty and smart, too.”
“Thank goodness you’re here, really... Ah, Shawn...”
“Vice-captain, you really married well.”
At those words, Neir pressed closer to me. She still seemed awkward with this kind of attention. It must have felt strange to be hearing such things from humans in the first place. She didn't like me yet, but among this crowd, I was clearly the person she relied on most. This obvious, trivial fact brought me a strange sense of joy.
She brought her face close to my chest, using my body to hide herself. She was almost buried in my arms. I read her mood and spoke up.
“...Shawn seems to be doing fine. Everyone, go back now. Go finish what you were doing. The sun will be down soon.”
Everyone began to disperse at my command. Adam sighed in relief and nodded at me. Slowly, he turned his body, casting one last lingering look at Neir. Neir’s status would inevitably rise from here on out. To prepare for any future misfortunes, everyone would try their best to take care of her. They would bring bribes, asking for her help if something happened to them. Proper medical knowledge was worth its weight in gold. I was happy that Neir seemed to be melting into our mercenary corps.
As the group dispersed, I took Neir by the wrist and led her away. I brought her back to the spot where we had been sitting earlier.
****
Neir calmed her racing heart. She felt a sense of pride, but she was also surprised. She hadn't expected all the mercenaries to look at her that way. Eyes filled with surprise and respect. They were gazes she wasn't used to. Her heart was still pounding. It wasn't beating as violently as before, but she could still feel it moving intensely.
“...”
Neir looked at Berg, who was holding her hand and leading her. Every so often, he would lead her like this. Contrary to her expectation that she would feel a sense of rejection, she didn't find it all that unpleasant. She couldn't even explain why to herself. ...Did her racing heart have something to do with it?
Just a moment ago, when everyone cast those burdensome gazes at her, she had instinctively sought out Berg’s arms. She hadn't thought about the reason. Her body had reacted first. And she hadn't forgotten the peace she felt when she hid in his embrace. ...Neir realized then that Berg was the only person in this mercenary corps she could truly rely on. A strange emotion stirred at that realization.
“...Berg?”
Suddenly, Neir wondered where they were going. Since Berg hadn't said a word, she couldn't help but wonder. But the answer came quickly. The spot where they had been sitting earlier came into view. Berg’s glass was overturned, and the people around them were gone. It seemed everyone had gone back to their chores because of what had just happened. Berg seemed to have read her mind and brought her to a secluded place. She was grateful for even that. She hadn't hated the respectful gazes from earlier, but they hadn't been comfortable, either.
And then, Berg let go of her hand. He turned to face her, meeting her eyes. Neir didn't know what to say, so she spoke.
“...It’s, it’s a relief... even though the symptoms I knew were-”
-Thump.
While she was speaking, Berg pulled her into an embrace. Neir took a deep breath. She forgot to exhale. Her eyes widened, and her tail stiffened. She realized belatedly that he was hugging her.
“...Thank you.”
He whispered. His sincerity came through. She could feel that heart in his arms. It was the most emotional side of him she had ever seen. Neir didn't know what to say. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. Surprisingly, she felt no discomfort. Was it because of his words about starting as friends? It felt like an expression of affection he was offering as a friend.
“...Th...ah...of course...”
Neir stammered out fragmented words. It was her first time stepping up to do something so significant. It was also her first time being praised for it.
“Neir. Thank you, truly.”
He said, pulling her closer into his chest once more. An unavoidable joy filled Neir’s heart.
“...Ah.”
And for a moment, having lost her focus, her tail began to wag uncontrollably. Neir reached back to grab her tail. Was it because she had kept saying things to push him away? She was always embarrassed to have her inner feelings exposed like this. She hated that her body was signaling that it was happy. She felt like a fool for having said she hated it.
But Berg burst into laughter at the sight of her tail. His laughter seemed to say he was glad she wasn't uncomfortable with the hug. Neir slowly let go of her tail at his comfortable laughter. She let it wag as it pleased. There was nothing to be unhappy about right now. There was no need to hide this emotion. It was a moment that would make anyone happy. So, she let her tail wag until Berg let her go. She secretly smiled in his arms. Perhaps a friend was a much better companion than she had thought.