The Novel's Sidekick

The mountain turned dark, yet we have not found all the ingredients that Yeriel would need to concoct the medication.

Three moons peeking through the swirling clouds as I roamed around holding a luminescent lamp in the swift icy wind. We had been searching for about four hours now and found many herbs. Many of them are expensive, however, most of them are for something else. Though there were useful herbs, we still needed to find a key ingredient before Yeriel could brew the medicine.

More than half a dozen men were searching in this awful weather. Surely something useful will come up. The only question was, can Lord Kirien's wife hold on for that long?

I crept towards Yeriel, who was working through the ice to find anything useful. She should be the most tired person here. I, William and a few others already ate her brain to tell her to rest, however, a healer needs to continue her duty until the patient is safe. That's what she quoted every time to everyone.

I swore that something like this would kill her. Well, actually, it did. Shaking my head, I called, "Yeriel.”

"By the name of Ishar," the Endus maiden said, not looking back. "If you tell me to get some rest now, I will fire you with the coldest water I can conjure."

Even though this girl was shuddering in the cold, she kept on with the search.

"No, I already gave up on that," I said, bringing out the small container of honey. "I just wanted to give you this."

Yeriel didn’t look back, as if didn’t hear my voice. I had to poke her in the cap she wore to get her attention.

"Take it. If you catch a cold, there will not be any healer to heal."

Yeriel sighed as hot air drifted off from the gaps in her muffler. "Thank you," she said and took the honey. She only opened the head of the container and smelt it, and she knew this was something extraordinary. "This is Hunter Bee's honey?"

I nodded. "Don't think too much, just take it. You can give me some dynes like the other time if you like," I said, remembering how she paid back for the food I brought her the very first day of my transmigration. " Or consider it a bribe for tutoring me. Just take care of yourself."

"I hate you," Yeriel muttered and gulped a few drops of the honey. Her white cheeks, which were paled in the cold, turned a little red after she swirled her spirit energy. "You always poke me at my helplessness."

"Then stop being helpless," I said.

Surely, if she works herself better with her ability, she would be far better off than she is currently. This was more of a fault of the mindset she was brought up with. Indeed, she had to look at every step as not to offend any nobles. She was one girl long away from home. She might be fine with it with the identity of the honour student in the most prestigious academy, but what about her family?

Moreover, the people of Endus are mostly earthly and conservative. They do care about money and everything else, but they are far more passive compared to Mahenarians. If Yeriel put her ability to good use in all directions—she was capable of—she would be in a far better state economically than she currently is.

Though the academy sucks money equally from everyone to give them the vibe that the students owe nothing to the academy, the academy still gives them an opportunity to earn the money back through a lot of sources from part-time jobs to the tasks in the mission hall.

Yeriel went back to her search, giving me a curt glare. While I waited for anyone responsible to come, so that I could give Yeriel's safety to him, before I went down with my business.

"That's a Goinkar tree," Yeriel said abruptly before moving first towards a towering tree. "It's juice can be used in a lot of diseases."

She almost fell off on her quick movement, but luckily, I was there to catch her arms before she could fall off. "It's just a tree. It won't run away."

Yeriel thanked me and got there, this time more carefully. She brought out a small glass container from her handbag, and I helped her create a slight cut on the tree with a dagger.

"Have you got any news from Yasmine?" Yeriel asked, collecting the green liquid into the container.

"Yes," I said, looking at the juice pouring in drips. "She's in the border, Haktshin Canyon, in the camp of Highprince Gareth Sholinar. Doing fine, I guess, but busy as hell."

I actually got calls from her a couple of times. Even though communication in the world could not be compared to earth, it's still quite good for people with money and connection. There are some communication devices in the academy that could transfer voice, though it would cost a lot of money to use it. She called there twice in the last two weeks and we talked for a few minutes.

We both are equally busy with our stuff and using the devices does not come open, so we only promised to talk once a week for a few minutes, though I always forget to tell her what I have in my mind. Evidently, I turn a little slow whenever I am with her.

"She's been working hard as a common soldier for a few weeks now," I said. "She told me if everything works well, she will give me some surprises within the next month." Though I knew what the surprise would be and did not wish her to give it to me.

But wishes disappointed one almost all the time. She would surely get the position of the escort Knight of the princess if nothing goes wrong.

"Five months," I muttered as the time was cutting down. I unconsciously looked east from there, in the direction where the sealed rift should be.

"Five months?" Yeriel asked, finished collecting the juice.

"Nothing," I said and felt some disturbance incoming. Perhaps someone from their team was coming, however, my right arm got to the hilt of the nail sword, and my spirit force stimulated with a swirl as well.

"Lady Yeriel, are you there?" the voice of Lord Kirien came loudly through the icy wind; escorting him was William. "I found what you need. I have the Ice-blood asparagus."

Yeriel stood up immediately, and we saw a broad figured silhouette coming towards them, while a shorter one followed. I relaxed.

"Finally," Yeriel said, and we walked towards Lord Kirien.

"Is that what you need?" the middle-aged Knight bought out a crystal red glass-like straw plant and showed it to her. Yeriel identified it carefully for a couple of seconds and nodded. "With this, we have everything.”

“I mentioned this already to Sir Kirien a dozen of times,“ William cut in, smiling, “but he won’t believe me, spouting the healer would know best.”

Lord Kirien’s mood was a lot better getting the final ingredient, however, the haste was still there. “Let’s go back to the camp then.”

Yeriel was about to agree, and I was about to decline when William beat us to it, nudging me on the shoulder.

"Do you have the honey with you?” he asked. “I’m freezing up in this weather, and it looks like the blizzard would hit soon.”

"You guys should leave first,” I told Yeriel first, bringing out the small glass container. Tossing it to William, I continued, “I still have some business left here. Also, I will tell the others if I see them on the path that there's no need to search more."

Yeriel looked back at me and frowned. She remembered I was here to do a more serious mission than her job. “Be Careful.”

“Thanks,” William said, taking the honey in moderation this time around. “Lady Yeriel, Sir Kirien, you two should have this.”

“Thanks,“ Yeriel declined politely, “Oscar offered me just a few moments ago.”

“He did.” William gave me a look to return to the elderly knight. “Sir, you should have it, it's magical. Don’t worry, Prince Oscar is rich and generous.”

I coughed out at that comment. ‘Isn’t this how salesmen swindle money from me?' Well, I do have a big container full of honey at the academy, so there’s nothing to worry about.

“Lord Kirien, you should have it,” I said, nodding. “The weather takes pity on nobody.” He should know that better than anyone else.

“Thanks, I guess,” Lord Kirien said, giving me a deep stare before taking the container from William.

“Be careful, Oscar,” Yeriel reminded me again, cupping her palms in a praying manner. “Ishar is with you.”

“Thanks,” I said, not poking at her faith, as Yeriel said everything of good will. “I’ll take me a couple of hours or more. Don’t worry about me.”

Lord Kirien gave me back the containers as we parted. The three figures left quickly as I watched them go. Then my eyes went eastwards, and I activated the suit.

Now it's time to fly.

- - -

Hey, guys the book will go under paywall from tomorrow. I'll write down a short note about it in the next chapter.