ELISE COLLAPSED on the stool. It felt like she had just come out from performing surgery. To add, it was her first time doing a serious case using the ancient medical treatment and she had no one assisting her. Mostly, she practiced with some volunteers or her family but it was normally simple headaches and body pains.

The woman they met earlier at the shop stormed inside the room. "What happened I only received the orb after I exited the Central."

"Nothing. It was just a life and death situation for our younger brother," Dryann responded haughtily.

"How is he now?" Arllian looked worried and turned in the direction of Hadrien.

"He's fine. No thanks to you," Dryann bit back.

Elise now believed that this woman actually hated everyone except for her family.

"Dryann! That's enough," Brennan cut in. "Please check on him, Arllian."

Arllian went to Hadrien and checked his pulse and body.

"He's all fine," Arllian notified.

She heard sighs of relief. It seemed like they were still doubtful of her but she understood them. 'Who wouldn't?' If an amnesiac, even if it was just a ruse, treated their loved one in a critical situation, she wouldn't trust them either.

"However, it's strange. You told me he's poisoned but he's completely alright." Arllian probed.

"He was a while ago. He got poisoned by the thousand bloom," Brennan answered for her.

Arllian's gasps, her eyes returning to Hadrien. "What? How come he's not bleeding?"

"It's thanks to Elise," Erkhan beamed. "She cured him all by herself. Even without magic!"

"But that's impossible. The cure would not take effect quickly even with magic. Much less with none. It will take for mostly three days and he needed to be covered with bandages but I checked his pulse and his blood flow was normal," Arllian said as her voice reflected her perplexion.

"It was because the cure does not contain an herb that would replenish blood. The herbs used for closing the pores are also too weak. The process also does not tell to wipe the blood which was wrong since the poison was in the blood and the body should be cleaned. The poison would be extracted from the body with the help of the flowing blood which would not happen if the body was bandaged," she explained, making them gape in awe except for Aricson on the corner.

"Wow. That's awesome, Elise, even if I don't understand anything," Erkhan praised.

"You're amazing," Faylinn chimed in.

"Are you also a Healer? How come I did not even see you once in Medical City?" Arllian questioned.

"I don't have any memories so I don't know," she lied.

"Really? Then how did you do it?" Arllian pressed curiously, her interest was apparently caught.

"I read about the thousand bloom since it had the same effect with shard fish although a lot more lethal. I noticed some flaws and those were the things I mentioned earlier so I searched for some other ingredients that would help to retain the purpose of the medicine but make it more effective. Instead of mixing glass petals, I used the autumn barks as a substitute so it would extract the poison from the body instead of closing the pores. I also mixed some lotus powder which is good to replenish blood and does not counter any effects of the other herbs. In fact, it even helps to make mixtures more effective," she tried to enlighten them.

"How about the closing of the pores? It's a crucial part. Even if you took out the poison if you cannot stop the bleeding. it will still result in death," Arllian scrutinized, looking awed and confused.

It was similar to how her classmates sought her when she answered a teacher's question they had no idea about. But honestly, that was just her reading everything in advance. She had to spend sleepless nights just reading different materials that could help her master everything and even if she was in another world, she could not stop her habit. 

Thankfully, she was able to help when she realized how it was similar to rat poison. The best way of treatment was drinking water but knowing this was a different world, there were some factors to consider. She had lucked out but deep inside, she was fully aware she should stop her overconfidence since there was a chance of failure. But then again, she had never experienced loss once she put her mind to it.

"So what is it?" Arllian prodded.

"Ah, that's where the blue-grass comes in. According to the books, they contained minimal healing effects but there was something strange in their component. It is brittle and easily ground so I decided to mix it with water to help close the pores and cleanse the body from any residual effects of the poison. As I had guessed, blue-grass is more effective when mixed with water. I actually don't know how many buckets were needed. I think five buckets at most would be sufficient but the longer the body bleeds, the more blue-grass water you need."

"Woah! You're really making me fall for you," Erkhan commented which, of course, she ignored.

"I'm impressed. No one thought of that. I should report it to Uncle Gustavious. I know he will be pleased with your discovery." Arllian smiled in delight.

"You have our thanks," said Brennan in such a formal tone.

"I'm really glad it was Erkhan who found you and brought you here," Faylinn mumbled beside me and gave me another hug.

"Come on, be grateful to her already, Elder Sis," Erkhan persuaded Dryann who had her arms crossed.

"T-thank y-you."

Elise wanted to laugh at how the woman was stuttering and even her cheeks were reddening but she decided not to.

"How peculiar! Is the world ending? Our little Dryann is even blushing and what's more, she's even stuttering," Brennan quipped.

The rest of them burst into teasing laughter and even Aricson had a small smile on his lips.

"Why? Is it wrong if I stutter?!" she snapped back.

"Now, our grumpy Elder Sister is back," Erkhan said with mocking melancholy.

Dryann's eyes squinted with a red flush on her face. No one could tell if it was due to rage or embarrassment as she walked out of the room without further notice.

"We should leave too and let Hadrien rest," Aricson stated then faced her. "I'm going to send you to your room."

She did not complain anymore and let him since she was tired. As they walk, she was hardly aware of the four pairs of eyes following them.

Her room was not that far from Erkhan so they reached her door after a couple of minutes. She opened it and thanked him.

But what happened next caught her off-guard, as his normally cool face turned into a full gentle smile that actually reached his eyes.

"Thank you," he muttered and left her staring into space.

༻❁༺

U n S c e n e s

Q: Did you ever see Rei Aricson laugh?

Dryann: Why are you asking me?

Faylinn: Please don't mind Dryann. But Brother? Laugh? That are two words that seldom appear in one sentence. It's almost impossible to break his austere face!

Erkhan: You're wrong, Fay. If you want to see Eldest Brother's laughing face, just look at Brennan when he's flirting with Sister Arllian. I bet even Eldest Brother will be embarrassed to see---

Brennan: *chants a spell to shut him up*