The House of Healing Ward
As soon as Shanz stepped inside, his eyes roamed every corner of the hall. Rows of wooden cots stretched openly across the space, each one occupied by the sick or injured. Strange… why place the beds out here in the open? he wondered. Aren't there proper rooms for this?
He trailed behind Urae, following her through the center aisle as they passed patients groaning softly on their beds. The air smelled faintly of herbs and dried cloth, sharp enough to sting his nose.
Finally, Urae stopped in front of a door at the far end of the hall. She rapped her knuckles lightly against it.
"Doctor, the child patient I kept in my house is awake now," she called out.
Shanz glanced at the sign above the frame: Doctor's Room. His gaze flicked to either side of the hallway—on the left, a door marked Medicinal Herbs & Cloths. On the right, another door labeled Medicine & Potions.
While Urae waited at the door, Shanz kept scanning the environment, memorizing every little detail.
The door creaked open after Urae's knock, and the smell of herbs drifted out. A deep but steady voice answered,
"Bring him in."
Shanz followed Urae inside, his bare feet brushing the wooden floor. The room was simple yet crowded, shelves of bottled tinctures, bundles of dried plants hanging from the ceiling, and a desk covered in parchment filled with odd diagrams of the human body.
Behind the desk sat a man in brown leather robes, a cloth tied around his bald head. His gloved hands were stained with herbs, and a faint mustache sat neatly above his lips. His green eyes caught Shanz's immediately—they glowed faintly, not in color but in presence, sharp enough to make his spine stiffen.
For a moment, Shanz thought he was being studied like a dissected frog.
But then, the man's expression softened.
"So, you're the child who survived the raid." His tone was low and serious, yet strangely calm. "Sit. You've walked far more than your body can handle."
Urae stepped forward, bowing her head slightly. "Doctor Decoctus… he insisted on getting out of bed the moment he woke. I thought it best to bring him here."
Decoctus gave her a small nod before turning back to Shanz. He raised his hand slightly, and in that instant, Shanz felt it—the air shifted, almost like a warm breeze brushing over his skin. He couldn't see it, but something stirred, faint and subtle, like an invisible current moving around the doctor.
His mind spun. What the hell was that…?
Decoctus's gaze lingered on him, then he leaned back in his chair, folding his gloved hands.
"We'll talk. But first, tell me your name."
As Shanz looked at the doctor, he forced a nervous smile, his small hands trembling slightly.
"A-ah… M-my name is Shanz… I am nine years old, d-doctor…"
He stuttered deliberately, his voice wavering as if he were truly just a frightened child.
Decoctus's sharp green eyes narrowed slightly, studying him with quiet intensity. Then, in a calm and measured tone, he asked,
"Mhm… Your last name?"
Shanz swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep up the act.
"A… Aelric…" he answered, his words stumbling off his tongue.
For a long breath, the doctor held his gaze, unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, Decoctus chuckled softly, a gentle smile curving beneath his mustache.
"Don't be nervous, child. I don't harm people." His voice was light, almost playful, and the tension seemed to ease with the sound.
Urae, however, tilted her head in thought. Aelric…? she wondered silently. The surname echoed faintly in her mind. He seems like an immigrant having a black hair and those... Black eyes as well...
Decoctus adjusted the handkerchief tied across his bald head, his green eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the boy before him. The doctor's gaze lingered—not on Shanz himself, but on the memory of what the nurse had whispered earlier.
A child… carrying a katana? Strange. Very strange.
"Young one," Decoctus finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying a quiet weight. "I've been told you were found with a sword at your side. A weapon not meant for someone of your age… nor your body." His mustache twitched slightly as he tilted his head. "Why is that, I wonder?"
Shanz stiffened at the question, his small hands fidgeting against his knees. "I-I… it's mine," he muttered, forcing the words out.
Decoctus chuckled softly, though the sound carried no mockery. "A katana… so precious to you that you worried more for it than for your own wounds. Hm." He leaned forward, resting his leather-gloved hands on the desk. "Tell me, child… do you know what it means to wield such a weapon in this world?"
Shanz blinked, confused. "M-means…?"
Decoctus exhaled through his nose, his eyes flashing briefly with a faint light. He sat back, his tone gentling. "No, of course you don't. Then allow me to explain.
"In this world, strength alone is never enough, not even for those blessed with talent. There exists something far greater—an unseen force that flows through all living things, threading through their veins, their hearts, and even their minds. It is this power that grants one the ability to wield sorcery, to shape what others call magic… It is known as Azura."
Shanz sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the doctor as he explained. But inside his head, thoughts swirled.
Azura, huh? Don't tell me this is just their version of mana... What the heck is this supposed to be? He clenched his small hands slightly, careful not to show it on his face. If I'm right, they're probably using it to fight monsters or to climb their way to power. Typical... Always chasing something greater.
He forced a faint, innocent smile to cover the storm in his mind. Damn it... This is worse than I expected, well I have to pretend I'm an innocent child for awhile...
The doctor's voice carried steadily, his hands moving with each word as if to paint the concept in the air.
"Azura… it is power that flows within the chosen. Some are born with it, their gift clear from the start. Others… well, theirs awakens later in life. And there are those who spend their entire lives waiting, searching—only to find that no spark lies within them." His green eyes softened for a moment, then hardened again as he continued.
"Long ago, an ancient sage sought a way to reveal this hidden power. Through his research, he created the first appraisal crystal—a sphere about the size of a man's fist, clear as glass but brimming with light. With it, one could measure the flow of Azura within a person… or confirm if they had none at all."
The doctor gestured toward a shelf as though recalling its presence, his expression tightening. "That crystal changed everything. Kingdoms fought to possess it. Guilds used it to test recruits. Families clung to it, hoping their children would not be born powerless."
Shanz sat quietly, his small hands folded on his lap, eyes fixed on the doctor. Outwardly, he wore the mask of an attentive child. Inwardly, however, his thoughts churned.
Tch, I knew it. Of course this world would have something like this… Azura, appraisal crystals, awakening… it's all the same pattern. Mana, magic power, spiritual energy—different names, same function. I've read it a thousand times in novels, seen it in games, even history myths. This is the system every world seems to fall into…
His lips curved into the faintest of smiles, one that he quickly suppressed before the doctor could notice. But still, if this is their foundation, then I'll need to play along. After all… my "system" hasn't even revealed my Azura yet.
The doctor leaned forward, folding his hands on the table as his tone softened.
"So… such weapons can be deadly when paired with Azura. But—" his voice dipped, "I'm sorry, child. You were not born with such gifts. You should enjoy life peacefully. If danger comes, run. Do not fight it."
At his side, Urae's brows furrowed. She nudged the doctor sharply, whispering through clenched teeth, "You fool! Why would you reveal it to him this early? Couldn't you have made it simpler?"
The doctor flinched, whispering back defensively, "E-early is better! He must know so he learns to flee, not fight. A child like him should live… not die chasing power."
Shanz's smile froze, his small hands tightening on his knees. Inside, irritation prickled. So that's how it is, huh? No potential, no chance, just run away… Easier said than done. Images of Veylith flashed in his mind—the stench of the corpses, the cries of the dying, and the towering figure of the spared Goliath.
He raised his head, his voice calm but firm. "Sorry. But I have to disagree."
The doctor's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, child?"
"I have to train," Shanz said, his tone sharper this time. "Even without Azura. Even if I'm weak, I won't run away. I'll get stronger… strong enough to save people from suffering. I don't care how many times I fall—I'll rise back, stronger than ever."
The room fell silent. The doctor let out a long sigh, tilting his head into one palm, lost in thought. A child shouldn't speak like this… and yet, he refuses to bend. Hmph. If nothing else, he has resolve. But resolve alone won't save him against Azura wielders… unless I see it with my own eyes.
After a pause, he straightened, his gaze settling on Shanz with newfound weight.
"…Very well. I'll return your katana. But tell me, boy—do you have any way to grow stronger?"
His eyes searched Shanz's face, testing him.
"Any skills? Techniques? Talent with that blade? Because without Azura… only pure skill can keep you alive. I may be a doctor now, but once I was an adventurer. I know weapons—and I know how merciless the world can be."
Shanz's gaze sharpened as he stood up, voice steady.
"I have fought… and defeated a goblin."
The doctor's brows furrowed, his thoughts skeptical. A goblin? A common monster, nothing too—
Before the thought could settle, Shanz cut in, his tone unwavering.
"It was no ordinary one. I didn't rely on strength alone—I used my wits. That's why I can say this with certainty: I am capable of wielding a weapon."
The doctor's eyes widened slightly. Stubborn. Irritatingly so. Yet, beneath that defiance, there was something… something that stirred like a spark. He exhaled, long and heavy, before crouching down. His hand disappeared beneath the desk, and when it rose, it carried a sheath with the familiar curved blade resting inside. He placed it on the table between them.
"Very well… but on one condition." His voice was firm, yet not unkind. "You will attend the academy here in town. It is small, yes, but there you will learn about this world—and much more. Only then may you wield this properly."
Shanz's eyes flicked to the katana, then back to the doctor. He gave a deep bow, his voice filled with resolve.
"Thank you, Doctor. I promise… I will make you witness my growth."
Shanz took the katana from the table, his hands steady as he unsheathed it. The blade gleamed faintly under the light, its edge sharp and familiar.
Well, well, well… I gotchu again, my baby.
He slid it back into the sheath with care, then bowed once more to the doctor in gratitude.
As he moved toward the exit, Urae leaned closer to the doctor, whispering something quickly before straightening. She then called out, "Shanz… can we talk for a moment?"
Shanz paused, turning back with a smile that seemed innocent enough for a nine-year-old, though his eyes carried something deeper. "Okay, Urae-sister."
The two of them stepped out of the Healing Ward house together, leaving the doctor behind at his desk. The room grew quiet, save for the faint creak of wood as he leaned back in his chair. His gaze lingered on the door where the boy had stood.
I hope that child can endure the trials ahead. I have seen many like him… some failed and perished, while others rose to heights unimaginable. Which path will he take?
As Shanz and Urae stepped out of the Healing Ward house, the warm breeze of the town brushed against them. Shanz turned to her with a bright smile, bowing slightly.
"Thank you again, sister… and for letting me stay at your house. I truly didn't know earlier, I'm sorry!"
Urae shook her head gently. "No, no, it's alright. I should be the one to apologize—especially for Doctor Decoctus revealing that you don't have any Azura…" She paused, studying him for a moment before adding carefully, "But really, are you—"
"Yes!" Shanz cut her off, his voice firm and eyes steady. "I have to earn it and grow strong, so I can help other people!"
Urae blinked, surprised by his conviction, then sighed softly. Her expression softened into something calm and almost maternal. "Alright, alright… If that's how you feel. Still, since you don't have anyone to stay with, you can remain at my house for now."
Shanz's eyes widened. His heart skipped, a spark of shock flashing through him. WHAT—N-no, no way! Didn't she say before she would send me to an orphanage?
He managed to keep his face calm, a simple smile fixed on his lips while inside his thoughts raced. But… how lucky am I? This way, I can keep my things safe, sleep without worry, and live free.
Shanz's eyebrows shot up quickly before curling into a childish smile at the edge of his lips.
"W-wait… you said you were gonna—"
Urae cut in softly, her tone gentle but firm. "It's alright. I don't have anyone either. We can buy your clothes tomorrow, and things you'll need for the academy as well…" Urae turning her head side away from shanz.
Wait a damn minute... Shanz licking his lips quick then hiding it.
Inside, Shanz's thoughts spun wildly. Heh. I already know that move, she's gonna sponsor me… damn, this is just like that one book I read where the heroine 'adopts' a little brother. Cheeky and sweet at first, all family-friendly—until later it turned into something else entirely. Tch, I really gotta stop remembering that hentai of all things right now… Anyway. Enough of that. Focus, Shanz, focus.
On the outside, he kept the act of a grateful kid, grinning and nodding innocently.
Shanz pretended, bowed again, and thanked her before they walked out together. The town melted into a warm wash of sunset as they made their slow way home, their hands held—small, steady, ordinary.
Shanz kept up the act. He tilted his chin toward the sky and let the childish voice spill out: ""W-wow… look at those stars…""
Urae blinked, puzzled. ""Stars? Where?" she asked. "Isn't the sun just setting?""
Shanz fumbled, eyes flicking to the darkening blue. He pointed at nothing and smiled the sweetest, most innocent smile he could manage. ""A-ah… I saw one—" he stammered. "Y-yes! Right there!""
"W-where?" Urae squinted.
"R-right there!" Shanz insisted, pointing at the blank patch of sky. His grin stayed perfect and childish, though his mind raced under the surface—calculating, planning, delighting at the luck of having a roof and a meal for now.
They walked on, silhouettes against the fading light. Laughter and murmurs from the market drifted behind them; a dog barked somewhere; the smell of bread and woodsmoke folded into the evening. For a moment it felt like safety.
But from the shadow of a stone wall, two figures watched them closely. Hooded, low to the ground, eyes glinting from the dark, they spoke in soft, greedy tones.
"Hmm… that woman," a rough voice murmured—male, low—followed by a dry lick of a tongue. "She looks like a beauty… maybe worth something to steal."
A softer voice, female, answered with a whisper like silk over steel: "Since they're both powerless, let's rob them, Ean."
"You're right, Ruiri…" the man breathed.
They melted back into the shadow, waiting for the right moment to strike...