69 Rag Dolls
Navigating through the crude Vanvan jungle is like an uphill battle. It wears you down. Follow the narrow road and be well or lose sense of direction in the maze of tall trees that all look exactly the same. There are only two points of interest in the forest. Both are the cabins of Dr. Mose Keller in opposite corners of the forest.
At the south of this useless forest is a huge marshland. A few rotting boats are scattered all over this place. History has proved it is very difficult to wade these waters on foot. It is a fine escape route if your purser isn't on a boat.
Raffaella, however, did not think of this. She charged headfirst into the forest while carrying Arnacia, who could barely walk. On top of this foolishness, she did not think of her own limits. Her thin body was only used to sitting on a chair and collecting the herbs that flow down the river once a day.
A kind voice called out to her multiple times, but she only heard when the owner was just an arm's reach away from her. A hand landed on her shoulder. The simple touch made her cry on top of her voice.
"Let me help you," the voice said as its owner easily pulled Arnacia's body away from Raffaella's arms.
It was, naturally, the Scholar Knight, Gerome. He found the two girls as easily as a tiger sniffs to its prey. Raffaella punched and held his legs, but he kept walking as if only a rag doll was dragged along.
Tears flowed down Raffaella's eyes like a brook. She wanted to ignore it but deep down she feared that the nice and friendly Arnacia might be a witch. She didn't wish for her friend to be taken by a Knight because witches only have one cure.
Death.
***
Gerome threw Arnacia and Raffaella in front of the doctor's house like rag dolls. Theon immediately closed in to inspect the person disguised as the boy Archie. The makeup around the jawbone was erased, and the braids wrapped around the head were open to see.
It was definitely the witch, the witch in one piece and breathing. Theon kept the girl on his shoulder like a rag doll. If possible, he wanted to go back to Lanceworth tonight.
"I suppose we can have the doctor treat her," Gerome casually said.
"Sir, she is a witch and we must not forget the dangers-" Theon turned silent when Gerome raised a hand.
Dr. Mose was hugging his daughter. All worries washed away when he inspected Raffaella and found no injuries. Only minor scratches and dirty clothes. He was listening to the conversation when one ear. He turned to look at the Knight and so did Raffaella.
Theon put Arnacia's body down on the rugs inside the basement. He gave a threatening look to the doctor. A sword was already drawn in his hand. Its blade shined and the sharp metal was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
***
Gerome stopped at the front door. He did not enter the house, instead signaled Theon to go with the doctor. The river glowed under the starry sky only a few hundred meters in front of him. There was only the sound of water flowing and wind sweeping the surroundings.
"Isn't this a surprise, the first time I noticed your presence." Gerome said after Theon and the group were gone.
"Aren't the more mysterious one now? Why do you let the girl be treated?" Sheafer revealed himself as he suddenly appeared beside the river.
Gerome smiled as narrated the incident from his childhood.
The days were listless since he was the youngest son. His blue hair swayed in the wind as she lay on the ground. The clouds were exceptionally beautiful and bright that day. Suddenly an orange-haired boy approached him.
The boy's name was Eric. He showed a wooden bird to Gerome. The bird could dance by winding a key, and it could even fly for a few feet. It was the start of a short-lasting friendship.
Eric was the new housemaid's son. He brought new toys and puzzles every day to show Gerome. They quickly became friends.
"If you want it, you can have it." Gerome remembered the exact words and the first gift he recieved was a ship. There were many buttons on the ship for different actions. Sometimes the sails would fold, sometimes a little person popped up near the helm. It was a package full of little Easter eggs.
Eric started gifting new toys every day. He was happy to see his new friend happy. Each toy was full of mystery. Only after a few days, he brought over a sealed cube. It was a mystery cube, and the boys spent the new few weeks unraveling the cube layer by layer.
Again, Eric gave the cube to Gerome. And the gift cycle continued.
Suddenly, Eric stopped coming over to play. It was only after a few years Gerome realized that all the toys were precious selling commodities and the boy's family was too scared to ask them back.
"Eric showed me a new world full of mysteries. I couldn't thank him then, but I promised myself to properly thank the people who show me fun things." Gerome said. "I am not helping the girl, but not letting a doctor cure his patient is a bigger sin than stabbing a man's heart.
"I should check on the witch." Gerome said to Sheafer.
"What do you plan to do now?" Sheafer asked.
"Oh, I don't know, but I am more curious about you being here and why I am being stopped from seeing the treatment?" Gerome smiled. He smiled even wider when Sheafer said nothing. Thus, he quickly headed inside the house.
***
In the basement, between the shelves. Theon held the sword with both hands. It seemed as if he was ready to chop down at any moment. Caution was a great thing as taught by Aciano Alucard. He didn't even look back when Gerome approached.
Arnacia was lying on her back. A towel covered most of her precious chest and hid the necessity from the spectators. Raffaella and Mose were sitting beside her. A thin, hollow metallic needle was pierced right at the spot above her heart.
Mose exhaled and held the needle in between his fingers. He applied pressure, but it did not look like the needle moved. Only fine eyes could make out the little movement.
The hollow needle had pierced through her chest as made way towards the heart. But the doctor stopped it at an accurate spot. Any further and he could've punctured Arnacia's heart.
"I lack the skill to cure her heart disease. This is the best I can do. Raffaella." Mose said.
Raffaella carefully poured a multi-colored liquid into Arnacia's mouth from a little cup the size of her little finger. Arnacia's body visibly reddened after a few seconds. Mose pressed on the needle just as this change occurred.
A gold-colored gas seeped out of the needle. Mose frowned and forgot to signal Raffaella, but the girl poured another round of liquid into Arnacia's mouth. Slowly, a baby fist sized gas cloud formed above the needle.
Arnacia's eyes twitched repeatedly. Her face was red, but her frown eased with other muscles of her face. Mose swiftly pulled out the needle when he found Arnacia's condition at ease. He could have continued the treatment, but the medicinal liquid was limited.
"What did you do?" Gerome asked in awe. He had never even heard a rumor about doctors piercing a needle into the heart, and it happened right in front of his eyes. What was that liquid? He quickly snatched the empty cup from Raffaella's hand. A rainbow colored medicine was mentioned in King Christopher's Tales.
"Answer!" Theon barked.
"I…" Mose wasn't looking at Arnacia, nor at the Knights. He stared at the dissipating golden gas.
"What is this golden gas?" Gerome raised his voice for the first time.
"This.." Mose waved his hand and made a grasping motion at the golden gas. "It's Fantasy Air."
