breeze

Victoria's nobles will not overlook us. The distress team we sent should have found a city by now!

And even if that's true, my children won't be able to last until then.

That doesn't call for robbing a young girl of her food! She collected it by her own efforts.

This scalding on her palms was because out of fear of you stealing it, she directly tried to carry the boiling pot away, right?

The contusions on her arms were from you grabbing her, right?

The back of her head was you pushing her and knocking her against something, RIGHT?

I didn't... mean to hurt her like this...

Her mother and father are done for! Even if she survives, so what? Before long, she'll just be a... an orphan! Even if everything gets better, she can't live on alone!

My children and I are still healthy! Surely our whole family surviving carries more weight than her.

Is that it? You'll weigh their lives...?

Then how about me? My life? How much weight do you see in me?

I've had a little hunch you've all been gawping at me and my Eulogy, whispering about who in the world I could be.

So be so kind as to tell me, how much weight do you see in this single life of mine?

M—Madam! You've treated us, saved us, some of us have guessed you might be a Victorian noble... out of all of us here, you're the most honorable...

Then shouldn't you be giving your food to me, making my survival easier?

Because I—for one—haven't eaten well in a very long time!

...That's...

But you wouldn't be willing to give food to me, would you?

You don't follow any logic, or reason, or any just course of action. All you are is selfish.

I—despise—the selfish, and I'd let alone even the thought of aiding a robber.

In light of you at the VERY least informing me about this, I'll give you one more chance—

Return the food, with not one bit missing! If you've eaten it, make up for it! Or else I guarantee, the distress group's caravan will have no place for you in it.

Yes... I understand, madam.

*sigh*. So I have it in my nature to tell petrifying lies like that too. Whatever, as long as it had a use.

Rita...

Malnutrition, fever, physical trauma, inflammation.

I'll give this fever medication to Rita for now, seeing as it's prepared. If I don't have enough, I can pick some more in a bit to give to the patients in the treatment area.

*whimper*... don't steal my Mama and Papa's porridge...!

Rita! It's me, Grace. I'm just borrowing your pot for the moment, decocting some herbs for you. No need to be scared.

Take this drink in a moment, and you'll feel a little better.

My Mama and Papa's... food... got... stolen...

It's okay, your food will come back. Just trust in me for now, and get some rest.

Mnn...

Here, I've already blown it cool it for you, Rita. Open your mouth a bit.

...Ah...

That's great, Rita! There's a little spilling from your mouth. Let me wipe that for you.

It'll be effective soon. Just sleep here for a bit. I'll go fetch some other medicines for you!

Zzz... zzz...

Already asleep? That's some effective medicine. Just wait for me, now, I'll be right back.

It's pouring buckets now... so dark...

I need to move quick! If I'm any later, I won't be able to see it!

My foot... ow...

I remember the herbs I was looking for were right near here... leaves like arrowheads, fine sawteeth on top. Ah! Is this it?

There! All clean. Now to grind into a powder!

Hmm...

Why do I start swooning the moment I apply any force...

Come on, please, just hold on a little more!

Okay, and these herbals in matching proportion.

Ah, there's not enough firewood!

Temperature... I need to collect more firewood.

Ohh...

Rita. Rita. Don't be scared. I'll feed you some medicine now. It might be a tiny bit... hot.

Oh, I think I forgot to pick out the seeds... it might be very bitter, too.

I've already applied topical medication to you. This is for reducing your fever. Here, drink, and you'll be much better soon.

I won't let anything happen to you...

(Strained gulp)

Heehee, good girl, Rita!

So dizzy... I can't keep... should—I rest for a moment...?

Rita...

Rita... Rita... you have to...

She was like this when we found her, mumbling the name over and over.

She's covered in mud, her ankle is injured, and she has minor Oripathy infection symptoms. Was she only recently infected?

Oripathy infection is only one part of it. The major contributing factors to her fainting were starvation and extreme exhaustion.

Reports say she's been passed out for several days now. Some refugees say this young woman was protecting them. Without her efforts, hardly this many would have survived.

The refugees regained capacity for labor after recovering, and were able to request treatment and a place to stay from Mr. Gurk of Leithanien. He required people to staff and safeguard that bizarre castle of his.

These people's home was struck by severe Catastrophe. Going back seems unlikely at present, so most refugees have accepted this proposal. They're prepared to undergo treatment at Mr. Gurk's, and to wait for now to see if they should return home.

Only the reasonable grounds of allowing these refugees to return to their home country could convince any related nobles not to interfere.

About the young girl named Rita. Her mother has already passed on. Fortunately, her handicapped father is still able to work.

A Catastrophe Messenger in the vicinity mentioned Earthspirit on the Rhodes Island landship is an old acquaintance of Gurk's. I'll write her a letter asking for a favor, to see if this father and daughter can be admitted onto his estate.

The young Vulpo lady was unorthodox enough to leave deep impressions on people, but plucking herbal medicine and understanding some clinical theory was all she had. No way of suppressing her own Oripathy.

She's too simple about the task of aiding refugees. It would've cost her her life sooner or later if she was too reductive about it.

In a moment, I want you to make contact with a nearby Messenger. There's two letters I want to send. One to Rhodes Island, and another to a place in Toron.

I'm compelled to remind you, Victoria has nobles who want those refugees dead here to serve their vie over territory. So as to keep our motive secure, we cannot at this moment openly represent Rhodes Island.

...Rhodes Island?

Not to mention you slipped out of a Victorian medical seminar to come here. Your actions must be kept subdued. It'll be best you don't give even more issues the chance to form.

Oh, I was in an academic seminar, huh. See, these past few days, I was under the impression I'd be participating in some wannabe Durins' wine-tasting.

Heh. To some nobles, philanthropy is a trend, and a trend is as far as it goes. They weighed the pros and cons, and did something anyone could've seen coming from a mile off.

She's too weak. If we don't immediately treat her, further illness will seize hold of her, and we'll see her Oripathy infection accelerate.

Let her pass off as my assistant and get the best treatment Victoria has to offer.

Yeah, no kidding, we're gonna keep our true identities a secret from her. You happy with that?

Assistant? Why do I suspect you're thinking of having her by your side?

I'm no nanny. You ever seen me drop in from the Victorian skies on an umbrella?

Once she recovers, I'll contact a specialist place and get her on a course for medical Arts, and I've got other fish to fry in the meanwhile.

If she wants to keep up her innocent little savior business, I'm not gonna write in to complain.

But as a doctor with Oripathy, she's got no choice. She can't keep playing the wild maverick forever. Bottom line, she needs to learn how to protect herself. How her own future spirals out is her business.

Suit yourself. *sigh*. I suppose once Scout's done with his mission, I'll be transferring to his squad anyway. Having a Victorian local by your side to keep an eye on you works out.

I weep for that Vulpo...

She's sure as hell a lot more confident than you when she treats people.

Hm. And her prescriptions when treating non-Oripathy patients are particularly effective.

I think I see what it is.

Kindness, strength, honesty, a tender age yet already at such standards.

You want to defend a possibility.

Yes, I'd... very much like to see how she does too. It's a shame I'll probably be on my way back to Rhodes Island before she wakes up.

Rhodes Island...?

Brave young Vulpo, do get better soon.

There's still so many people waiting for you—I'll be waiting too, to see how you grow, what you become.

But I suppose you probably can't hear me right now... hahah...

I want to witness your future too, young Vulpo.

If we've been brought together, if we'll ever meet again in future, maybe at Rhodes Island, maybe in some other place somewhere...

Rhodes... Island...