rdoc

...Does she know?

She's been more active outside the village ever since she picked those apples.

This won't do. Her arthritis will only worsen this way—

Then what do you suggest? Didn't you treat a bunch of people like her? Did all of them get the same advice to take less walks?

It doesn't matter if she can manage it for now, we have face reality at the very least.

But the reality is that we basically live in subhuman conditions out here.

The reason you refused to teach us more Gaulish was to protect us, right? That rest of the village might turn on us, everyone knows that...

It wasn't to protect—

Although, they don't even need to do anything to us in the first place.

My father's generation had no choice when they came here. All the fertile land was already owned by someone else, and the 'Gaulish settlers' could only build their village on top of rubble and debris.

The soil here is barren, and what we produce is only just enough to feed ourselves. That's why the trade caravans will never come through, and neither do the doctors.

A few years ago, there was even talk of a road to be built between the villages, and of course, ours would inevitably be the last to be connected. But when there were just two villages left, they stopped all roadwork, saying it was too dangerous to continue in the face of an incoming Catastrophe.

In the end, the Catastrophe never came, and the other village forked out their own money to finish the road to their village, but us...?

We're immediately put under suspicion even if the source of the trouble comes from some nomadic city. They say it's not because we're Gaulish, but it's to 'track down rogues' and 'strengthen security'...

We've been suffering all this time, until you came.

Me?

You're... here to take us away from this place, aren't you? It's not just about treatment.

Slow down, Abel. What are you getting at? When did I ever say anything like that?

The letter from your friend. It came from Leithanien.

I'm so sorry that I looked through your bag, but... we can't go on like this any longer.

Come to your senses, Abel! This letter is written in Eng—Victorian! I'm sure you can see this is just a message from a friend!

But didn't this Monsieur 'Blitz' mention the overwhelming amount of suffering across the lands? He was talking about you looking to find a way home?

I remember a rumor from my early years, of some 'Kurfürsten' treating Gaulish remnants favorably—

Abel! Look at me! What am I?

A... doctor?

Yes, a doctor. Nothing more.

I came here to alleviate your suffering to the best of my abilities, not to numb you to the reality of the situation. Come to your senses.

A deteriorated joint won't recover on a fantasy. I'm not a miracle worker. I can only do so much.

Taking us away from here is definitely something you could do! You managed to outsmart those officers, so you can certainly free us from this prison of stone and salt!

You're more than just a doctor! You're not the first doctor we've seen. Just what kind of doctor would heal so many people and refuse to take even a coin in return?

Come with me. I have something that'll certainly surprise you.

What's that...?

A portrait of His Majesty Corsica I. We found this in the depths of some deaf old man's warehouse.

It was defaced soon after His Majesty's demise. The old man couldn't recall his appearance, so we could only try our best to restore the painting...

It might not look like His Majesty, but everyone feels it's enough. He is the savior of the Gaulish after all...

Savior of the Gaulish?!

The face in the painting already made my jaw drop before I could even react to what that meant.

I can see the heavy damage inflicted on the face, and whoever did the restoration work could only fill in the gaps to the best of their imaginations, and the resulting face does strike a startling resemblance to a certain someone...

Myself.

The faded gold frame surrounds a Gustave Kateb in formal attire with a crown on his head and a sash draped over his chest.

If we were somewhere else, like on Earth, or Rhodes Island, or even Dossoles, this painting would be a comedic sight to behold.

But it just has to be lying right here.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to look at this any longer. You should lock it back up.

I'm no savior of the Gaulish.

Why come to Stonebreak, a place as destitute and desolate as ours, if not to save us?!

I help people tormented by illness, no matter what language they speak, or where they come from.

My next destination is not even Leithanien, but Kazdel. Because I hear the people over there also suffering.

The devils?! No... no way... you can't!

I also promised the Victorian official earlier that I would not do anything outside the scope of a doctor's work.

You said that just to get in here! That must be it!

On the contrary, I intend to keep my promise.

After our conversation, the portrait is locked away deep in the warehouse. I try to minimize any small talk with the villagers, but their eyes are still full of veneration, and it only grows more intense with each passing day.

I don't know who exactly they hold in high esteem—a doctor, or a 'savior of the Gaulish'.

I had no choice but to stuff my schedule with surgeries and consultations, hoping that being an idol unresponsive to any prayer would bring them back to reality.

As it turns out, I was dead wrong.

Abel?

Business at the village gates?

No, it's nothing.

In that case, take this medicine.

Didn't you already give me an inhaler?

I've been so busy the whole time I forgot about that Cuomo of yours. Here's his medicine. Don't forget to give it to him when he's back. He still needs to recuperate for a while more—

Abel...?

It wasn't even two whole days after you left the last time that they sent a dispatch here looking for rogues and it kept us up all night. They chased Cuomo out of bed on the pretense of a contraband check.

And then... Cuomo suffered another coughing fit. I begged them to help me take Cuomo into town, but they... wouldn't even answer me.

I went to another village that night looking for help, but we have no money, so no one was willing to come. In the end, we managed with much difficulty to convince that old doctor from Sandbar to come, but by then...

I quit smoking the next day.

Doctor, things are different this time, aren't they? You won't abandon us like the last time?

We all know that no one would be willing to so much as bat an eye towards us, except for another Gaulishman.

You've healed us all, so you'll save us all in the end, this I know, I know for sure...

Wait, Abel. What's that in your hand?

An announcement. Telling everyone to leave this village and head for Leithanien. Telling everyone you'll overcome all our obstacles, that you'll bring us to somewhere we can live in peace and joy...

Save me... Save us all...

*Cough*, *cough* *cough*... *Cough*!

An asthma attack?!

I've put the mask on, Abel. Take deep breaths.

(Gasping)

Deep breaths!

(Rough gasping)

Listen to me. Breathe in on one, and out on two! One... two! One... two!

One... two... one... two...

(Breathing gradually improves)

(Mumbling)

Don't speak—

Everyone's... here...

Listen, I no longer have any business here in Stonebreak Village. I should go.

We'll go with you, we need you to show us the way.

I'm a doctor, not a shepherd.

But I... my children... we're alive thanks to you.

I didn't save your lives for myself.

If the Victorians won't let us leave, if they harm even a single hair on your head, I'll fight them until I breathe my last.

If that's the case, then I wish I hadn't come here at all.

You saved us.

I only treated your sicknesses. I cannot save anyone.

You can.

After all... you're the savior of the Gaulish.

I don't know who put it in his hands, but Abel is once again holding the painting. The portrait of Gustave Kateb dressed like Corsica I.

Everyone gazes at me with the same look in their eyes. I've seen the same expression before, but back then, it wasn't directed towards me.

An expression full of anguish, reverence, brimming with hope... and delusions.

I smell the scent of blood yet to spill.

...Abel. Perfect timing, I have something I need of you before I leave.