Adam followed the soldier through the camp, carrying his new supplies over one shoulder. Faya walked beside him, struggling a little with her own bundle.
He slowed down and glanced at her.
"Give me that."
"I'm fine."
"Faya."
She looked up at him.
He held out his hand.
After a moment, she reluctantly passed him the bag. Adam added it to his own supplies, then continued walking.
"You don't have to carry everything yourself," he told her.
"But I should be helping."
"You will. Right now, you need to make sure you don't trip over your own feet."
"I'm not going to trip."
She had barely finished speaking when the bedroll strapped to her bundle slipped loose and fell to the ground.
Adam stopped.
Faya stared at it.
He stared at her.
"Not a word," she warned.
Adam picked up the bedroll, secured it properly, and handed it back.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I think a lot of things."
"Adam!"
He laughed and continued walking.
Despite everything that had happened since they arrived in this world, he found himself enjoying the small moment. It was strange how quickly he had grown accustomed to having someone around. For most of his previous life, he had lived alone. He had his work, his house, and the occasional person he spoke with, but nobody who really depended on him.
Now he had a thirteen-year-old apprentice who could barely carry her own equipment, a legendary class he was still figuring out, and an army that had decided he belonged to it.
His second life was certainly turning out differently than expected.
The soldier finally stopped in front of a row of tents.
"These are the temporary quarters for your unit. You'll be sharing with the other recruits until your commander decides where to put you. Your training begins at sunrise tomorrow. Don't be late."
"Understood," Adam replied.
The soldier pointed toward a tent near the end of the row.
"That one's yours. The quartermaster assigned you both to it. Keep your equipment inside, and don't wander into restricted areas. If you need anything, speak to your unit's sergeant."
With that, the soldier left them.
Adam watched him walk away before turning toward the tent.
"Well, at least we have a roof."
Faya looked at the canvas overhead.
"That's not a roof."
"It's a roof if you don't look too closely."
She sighed, but a small smile appeared on her face.
Adam lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
The space was larger than he expected, though that wasn't saying much. Two narrow beds stood against opposite walls, with wooden crates serving as makeshift storage. A small table occupied the middle, and a lantern hung from a wooden support.
It wasn't comfortable, but it would do.
Adam placed their supplies on the table.
"Alright, let's get organized."
He began sorting through the equipment, separating his own belongings from Faya's. He gave her one of the bags and showed her where to put her things.
Then he pulled out the medical kit.
It was basic, but at least the army had thought to provide one. The bandages were clean, the containers were empty, and the disinfectant had a sharp smell that reminded him of hospitals back home.
He turned the bottle over in his hands.
"Inspect."
A familiar window appeared.
Medical Disinfectant
Common
Medical Supply
Effect: Cleans wounds and reduces the risk of common infections.
Quality: Standard military issue.
Warning: Ineffective against certain magical infections, curses, and advanced toxins.
Adam nodded to himself.
Nothing special, but useful.
He inspected the bandages next. They were ordinary linen strips, though the system confirmed that they were clean and suitable for treating minor wounds.
The rest of the kit contained a small pair of scissors, a needle, thread, and a few wooden splints.
Adam put everything back.
"Faya, how much do you know about treating injuries?"
She shook her head.
"Not much. I've seen people get hurt, but I've never been taught what to do."
"That's going to change."
Her eyes widened.
"You're going to teach me?"
"That's the plan. I can't do everything myself, especially if we end up treating dozens of soldiers. You'll need to know how to clean wounds, apply bandages, recognize infections, and prepare basic remedies."
Faya looked down at her hands.
"What if I make a mistake?"
"You probably will."
She looked up at him in alarm.
Adam continued before she could panic.
"Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning. The important thing is that you learn from them. We won't start by treating someone who's bleeding to death. You'll learn the basics first, and we'll work our way up."
Faya considered this, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll learn."
"Good. That's all I ask."
Adam sat on one of the beds and opened his status window. He had been so focused on getting Faya settled that he hadn't properly considered what his new subclass meant for his future.
He needed to understand exactly what had changed.
The system window appeared.
Name: Adam
Class: Herbalist (Legendary), Level 8
Subclass: Conscript Soldier (Uncommon), Level 1
HP: 460/460
MP: 310/310
Stamina: 250/250
Attributes:
* Strength: 17
* Intelligence: 29
* Dexterity: 25
* Wisdom: 31
* Vitality: 46
His subclass had already increased his attributes when it was assigned. The additional Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality weren't insignificant, though he still had no desire to become a front-line soldier.
He checked his skills.
Basic Combat Training Level 1.
Iron Resolve Level 1.
Endurance Level 1.
Command Telepathy Level 1.
The last one bothered him the most.
He selected it.
\[SYSTEM MESSAGE\]
Command Telepathy Level 1
You are connected to the military command structure through the system.
* Receive recognized orders from authorized commanders.
* Understand the orders issued to you without requiring direct verbal communication.
* Issue recognized orders to individuals under your command.
* Failure to obey valid orders may result in system-imposed penalties.
Adam frowned.
"So the system is basically making sure I know what I'm supposed to do."
He leaned back against the wall.
"And potentially making sure I do it."
That was the part he didn't like.
He tried to find a way to dismiss the connection or disable the skill, but there was no option. The subclass itself couldn't be removed, and Command Telepathy was part of it.
He closed the window.
At least he understood the problem now.
If he wanted to avoid being controlled by the army, he would have to be careful about which orders he accepted and how he carried them out. The system had already shown him that it could distinguish between lawful orders and desertion.
He wasn't going to test the limits until he had a better idea of what those limits were.
Adam opened his class status again.
Herbalist Level 8.
He was still a little over three thousand experience away from Level 9, and he needed Level 10 before he could use the Legendary Abyss Ranger's Tome.
He also wanted to see what his class could do when combined with his new subclass.
A battlefield was full of injuries, diseases, exhaustion, and poison. If there was one place where an herbalist could prove useful, it was probably an army.
The problem was that he had no idea how many people he would be expected to treat.
He had already spent an entire day helping refugees in Galewood. His supplies had dwindled quickly, and most of the people he treated couldn't afford to replace them.
An army would be worse.
Potentially hundreds of injured soldiers, all needing treatment at the same time.
He needed herbs. Lots of them.
And he needed a way to grow them without relying entirely on what he could gather outside.
His gaze moved toward the corner of the tent.
Garden Sanctuary.
The ability was one of his greatest advantages. Inside, time moved eight times faster than outside. He could plant herbs and allow them to grow while only a fraction of that time passed in the real world.
He had already started a small garden, but he needed to expand it.
Especially now.
"Faya, I need to meditate for a little while. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I'll be available shortly."
She nodded.
"Are you going to use your garden?"
Adam looked at her.
"How did you know?"
"You told me about it."
He had mentioned it briefly while explaining some of his class abilities. He hadn't shown her the garden itself, however, and he wasn't sure he was ready to do that yet.
"That's right. I'll be back soon."
He sat cross-legged on his bed, closed his eyes, and began meditating.
Ten minutes later, the familiar sensation washed over him.
The military camp disappeared.
The garden was quiet.
Adam stood among the rows of herbs and took a deep breath. The air felt clean, and the familiar scent of growing plants helped ease some of the tension that had been building since his conscription.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he looked around.
The Sustenance Roots and Nourishment Vines had grown considerably since his last visit. Several new leaves had appeared, and some of the plants were approaching the point where he could harvest them without damaging their roots.
The Ethereal Growth Tree sapling stood farther away, still small and delicate. It would take an absurd amount of time to mature, but Adam had no intention of giving up on it.
Every decade of growth would produce fruit that permanently increased attributes.
It was worth the wait.
He walked toward the main herb beds and began inspecting the plants.
Healing Herbs.
Twilight Moss.
Moonshade Blossoms.
Dullroot.
Bitterleaf.
He had a decent selection, but not enough for what he anticipated.
The army might provide basic supplies, but he doubted they would hand over rare herbs whenever he requested them. Even if they did, he would rather have his own stock than depend on someone else's generosity.
Adam opened his inventory and examined the seeds and plants he had collected during his travels.
He began planning additional beds.
Healing Herbs would be his priority. They were common, useful, and suitable for basic remedies. Twilight Moss could help improve healing salves, while Dullroot would be useful for exhaustion and stamina recovery.
He also wanted to grow Moonshade Blossoms. They were useful for pain relief and calming people who were frightened or distressed.
That last part could be especially important in a military camp.
Fear spread quickly among inexperienced soldiers. If he could help them stay calm, he might prevent a few bad situations from becoming worse.
He worked for a while, preparing soil and planting what he could.
His Cultivation skill helped with the process, making the work easier and reducing the care required. Even so, he couldn't create plants from nothing. He needed seeds, cuttings, or existing plants to get started.
Once he finished, he checked the time.
Only a short while had passed outside.
Inside the garden, he had been working for hours.
Adam smiled.
"At least something is going my way."
He returned to the center of the garden and examined the herbs that were ready for harvesting. He carefully collected a portion of the mature plants, leaving enough behind for continued growth.
The Herbalist Blade made the process much easier. Each cut was clean and precise, and his harvesting yield was far better than it would have been with an ordinary knife.
He stored the harvest in his inventory.
Then he returned to the real world.
Adam opened his eyes.
The tent was still quiet, though he could hear people moving around outside.
Faya sat at the table, carefully examining one of the bandages from the medical kit.
"You're back," she said.
"How long was I gone?"
"About ten minutes."
Adam nodded.
He had spent far longer inside the garden, but barely any time had passed outside.
He checked his inventory. The herbs were safely stored, ready to be used whenever he needed them.
That was one problem solved.
Now he needed to figure out what the army expected from him.
As if summoned by the thought, someone shouted outside the tent.
"Herbalist Adam! Report to the command tent!"
Adam closed his inventory.
He looked at Faya.
"Looks like our afternoon just got interesting."
She stood quickly.
"Am I coming with you?"
Adam hesitated.
He didn't want to leave her alone in a camp full of strangers, but he also didn't know whether she would be allowed into a command meeting.
"Stay here for now. If anyone asks, tell them I'm meeting with the commander. Don't leave the tent unless you have to."
Faya nodded, though she didn't look happy about it.
Adam picked up his medical kit and stepped outside.
A soldier waited nearby.
"Follow me."
Adam did so, keeping his eyes open as they crossed the camp.
The command tent stood near the center, larger than the others and guarded by two armed men. A few officers moved in and out, carrying documents and speaking in low voices.
The soldier lifted the flap and motioned Adam inside.
Several men stood around a large table covered with maps.
Lord Roland Heartman was among them.
He looked up when Adam entered.
"Ah, our herbalist has arrived."
Adam resisted the urge to remind him that he hadn't volunteered.
Instead, he gave a small nod.
"My lord."
Roland gestured toward the table.
"Come here. We have much to discuss."
Adam approached.
A map of the border region lay across the table. Several villages were marked with small wooden pieces, while red markers indicated enemy movements.
A dark line had been drawn along a river to the east.
Roland pointed toward it.
"Tranthor has crossed the border in several places. Their forces are advancing toward the villages along this river. We believe they are trying to secure the region where the new dungeon is expected to appear."
Adam studied the map.
"How long until they reach this area?"
"That depends on how quickly they move and how much resistance they encounter. We expect the first serious engagement within the next few days."
A few days.
Adam looked at the red markers again.
He didn't know how many soldiers Tranthor had, how well trained they were, or what kind of monsters might inhabit the region around the dungeon.
But he understood one thing.
People were going to get hurt.
Lots of people.
Roland turned toward him.
"You will accompany our forces when they move out. Your primary responsibility will be to treat the wounded and keep the soldiers in fighting condition."
Adam nodded slowly.
"What kind of supplies will I have access to?"
The question seemed to surprise one of the officers.
Roland, however, smiled.
"Straight to the point. Good. You'll receive the standard medical supplies allocated to the unit. If you need additional ingredients, submit a request to the quartermaster."
"That won't be enough."
The room grew quiet.
Adam continued before anyone could object.
"I've already seen what happens when people don't have access to proper treatment. Bandages and disinfectant are useful, but they won't be enough if we have dozens of injured soldiers. I need medicinal herbs, containers, clean water, and equipment for preparing remedies."
One of the officers frowned.
"You expect us to provide a private laboratory for a conscript?"
"No," Adam replied. "I expect to be given the supplies necessary to do the job you've assigned me."
The officer opened his mouth, but Roland raised a hand.
"Enough."
He looked at Adam.
"What exactly do you need?"
Adam began listing the essentials.
Common Healing Herbs. Twilight Moss. Dullroot. Moonshade Blossoms. Empty bottles and jars. A sturdy pot for brewing remedies. Clean cloth. A proper table for preparation.
He also requested permission to gather medicinal plants when the army was not actively moving.
Roland listened without interrupting.
When Adam finished, the young lord turned toward another man standing beside the table.
"Make a list of his requirements. See what we can provide."
The officer looked displeased, but bowed.
"Yes, my lord."
Roland returned his attention to Adam.
"Your work will be important, herbalist. I expect you to treat our soldiers first, but you may also be called upon to assist wounded civilians when circumstances allow."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"That's surprisingly reasonable."
Roland's smile thinned.
"Don't mistake necessity for kindness. A healthy soldier is more useful than a dead one. I have no intention of wasting a valuable resource."
There it was.
Adam had wondered when the young lord would stop pretending they were having a friendly conversation.
At least he was honest about his motives.
"I understand."
"Good. Your unit moves out in two days. Until then, you will attend the required training sessions and prepare your medical supplies. Your apprentice may accompany you, provided she follows camp rules."
Adam felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
"Thank you."
Roland waved him away.
"Don't thank me yet. The border is not a safe place, and I expect results."
Adam turned to leave.
As he reached the entrance, Roland spoke again.
"One more thing."
Adam stopped.
"I've heard that you possess an unusual class. I would appreciate it if you demonstrated its capabilities when the opportunity presents itself."
Adam looked back at him.
"I'll demonstrate what is necessary to treat the wounded."
Roland stared at him for a moment, then chuckled.
"We'll see."
Adam left the command tent.
Outside, he took a deep breath.
Two days.
He had two days to prepare himself and Faya for whatever waited beyond the border.
He needed to expand his herb supply, improve his medical skills, and learn enough about military life to avoid getting himself killed.
He also needed to understand the rules of his new subclass.
If Command Telepathy could force him to obey orders, then he needed to know exactly how far that power extended.
But there was little point worrying about everything at once.
First, he would prepare.
Then he would survive the first battle.
And if the system rewarded him for healing soldiers the same way it rewarded him for helping the refugees, he might even gain a few levels along the way.
Adam smiled faintly as he headed back toward his tent.
He had not wanted to join this war.
He still didn't.
But if the army was going to force him into it, then he would make sure he got something out of the experience.
Not just levels and skills.
Knowledge.
Connections.
And perhaps a few opportunities that would help him leave this place stronger than when he arrived.
For now, he had herbs to prepare and an apprentice to teach.
Two days later, he would find out just how useful a legendary herbalist could be on a battlefield.