The broken copper still lies lifeless—even more so after Helgen pointed it out.
Rosa's arm slumps to the side. She doesn't bother to hide her blister on her left hand.
Helgen's voice is as firm and cold as ever. Like unbudging steel.
"So save the money for another copper still. Or better yet…"
Rosa can now see his gaze piercing towards her hand.
"Use it to treat that wound. Injuries like that could end bad quickly. You'd be surprised how many have lost their hand delaying a proper care."
His words drive into her chest like a nail.
The worst-case scenario. The image of her losing one of her hands is unthinkable.
She wants to believe her wounds would heal normally—that the possibility doesn't exist.
Maybe with her self-made potions of regeneration, a cooling glyph, and regular cleaning.
Yet she knows he is right. He usually is.
Except treating herself would mean dipping into her installment money. Money she barely has enough of.
Going to a clinic is a big decision for people like her.
Injuries from quests are easily treatable, because the guild would cover it.
But this one isn't the case.
A footstep snaps her back from her thoughts.
"Mr. Helgen, I finished sorting out the meta-"
Lilia's form appears from the doorway, beaming her usual smile.
"Rosa? You're here! What brings you so early?"
Rosa quickly hides her hands behind her back, averting her gaze.
"I… I need to check on my still. Nothing big."
"Your still? What happened?"
She doesn't answer.
Silence stretches between them as she can feel Lilia's gaze going to the broken still on the table.
"The still is old. Exploded on her mid run. No saving it."
Helgen fills the answer instead.
Lilia's footsteps come closer. Rosa immediately feels a grip on her wrist.
Her arm stretches as Lilia pulls it.
She can't meet her gaze.
"Rosa… How long has it been? The wound."
Her jaw is locked in place. She can't form a word.
"Find me at the forge if you need anything."
Helgen's footsteps trail off, leaving her with Lilia.
"Rosa…"
Lilia calls again.
"...Last night. I was distilling my alcohol base…"
"Is there any other spot?"
Rosa nods.
"May I see them?"
Rosa lets out a long exhale. She brings her gaze to Lilia's.
Their eyes finally meet.
"I'll… need to take off the whole thing."
Lilia jerks her head back, averting her gaze.
"I- ahem… I see. Can you tell me where it is then?"
She returns her eyes to Rosa.
"My stomach, near the left side."
"How bad is it?"
Rosa goes silent. She takes another breath.
"It's… probably worse than my hand."
Lilia's expression turns serious.
Here it comes.
"Then we head to the clinic now."
"I… I can't… Not after last month."
"But you can't just ignore them!"
"And I can't survive the month otherwise!"
Rosa's voice comes sharper than she wished for.
"Rosa…"
Lilia's expression softens. She reaches for a pouch from her satchel.
"Then, use mine!"
Her hands extend forward, presenting Lilia's hard earned coins.
Rosa's eyes turn sharper. Her lips quiver. She grits her teeth.
A glint forms at the corners of her eyes.
It wasn't only the fact that Lilia offered help.
But she had already taken too much. Her broken arm cost Lilia her savings.
The quest she took, the one that dragged Lilia with her, cost her.
Her desperation cost her. Yet Lilia offered more as if it was nothing.
She can't accept that.
Lilia's expression softens even more.
"Rosa… You told me you would rely on me more… was that a lie?"
Rosa glances away. Tugging her hat down. She bites her lip.
Something blocks her throat yet again.
"Sorry…"
Footsteps abruptly cut in. Then a soft thud lands on the table.
"At the very least, use this salve. Good for burns."
Helgen's voice draws her sight to the wooden bowl with gentle green paste in it.
"Also, the church has their healer. They don't charge a single coin. You should probably go there."
Lilia immediately scoops the salve and pulls her arm.
"Wai-"
"Mr. Helgen! I'm taking the day off! I'll make it up tomorrow!"
"Go. We'll talk about it later."
"I haven't sai-"
"We're going to your shop, then the church."
"But"
Lilia's grip tightens as she steps out from the workshop.
"We're going!"
…
They arrive at a small church near the main square of Triveli.
"Lilia, I can walk for myself. You can let me go."
"Nope~ What if you get lost or something?"
Lilia doesn't even make an effort for a believable excuse.
Rosa sighs. This is her day now.
"First of all, I am not a child"
"Arguably"
"Lilia!"
"Right, right. You're not."
"Second of all, I know where the church is."
"True, we're literally in front of it"
Rosa parts her lips, and closes them as soon as they open.
"That's not- You know what I mean!"
The building itself is modest, made of simple cobblestone and some sparse stained glass around the windows.
Beside the side wall is an open field. Wide enough to be someone's backyard.
Rows of people are lining up to a table where two of the nuns pour bowl after bowl of porridge.
Their clothes are ragged, barely enough to be called clothes.
"Yo! Whatcha lovebirds doing here?"
"We're not!"
Both Rosa and Lilia snap in unison.
A nun with a veil with points protruding like ears walks to them. Wearing that snarky smile.
Her right hand, as per usual, is holding a bottle of wine.
She brings it up and takes a few more swigs.
"It's still quite the morning and you're already drinking? Also, in front of the church no less."
Lilia comments with the unusual flatness in her tone.
"What're ya even blabbering about? It's good cause it's morning, ya hear?"
Akira brings the bottle up and tilts it towards her mouth.
"Eh? Ran out of fuel. Thought I had plenty"
"You drink too much… And I can tell you're not done"
Rosa notes with her usual dryness.
Akira walks towards Rosa and bends her body forward, leaning in to her.
"So, what brings the little pipsqueak here? Wanna help out for the day? Don'tcha have work to do?"
Rosa parts her mouth as the urge to snap back at her creeps in. Yet she chooses to close them.
Swallowing something hard. Even though it's nothing but her own spit.
Rosa puffs her cheeks like a hamster, a glint forms in her eyes.
Gentle strokes find her back. Both soothing and annoying.
Her gaze snaps to the source. At the twintailed cotton candy radiating a smile.
The same smile that she feels obligated to erase with the pincers of her hands.
On both of her cheeks.
I'll remember this. Both of you. Mark my words.
"So, the reason we came here… ahem…"
Lilia interjects and clears her throat as the mirth still lingers in each of her words.
Her hand doesn't stop.
"Her still exploded and burned her. She is being exceptionally stubborn about going to the clinic."
"Unsurprising. Hence both of ya are here?"
Rosa feels Akira's gaze, going up and down her torso.
She shudders and reflexively protects her ribs as a certain punishment barges into her mind.
"W-what is it?"
"Ya seems thinner than usual, have ya ate something today?"
"That's… none of-"
"Huuuuh!?"
Rosa's body twitches as Akira's grunt cuts her off.
"Got something to say, lil squeak? If someone starvin' then it IS my business. I feed people, that's what I do."
"Rooosaaa~"
Lilia's honeyed voice snaps Rosa's gaze towards her.
Oh no.
"When was the last time you ate?"
Rosa pulls down her conical hat.
"Yesterday… The meat pie…"
"Wasn't that our snacks!? How about before!? Tell me the before!"
"Strawberry jam pastries…"
"Rosa… that's our snacks the day before. You haven't had a proper meal at all!"
Rosa hears a sigh from behind her.
"Thought so. Wait here. I'll get ya some porridge."
"I'm actually here for-"
"I. Am. Getting. Ya. Some porridge. Refuse, and I'll force it down to yer throat."
Akira says with a smile. Too bright. Too cheerful. Doesn't befit her at all.
She glances at Lilia.
"Ya keep her here, wouldn't want her run off somewhere"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"I am not a stray cat!"
Akira turns her back and takes a step after another.
Keeping them just at the line between proper and drunk step.
She raises her hand.
"I know. Yer more like a starving kitten."
"Pfft!"
"Don't you dare!"
Rosa's cheeks puff up even more. Beaming a crimson hue.
"Now, now. Let's take a seat shall we?"
Lilia's arm wraps around Rosa's as she takes her to the nearest seat.
"So, real talk. What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb, you know exactly what I meant. Why have you been skipping meals?"
Rosa presses her thighs together. Her hands curl on her lap as she gazes down.
"Money"
That's not a question. Lilia just says it straight up. Right on the mark.
"You didn't tell me anything. About skipping meals."
"I… couldn't. Not when you also struggle…"
"Is it about the broken bones I got? I already told you I used my savings. I can still-"
"I've taken too much!"
Again, Rosa's voice cuts through Lilia's. Shaky, breathy, and heavy.
Warmth envelopes her curled hands. Lilia's palm on her knuckles.
Another hand wraps around her shoulder and pulls her close, pressing her face against Lilia's shoulder.
"Rosa…"
"It's… I dragged you on that quest! I made you fight those monsters! I got you injured!"
Each word is heavy. Her breath hitches with every sentence.
Warmth now spills freely from her eyes.
"And you have to… you have to sacrifice a lot just for my sake… I couldn't… I couldn't possibly…"
Lilia takes a deep breath.
"Rosa… listen. Didn't I tell you at the mountain inn? I have my own reason to go."
The hand on Rosa's back begins to move. Slow circles. Soothing.
"The void metal we got? Me and Mr. Helgen learned so much about it. We helped each other, and we got what we wanted. So no. The injuries are mine, Rosie…"
"Don't call me that…"
Her protest comes out trembling and weak.
Lilia chuckles.
"Too late. Also… you didn't owe me a thing. Me coming with you? My hand bent like a snapped twig?"
Rosa feels her body being pulled even firmer.
"Those were my choices. Besides, without you, I wouldn't be able to get a hand on it. So you earned it. You can lean on me more. And… even if you don't feel like you earn it. Please lean on me like I would lean on you…"
"I left ya for five minutes and yer already being lovey dovey. In public, no less"
The voice cuts Rosa. As if she suddenly remembers the presences around them.
She pulls away from Lilia, who equally pulls herself away.
She then feels the gazes all drawn to both of them.
Heat slowly rises to her cheeks, even more than before.
Her heart is slamming, as if begging to get out.
Gods, if you're listening, please strike me down this instant.
"Here, yer porridge. Best to eat it while it's still hot."
Rosa slowly raises her eyes.
Akira is extending her hand, holding a wooden bowl.
Steam rises from the porridge. Teasing her nose with a good smell.
Groooowl
"See? Your stomach is honest"
Even more blood rises to Rosa's cheeks as even her body conspires against her.
"T-thanks…"
She reluctantly accepts the bowl and scoops some with the wooden spoon.
As soon as the softness of the porridge hits her tongue, a mix of flavor explodes in her mouth.
She brings another spoon to her mouth.
The pheasant broth mixed with the subtle salt. Herbs bind all of it in a nice harmony.
Another spoon goes into her mouth.
Then another. Then another. Then another.
"Yer eating too fast, careful."
Her mind catches her hand, mid scoop. She hasn't finished chewing.
"So damn good, isn't it? Hahaha!"
Akira's gaze then shifts towards Lilia.
"I can see yer drooling"
"W-what? Nonsense! It's leftover water! From my drink earlier!"
"Right…"
Lilia quickly wipes her mouth.
"Ernst! Another one here!"
"I'm not hungry! I swear! I had my breakfast today!"
"As long as you want it, that's enough reason for me"
"Then…"
Lilia puts her finger near her thumb, hovering close.
"Just a taste"
"Right. Another portion!"
"A taste! I'll gain more weight!"
"I'll let Greta know about the burns, I'll call ya again when she's ready. Meanwhile, savor yer food!"
Akira takes a step towards the church, chugging a wine bottle.
She did reach for another one.
Rosa sighs, perfectly in sync with Lilia.
Lilia breaks the silence.
"That was embarrassing"
"Whose fault was that?"
"Mutual"
"You're the one who pulled me into… that."
"And you didn't push back! Or tickle me away!"
"You seem to be happy with that one…"
"Of course, I am. It's a rare moment, like an oasis in a desert!"
Lilia pulls out a handkerchief and extends her hand towards Rosa's face without hesitation.
Rosa jumps back.
"What are you doing!?"
"There's a smudge on your face"
Rosa pulls out her own handkerchief and wipes her mouth.
"I can do it myself, you know!?"
Footsteps grab their attention, the same one that left.
"A portion, ready to serve"
Akira extends the porridge towards Lilia.
"My diet…"
Lilia sighs in defeat as she reluctantly grabs the wooden bowl.
Rosa's eyes meet Akira's
"As for ya. Right door from the main hall, then second door to the right. Greta'll be there."
She nods as she takes the last bite.
"Then, I'll be off for a bit"
Placing the bowl aside, she walks to the church entrance.
She opens the simple wooden door and walks along the main hallway.
Rows and rows of chairs are arranged on her left and right.
On its center, just in front of the old organ, is a wooden podium.
Pastor Hendrik doesn't seem to be there.
The air inside does help to ease her nerves.
She had her fill. Helgen's salve makes the wounds cool off, even just a little.
Her hand opens the door handle on the right side of the podium.
Inside is another hallway. Sparse windows on the left side, even sparser stained glass on each.
First door. Then second door. Rosa gently opens the door.
The first thing she notices is the shelves, several of them.
Herbs, medicine, and some potions she recognizes.
Regeneration. Stamina. Pain killer.
A bed sits in the corner, surrounded by an iron frame which dangles the curtains.
A small table sits by the window with several books and equipment unfamiliar to her.
But she recalls some of them from the clinic.
Sitting on the chair, another nun just like Akira.
Strands of yellow peeking through the veil she wears.
A pair of blue eyes greets Rosa with warmth, along with her cherry pink smile.
"Welcome. I heard from Akira. I am sister Greta. I'll be taking care of you."