Izick readied the Honor Rod in his hands.

  "Young Izick, are you ready to proceed?" Braun asked from the other side of the training circle.

  "Yes, I'm ready. I'll do it exactly as you taught me."

  Mill sat on a rock a few feet behind Izick, keeping a watchful eye on both him and Braun.

  Izick pulled the trigger, creating a ball of yellow light at the tip of the Honor Rod.

  The white metallic body of the shotgun heated up in his hands. He released the trigger to shoot off the orb of light at Braun, making the Honor Rod tilt upwards after shooting from recoil.

  Braun stared down the incoming projectile before reaching out his hand and shooting a flaming blue hand projectile.

  The flaming hand suddenly closed around the orb of light, halting its forward momentum before it exploded in blue light, leaving clouds of dust in its wake.

  The dust settled, revealing Braun in the center of the training ground, but Izick was no longer in front of him. Braun smiled as Izick rested the Honor Rod's muzzle on his back.

  "Very good, you closed your eyes right before impact to avoid blinding yourself so you could sneak behind me for a killing blow. You utilized your speed as a Scout to make up for your lack of power as a Mage," Braun said as he turned around and lowered the Honor Rod with his hand.

  "I was unable to track your movements and Mana due to the distraction caused by your [Bang Bullet] Skill. You collapsed the first time you used this Skill three days ago, but your Mana Base seems to have adjusted to the Symbol Link. How do you feel after using the Honor Rod this time around?"

  "Fine, actually. I didn't feel any Mana draining from my body when I fired that Skill," Izick said as he looked at the Honor Rod.

  "Good. The Symbol Link will be an invaluable resource for you since your Mana Base is insufficient for most Mysteria Skills. However, don't forget that the Honor Rod has a limited amount of Mana and must be recharged each day," Braun said before he spoke a quick series of words to bring up his inspection Skill, which he waved over Izick.

  "That Skill you just used would have cost you one-fourth of your personal Mana, which is way too much for such a trivial Skill like this."

  Braun reached into a small white pouch attached to the back of his robe and pulled out a small notebook, which he held out to Izick.

  "I wrote down the basic Mysteria Skills that you should learn with the Honor Rod. I can't personally teach these Skills to you right now due to your inadequate Mana Shaping, but you should be able to learn these Skills in time after you reach the checkpoints written down here."

  "Thank you, Foster Braun. You've helped me understand my situation a bit more after my initial confusion. But how can I improve my Mana Shaping? I'm clearly in over my head with that stuff…" Izick said, accepting the notebook.

  "Izick, you don't have to worry about basic Mana Shaping. I can teach you everything you need to know about the basics. Healers are Mages too, so my knowledge and experience should be good enough," Mill said, placing a hand on Izick's shoulder.

  Braun turned to Mill and smiled.

  "Young Milletta, you would make an excellent teacher for the budding Staff Hero. Don't let my dismissal of your shields be a dismissal of your capabilities as a Mage," Braun said, raising his free hand and creating a singular and palm-sized green shield.

  He closed his fist to make the shield tremble and fade away like Mill's shield of Mana.

  "Your Shield Mysteria was very impressive, but these notes might enlighten you on how I overcame your defense so easily."

  He smiled before pulling out another notebook from his pouch and handing it to Mill.

  She grunted a word of thanks before accepting the notebook.

  Braun's face became grim as he glanced at Izick and Mill.

  "I don't have much else to offer you except for some simple advice. It would be in your best interests to find someone capable of removing the Malevolence from the Honor Rod, or possibly the entire Blessing itself from young Izick," Braun said, pointing to the Honor Rod in Izick's hand.

  "We don't know the full extent of what the former Staff Hero has done to you, or how much time is left, if this is truly a time-based Malevolence."

  "So, should we seek Druids that are higher-ranked than you? They might have more knowledge on the Blessing," Izick said as he stroked his chin.

  "No, I wouldn't recommend it. Not to prop myself up, but I am a far more noble Druid than my associates. This does not come from a place of pride, but of experience. Other Druids may very well see your existence as 'twisted', or 'evil', and might even attempt to kill you if they learn that you are carrying the Honor Rod without their permission or the fact that there is Malevolence inside of it," Braun said as he somberly shook his head.

  "Then that leaves us with the most obvious but difficult option," Mill said before sighing.

  "Yes, the other Heroes of Arekia," Braun said while readjusting his glasses. Izick stared at the ground in thought.

  "They would have the most experience using the Blessing, but I heard from Mill that they either disappeared or are actively hiding from the public eye after Alister's betrayal," Izick said, placing the notebook into the traveling pack on his back.

  "That is true, but they are still your best options. Searching for their whereabouts can be a goal of yours going forward to ensure your own safety. You can also try to track down Arekia's Grand Mage, Yaria. Her knowledge of Mysteria far exceeds my own, and even the Summoned Heroes. However, she may prove even harder to find and contact," Braun said.

  "I see. We'll keep an eye out for the people you mentioned. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I really mean it," Izick said while Mill put her notebook into a pouch attached to her belt.

  "It is my job as a Foster to guide the lost to clarity. But I am curious. Where do you two plan on going once you leave here?" Foster Braun said with an inquisitive look on his face. Izick and Mill glanced at each other.

  "I'm not fully sure about what we are going to do, but I need to return to Alain," Izick said while wrapping the Honor Rod with warding cloth.

  "Alain? That's quite an interesting destination. You have a long journey ahead of you."

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "I know, but I've been away from home for far too long," Izick said with a bitter smile.

  "I do wish you could stay since it would be safer here, but I won't hold you if you have responsibilities elsewhere. I also wrote down my Long Book number in case you need to contact me in the future. Hopefully, what I have written down will guide your path."

  They exchanged goodbyes with Braun and left the training grounds, heading back to the dormitories to pack for their journey.

  They went inside the massive garden near the dormitories, where families and individuals enjoyed the sight of exotic plants. At the same time, junior Druids in training watered the plants and flowers around the garden.

  "This is an incredible garden. I feel like I'm in another country," Izick said, watching a flock of birds fly out of the tree over his head.

  "Agreed. Foster Braun told me that the dormitories were made to help those who have fallen on hard times. This garden is maintained by both the Druids and the community here," Mill said as she side-stepped two children who playfully ran past her.

  She looked at the four dormitories that boxed in the garden and guarded it from the outside world.

  "We also should be safe from the prying eyes of those investigators here. I doubt that they can even enter this place without a warrant."

  Mill sat down on a nearby bench and sighed contentedly as she laid her staff by her side. Izick followed her example and took the space beside her on the bench with the Honor Rod resting on the edge of the bench.

  Mill leaned her head back and looked at the passing clouds.

  "I heard you mention it before in passing, but Alain is your hometown, right? That's a pretty hard place to live with its high crime rate."

  "Yeah, it's not my place of birth, but it's cheap to live there. We live in a well-hidden part of town, so crime isn't a huge deal around my place," Izick said before turning to Mill. "Are you really going to come with me to Alain? It won't be a short journey."

  "Yes, I have nothing better to do anyway. Besides, I could never leave a kid like you behind in good conscience. Not to mention, we both have some unfinished business with Alister Black, since he screwed our reputations up."

  She clenched her fists and scowled at the blue sky.

  "I worked so hard to become a mercenary and get my Healer license, and he made it all worthless overnight. I'm seeing this through till the end. This issue is something we're better off solving together anyway."

  Deafening silence passed between them. Mill seemed unbothered by it as she continued to gaze at the clouds, but Izick became restless, tapping his foot.

  "So, is there a reason for us being here? I feel like we're not actually doing anything here."

  "A reason? Yeah, it's a pretty good one."

  "Which is?"

  "You need to rest."

  Mill leaned forward and turned to Izick.

  "Ever since I first met you, you've been working, fighting, and just running non-stop without a single moment to rest. I know you want to start for Alain right now, but you need time to recuperate. You're going to break soon if you don't stop."

  Izick blinked in confusion at Mill's statement. He sighed before scratching the back of his head.

  "Mill, I never got the chance to ask you this, but why do you keep helping me? I was nothing but a stranger to you when we first met, yet you've supported me ever since. More than anyone I've ever met."

  Pain came over Mill's face. She gathered her thoughts, piecing together the right response.

  "I'm just doing my job as a Healer, and a self-respecting adult. I don't need excuses to help people," Mill said as she watched a group of children playing with a ball in the streets in front of them.

  "Izick, why do you think we forge relationships with others?"

  Izick looked at Mill with even more confusion as she watched the children in front of her play.

  "Out of necessity? Maybe desire?"

  "Not untrue, but I have a somewhat different perspective," Mill said as she watched one of the children trip over the ball and fall into the dirt.

  "It's pain. That's the reason why we choose to connect with others."

  "Pain?" Izick said, trying his best to discern the meaning behind Mill's words.

  Mill walked up to the child and used a simple Skill to heal the child's scraped knee. It closed instantly, allowing the child to resume playing.

  Izick shook his head as he walked up to Mill's side while she waved goodbye to the children.

  "I don't get it. Isn't pain something negative that we all try to avoid? Why would we meet other people so we can experience pain?"

  "I'm not saying we seek others looking for pain or trying to cause it. Pain is something we can't avoid in life, but it's something we can share with others to help each other through it," Mill said as she looked at Izick.

  "It's difficult to help ourselves or others if we suffer alone in silence without connecting and opening up to those who can help us."

  The flustered Izick avoided Mill's eyes as he walked back to the bench and laid the Honor Rod back down. He sat down and grunted as he crossed his arms.

  "I know how to manage pain, Mil, that's what I've always done."

  "Of course you can handle pain. I'm not doubting you at all, but how long can you keep this up?"

  "Until I cure Cylvia," Izick said as his right eye twitched.

  "What if you break before then? You're only human. What if you–"

  "I'll manage!" Izick shouted, causing Mill to jump and the few people passing by to stare at them.

  Izick stiffened as the blood drained from his face.

  "S-sorry, I didn't mean to shout, I just…"

  "Izick, calm down. I'm not angry. I understand what you're going through," Mill said as she sat beside Izick. "I realize that you and I have very similar situations after you told me about Cylvia."

  She smiled bitterly as she placed her hands on her lap.

  "You remind me of my younger brother. He would be around your age now–no, a few years older after all these years. I haven't been back home in a long time, but I send money back every month." She began to fiddle with her fingers while staring straight ahead.

  "I never get any letters back or anything, but I suppose that's expected. My father couldn't even look at me, and my younger brother said that he hated me the last time we saw each other after what I did. I don't think they even want me back."

  "I'm sorry about that, Mill."

  "Thank you, but that's the least regrettable part of my story."

  Izick didn't bother pressing for an explanation. Mill lowered her head, staring into the ground.

  "I might be projecting my brother onto you, which isn't really fair, if true. But I would like to think I'm helping you because of who I am and my oath as a Healer. My job is to take away the pain from those who are suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally."

  Silence followed between the two of them as more people came into the garden from the dormitories.

  "I'm not judging you when I say that one will struggle if they struggle alone in silence. I'm also talking to myself when I say that. You struggled alone for years and endured a lot of pain, like I did when I first entered this mercenary business. I can't just leave you behind when I can support you or anyone else. Do you understand?"

  Izick nodded in response.

  "Mill, maybe it's selfish of me to ask this since you already helped me so much, but would you be willing to inspect Cyliva when we get to Alain? I want revenge on Alister for what he has done to me, but my focus has to be on Cylvia, who's still suffering at this very moment. I wouldn't be able to win against him right now anyway. I have to get stronger first…" Izick said, glancing at Mill before turning back to the ground.

  "You're one of the best Healers that I've ever met, so there might be something about her condition that only you can notice. I'll pay you whatever price you name, and try to pay you back as soon as possible."

  Mill crossed her arms with an annoyed look on her face.

  "You're always so obsessed with money. Izick, your coins mean nothing to me. I'll take a look at Cylvia's condition as a favor to a friend. I won't ask for payment, but I can't make any promises since nothing is guaranteed in medicine. I'll do whatever I can to help you and Cylvia."

  Mill placed a hand on Izick's shoulder.

  "You don't have to suffer in silence anymore. We're in this together."

  "Thank you so much. You don't know how much that means to me right now. I don't know what I would do if I lost Cylvia too," Izick said as he gripped the Honor Rod. "I don't know who I would become if I lost her. I don't want to be like him. I don't–"

  Izick's shoulders trembled as he hung his head low. A wave of exhaustion from the last three weeks came over him.