Lynus, the Miracle Medic

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

Ailith smiled softly, and took a deep breath.

“That, I can do.” A decisive nod followed, even if something still seemed to make her struggle. “I… I can wait. That is not an issue, if I need time, my Team will understand and let me take this time.” She sighed softly. “And I do know what you mean. I wouldn’t want to die, not nesseccarily because I fear death, but because I wouldn’t want my Guild to watch me either away as well. Especially not my brother.”

A light smile returned. “He had pushed me for, what, a month now? To get some help. Find some help, and find a way to reverse this.” She nodded over to Lynus. “One of the main reasons I got into contact with you. Alistair’s first idea was to search for a way himself, but I already explained to you why I can’t ask him, or the rest of my Guild. And even if he finds out now, he will probably offer to help you in an instant.” Even a short chuckle was now heard.

“I could hold him off so far, and keep him busy, asking Cass to always have some more Quests ready, if possible. I could tell my brother that I was okay, just a bit tired. That I would be okay in time… I just hope I really can be.” Her gaze wandered back to the Healer.

“My hopes now rest on you. But no matter how your research ends, I want to thank you already.”

Lynus inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He could feel Ailith beginning to relax. Their conversation had been rather distressing, for the both of them really. But especially for Ailith herself.

“Hmm, letting your brother help might be beneficial, actually,” Lynus mused aloud. “He would be able to help me narrow my research more effectively. Though, I think it would be best if he’s the only one to help for now. The hospital, especially Dr Stiles, won’t be too pleased if an entire guild turned up in their private library.”

Lynus smiled wryly before he shook his head. He fell silent as he tapped his fingers across the leather cover of his notebook once more.

“For now, though, I’ll…do some research on the own. I have a few theories that I’ll need to look into to.”

He shook his head again and sent Ailith what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

“No, I’m a devote medic. It’s my duty to do what I can to improve the way of life in others. If…I can’t find a cure, I will find a way to help improve your health.”

A small laugh went through the room, as Ailith imagined her guild just stumbling into a quiet, probably rather small library. “Oh yes, you would not want that. You would probably need to drag out Aurelius out by his feet. He would read every single book in the library, just to make sure.” Her eyes rolled. “He does not know his limits. Then again, I cannot exactly judge there. Meiyin would never set a foot in it, if there aren’t any books about blood rituals or something around. Hase would be bored really fast, and my brother…” She tilted her head. “Probably would need to repeat the “dragging him out by his feet” part.” She smiled, even cheerfully this time, back at the Medic. “Maybe I can talk my brother down enough that you wouldn’t need this measures.” She nodded to him. “For now though, good luck on your research, Lynus.” The smile grew soft. “I appreciate it.”

#Silver Guild #//sorry for late response #//headaches and such #//but feel free to start another rp if you want #//maybe from another's pov?#//up to you ^^

Lynus nodded his head idly as Ailith spoke of her guildmates. He could understand their responses. He knew that his own guild would do whatever it was necessary to do the same should he ever find himself in such a state.

“I best leave you be for now,” Lynus said, gently dismissing her gratitude because he was still uneasy at receiving as much. “Any longer and I’m sure your guild, along with mine, might get antsy and suspicious. I also have a few...theories that I would like to look into. The sooner the better.”

He would also like to speak with his guild’s own highlander. Zeryn had always been rather...unconventional, for a lack of a better word. He might be able to share some of those highlander secrets.

“If you need anything from me, I’ll likely be in the tearoom. If not, then the hospital. Feel free to ask my guildmates if you can’t find me.”

With that, Lynus clutched the notebook in his arm as he grabbed his medical bag with the other. He smiled absentmindedly, his mind already moving onto possible cures and treatments.

“I hope you’re able to rest well tonight.”

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

Ailith smiled softly, and took a deep breath.

“That, I can do.” A decisive nod followed, even if something still seemed to make her struggle. “I… I can wait. That is not an issue, if I need time, my Team will understand and let me take this time.” She sighed softly. “And I do know what you mean. I wouldn’t want to die, not nesseccarily because I fear death, but because I wouldn’t want my Guild to watch me either away as well. Especially not my brother.”

A light smile returned. “He had pushed me for, what, a month now? To get some help. Find some help, and find a way to reverse this.” She nodded over to Lynus. “One of the main reasons I got into contact with you. Alistair’s first idea was to search for a way himself, but I already explained to you why I can’t ask him, or the rest of my Guild. And even if he finds out now, he will probably offer to help you in an instant.” Even a short chuckle was now heard.

“I could hold him off so far, and keep him busy, asking Cass to always have some more Quests ready, if possible. I could tell my brother that I was okay, just a bit tired. That I would be okay in time… I just hope I really can be.” Her gaze wandered back to the Healer.

“My hopes now rest on you. But no matter how your research ends, I want to thank you already.”

Lynus inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He could feel Ailith beginning to relax. Their conversation had been rather distressing, for the both of them really. But especially for Ailith herself.

"Hmm, letting your brother help might be beneficial, actually," Lynus mused aloud. "He would be able to help me narrow my research more effectively. Though, I think it would be best if he's the only one to help for now. The hospital, especially Dr Stiles, won't be too pleased if an entire guild turned up in their private library."

Lynus smiled wryly before he shook his head. He fell silent as he tapped his fingers across the leather cover of his notebook once more.

"For now, though, I'll...do some research on the own. I have a few theories that I'll need to look into to."

He shook his head again and sent Ailith what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"No, I'm a devote medic. It's my duty to do what I can to improve the way of life in others. If...I can't find a cure, I will find a way to help improve your health."

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

She managed a wry smile, and shrugged. “I know that there isn’t exactly much knowledge about our abilities. The blessing of our people’s secrecy, what can I say?” She pulled herself to the table again, and rested her arms on it’s surface. “I… cannot exactly say as much as I would want to, myself. But if you do have any questions, I will try my best to respect your effort on figuring out my condition and respect the disciplines and values I was raised with.” Ailith let out a sigh again, and her gaze was laying on the other. “All I ask for is research. I just want to know if there is any way, any… ethical way, to fix this. If there is not…” Her words got silent for a moment, turned into a tired, depressed mumbling, before she could pull herself together again. She rubbed her eyes, and shook her head. “Excuse me. If there is not a solution, if this is simply it, and my life from now on, then I can live with it.” A small smile came back to her face. “I am not exactly able to use my skills at the moment, as much as I wish I could. I cannot go out with my guild.” Her smile grew sad. “Can’t even leave the inn, without any help that is.” Ailith glanced over at Lynus again, light curiousity sparkling in her eyes. “You are the first new person I have talked to in quite a while.”

Lynus was a little surprised to learn that he was the first person Ailith chose to speak to about her condition. Was his status in Lagaard that well known now? That was a little embarrassing, to be completely honest.

But never mind that now. He needed to concentrate on the task at hand.

Trying hard to remain composed. The fear and the tears were noticeable, though. Ailith was acutely aware of how precarious her condition was. Perhaps not fully aware, but enough to ask for help nevertheless.

But it seemed that her guildmates weren’t aware.

They…weren’t going to learn the news from him. From here on out, Ailith was his patient. And he would do what he could to give her the best treatment possible. If there was no cure, then he would help develop a health plan to ease her symptoms and help her from day to day.

Before all that, though;

“Well, firstly, I think I should learn more about this highlander skill of yours,” Lynus said as he reached into his bag to pull out that blank notebook. “Mostly, how and why do you draw energy from the very core of your being?”

Ailith took a while to respond. Her eyes looked tired, and soon her gaze slipped down again, as she quietly mumbled in thought. “It is… difficult to explain.” Her words were carefully picked, and with each one it seemed like she was thinking if it truly was the right one. “Not exactly the skills themselves. But how do I explain them with upholding my sworn secrecy, and how do I explain why we use them at all to begin with?” The question seemed more to be targeted towards herself, and her eyes wandered from left to right for a moment, exhausted and in thought. “Well. To begin with…” She took a long breath. “There is… something in us, that would probably be easiest to compare to the common concept of a soul. Which is what I will call it from now on.” A slight nod followed. “A soul is responsible for a lot of things within us. Our emotions, for one, but most of all for our strength. If your soul is set on it, you can manage things that would be far beyond your normal capabilities, that would be beyond the things you would accomplish if you would not be interested in it. Your soul can strenghten your emotions, your mind, your body. All three of them hang together, connected by the soul. A healthy soul lives in a healthy mind and in a healthy body.” Ailiths mind seemed to be far away, and she seemed to just speak out what she recalled, what she remembered from a long time back. “So, now that we know this… What do Highlanders do with it?” A small, tired smile spread across her lips. “In a way I cannot explain, in a way I am not allowed to explain, we push our soul, forcefully, into giving us the strength we need. We push our soul to take whatever is nesseccary.” She raised her thin arm in a gesture. “On one hand, this enhances our strength far beyond what we could manage otherwise.” Another arm was raised. “On the other hand, though… Our soul needs to take this energy from somewhere else. And what is it connected to? We cannot let our soul just take from our emotions. There is no way to get them back, and within a shockingly short time, we would just be empty, hollow husks. We cannot let our soul take from our mind, or we would loose our ability to think, to reason, and turn into mindless, terrifying monsters. So, the last choice is the obvious one.” A sad smile appeared as she looked over to Lynus, stared right into his eyes. “We take from our body.”

To be completely honest, as Lynus jotted down notes in his book, he wasn’t entirely sure how to take the information he had just received. He understood some of what Ailith said. The soul taking from the physical body to grant inhuman strength and skills. To gain such power in such a short amount of time required a sacrifice.

He had no idea that highlanders were constantly putting their physical lives and bodies at risk each time they used a skill.

From his own experience, he knew what it was like asking for more strength and power from the physical body, to the point where the physical body had nothing left to give. He had suffered from the severe exhaustion himself. He was often told, however, that his spirit was far large and stronger than his physical body. Hence the reason why he suffered from dizziness and fainting spells more than any other medic he knew.

He wasn’t sure if that was the same as what Highlander did for their skills, however. Ailith was obviously holding much of what she knew from him. On hand, that was understandable. On the other, he couldn’t find a true cure without understanding the true fundamentals of the skills of Highlanders.

He would need to speak with Zeryn about it. He trained under the code of a highlander, too. Though he was considered more…unconventional than most highlanders. All highlanders he had met so far at least.

If nothing else he could see to it that Zeryn never, ever reached the fragile state that Ailith had found herself in.

“This is a lot to take in, I will admit,” Lynus said. “I…can’t necessarily promise you anything. I don’t know if there is a way to reverse such…deterioration.”

He paused.

“…Actually, there might be a way. But it would be a long process. Years, even. And I can only assume it would require you to give up your skills as a highlander. For good.”

Ailith waited, observing the Medic curiously as he talked. “One possible way to help it would probably be something along the lines of feeding a soul, giving it back enough so it can get said energy back to the body.” She shrugged. “This is what I would assume, at least. But for one, I am not a healer, and second, I do not know if this could be remotely possible.” A soft sigh went over her lips. “I… can manage with a long process. It is not ideal, but it would be better to at least have something to look forward to at some point.” For a short moment, her eyes seemed dreamy. “It would be nice, to just be able to go out again…” A few moments passed, the young woman’s expression simply showing a far away gaze. Her eyes closed, and a quiet hum followed. “However… I am not quite sure if I would be willing to give up my abilities.” Her green eyes opened again. “It is not like my people wouldn’t accept it. From my current condition, they could probably understand. But…” A sad laugh escaped her. “It is all I can. It is all I was trained for, as long as I can remember. I grew up with these values, with this training, and I took a lot of pride in it. It’s not just a simple profession, it is who I am, and who I always aspired to be.” Her head shook quickly as she bit her lip, her hands shaking lightly again. “I… I know why it would be nesseccary. I can technically understand it. But I would swap the loss my current body for the loss of my values.” Ailith hid her face behind her hands, and a muffled, trembling sigh followed. “I am… sorry for being difficult. But I do not know what else I would supposed to be.”

Lynus suppressed the need to utter a sigh. Ailith had no idea how frail she really was, did she?

Lynus shook his head. “No, it won’t be that easy. You will need to nourish your body through diet and physical therapy. You need to regain the necessarily nutrients and muscle mass. It’s not an instant fix. It will take months for you to get to the point where you can stand on your own. Your soul isn’t the issue here; it’s your physical body.”

He didn’t like to be so…blunt with his words. But getting to the point, perhaps as bluntly as possible, was really the only way to get it through to stubborn patients. And explorers were as stubborn as they come. Highlanders were possibly the most stubborn of them all.

In all honesty, stubborn patients had always left him sad and frustrated. Ailith was on the verge of complete organ failure and she was worried about giving up her highlander skills. She had the capacity to be whoever she wanted. But she couldn’t be anything but a…well, a husk of a person if she continued on the path she was currently.

He had to be firm.

“You don’t seem to understand how critical a state you really are. You’re on the brink of complete organ failure. Your physical body can’t take any more. If you want me to help you, then I need you to put your stubbornness aside for now. If you put the qualities of a highlander before your own life and before your own guild’s wishes, then I’m afraid there is nothing I can do for you.”

He really didn’t like speaking so frankly like that. He was also worried that if he did find a way to improve her health, would she fall back into old habits? How can he ensure that she wouldn’t let herself fall into such a state again? And could he really do his research without her guild finding out?

He wasn’t sure how Ailith was going to respond to that. If…if nothing else, he would use the information he gained through their conversation to continue his own research, to help other highlanders. To prevent Zeryn and Gage in particular from sharing the same fate.

“Perhaps I should leave for now,” Lynus said when he recognised the fatigue in Ailith’s aura. “We both have quite a bit to think about, I assume.”

For just a moment, it seemed as if something was shimmering in her eyes as she kept her gaze fixed on the table, her gaze forced down. But it was simply a moment, and soon she closed her eyes again, taking a deep, shaking breath as she swallowed hard, and folded her trembling hands on the table.

“I… suppose we do have quite a bit to think about.” Her words were slow, not careful but simply tired. Her eyes slowly opened, and for the last time today they wandered to Lynus.

“I only have one last question for you. If you were in my place, and someone would tell you that it could be Okay, it could be fine, as long as you forever give up being a Healer, would you? Would you put your own selfishness first, and choose to never heal anyone again, never help them again in the way you’re used to for years… would you? Or simply… Would you make this decision in the same moment someone told you?” The light glistening in her eyes was back, and not even Ailith knew if it was due to the matter or due to exhaustion. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Lynus sat quietly for a moment before he answered; “This isn’t about selfishness. If I was in such a state where I was deteriorating at a rapid rate due entirely to healing, then yes; I would give it up. Because dying young, dying in front of my fiancé and guild would cause them untold pain and suffering.”

His guild, his family, his Axel would always come first. Healing was his purpose in life, yes. But Axel and those he considered his family was his reason for living.

He did understand the fear that Ailith felt, however.

“Though, you seemed to have misunderstood something. I’m not asking you to give up your highlander training forever. I’m sorry if I said such a thing. That was wrong of me. I should never ask someone to give up something like that forever. Just until you find a way to balance your health. I know how stubborn explorers are. And I never asked you to make a decision here and now.”

Lynus sighed and shook his head. “But it is your highlander skills that placed you in this situation. You absolutely can’t use them right at this very moment because you will die. You’re on the verge of organ failure as is. The verge, but not entirely. There’s still a chance. But I need to do some research. And you need to consider the realisation that you will need to take a lot of time off to heal. Time away from the labyrinth, away from using your skills.”

He drummed his fingers against the cover of his notebook. “There’s more to you than your highlander skills. Just like there is more to me than my healing skills.”

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

She managed a wry smile, and shrugged. “I know that there isn’t exactly much knowledge about our abilities. The blessing of our people’s secrecy, what can I say?” She pulled herself to the table again, and rested her arms on it’s surface. “I… cannot exactly say as much as I would want to, myself. But if you do have any questions, I will try my best to respect your effort on figuring out my condition and respect the disciplines and values I was raised with.” Ailith let out a sigh again, and her gaze was laying on the other. “All I ask for is research. I just want to know if there is any way, any… ethical way, to fix this. If there is not…” Her words got silent for a moment, turned into a tired, depressed mumbling, before she could pull herself together again. She rubbed her eyes, and shook her head. “Excuse me. If there is not a solution, if this is simply it, and my life from now on, then I can live with it.” A small smile came back to her face. “I am not exactly able to use my skills at the moment, as much as I wish I could. I cannot go out with my guild.” Her smile grew sad. “Can’t even leave the inn, without any help that is.” Ailith glanced over at Lynus again, light curiousity sparkling in her eyes. “You are the first new person I have talked to in quite a while.”

Lynus was a little surprised to learn that he was the first person Ailith chose to speak to about her condition. Was his status in Lagaard that well known now? That was a little embarrassing, to be completely honest.

But never mind that now. He needed to concentrate on the task at hand.

Trying hard to remain composed. The fear and the tears were noticeable, though. Ailith was acutely aware of how precarious her condition was. Perhaps not fully aware, but enough to ask for help nevertheless.

But it seemed that her guildmates weren’t aware.

They…weren’t going to learn the news from him. From here on out, Ailith was his patient. And he would do what he could to give her the best treatment possible. If there was no cure, then he would help develop a health plan to ease her symptoms and help her from day to day.

Before all that, though;

“Well, firstly, I think I should learn more about this highlander skill of yours,” Lynus said as he reached into his bag to pull out that blank notebook. “Mostly, how and why do you draw energy from the very core of your being?”

Ailith took a while to respond. Her eyes looked tired, and soon her gaze slipped down again, as she quietly mumbled in thought. “It is… difficult to explain.” Her words were carefully picked, and with each one it seemed like she was thinking if it truly was the right one. “Not exactly the skills themselves. But how do I explain them with upholding my sworn secrecy, and how do I explain why we use them at all to begin with?” The question seemed more to be targeted towards herself, and her eyes wandered from left to right for a moment, exhausted and in thought. “Well. To begin with…” She took a long breath. “There is… something in us, that would probably be easiest to compare to the common concept of a soul. Which is what I will call it from now on.” A slight nod followed. “A soul is responsible for a lot of things within us. Our emotions, for one, but most of all for our strength. If your soul is set on it, you can manage things that would be far beyond your normal capabilities, that would be beyond the things you would accomplish if you would not be interested in it. Your soul can strenghten your emotions, your mind, your body. All three of them hang together, connected by the soul. A healthy soul lives in a healthy mind and in a healthy body.” Ailiths mind seemed to be far away, and she seemed to just speak out what she recalled, what she remembered from a long time back. “So, now that we know this… What do Highlanders do with it?” A small, tired smile spread across her lips. “In a way I cannot explain, in a way I am not allowed to explain, we push our soul, forcefully, into giving us the strength we need. We push our soul to take whatever is nesseccary.” She raised her thin arm in a gesture. “On one hand, this enhances our strength far beyond what we could manage otherwise.” Another arm was raised. “On the other hand, though… Our soul needs to take this energy from somewhere else. And what is it connected to? We cannot let our soul just take from our emotions. There is no way to get them back, and within a shockingly short time, we would just be empty, hollow husks. We cannot let our soul take from our mind, or we would loose our ability to think, to reason, and turn into mindless, terrifying monsters. So, the last choice is the obvious one.” A sad smile appeared as she looked over to Lynus, stared right into his eyes. “We take from our body.”

To be completely honest, as Lynus jotted down notes in his book, he wasn’t entirely sure how to take the information he had just received. He understood some of what Ailith said. The soul taking from the physical body to grant inhuman strength and skills. To gain such power in such a short amount of time required a sacrifice.

He had no idea that highlanders were constantly putting their physical lives and bodies at risk each time they used a skill.

From his own experience, he knew what it was like asking for more strength and power from the physical body, to the point where the physical body had nothing left to give. He had suffered from the severe exhaustion himself. He was often told, however, that his spirit was far large and stronger than his physical body. Hence the reason why he suffered from dizziness and fainting spells more than any other medic he knew.

He wasn’t sure if that was the same as what Highlander did for their skills, however. Ailith was obviously holding much of what she knew from him. On hand, that was understandable. On the other, he couldn’t find a true cure without understanding the true fundamentals of the skills of Highlanders.

He would need to speak with Zeryn about it. He trained under the code of a highlander, too. Though he was considered more…unconventional than most highlanders. All highlanders he had met so far at least.

If nothing else he could see to it that Zeryn never, ever reached the fragile state that Ailith had found herself in.

“This is a lot to take in, I will admit,” Lynus said. “I…can’t necessarily promise you anything. I don’t know if there is a way to reverse such…deterioration.”

He paused.

“…Actually, there might be a way. But it would be a long process. Years, even. And I can only assume it would require you to give up your skills as a highlander. For good.”

Ailith waited, observing the Medic curiously as he talked. “One possible way to help it would probably be something along the lines of feeding a soul, giving it back enough so it can get said energy back to the body.” She shrugged. “This is what I would assume, at least. But for one, I am not a healer, and second, I do not know if this could be remotely possible.” A soft sigh went over her lips. “I… can manage with a long process. It is not ideal, but it would be better to at least have something to look forward to at some point.” For a short moment, her eyes seemed dreamy. “It would be nice, to just be able to go out again…” A few moments passed, the young woman’s expression simply showing a far away gaze. Her eyes closed, and a quiet hum followed. “However… I am not quite sure if I would be willing to give up my abilities.” Her green eyes opened again. “It is not like my people wouldn’t accept it. From my current condition, they could probably understand. But…” A sad laugh escaped her. “It is all I can. It is all I was trained for, as long as I can remember. I grew up with these values, with this training, and I took a lot of pride in it. It’s not just a simple profession, it is who I am, and who I always aspired to be.” Her head shook quickly as she bit her lip, her hands shaking lightly again. “I… I know why it would be nesseccary. I can technically understand it. But I would swap the loss my current body for the loss of my values.” Ailith hid her face behind her hands, and a muffled, trembling sigh followed. “I am… sorry for being difficult. But I do not know what else I would supposed to be.”

Lynus suppressed the need to utter a sigh. Ailith had no idea how frail she really was, did she?

Lynus shook his head. "No, it won't be that easy. You will need to nourish your body through diet and physical therapy. You need to regain the necessarily nutrients and muscle mass. It's not an instant fix. It will take months for you to get to the point where you can stand on your own. Your soul isn't the issue here; it's your physical body."

He didn't like to be so…blunt with his words. But getting to the point, perhaps as bluntly as possible, was really the only way to get it through to stubborn patients. And explorers were as stubborn as they come. Highlanders were possibly the most stubborn of them all.

In all honesty, stubborn patients had always left him sad and frustrated. Ailith was on the verge of complete organ failure and she was worried about giving up her highlander skills. She had the capacity to be whoever she wanted. But she couldn't be anything but a…well, a husk of a person if she continued on the path she was currently.

He had to be firm.

"You don't seem to understand how critical a state you really are. You're on the brink of complete organ failure. Your physical body can't take any more. If you want me to help you, then I need you to put your stubbornness aside for now. If you put the qualities of a highlander before your own life and before your own guild's wishes, then I’m afraid there is nothing I can do for you."

He really didn't like speaking so frankly like that. He was also worried that if he did find a way to improve her health, would she fall back into old habits? How can he ensure that she wouldn’t let herself fall into such a state again? And could he really do his research without her guild finding out?

He wasn't sure how Ailith was going to respond to that. If...if nothing else, he would use the information he gained through their conversation to continue his own research, to help other highlanders. To prevent Zeryn and Gage in particular from sharing the same fate.

“Perhaps I should leave for now,” Lynus said when he recognised the fatigue in Ailith’s aura. “We both have quite a bit to think about, I assume.”

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

She managed a wry smile, and shrugged. “I know that there isn’t exactly much knowledge about our abilities. The blessing of our people’s secrecy, what can I say?” She pulled herself to the table again, and rested her arms on it’s surface. “I… cannot exactly say as much as I would want to, myself. But if you do have any questions, I will try my best to respect your effort on figuring out my condition and respect the disciplines and values I was raised with.” Ailith let out a sigh again, and her gaze was laying on the other. “All I ask for is research. I just want to know if there is any way, any… ethical way, to fix this. If there is not…” Her words got silent for a moment, turned into a tired, depressed mumbling, before she could pull herself together again. She rubbed her eyes, and shook her head. “Excuse me. If there is not a solution, if this is simply it, and my life from now on, then I can live with it.” A small smile came back to her face. “I am not exactly able to use my skills at the moment, as much as I wish I could. I cannot go out with my guild.” Her smile grew sad. “Can’t even leave the inn, without any help that is.” Ailith glanced over at Lynus again, light curiousity sparkling in her eyes. “You are the first new person I have talked to in quite a while.”

Lynus was a little surprised to learn that he was the first person Ailith chose to speak to about her condition. Was his status in Lagaard that well known now? That was a little embarrassing, to be completely honest.

But never mind that now. He needed to concentrate on the task at hand.

Trying hard to remain composed. The fear and the tears were noticeable, though. Ailith was acutely aware of how precarious her condition was. Perhaps not fully aware, but enough to ask for help nevertheless.

But it seemed that her guildmates weren’t aware.

They…weren’t going to learn the news from him. From here on out, Ailith was his patient. And he would do what he could to give her the best treatment possible. If there was no cure, then he would help develop a health plan to ease her symptoms and help her from day to day.

Before all that, though;

“Well, firstly, I think I should learn more about this highlander skill of yours,” Lynus said as he reached into his bag to pull out that blank notebook. “Mostly, how and why do you draw energy from the very core of your being?”

Ailith took a while to respond. Her eyes looked tired, and soon her gaze slipped down again, as she quietly mumbled in thought. “It is… difficult to explain.” Her words were carefully picked, and with each one it seemed like she was thinking if it truly was the right one. “Not exactly the skills themselves. But how do I explain them with upholding my sworn secrecy, and how do I explain why we use them at all to begin with?” The question seemed more to be targeted towards herself, and her eyes wandered from left to right for a moment, exhausted and in thought. “Well. To begin with…” She took a long breath. “There is… something in us, that would probably be easiest to compare to the common concept of a soul. Which is what I will call it from now on.” A slight nod followed. “A soul is responsible for a lot of things within us. Our emotions, for one, but most of all for our strength. If your soul is set on it, you can manage things that would be far beyond your normal capabilities, that would be beyond the things you would accomplish if you would not be interested in it. Your soul can strenghten your emotions, your mind, your body. All three of them hang together, connected by the soul. A healthy soul lives in a healthy mind and in a healthy body.” Ailiths mind seemed to be far away, and she seemed to just speak out what she recalled, what she remembered from a long time back. “So, now that we know this… What do Highlanders do with it?” A small, tired smile spread across her lips. “In a way I cannot explain, in a way I am not allowed to explain, we push our soul, forcefully, into giving us the strength we need. We push our soul to take whatever is nesseccary.” She raised her thin arm in a gesture. “On one hand, this enhances our strength far beyond what we could manage otherwise.” Another arm was raised. “On the other hand, though… Our soul needs to take this energy from somewhere else. And what is it connected to? We cannot let our soul just take from our emotions. There is no way to get them back, and within a shockingly short time, we would just be empty, hollow husks. We cannot let our soul take from our mind, or we would loose our ability to think, to reason, and turn into mindless, terrifying monsters. So, the last choice is the obvious one.” A sad smile appeared as she looked over to Lynus, stared right into his eyes. “We take from our body.”

To be completely honest, as Lynus jotted down notes in his book, he wasn’t entirely sure how to take the information he had just received. He understood some of what Ailith said. The soul taking from the physical body to grant inhuman strength and skills. To gain such power in such a short amount of time required a sacrifice.

He had no idea that highlanders were constantly putting their physical lives and bodies at risk each time they used a skill.

From his own experience, he knew what it was like asking for more strength and power from the physical body, to the point where the physical body had nothing left to give. He had suffered from the severe exhaustion himself. He was often told, however, that his spirit was far large and stronger than his physical body. Hence the reason why he suffered from dizziness and fainting spells more than any other medic he knew.

He wasn’t sure if that was the same as what Highlander did for their skills, however. Ailith was obviously holding much of what she knew from him. On hand, that was understandable. On the other, he couldn’t find a true cure without understanding the true fundamentals of the skills of Highlanders.

He would need to speak with Zeryn about it. He trained under the code of a highlander, too. Though he was considered more…unconventional than most highlanders. All highlanders he had met so far at least.

If nothing else he could see to it that Zeryn never, ever reached the fragile state that Ailith had found herself in.

“This is a lot to take in, I will admit,” Lynus said. “I…can’t necessarily promise you anything. I don’t know if there is a way to reverse such…deterioration.”

He paused.

“…Actually, there might be a way. But it would be a long process. Years, even. And I can only assume it would require you to give up your skills as a highlander. For good.”

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

She managed a wry smile, and shrugged. “I know that there isn’t exactly much knowledge about our abilities. The blessing of our people’s secrecy, what can I say?” She pulled herself to the table again, and rested her arms on it’s surface. “I… cannot exactly say as much as I would want to, myself. But if you do have any questions, I will try my best to respect your effort on figuring out my condition and respect the disciplines and values I was raised with.” Ailith let out a sigh again, and her gaze was laying on the other. “All I ask for is research. I just want to know if there is any way, any… ethical way, to fix this. If there is not…” Her words got silent for a moment, turned into a tired, depressed mumbling, before she could pull herself together again. She rubbed her eyes, and shook her head. “Excuse me. If there is not a solution, if this is simply it, and my life from now on, then I can live with it.” A small smile came back to her face. “I am not exactly able to use my skills at the moment, as much as I wish I could. I cannot go out with my guild.” Her smile grew sad. “Can’t even leave the inn, without any help that is.” Ailith glanced over at Lynus again, light curiousity sparkling in her eyes. “You are the first new person I have talked to in quite a while.”

Lynus was a little surprised to learn that he was the first person Ailith chose to speak to about her condition. Was his status in Lagaard that well known now? That was a little embarrassing, to be completely honest.

But never mind that now. He needed to concentrate on the task at hand.

Trying hard to remain composed. The fear and the tears were noticeable, though. Ailith was acutely aware of how precarious her condition was. Perhaps not fully aware, but enough to ask for help nevertheless.

But it seemed that her guildmates weren't aware.

They...weren't going to learn the news from him. From here on out, Ailith was his patient. And he would do what he could to give her the best treatment possible. If there was no cure, then he would help develop a health plan to ease her symptoms and help her from day to day.

Before all that, though;

"Well, firstly, I think I should learn more about this highlander skill of yours," Lynus said as he reached into his bag to pull out that blank notebook. "Mostly, how and why do you draw energy from the very core of your being?"

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

The Inn was quiet by now, most Guilds either already in their rooms and resting, or out for exploration at night-time. The last guild had just left a few minutes ago. Specifically, the Silver guild. Their leader now waited alone in her room, the only sound ringing through the air was a spoon softly hitting the side of the teacup she had placed on the table in front of her. She watched the light red liquid swirling within the cup, and was only pulled out of her thoughts once she heard the long awaited knocking on the door. “It’s open”, she called out, and curiously mustered the ginger-haired Medic as he entered the room. She gave him a light smile as a greeting, and gestured to an empty chair on the other side of the table. It took only a moment, and once he had found his place, the lavender-haired Highlander in front of him began to speak. “I truly apologize for taking up your time, especially at this hour. I am aware how late it is, and I am sorry that this was the only possible time I could find for this meeting.” She rested her arms on the table, and kept her calm gaze on the Medic. “I think I should introduce myself. My name is Ailith Orlais, and I am one of the two current Leaders of the Silver Guild.” A nod followed. “And I assume that you have questions to this meeting. If you do, please ask ahead.”

Lynus looked at the highlander across from him curiously. Questions? He had a few. But they were along the same vein; why was he here?

It was rather strange, if he were to be honest. Usually, when he was requested to visit someone, they would tell him why they wished for his assistance, and then he would ask the appropriate questions. He really couldn’t offer anything until he had least figured out what the request was about. The request was obviously something along the lines of healing. But what kind?

While the young woman had quite a neutral face, he could sense a few troubling emotions within her aura. They were mingling together so he wasn’t sure if the woman was simply nervous or if there was something else.

Best to get to the heart of the matter.

“I have only one question for now,” Lynus said. “What can I do for you?”

Ailith took a slow breath, and for a moment, it seems like she was thinking about it, as if she wasn’t quite sure if she should ask now or not. After a few seconds though, she shook her head lightly and let out a soft sigh. “I am not quite sure if you can do something for me. If anyone could do something for me, for that matter.” She picked her words carefully. her lips showing a melancholic smile. “To be direct, I want you to find out if you can do something for me. To ask around, maybe ask a colleague or two. Do a bit of research, if there is a way to help me.” She went quiet again for a moment, and then grabbed the edge of the table. She pushed her chair and herself away from it, to reveal her legs hidden beneath a blanket. “My… condition is a rather rare one, at least in these parts. Not exactly one many would know about, and the few ones who know not knowing if there is any help.” She let out a huff. “Hell, if you would ask any other Highlander, they would probably tell you there isn’t.” She rested her hands on the blanket, and it seemed they were lightly shaking, as much as the young woman wanted to surpress it. “…Please excuse me. It has been a while since anyone new found out about this…”

Lynus drew in a sharp intake of air when the young woman pushed back her chair. The blanket that was draped over her legs did little to hide her trembling. And it didn’t hide how…frail she was.

As Lynus inspected her aura with his gaze, he immediately felt another gasp pass his lips when he realised how truly, and utterly frail she was. It wasn’t the normal type of exhaustion or fatigue she suffered from. It was different. It was far more severe.

He had never seen anything like it.

Something took her muscles, her strength, her health. Her vitality. Her life.

He knew little about the skills of highlander, only from what Zeryn admitted. And from what he had seen Zeryn perform during a battle. The fact that Zeryn drew power at the expense of his own body, of his own health prompted Lynus to heal him immediately, without thought. He knew that whenever Zeryn used that self-harm ability, that he drew it from the very core of his being; physically, mentally, spiritually.

Instant healing helped, he said. It didn’t hurt as much if he was healed afterward, he said. Especially from Lynus himself, he said.

He wouldn’t say anything more than that, though.

What the young woman was suffering from was something he hadn’t expected.

“You’re…deteriorating from the inside out?”

Her gaze was fixed on the ground as she answered with a brief nod. “I was.” She pulled the blanket aside for a brief moment, revealing legs that would fit more on a Vessel then a human, before a light shiver went through her and she huddled herself into the blanket once more. “My current condition is stable. Of course… less then ideal”, she attempted a half hearted smile, “…but stable.” Her hands fidgeted just so slightly as she continued. “I cannot ask my own Guild for this, for a few reasons, if you are curious why I ask you, a stranger.” Her gaze was still fixed on the ground, and Ailith was not quite sure if it was because she wanted to avoid the others eyes, or to hide the emotions that showed on her face. “They would never give up searching. They would continue to search for an answer day after day after day, no matter if there is one or not. They would waste their own time with my problems that may not even have a solution, and I do not want that.” Her tone just got slightly more serious. “And partly, I fear our own Medic could actually find one…” She took a moment, and when she spoke again, her tone was back to sounding nothing but tired. “I want an opinion from the outside. From someone unbiased. I want you to search if there is a solution, a way to reverse this. If yes, then please tell me. But if you find out there is not, I want you to be honest with me as well. Just tell me, and let me come to peace with it.” She looked up, her expression serious, seemingly forced to be serious. “Could you do that for me?”

"I...see," was all Lynus could manage as he listened to the young woman's words.

It made sense, in a way. If one of Lynus' own guildmates suffered from such a condition, he would do anything and everything he could to help them. Go above and beyond. To the point of desperation, perhaps. To watch someone he cared for so much to go through such a thing would be devastating.

It made sense to ask an outsider to do research. They would be more practical, perhaps impartial. As a medic who had worked at the hospital, Lynus knew that he would do what was necessary to help a patient. But that was from the need to help a improve a patient's way of life. Not desperation. Not sheer, unadulterated desperation.

It made sense to want to keep such a situation from one's guildmates.

And it made sense to ask someone who had ties to the hospital and have the ability to use their library and research labs whenever necessary.

Still...

"I...can't promise you anything," Lynus admitted. "The skills of Highlanders aren't particular well-know, but I will do what I can. I'm afraid research is all I can offer you now."

There was one more thing he could say, though he wondered if he should.

"Just...one more thing; don't use any of your highlander skills again. One more time..." Lynus hesitated for a moment. "There won't be any coming back."

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

The Inn was quiet by now, most Guilds either already in their rooms and resting, or out for exploration at night-time. The last guild had just left a few minutes ago. Specifically, the Silver guild. Their leader now waited alone in her room, the only sound ringing through the air was a spoon softly hitting the side of the teacup she had placed on the table in front of her. She watched the light red liquid swirling within the cup, and was only pulled out of her thoughts once she heard the long awaited knocking on the door. “It’s open”, she called out, and curiously mustered the ginger-haired Medic as he entered the room. She gave him a light smile as a greeting, and gestured to an empty chair on the other side of the table. It took only a moment, and once he had found his place, the lavender-haired Highlander in front of him began to speak. “I truly apologize for taking up your time, especially at this hour. I am aware how late it is, and I am sorry that this was the only possible time I could find for this meeting.” She rested her arms on the table, and kept her calm gaze on the Medic. “I think I should introduce myself. My name is Ailith Orlais, and I am one of the two current Leaders of the Silver Guild.” A nod followed. “And I assume that you have questions to this meeting. If you do, please ask ahead.”

Lynus looked at the highlander across from him curiously. Questions? He had a few. But they were along the same vein; why was he here?

It was rather strange, if he were to be honest. Usually, when he was requested to visit someone, they would tell him why they wished for his assistance, and then he would ask the appropriate questions. He really couldn’t offer anything until he had least figured out what the request was about. The request was obviously something along the lines of healing. But what kind?

While the young woman had quite a neutral face, he could sense a few troubling emotions within her aura. They were mingling together so he wasn’t sure if the woman was simply nervous or if there was something else.

Best to get to the heart of the matter.

“I have only one question for now,” Lynus said. “What can I do for you?”

Ailith took a slow breath, and for a moment, it seems like she was thinking about it, as if she wasn’t quite sure if she should ask now or not. After a few seconds though, she shook her head lightly and let out a soft sigh. “I am not quite sure if you can do something for me. If anyone could do something for me, for that matter.” She picked her words carefully. her lips showing a melancholic smile. “To be direct, I want you to find out if you can do something for me. To ask around, maybe ask a colleague or two. Do a bit of research, if there is a way to help me.” She went quiet again for a moment, and then grabbed the edge of the table. She pushed her chair and herself away from it, to reveal her legs hidden beneath a blanket. “My… condition is a rather rare one, at least in these parts. Not exactly one many would know about, and the few ones who know not knowing if there is any help.” She let out a huff. “Hell, if you would ask any other Highlander, they would probably tell you there isn’t.” She rested her hands on the blanket, and it seemed they were lightly shaking, as much as the young woman wanted to surpress it. “…Please excuse me. It has been a while since anyone new found out about this…”

Lynus drew in a sharp intake of air when the young woman pushed back her chair. The blanket that was draped over her legs did little to hide her trembling. And it didn't hide how...frail she was.

As Lynus inspected her aura with his gaze, he immediately felt another gasp pass his lips when he realised how truly, and utterly frail she was. It wasn’t the normal type of exhaustion or fatigue she suffered from. It was different. It was far more severe.

He had never seen anything like it.

Something took her muscles, her strength, her health. Her vitality. Her life.

He knew little about the skills of highlander, only from what Zeryn admitted. And from what he had seen Zeryn perform during a battle. The fact that Zeryn drew power at the expense of his own body, of his own health prompted Lynus to heal him immediately, without thought. He knew that whenever Zeryn used that self-harm ability, that he drew it from the very core of his being; physically, mentally, spiritually.

Instant healing helped, he said. It didn't hurt as much if he was healed afterward, he said. Especially from Lynus himself, he said.

He wouldn't say anything more than that, though.

What the young woman was suffering from was something he hadn't expected.

"You're...deteriorating from the inside out?"

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

The Inn was quiet by now, most Guilds either already in their rooms and resting, or out for exploration at night-time. The last guild had just left a few minutes ago. Specifically, the Silver guild. Their leader now waited alone in her room, the only sound ringing through the air was a spoon softly hitting the side of the teacup she had placed on the table in front of her. She watched the light red liquid swirling within the cup, and was only pulled out of her thoughts once she heard the long awaited knocking on the door. “It’s open”, she called out, and curiously mustered the ginger-haired Medic as he entered the room. She gave him a light smile as a greeting, and gestured to an empty chair on the other side of the table. It took only a moment, and once he had found his place, the lavender-haired Highlander in front of him began to speak. “I truly apologize for taking up your time, especially at this hour. I am aware how late it is, and I am sorry that this was the only possible time I could find for this meeting.” She rested her arms on the table, and kept her calm gaze on the Medic. “I think I should introduce myself. My name is Ailith Orlais, and I am one of the two current Leaders of the Silver Guild.” A nod followed. “And I assume that you have questions to this meeting. If you do, please ask ahead.”

Lynus looked at the highlander across from him curiously. Questions? He had a few. But they were along the same vein; why was he here?

It was rather strange, if he were to be honest. Usually, when he was requested to visit someone, they would tell him why they wished for his assistance, and then he would ask the appropriate questions. He really couldn't offer anything until he had least figured out what the request was about. The request was obviously something along the lines of healing. But what kind?

While the young woman had quite a neutral face, he could sense a few troubling emotions within her aura. They were mingling together so he wasn't sure if the woman was simply nervous or if there was something else.

Best to get to the heart of the matter.

"I have only one question for now," Lynus said. "What can I do for you?"

When the guild arrived back at the inn, at first, a letter asking them for help was nothing out of the ordinary. A letter specifically asking Lynus for help was not too strange either. However, that the letter came from one of the other guests at the inn was rather strange. They lived just a few rooms apart, why not ask personally? However, a request was a request either way, and the letter was friendly, asking if the Healer could wait until evening to visit...

To say that Lynus’ interest was piqued would be a bit of an understatement. And to say his guildmates’ collective protective heckles didn’t rise at the request would have been a bold-faced lie! Even within the comforting and familiar surroundings such as the inn, everyone was still protective of him. After the events that had happened recently, it was no surprise.

As understandable as their protectiveness was, Lynus wasn’t about to turn down a request for help.

But to be completely honest, Lynus had felt something was…out of sorts, as it were, within the inn lately. It wasn’t at all uncommon for guilds to return to the inn with injuries they had sustained in the labyrinth, rather than visit the hospital like they should. And it wouldn’t be the first time Lynus was asked by an explorer or by Inn-keeper Hana herself to visit a stubbornly sick or injured guest.

This request, however, felt different. Why he needed to wait until the evening was what caused him the most confusion. It indicated, to him at least, that whatever the request was about, it wasn’t just a simple injury.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking things.

Lynus sat in the tea room with his medical bag as he waited for the sun to set. He busied himself by sorting through his bag, ensuring that he had all the general items and medicines he could carry. He also placed an empty notebook into his bag, to use it as a patient file of sorts.

Well, there was nothing more he could do to prepare. Time to go and meet with the one who wrote that request.

#Etrian Odyssey

Uh....I'm just as confused. Someone said something about "wrangling a confession out of Ramos" before taking off. I'm not sure if I should be worried? I feel worried. -Ferros

Oh, a confession…? O-oh, I think I know what’s going on here. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to get Ramos to admit his feelings for…P-perhaps I’ve said too much.

Though, I am worried for Ramos. He’s likely to be quite upset. I would go and see him, however…he’s likely to want to, um, have some time to himself for a while.

( @guildaetheroflagaard )

….I have a feeling I know what they’re talking about as well. Ramos is definitely going to be upset after this…

I’d go talk to him myself…though it might just make things worse.

Ramos has a lot that he needs to think about. To be honest, I’m apprehensive toward the method that brought this about. Though, for some people, such an approach is the only way.

I wonder if I should attempt to speak to him? Though, I might make things worse, too. Since I’m…happily engaged and all. I might sound patronising to him in some way.

That’s a good point. I just saw Ramos heading towards the hospital, though he looked…a bit angrier than usual. I’m willing to bet that conversation went south pretty quickly.

…maybe I can get Kurt to talk to him? I’m not sure if talking to him myself is a good idea, though you attempting to talk to him might also make things worse.

Toward the hospital? Oh dear, if he’s angrier than usual, Dr Stiles won’t be very patient either. Though, he might just throw some unruly patients at Ramos, which would make things worse…

Kurt is likely to be the best option. I’m the only person from my guild that Ramos feels comfortable in speaking with. That I’m aware of at least.

My Darrell could intervene? Though, he’s a little too…honest at the best of times.

This is no good. I feel awful for not being able to help.

I know what you mean. I’ve got no idea how else to help other than hopefully find Kurt before Ramos actually arrives at the hospital.

…which is a problem, because I’ve got no clue where Kurt is. He’s probably still at the inn…maybe? Unless he and the others got sent on a mission that couldn’t wait - in which case I might as well try to talk to him.

Um, maybe I could go in search for Kurt while you find Ramos? You don’t necessarily need to have a heart to heart with him. Just tell him that its ok if he doesn’t wish to talk about anything, but you’re worried for him nonetheless. And you just want to make sure he doesn’t let his anger get the best of him.

His self-hatred is honestly quite unfathomable, so I can’t be 100% sure if this would help.

That sounds like a plan. Thanks a lot Lynus - I mean it. Hopefully I can intercept Ramos before he makes it to the hospital..

Ah, it’s what I’m here for. Good luck!

Uh....I'm just as confused. Someone said something about "wrangling a confession out of Ramos" before taking off. I'm not sure if I should be worried? I feel worried. -Ferros

Oh, a confession…? O-oh, I think I know what’s going on here. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to get Ramos to admit his feelings for…P-perhaps I’ve said too much.

Though, I am worried for Ramos. He’s likely to be quite upset. I would go and see him, however…he’s likely to want to, um, have some time to himself for a while.

( @guildaetheroflagaard )

….I have a feeling I know what they’re talking about as well. Ramos is definitely going to be upset after this…

I’d go talk to him myself…though it might just make things worse.

Ramos has a lot that he needs to think about. To be honest, I’m apprehensive toward the method that brought this about. Though, for some people, such an approach is the only way.

I wonder if I should attempt to speak to him? Though, I might make things worse, too. Since I’m…happily engaged and all. I might sound patronising to him in some way.

That’s a good point. I just saw Ramos heading towards the hospital, though he looked…a bit angrier than usual. I’m willing to bet that conversation went south pretty quickly.

…maybe I can get Kurt to talk to him? I’m not sure if talking to him myself is a good idea, though you attempting to talk to him might also make things worse.

Toward the hospital? Oh dear, if he’s angrier than usual, Dr Stiles won’t be very patient either. Though, he might just throw some unruly patients at Ramos, which would make things worse…

Kurt is likely to be the best option. I’m the only person from my guild that Ramos feels comfortable in speaking with. That I’m aware of at least.

My Darrell could intervene? Though, he’s a little too…honest at the best of times.

This is no good. I feel awful for not being able to help.

I know what you mean. I’ve got no idea how else to help other than hopefully find Kurt before Ramos actually arrives at the hospital.

…which is a problem, because I’ve got no clue where Kurt is. He’s probably still at the inn…maybe? Unless he and the others got sent on a mission that couldn’t wait - in which case I might as well try to talk to him.

Um, maybe I could go in search for Kurt while you find Ramos? You don’t necessarily need to have a heart to heart with him. Just tell him that its ok if he doesn’t wish to talk about anything, but you’re worried for him nonetheless. And you just want to make sure he doesn’t let his anger get the best of him.

His self-hatred is honestly quite unfathomable, so I can’t be 100% sure if this would help.

Uh....I'm just as confused. Someone said something about "wrangling a confession out of Ramos" before taking off. I'm not sure if I should be worried? I feel worried. -Ferros

Oh, a confession…? O-oh, I think I know what’s going on here. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to get Ramos to admit his feelings for…P-perhaps I’ve said too much.

Though, I am worried for Ramos. He’s likely to be quite upset. I would go and see him, however…he’s likely to want to, um, have some time to himself for a while.

( @guildaetheroflagaard )

….I have a feeling I know what they’re talking about as well. Ramos is definitely going to be upset after this…

I’d go talk to him myself…though it might just make things worse.

Ramos has a lot that he needs to think about. To be honest, I’m apprehensive toward the method that brought this about. Though, for some people, such an approach is the only way.

I wonder if I should attempt to speak to him? Though, I might make things worse, too. Since I’m…happily engaged and all. I might sound patronising to him in some way.

That’s a good point. I just saw Ramos heading towards the hospital, though he looked…a bit angrier than usual. I’m willing to bet that conversation went south pretty quickly.

…maybe I can get Kurt to talk to him? I’m not sure if talking to him myself is a good idea, though you attempting to talk to him might also make things worse.

Toward the hospital? Oh dear, if he’s angrier than usual, Dr Stiles won’t be very patient either. Though, he might just throw some unruly patients at Ramos, which would make things worse…

Kurt is likely to be the best option. I’m the only person from my guild that Ramos feels comfortable in speaking with. That I’m aware of at least.

My Darrell could intervene? Though, he’s a little too…honest at the best of times.

This is no good. I feel awful for not being able to help.

Uh....I'm just as confused. Someone said something about "wrangling a confession out of Ramos" before taking off. I'm not sure if I should be worried? I feel worried. -Ferros

Oh, a confession…? O-oh, I think I know what’s going on here. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to get Ramos to admit his feelings for…P-perhaps I’ve said too much.

Though, I am worried for Ramos. He’s likely to be quite upset. I would go and see him, however…he’s likely to want to, um, have some time to himself for a while.

( @guildaetheroflagaard )

….I have a feeling I know what they’re talking about as well. Ramos is definitely going to be upset after this…

I’d go talk to him myself…though it might just make things worse.

Ramos has a lot that he needs to think about. To be honest, I’m apprehensive toward the method that brought this about. Though, for some people, such an approach is the only way.

I wonder if I should attempt to speak to him? Though, I might make things worse, too. Since I’m…happily engaged and all. I might sound patronising to him in some way.

Uh....I'm just as confused. Someone said something about "wrangling a confession out of Ramos" before taking off. I'm not sure if I should be worried? I feel worried. -Ferros

Oh, a confession…? O-oh, I think I know what’s going on here. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to get Ramos to admit his feelings for…P-perhaps I’ve said too much.

Though, I am worried for Ramos. He’s likely to be quite upset. I would go and see him, however…he’s likely to want to, um, have some time to himself for a while.

( @guildaetheroflagaard )