The Art of Sword

Chapter 91: Whose memory (Part 2)

Apprentice after reading the paper: This...this is your doing. He was following us because he didn't know where we would be.

Apothecary: Well, half of it is. I didn't know that he would follow us back. I thought he remembered where I was left off last night.

Apprentice: It was night and he probably didn't pay attention.

Apothecary: You got a point. Ok then, follow us and I'll treat you.

Apprentice: Will that be ok? Is one night's sleep enough for you to get back to work?

Apothecary: Oh my naïve apprentice, I'll be fine, plus he doesn't look that injured.

Apprentice: Ok then.

*At the apprentice's house*

Apprentice: I'll be in the back preparing the batches. Do you have everything with you?

Apothecary: I do, I'll see you in a bit.

*apprentice left the room*

"Ok, let's get to work."

The apothecary unsheathed her sword and placed it to the side. Then she fidgeted with the sheath for a moment until it opened up, showing many small powder and liquid bottles.

While the apothecary looking and grabbing bottles from her sheath, the man is sitting on a chair with his injured leg placed on another chair.

Apothecary: ok, that will be all. Before we start, I need to stab you with my sword. Are you... ok with that?

Man:...

Apothecary:...

Man:...

Apothecary: You need to speak or something. It's starting to get annoying when you aren't saying things.

The man took off his outfit and showed her his bare chest.

Apothecary:... Have you ever heard of me?

Man:... *shake head*

Apothecary: How do you know I need you to remove your clothing?

Man smacks his forehead with his palm, then holds up a part of his outfit and pierces it with his sword, leaving a hole in it.

Apothecary: *smack her forehead* of course, that. I'm getting too used to this. How did I forget the common detail, my ego is getting big.

"Ok, you have given me the permission. Let's start."

The apothecary grabs her sword, infuses it with water element then stabs the man right in his heart. There was no pain, no blood coming out, nothing that he could see or feel, only silence. After a few seconds, she pulled the sword out and there was no wound on his heart.

Apothecary: Ok, that's done... So, you are totally fine, except for the leg part... Let me take care of that first then move on to whatever is wrong with you.

The apothecary starts treating the wound in the man's leg with her medicine, then she sews up the open wound and bandages it.

"And that's it, you are fine now... well, you were fine before but now, your wound won't get infection."

Man:...

Apothecary: *sigh* ok, you are definitely not mute but for some reason, you are choosing not to talk and it's not because of your condition.

Man:...

Apothecary: What with that face?... You don't know what conditions you have?

Man: *nod*

Apothecary: tch tch, it's not a medical condition either... I'll try my best to explain. Your soul, it's stagnant and not vibrant like everyone else. Usually, this means the person will die, soon.

"This only shows up in people that have incurable disease or old age, but, you're young and perfectly healthy. Which only leaves out one possible outcome... you planning to kill yourself."

Man:*gesture his hand in agreement*

Apothecary: And you are being very blunt about it... why? Are you traveling around and then ending yourself at a random place?

The man holds his finger in front of his lip, implying it's a secret.

Apothecary: You, you are a strange one, traveler... but is there a way for me to stop you from killing yourself?

Man:...*point his finger at the apothecary*

Apothecary: Me?... You want to know something about me?

Man:*nod*

Apothecary: I guess every little thing helps... I'm the apothecary of this village, my father is the sword master of this village and that's everything about me.

Man: *points at his heart then points back at her*

Apothecary:... you want to know about my condition? Well, my condition, it's complicated. If I do something that breaks my body's limit, it feels like my soul is breaking at the same time.

"Which is kinda silly, we are born to break the limit of our body, but I have to suppress it if I want to live. The two pills that you saw me consume the other day, one is for opening my limit the other is to close it."

"But sometimes, when it's close, I can feel my soul breaking so I have to take the pill to open it, but that just makes the condition worse. So I have to close my limit and only open it when necessary."

"That's all. Does that help you at all?"

Man:...*shake head*

Apothecary: I thought so too... well, since you going to die anyway. Can I use you?

Man:...*disbelief*

Apothecary:... that sounded weird, I didn't give you a reason... I want you to hang out with me during tonight's festival. Is it ok with you?

Man:...*sigh*nod*

Apothecary: That was more simple than I thought... I guess, you can leave?

The man stood up, got close to the apothecary, and grabbed her arm.

Apothecary*slight blush*: What are you doing?

The man lightly squeezes her arm.

Apothecary: OW! I'm not fully recovered yet.

Man:*giggle* *free her arm*

Apothecary: The only time you made any sound was to laugh at me.*giggle* you are a horrible person.

Apprentice walked into the room: Master! I'm don-e... Did I interrupt anything?

Apothecary: Oh, it's nothing. Come on, bring the batches to me.

Apprentice: oh, ok.