The Art of Sword

Chapter 92: Whose Memory (Part 3)

Apothecary:...

The man let go of his hand, resulting in the apothecary falling off the roof, but he was fast enough to get onto the ground before her and catch her from hitting the floor with both of his hands.

Apothecary:...

Man:...

They stared at each other for a moment before the apothecary slapped the man in the face, leaving some wet texture on the spot.

Letting the apothecary to stand on her own two feet, then wipe whatever she just slapped on his face with his outfit. That is when he saw blood on his outfit and noticed the apothecary losing her balance.

Standing next to the apothecary with one hand on her shoulder to keep her stable, while the other hand showed her the blood on his outfit.

Apothecary: haha...ha, it's seems my condition acting up again. such a hassle. *showing the blooded part of her outfit and pulling out a clean, small coin bag*

"Here money, you don't have any right? Go and enjoy the festival. I'm heading back."

The man grabbed the money from her, but not letting her go, instead, he took her to the better-illuminated street and to the stall where her and her apprentice bought the last food.

Due to the ceremony, the stall wasn't that full of customers.

Shop owner: Hello, it's you again and you have the apothecary with you... We've never seen you during the festival at all.

Apothecary: That's because I've to always be on guard in case someone injured themselves on this day. So I minimize going around because people know where to find me.

Shop owner: So what made you want to enjoy the festival today?

Apothecary: He needed a check-up and asked about the festival. So I'm here showing him around while my apprentice takes my spot.

Shop owner: Well then, I hope you have a good time and hope that we'll meet each other yearly. So one for each of you?

Apothecary: Yes.

Man:...*nod*

Shop owner: Here you go and enjoy the festival!

*The man and the apothecary leave and walk down the street with their food*

Apothecary: You sure, you want to enjoy the festival with me?

Man: Why not, take it as an apology for that time.

Apothecary: I knew that you can talk *cough*cough*, sorry. There is still blood, I wish it could just go away.

Man: I'll be here with you all night, let's hope that I'll be more painful than that condition of yours.

Apothecary: You sure? You were more of a pain when you didn't talk.

Man:...

Apothecary:...

Man:...

Apothecary: Two can play at that game *cough*cough*.

Man: I'll be the distraction. You are so stubborn and strange.

Apothecary: I can say the same for your romantic gesture. Broke a girl's arms just to carry her back to her village, not gonna work on all girls.

Man: That's just courtesy. Besides, you started it first. There is no romantic feeling between you and me.

Apothecary: Suure, you say that now, but do you know who you are talking to?

Man: A deranged and sick apothecary that likes to nibble on people while unconscious.

Apothecary: I can- wait what?... Did I actually do that while you were carrying me?

Man: I don't need to make up anything you did.

Apothecary: It was the injuries you caused that changed how my mind works.

Man: So, no different. Maybe banging your head on the door was my fault too?

Apothecary: Fine! Maybe all that was my doing unconscious or not. But that is what pulls you to me.

Man: Eat some food first, all that blood loss clouded your mind.

Apothecary: I can see your soul, remember that. You can lie and dodge all you want, but I will always know the truth. That fire may be small now, but with the right event, it can be devastating.

Man:...

Apothecary:*munch*munch*

Man: You sure you in the right field, Miss? Shouldn't you be a matchmaker with that ability?

Apothecary: Don't know.

Man:...

Apothecary: Can I join you on your trip?

Man: No, never.

Apothecary: Why not? I've proven my capability, I stabbed you once. I'm an apothecary, which will be useful if you get into more fights. I'm the best person to bring on your journey.

Man: Skeptical. You are ready to leave your village behind just to travel with a stranger you just met. Also, you are this village's best apothecary. Trading many lives for one isn't something an apothecary should do.

Apothecary: Of course, that is why I have an apprentice. She was there for a reason?

Man: For you to abandon your job?

Apothecary: heh, close enough. It's because of my condition. I hate diseases, I hate conditions that have no cure, I hate that they sometimes make me feel like dying for a moment then acting like nothing happened.

"It's like they are taunting me and my patients. Saying that, today might be the day you'll die then nothing. Giving a false hope, just to kill us at the most unexpected moment."

"I'm the best apothecary with a condition that no one has, if I can't get rid of it, then who can?! That's why, I need my apprentice to deal with curable diseases and conditions, while I look for cures for the unknown one."

"So, traveling with you might be what I need to cure my condition. But if I die...no no, haha that won't happen. I'll show it the consequences for taunting me this long."

Man: I'll think about that. Your reason may have persuaded me but let's just enjoy this festival.

Apothecary: ok, I'm sorry for dampening the mood.

Man: It seems that you are not that close to your apprentice to tell her those words.

Apothecary: Well, sometimes there are things that you can't share with people who are closest to you...

"Also, have you been holding on to your sword this whole time, and not drawing it?"

Man: Oh, that's just habit. Traveling so much and you'll get paranoid that almost everyone will try to attack you... Like you for example.

Apothecary: I did for a good reason, don't lump me with those thugs.