Chapter 3: The Nurse and the Helpless Magus

Susan was already home by the time night came. Her home is a huge Inn built by her parents the Cher Duo. The Duo of Warriors that fought in the first war against the overlord of the northern continent of old. After the war, they settled in the city of Mesh. Trying to forget the horrors of war, Susan was born by the next year they settled in. For ten years she has live in the doubled storied Inn.

But one day a certain black-mantled magus brought with him an auburn haired young man. This young man didn’t have any light in his eyes. It could be said that the two were alike. Susan’s parents knew of the black-mantled magus. They fought with him in the war, working as a hunter of those who uses magic. The magus was dreaded as an opponent that the Knight and Mages hated mainly for his ruthlessness.

Susan remembered how that day came about. Her parents drove all the customers while making apologies. After clearing the Inn they started talking to the black-mantled magus. The magus was referred by name but he disregards that name. Saying that the man with the black mantle died that day, Susan’s parents then called him only by the name ‘Sin’.

‘Sin’ came to the Inn to request to shelter his adopted son. Apparently ‘Sin’ was dying. He was burning inside and his organs will only last for about five years. ‘Sin’ begged Susan’s parents while mentioning the debt they have from him. That debt was saving them from a demi-human shaman. Susan’s parents could not refuse when that debt was brought up so they agreed. But more than that, they were taking pity at the lightless eyes of the child.

They accepted the two. And let them live in the Inn. Susan at first didn’t like the deadpan expression that the boy named Arden had. She was afraid of him and avoided him in his first year at the Inn. Only until the day that Susan almost fell on the Inn’s balcony that she started talking to Arden. Arden was a broken lad. She knew it by how he obsessively trains with his father in the Inn’s backyard. She watched while sometimes learning some of the few moves. Arden’s father was a master in many arts. Although he allowed Susan to learn something from him, Arden’s father did not truly ‘impart’ his abilities to Susan, unlike Arden.

Arden was trained to use skills that were imprinted on his head. Susan thought that it was like the ‘ascending’ but was rougher. Unlike ‘Ascension’ where the person receiving the imprints would be able to use it immediately, however, the magus’s way was different. He still needed to relearn the abilities. It was far too cruel to handle for a child. Susan still could remember how Arden would have his mouth gagged so he won’t be able to scream. It terrified Susan enough to have tried to stop it.

But...Arden stopped her.

He let ‘Sin’ imprint his abilities. Passing his sins and guilt to the young Arden without any hint of hesitance for according to ‘Sin’ it was the way to save him from the cruel world that he lives. After that, Arden spent two years in a coma. His mind was broken by the imprint. It was a like a container being forcefully stuffed. Susan would visit Arden and sometimes take care of her. She wondered how someone could become like this. Her view of the world was that indeed it was cruel. A child should be able to play like normal. So when Arden woke up Susan asked him what his dream was.

“I want to help people.”

Hearing him Susan broke out a lonely yet satisfied smile. The boy in front of her wanted to help those that suffered like her. So she proposed to the boy that both of them should become healers, mages who save the people. Susan always adored that profession. As a devotee of light, raised by two loving parents who went to war once, she thought that helping those in need was amazing.

So this only strengthened her dream. And with Arden agreeing with him with a simple pinky promise, the two became brothers and sisters. They spent two years of learning and in those years until their fifteenth birthday. She has learned a martial art called ‘Krav Maga’ for self-defense. Meanwhile, Arden was not only trained with that style, he was also trained in Escrima and Baritsu. Although Arden had much training due to the imprint, he was skilled in those three the most. Although there was one technique that Arden’s father calls as the last card for Arden. A method that Arden’s father will only allow Arden to use when he deems it's absolutely necessary. Even if he dies, as long as it is not necessary then Arden would never use it.

Susan never knew what it was and even Arden, the Yes-man would never say it. Then in the fifth year, Arden’s father died a peaceful death. Under the moonlight Ardent spent his last moments with his father, promising to atone for his sins and guilt in his place.

Susan heard that promise. And that promise was heartbreaking. If it wasn’t for that vow then Arden wouldn’t have become someone who was so helpless. Susan wondered if she interfered then would things changed. Would Arden become less helpless than he was?

Susan can only wonder. In her room right now, right in front of a pile of books containing medical records and treatment she wonders. Her studying became a recollection of a memory of past. But even with the wonders in her head, she can only face the future with a brave face. She knew that Arden chooses his path. So she too has to face her own without relying on him too much.

They can lean on each other’s back when they are tired. But never hinder each other on their path. Their promise and his promise were far different. Susan knew that she would abandon Arden on his path. And he wouldn’t even think about her when he is set on his path.

It was a strange relationship.

Arden arrived at the Inn. He saw the usual customers drinking their ale. They saw Arden too. And mostly their reaction was either a frown or a sloppy smile. He saw the Cher duo, owners of the Inn. He greeted them and went up the stairs to head to his room.

His room had a simple bed, a table for studying near the window where he usually sits and gazes at the moon. He sat on the chair near the table. He removes his tie and vest leaving only his gray sleeve shirt. He peaked on his wrist only to see the burnt skin of his. Recovering only the insides, not the outside, Arden made it a priority to heal his ligaments, bones and torn muscles.

He's still a glass cannon. He still could not handle any of the abilities given to him by his father. He can only wonder what to do. Think about improving his abilities further. His father told him that there is a way. And that is to kill one’s self. Replacing the outer body into a puppet made of stone. Doing so would allow one to handle the abilities much greater. His father didn’t do it. Losing his humanity was something he could never do. Arden, however, can replace his arms with that of a golem. But his father advice Arden not to use it unless his arms or limbs are cut off.

So Arden can only follow his father’s advice. Train his body until it can handle the transmutation process. He already learned most of the skills that his father had. Only through brawling and shredding his knuckle’s skin that he mastered his father’s favorite fight style called “Krav Maga’. And only through tearing his palms that he was able to fully grasp ‘Escrima’ and ‘Baritsu’. Of course, even with all of this, he was merely a magus in training. Not even a warrior, not even knight but just a glass cannon.

Arden has one final card. But doing so would be turning himself into an automaton that knows only to think one single thing. Arden would never use it unless it is really necessary. So despite all of the skills he has he is a frog in a well.

Never confident, and more like cynical at times. Arden may be able to defend himself somewhat but he too wonders if he can become a magus like his foster father. He was a tough shell. And only through the abilities, he was given that he became less mediocre. His talent in spell casting is absolute garbage. Only two main spells and the basic healing spell which is considered as mediocre even with the normal person.

He only was able to enter the Academy of mesh through his father’s crest. His crest was one of a kind. As if the Crest belonged from another world. Arden thinks that there was something that his foster father hid from him even until his death. He doesn’t care, however. He mainly understood that his secret was something he could not easily say. Hence, even the ‘knowledge’ he imprinted on him was so absurd that it is taboo for him to say it.

Arden has a Geas curse on him. The first curse is to never impart his knowledge to others unless he chooses someone. The second curse is to never use his final card unless deemed necessary. So even though he promised, his father was paranoid enough to curse him.

Arden didn’t blame him. In fact, because of that, he is able to resist anyone trying to reveal it. Susan always tries to ask Arden but his Geas curse would ensure him that he wouldn’t be able to speak it. If it wasn’t for that Geas there was a slight chance he would reveal it.

A knock happened. Arden who was lost in thought turned to the door. He opened it only revealing the sweater with a skirt wearing Susan. She entered his room. She sat on the bed, crossing her legs and arms.

“So, reveal your arms for me.”

“Okay...”

Arden rolled up his sleeves. Susan’s hands glowed. Two spheres of green light came out of her palm rotating as it touches Arden’s burnt up arms. This has been an occasional thing for them to do. Every single night Susan would heal Arden’s wounds. She was taught advance medical knowledge by his father. Because of this, she was the best in her class. There was even a plan to put her into the higher class. But she refused simply because joining the higher class would mean that she would only able to heal up nobles in their battlefields. Susan wanted to become a healer for the people. So she decided to go against it. But even so, the instructors of the Academy gave her a leeway. At the end of her studies, she would become a head nurse that wanders the lands and the battlefields healing people. She would receive an escort of battle clerics and a knight to boot.

She has great prospects while Arden has only a cold path to take. She wanted to help him out of that path but she wouldn’t do it out of a promise they made.

“For three years I have been doing. Yet, you aren’t getting better. Really, no wonder you are called as a helpless fool.”

“Sorry, haha, I am lacking in talent unlike you.”

“Well...at least your insides are always healed. But at this rate, your arms will forever be burnt brown, and rusted. Don’t you care about your skin?”

“I do. But my face is still fine so isn’t it fine?”

“True. Your face is not that bad. Maybe getting attach to someone would help you.”

“Eh, that’s impossible.”

“It is possible as long as you leave this city and start a new life.”

“That’s still not possible. You know me, Susan. I can’t do that.”

“I know, that is why you are reckless. There, all done.”

The glow on Susan’s arms disappeared. This act of treatment is also training to her in a way.

“Thank you as always Susan.”

“You are welcome. Come now let’s eat at the kitchen’s table. I am starving.”

“Sounds good!”

A smile appeared on Arden’s face. Susan then went to the door and led the helpless fool to eat.