File 12 - Settling in

The sun was high in the sky, and a nice breeze brushed the air in Amos. Some people lied on the grass enjoying the feeling, while horse carriages noises resonated in the village. There were kids playing in the streets, some of them listening to old people counting great stories of the past.

In Sam’s room, Mepan was currently showing how the skin regeneration talismans are to be used to Carla.

Sam was of course listening to the conversation.

Mepan was explaining:

“With this talisman, it is important to control the output of the runes by applying as little QI on it as possible in the beginning, only when you feel the skin is absorbing at a satisfying rate can you start focusing more QI into the infusion.” “Be sure to have someone to assist you: the needed QI toward the end of the treatment will be more important than when you applied muscle strengthening”.

Carla nodded, and Sam asked a question:

“Skin regeneration…talismans?”

Mepan and Carla looked at Sam with apological eyes; Mepan was the one who answered:

“Your bones, muscles, veins and skin have been heavily impacted by fourteen years of RuneQi nourishment”. “Normally RuneQi nourishment is something that must not be used for such a long period of time. Especially when the subject is unable to move or muster any QI in order to clean the veins of most impurities still contained after refining.” “However, considering your case and my skills, it was the only solution we could come up with in order to keep you alive.”

Strenghtening talismans, regenerations talismans, Sam deep in thoughts asked something that he had been wondering since he have seen his crippled body.

“My arm…and leg…can refiner cure it?”

Carla turned toward Mepan, she too had thought about it.

Mepan looked seriously at Sam, and said: “Unfortunately, with my skills, it is impossible”.

That was within Sam's expectations, he then asked: “What with..other refiners?”. Mepan answered:”Some refiners may be able to help you with your current situation. However, the price will be a steep one, and results cannot be guaranteed”.

Mepan answered Sam truthfully. With Sam's condition, full recovery would cost a fortune, and finding a refiner willing to do it would require time, patience and luck.

Sam nodded and said: ”Full recovery…impossible, then how much?”.

Mepan hurriedly said: ”I did not say it was impossible.” he sighed “Only, people that can help you recover completely are very few in our prefecture” “And the price for such a task will not be something the Lennart family will be able to afford”.

This was the harsh truth. Mepan was sorry for Sam, if he was more talented, he could have done something for him, unfortunately, the skills needed to perform this sort of full regeneration greatly exceeded his or his master’s ability.

However, for Sam, it signified it was still possible to restore his body.

Mepan spent the next ten minutes teaching the proper way to infuse the new set of talismans to Carla. When he finished he left saying to Sam: “Sam, if you have questions regarding your treatment, or if you want to learn more about refining, come to your uncle Philip’s warehouse. My office is situated there”.

Mepan looked determined when he said. “Also, I’ll try to contact my master in order to ask him if we can do something about your arm" "Full recovery will be hard, but we can surely help you recover some motor skills in your left arm”.

Mepan said his goodbye and left followed by Carla, leaving Sam pondering.

“So it is possible to restore my body.” Sam looked at his left arm. After some time in this body he got accustomed to limping.

However, he had no hope for his arm until Mepan told him that recovery was possible through the use of talisman.

Judging from Mepan’s words, refiner do fine quite a bit for their services. However, Sam did not possess any means of making money.

Sighing, Sam thought that no matter which world he was in, humans are always facing the same issues.

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On the way to Sam’s room, Philip and Brian spoke about Sam’s future in the village.

Brian explained the difficulties Sam is facing with his condition, and his impossibility in being given any physical work.

Brian spoke about his idea of having Philip taking care of Sam for a time, and see if he could be of some use for Philip’s activities.

Philip accepted saying: “Well, we do have a lot of work Sam can perform” “for example selling herbs and potions to adventurers or gathering herb in the outskirt of the forest.” “If I team him up Aaron and Feyd, he will also be protected by my personal guards”.

Brian nodded, “Good, good.” “Also, Carla being Sam’s personal maid, she will join your household. “She has been taking care of Sam for twelve years, and is the best suited to treat him”.

While walking toward Sam’s room, Aaron eyes were going right and left as if looking for something.

Behind him, Feyd snorted saying “Don’t look around so much, Denise is already on her way to Obour” “She left this morning according to Mervena”. Aaron turned around and stuttered: “I-I’m just looking around that’s all, this has nothing to do with Denise”.

Feyd rolled his eyes and said no more.

Aaron followed changing the subject: “If Sam come home, do you think father will ask him to learn refining like us?”. Feyd shaking his head answered, “I don’t think so, and I heard uncle saying only his right arm is useable. The veins in his entire body have been crippled”.

Aaron was pondering; in order to refine, one must be at least able to muster QI. This is when someone start gaining consciousness of the QI in ones body. If Sam’s body was unable to feel QI, then refining will be impossible for him. “Well, he can come with us to sell herbs. Anyway, we have to do our best in order to not make him feel stupid every time he makes mistakes at first” Aaron was giving advice to Feyd on how to behave with people.

Feyd rolled his eyes again.

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Sam heard a knock on the door and seconds later, he saw Brian entering the room.

A middle-aged man and two kids around the same age as him accompanied Brian. The kids were looking at Sam with eyes filled with curiosity.

The middle aged man however seemed emotional, his eyes red he said: “Heavens, this is not a dream!”.

Then approaching Sam, he said: “I’m your uncle Philip, and these two boys are my sons Aaron and Feyd”.

“’Hi I’m Aaron your cousin, and this is my little brother Feyd” Aaron said, Feyd waved his hand.

Sam looked at them, nodded and said: “My name…is Sam”.

“Holy poop! He sure is talking!” Aaron exclaimed.

“Aaron! Watch your mouth!” Snarled Philip while hitting Aaron on the back of the head. The movement was so smooth, as if polished for years.

Philip then turned toward Sam saying. “Don’t mind him, he is a little mischievous, but he is a good fellow who does the job”

Rubbing the back of his head, Aaron said: “Hey Sam! How did you learn how to talk?”

“I Listened....but still.....not good enough” Sam answered.

But Aaron said: “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you some nice vocabulary soon..”, and with a sidestep evaded his father’s fist.

Brian intervened and said : “Sam, we have decided with Philip that the best place for you to work would be in Philip’s warehouse. There are numerous jobs there you could help perform while learning gathering or compounding.” “Philip will take care of you from now on. He insisted for you to live under the same roof until your father comes back” “Furthermore, that will help you familiarize yourself faster with the job if you live and breathe herbs!”.

Sam felt a little doubtful with the last statement, but for reasons associated to his previous world.

He did not object however. These people seemed fine, and he could tell his degree of freedom will be bigger there than here.

He bowed signifying his acceptation of the situation saying: “I will be....under..your care from...now on uncle Philip”.

Philip said: ”Wonderful, wonderful.” his face covered in smiles, he then turned toward his children saying “Feyd and Aaron, take Sam to our house, I still have matters to discuss with your uncle here” He paused before saying “you go directly to our house, no detour. Your mother is waiting for you and if by mistake you happen to arrive home after me…”

Aaron said: “No need to tell us the follow up”. He turned to Sam and said: “Sam, I’ll take you home, follow me.” Feyd turned to Brian and said: “Uncle Brian, tell aunt Celine that we’ll come back with the activities report next week”.

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Late at night in the manor.

A black robbed person was striding toward the aviary without making a sound.

“The fear has awoken, I must warn the tribe as soon as possible” This black robbed person has been living in the Lennart manor quietly and normally until last week. Like a sleeping cell.

This person’s orders were to live here and monitor if someone with Sam’s condition appeared, and if it did, to stay and confirms that the baby died.

Unfortunately for this person, the baby did not die as supposed. So the black robbed person was forced to stay in Amos all these years.

The rules of this person’s tribe ordered them to stay inconspicuous and only act in case of extreme urgency.

However now that Sam had woken up, this person had to send a report to receive new orders.

Not only that, but now that Sam had woken up, his full recovery was in the realm of possible.

If this child recovers completly, what will happen?

In this tribe’s memory, there are no record of such an event. Every single one were born unable to be a living being.

It was more than a curse.

Freeing a grey eagle from its cage, the black robbed person sent it away saying: “Go to our village and give this message only to the patriarch to read”.

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