For the past few days, Noel hadn't been at the guild. Instead, he was back to running his alchemy workshop. He had been buried in guild missions for so long that the workshop had gone unattended.
Now, standing behind the counter, he noticed business was scarce. Hardly anyone came by.
Maybe it's just that I'm not popular enough, he thought wryly. If Mira were to stand here for even a single day, this place would probably be packed with customers.
Just then, the door burst open. A man rushed in, flustered and panicked, clearly in the middle of some urgent matter.
"Welcome," Noel greeted politely.
"Excuse me—do you have any medicine for headaches?" the man asked.
"Medicine for headaches, is it? There are many kinds. Could you tell me the other symptoms? That way I can make a better judgment," Noel asked.
"His whole body's trembling, but his head is burning hot. I don't know why, but it's very serious!" the man said anxiously.
"That sounds more like a fever," Noel said with a frown. "But… I haven't brewed any of that type of medicine recently. Mainly because I'm short on ingredients. And the mountain where those herbs grow has been sealed off… so I'm afraid—"
"I see. Sorry to trouble you."
With a disappointed look, the man left the shop.
Noel hesitated. That didn't sit right… Even if it was just a chance encounter, he couldn't help worrying about the man.
He decided to follow him. Soon, the man ducked into a narrow alley and broke down in tears.
"Why… why did it have to come to this? I've searched all over Magnolia and not a single place has the medicine… how unlucky can we be…"
His grief only deepened, and Noel couldn't stand by any longer.
"Could you tell me what's going on?" Noel stepped closer.
The man wiped his eyes and choked out, "My son Kaya (OC) has always been frail since childhood. This time it's just a cold, but it's turned into something serious. His fever won't break… I've already brought healers to him, but they're helpless. If this drags on any longer, I'm afraid…"
So that was it. Just a child's illness—and yet it left a father utterly powerless.
"Please, take me to see him. Maybe I can find a substitute medicine," Noel suggested.
"Truly? That's wonderful!" The man looked at him with desperate hope, as though he had been saved.
On the way, Noel learned that the man's name was Tivat (OC). Before long, they arrived at his home—a modest detached house. It wasn't expensive, but it was well-kept, radiating a warm, homely feeling.
Upstairs, a young boy named Kaya lay in bed, a towel across his forehead, his face twisted in pain. He looked utterly miserable.
"Did you find the medicine?" Tivat's wife asked in a panic.
Tivat only shook his head with a sigh—an adult's helplessness written on his face.
"And this gentleman is…?" she asked, noticing Noel.
"I'm an alchemist. I came to see if I might be able to help," Noel explained politely.
"Oh no, it should be us thanking you—for going so far out of your way. That must be such a bother," she said quickly, flustered.
"It's fine. There's not much business at the shop anyway. Better to do something useful than sit idle," Noel replied.
"Then, if you'll let me examine the child…" he said, and the couple immediately cleared a space at the bedside just big enough for him to squeeze in.
Noel placed a hand on Kaya's forehead. So hot… if this continues much longer, he'll be left with lasting damage. That would be too tragic.
He checked the boy's body further—no swelling, no other symptoms, just the fever. It wasn't the worst possible case.
Still, Noel's mind raced. Is there a substitute herb I can use? But no matter how he turned it over, the answer was the same: there wasn't one. The only option left was to climb the mountain and harvest the herbs himself.
"Please wait here. I'll be back shortly."
The couple exchanged worried glances, then turned to watch from the window as Noel disappeared into the distance. Both sighed heavily.
"All we can do now is trust this alchemist…"
"…There's no other choice."
Noel hurried to the mountains near Magnolia. But things weren't easy—the Council had stationed guards at the entrance.
Activating an invisibility spell, Noel slipped past. The two guards never noticed.
"Hmm… felt like a breeze just now," one muttered.
"You're just looking for excuses to slack off," the other shot back.
And soon they were bickering away, neither the wiser.
Inside the mountain, Noel searched relentlessly. The herb he needed was rare—found only here in Margaret Mountain. It was a green, heart-shaped plant, often called Heartleaf. Known to stir the energy of life itself, it also cooled fevers and cleansed toxins. But its yield was always small.
Suddenly, Noel spotted it—a glimmer of green in the distance. A perfect specimen.
"Lucky break," he murmured. "Found one so quickly."
But just as he moved to harvest it—
ROAR!
A thunderous bellow shook the air. Noel spun around. A massive white tiger glared at him, its muscles taut. This was its territory.
"Wait—I mean no harm," Noel said quickly.
But there was no reasoning with a beast. The tiger lunged. Noel flickered out of the way in an instant, and while the tiger's claws raked the air, he snatched the Heartleaf in a flash of green light and bolted.
He rushed back to the workshop, processed the herb into medicine, and delivered it straight to Tivat's family.
Kaya drank it down. Soon, the fever eased. His eyelids fluttered open, and in a faint, bewildered voice he whispered, "Papa… Mama… what happened to me…?"
"You're awake, that's all that matters." Tears of relief streamed down his parents' faces, joy plain in every line.
"Thank you," they said, bowing deeply.
"It's nothing. Just what I ought to do," Noel answered with a small smile, finally letting out the breath he'd been holding.
Stepping out of the Tivat household, he felt a warmth spread through his chest.
I've never experienced this before… but to protect someone's happiness… that's something worth doing.
Once, long ago, he too had such a happiness. But that time was gone.
Still, he thought of the guild—always gentle, always supportive—and smiled faintly.
The sun was already dipping low. After such a long day, Noel decided he deserved a reward.
Tonight, I'll treat myself… hmm, what to eat?
A grin spread across his face. Hotpot. Tonight, we'll have hotpot.
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