After dinner, I tended to Ren’s wound. His fever was cured completely, and he seemed to be as fit as ever. The wound on his arm was healing faster than I expected thanks to the medicine and probably Ren’s natural speed of recovery. Ren seems to have a very healthy body.
“Ren, I think you’ve pretty much recovered…so…” I started to say hesitantly. How do I say this, so it doesn’t seem like I’m chasing him away? All I wanted to do is tell him that his body is pretty much healed and there’s not much I can do for him as a doctor except helping to dress his wound. Dressing the wound wasn’t a hard thing and he could probably do it himself with ease soon as the bandages may not be required anymore because his wound had closed quite nicely.
“Umm…what I’m saying is…if you want to continue on your travel then…” I continued as I struggled to pick my words.
“My arm still hurts plus I don’t have any money on me anymore…” Ren interjected flatly.
Oh…his arm still hurts? Perhaps the wound wasn’t as well healed as I had thought. I also didn’t consider the fact that he didn’t have any money for his travel anymore…
“Umm…if it’s money, I can lend you some. Of course, I…don’t have a lot but in exchange for helping me pick the herbs today, I could give you your share?” I said in an attempt to cheer him up and comfort him. It must be hard to be attacked by bandits and lose all his money.
“I’m not sure if the money is enough for travelling though. If it’s ok with you, can you put up with me for a couple more days? That way, I can make more money by helping you collect herbs and selling it in the village. My arm should be perfectly healed in a couple of days too,” Ren proposed his idea confidently.
His idea does make perfect sense and it would be shooting two birds with one stone by earning him enough money for his travels and healing his arm. However, that meant that I would have to continue living here alone with Ren and spend my days with him for a couple more days…
I didn’t dislike spending time with Ren, but I had virtually no experience being around men and sometimes it made me feel flustered and uncomfortable. Not that I can tell any of this to Ren…so what can I do?
I looked over at Ren who was staring at me with wide and pleading eyes and he waited eagerly for my response. What can I possibly do in a situation like this? I can’t just kick him out, can I?
I sighed silently to myself in resignation. Once again, it seems like I had to go along with Ren’s plans.
“Ok…” I replied, realizing that I couldn’t chase him out when he had no where to go.
“Thank you so much Lin!” Ren exclaimed with joy as he flashed me a wide smile.
It was a little funny to see such a large man smile so carefreely when he was in so much trouble. I chuckled a little to myself at his reaction and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Perhaps having Ren with me wasn’t so bad after all. He had become chattier and more open to me which was the opposite to his stern self when we first met.
Just like that, I spent roughly a week living with Ren. We spent our days together gathering herbs and walking together to the village to sell them. I tended to Ren’s wounds until his arm was void from pain and functioned perfectly again.
Finally, it was our last night together in this small cottage. Tomorrow morning, Ren will be leaving to continue his journey for trade. I had very mixed feelings about this. On one hand I was glad that he had completely recovered and could continue on with his travels. However, it surely will be a little lonely to see him leave. I knew he would leave eventually, and I didn’t dare expect to see him again.
I didn’t have the courage to ask if he would ever stop by this village or if we would ever meet again for the fear that the answer would probably be a ‘no’. As he had said, this town was small, and it is unusual for many traders to stop by here on their route. It was probably sheer bad luck for Ren to have been attacked by bandits that he ended up here on that faithful night that I rescued him.
“Lin…” Ren called my name softly from across the table as I sat there lost in thought after we had finished our dinner.
“What is it?” I asked as I snapped out of my thoughts.
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow so…I would like to thank you for taking care of me,” Ren said slowly as he looked into my eyes.
“No need for thanks. Do you need anything for your journey tomorrow? I can help you prepare…the weather should be alright tomorrow…” I started saying whatever came to mind. Otherwise, the awkwardness in what could be our last proper conversation together would swallow me whole.
I got up from my seat and began walking away to escape from this depressing conversation. I wish that he would just leave since leaving is the only option. I didn’t understand why I felt so frustrated. Ren grabbed my wrist abruptly as I tried to walk past him.
“Lin…I don’t have anything else on me but...I would like you to take this as a gift. I want to thank you for taking care of me for so many days,” Ren said as he handed me a gold hair ornament in the shape of a butterfly.
“As I said, there’s no need to thank me…and the gift looks expensive. I can’t accept something like this. I hardly see anyone anyways, a beautiful ornament like this will just be wasted on me,” I said briskly as I turned down his offer. I meant it though, a country girl like me wouldn’t suit that gold ornament. Neither did someone like me need something so extravagant.
“I see…” Ren murmured softly as he slowly released his grip on my wrist.
“Thank you, Ren. I appreciate the thought. It’s late…I should go to bed now. I guess you’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning. Safe travels!” I said as cheerfully as I could while flashing him a confident smile. Let this be the end of our farewell. I really wish you the best, Ren, and thank you for everything.
--To be continued...
“Wait, Lin!” Ren called after me as he got up from his seat.“Hmm?” I replied questioningly as I turned my head over my shoulder to look back at him.“Umm…try not to go out so much…if something happens in town, you should just stay here. Ok?” Ren said hesitantly without meeting my eyes. I didn’t quite understand what he meant but I won’t be going into town very often anymore after Ren leaves.“Ok…Goodnight,” I agreed despite my confusion. I offered him a small smile as I went to prepare for bed.…When Lin wakes up, I’ll be long gone. The night here is always so still and quiet, apart from the sound of the wind the night was dead silent. I won’t get to see Lin in the morning so the least I can do is to leave her a note. I wonder if she understood my warning properly. I wanted to warn here more clearly but that was not possible.I took out a pi
“War has started! We’ve been invaded. The soldiers are out fighting now. We need all the healers that we have to take care of the injured. Now follow me at once! Quickly!” the soldier yelled in as he rapidly gestured for us to follow him.We looked at each other before nodding in understanding. I couldn’t bring myself to believe it but if war was really here, then the soldier was right. We must follow him at once to set up the hospital and to tend to the injured.“Wait a moment while we grab our medical supplies!” Auntie cried out as the three of us grabbed all the necessary medicine and tools that we need.“We must hurry!” the soldier continued to bark at us.“Can you please help carry this?” I asked the soldier as I passed him a large backpack full of medical supplies.“Ok. Now, lets go!” the soldier ushered us firmly out the door.The cold wind blew harshly against my
After treating that patient, we had a short meeting with the other healers as the situation headed for the worst-case scenario. We all knew what that meant as he stared wordlessly into each other’s eyes and nodded sadly.“We can’t go on like this anymore…so from now on…it’s code Black…” Uncle Gobei stated what was already on everyone’s mind. It took courage and authority from a senior doctor to say those words because it meant that from now on, we would be forsaking the lives of some patients. That’s right, we’re going to leave some of them to die…Code Black. The situation that no medical practitioner wants to find him or herself in. Ever. In emergency situations where there are more patients than the medical staff could handle, patients will be categorized based on their probability of survival. Only those labelled as having high and medium probability of survival will be given treatment. Tho
“These are the demands from our Emperor. If the Town of Amber Leaves can agree to all of these conditions, we will accept your surrender and stop the battle,” Shin stated officially before reading out all the terms present in the scroll.The terms included very common terms such as taxes to be paid in money or as crops. Ability for the Empire to use and control the land and population as it sees fit. The condition for complete surrender and loyalty as part of the Flame Dragon Empire. All terms were common, and nothing stood out except for one in which Shin read with more emphasis than the rest. After all, this term was just recently added by the emperor himself less than a month prior to this.“As for the final condition, the Town of Amber Leaves agrees to send the most beautiful and talented virgin to represent the town as an ambassador. The ambassador will live in the Imperial palace for the rest of her life and serve the Empire in good faith. That
“Run now! The enemies are here!” a woman screamed wildly as she ran into the tent.What? The enemies are here?! What would they come here for? There’s no one here but the injured and a few medical staff, most of which were women or old. I couldn’t think of anything else as I saw soldiers cladded in unfamiliar red armor uniform entering the tent bearing swords. The enemy is here…The soldiers that came in were aggressive and overbearing. My body froze in fear as they started smashing the medical equipment. Medicine, potions, and glass bottles crashed to the floor making a loud shattering sound. No…we don’t have enough medicine as it is. Another soldier grabbed an old man while another one grabbed Uncle Gobei’s collar yanking him hard.“Stop…please. We’re just doctors and healers…please,” Uncle Gobei pleaded in a shaky voice. It was clear that he was scared as the enemy soldier stare
“Kamiya? She’s standing right there…” Uncle Gobei replied casually as he pointed in my direction. I froze. Why can’t they just leave me alone to tend to the injured and then I will just silently head home.“Kamiya! My dear girl…there you are. Please come with us, we have very good news to share with you!” the village head broke into a smile as he addressed me excitedly.I had to be a fool to not realize that something very suspicious was going on. No one in this village except for Uncle Gobei and Auntie would refer to me as ‘my dear girl’ and even if they did, they wouldn’t mean it. Under the same logic, the good news that they wanted to share with me must really be super bad news. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply in resignation while I braced myself for what was to come.“Where are you taking her?” Uncle Gobei interrupted as he shielded me behind him
**Back to the Present**There’s no mistake. Although his hair, his clothing, and the air around him is very different from when I met him before. This man…he’s Ren, the trader that I rescued! Why is Ren here? Why is he dressed like that?Ren…is the Crown Prince of the Flame Dragon Empire?!My mind went numb as many thoughts raced frantically through it. I stared with eyes wide opened at the Ren who was dressed in the highest-grade royal ensemble as befitting of the Crown Prince of a large empire. His hair partially tied back and decorate with gold jewelry. His royal robe must be made mixed with gold as well. He wore multiple gold jewelry and had a beautifully decorated sword hanging by his side. The air about him was royal, refined and quite arrogant. However, there is no mistaking it, this man standing before me is Ren.
“You…come this way,” the senior eunuch said suddenly. “You mean…me?” I asked in slight confusion as I pointed to myself. Did he mean me? “Yes, you. Come here with me,” the eunuch replied in a desperate voice as he beckoned me to follow him with his hand. Hesitantly, I started to follow him. I didn’t know where he was leading me, but he was leading me away from the group of women. I looked back over my shoulder as the group of women walked further away in the other direction. Where is he taking me? “The Emperor has graciously decided to let you stay in the White Lotus palace. You should consider yourself extremely lucky to have earned yourself such a reward on your first day at the Grand Palace,” the eunuch explained as if to answer my unasked question. Not that I knew what the White Lotus palace is. As far as I was aware, the fact that Ren seemed to show some interest in me by simply ta