Orange and red colored the evening sky, which glowed by the last rays of sunlight. Luca led Ren on the path to Ari’s cottage, which was surprisingly closer than he thought. It was only a half an hour walk away.
Ren followed Luca through the unfamiliar woods to a familiar cottage. It had only been a few weeks since he was last here, but it felt like months.
Luca knocked on the door. Ari opened it, less annoyed this time, because she was actually expecting Luca and Ren’s visit.
“Ari, my favorite witch doctor!” Luca greeted.
“Luca, my most troublesome patient. Though I suppose it’s not you who I’m looking at today.” Ari said, glancing at Ren.
“Please don’t break anything this time, okay? I don’t think my heart will be able to deal with it.” Ari said, looking at him warily, before walking inside.
Ren sighed. “I’m not really forgiven yet, am I?”
Luca patted his head comfortingly. “You just made a very . . . memorable first impression, and Ari really tends to hold a grudge.” That did not make him feel any better. And why was Luca patting his head more and more lately? Was it really that entertaining?
The two followed Ari inside. It was only Ren’s second time in Ari’s cottage, but he already felt comfortable here. He didn’t notice last time how quiet and peaceful the cottage was. It was a perfect place for someone who lived alone.
The apothecary looked exactly like Ren remembered it. Stuff was scattered around the table, even spilling onto the cot he sat on last time. In fact, the only noticeable thing that changed was the fact there were more containers and vials present.
“Ignore the mess, and take a seat.” Ari said, pulling out a stool from under the table. Ren sat down.
“Pull up your sleeves and pants.” She instructed. Ren did as she said.
Ari examined the mostly healed cuts on his body, and sucked in a breath in surprise.
“Strange . . .” She muttered.
“What is?” Luca asked, also staring at the injuries.
“Last time I saw your cuts, they were deep, and they should have taken at least a month to fully heal, but at the rate at which you seem to be healing, it will only take a few more days.” She explained.
Ren’s heart thudded. He knew that his fast healing would be noticed, but he went along to Ari’s because refusing to would make him seem even more suspicious. He hoped neither Luca nor Ari would come to the conclusion that he was anything but a human.
Luca huffed. “What’s so strange about that? Under my care, he’ll obviously heal faster. I shower him with lots of love and attention anyway.”
Ren felt his face heat up. Why did that sound so odd? And how could Luca say that with a straight face?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Cgl, jigfjvs erfv ab Oemj’r wjccfglrwr, gbiifv tfg fsfr. “Ktja’r cba tbk tewjc ybvlfr kbgx.”
Lfjglcu Cgl’r kbgvr, Efc ifa bea j ilaaif rlut bo gfilfo.
“Ktfc wjsyf atf wfvlmlcf sbe wjvf kjr fzagfwfis foofmalnf atlr alwf. Tbe’gf jc jyrbieaf ufcler! C abaji qgbvlus!” Oemj jqqijevfv.
Cgl aglfv ab xffq tfg fzqgfrrlbc ragjluta, yea ojlifv, jcv ujnf j gfiemajca rwlif. “Cigluta, jigluta, rabq rlculcu ws qgjlrfr.”
Then looking at Ren’s arms again, she brushed over the fading cuts. “Well, whatever miracle is happening here, at least it makes my job easier.”
She turned to grab a piece of paper, and wrote something down, handing it to Luca.
“You only need to apply the salve once in three days now.” Ari said to Ren, who nodded. She grabbed a small glass jar filled with a greenish brown mixture and handed it to him.
She then turned to Luca. “I’ll take a look at you too. Might as well get it done with.”
Luca looked reluctant. “Right now?”
“When else? Now stop stalling and get over here.” Ari said.
Luca sat down on the stool, letting Ari touch his wrist. Her fingertips connected with his bare skin, and he could feel some energy entering his body. She was using her magic to probe into his body. Her expression looked grave.
“It’s spread further, hasn’t it?”
“It’s expected.” Luca said.
Ren felt something was off. Why was Ari checking Luca’s pulse? It was common knowledge vampires didn’t have one. And wasn’t Ari only there to look after Luca’s blindness, so why was his body being checked?
“Did something happen to you?” He asked Luca.
Luca shook his head. “Nothing. Ari’s just worrying too much.”
Ren didn’t believe it, at all. Ari didn’t seem like the person to have overreactions.
However, Ari didn’t rebut Luca.
“For now, just continue with the usual prescription, just increase the dosage. Unfortunately, it’s the only remedy I made that works.” She said.
Luca rubbed her hair. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. It works better than anything out there.”
Ren felt a pang of irritation when he saw Luca do that. So he comforted other people like that too, huh? Ren pressed down those thoughts, confused where they were coming from. Luca was just comforting Ari, who looked like she needed it, nothing else. When was he ever so childish?
Ari made a noncommittal noise.
“Maybe.”
“Come on, we’ve known each other for so long, can’t you take my word for it?”
“Fine, fine. I’ll believe you.”
“You made the right choice.”
Ari gave Luca a slight glare.
“Don’t act so conceited, and get going already. My job here is done.”
Despite her cold attitude, it was obvious that she was in a better mood than before.
Ren wondered how Ari and Luca got to know each other. Luca had said that she was his doctor, but it was clear that their relationship went beyond professional boundaries.
They talked more like old friends, and were completely at ease in each other’s company. It would be a lie if Ren said that he didn’t feel even a bit jealous of how close the two seemed to be.
“Right, and here’s the reparations for last time.” Luca said, giving Ari an envelope.
“Wonderful doing business with you.” She said happily taking it from him.
Ari was about to place it on the table, only to see there was little space available, and the envelope was more likely to get lost in the mess.
Ren saw this, and carefully moved to the table to help organize the stuff. Ari was about to stop him, but seeing that his work was effective, she let him be. Ren ignored Luca and Ari’s gazes, and stacked empty bowls on top of each other to clear the space. By the time he was done, the table looked a lot cleaner, though the dust was more visible. It was a wonder to see how much just simply arranging things in a different manner could make such a difference.
“That . . . Thank you. It looks much better than before.” Ari said.
“You’re welcome.” Ren said, not expecting to be thanked.
“See, I told you the kid’s not bad. I happen to have an eye for people.” Luca said.
“I suppose you were right.” Ari said. “At that time . . . I was probably overthinking.”
Luca understood she was talking about last time, when she warned him Ren was dangerous. Ren, however, stood there confused about what the two were talking about. He only knew that involved him.
“When have I ever been wrong?”
Ari ignored Luca. Instead, she stuffed a bottle into his hands. It was filled to the brim with pale blue tablets.
“Take them thrice a day, an hour after each meal.” Ari informed him.
“I know you said increase the dosage, but by that much?” Luca asked, looking horrified.
“Is it really that bad?” Ari asked, not understanding why Luca was complaining.
“I know your taste buds are nonexistent, but some of us can’t stand bitterness.”
“It’s medicine, not a pastry. You’re just being too picky. It’s my job to provide remedies that work, not ones that just taste good. I’m a genuine witch, who provides cures guaranteed to work, not some charlatan you can find anywhere on the streets. You already said my cure works the best, so you can’t take it back.” Ari argued, pouting.
Luca sighed, resigning to his fate. “So I guess I have to spend the rest of my life eating bitter medicine. And not even just once, but three times.”
Even though Luca was complaining, he didn’t mind . . . that much. Eating bitter medicine was a small price to pay, to keep living for a little bit longer.
“Yeah, so deal with it.” Ari said heartlessly.
“Can’t I get some comfort for being a loyal customer?”
“Your privileges include getting treated by me personally, so no.”
“Tch, truly knowing how to take ‘good care’ of patients.”
The two continued their usual ritual of arguing back and forth, while Ren stood there silently, not knowing if he should interrupt.
Author’s Note:
I’m back, and all my exams are finally over! I can finally get to relaxing~
Thanks to everyone who wished me luck, and hope you enjoyed this week’s update.
it’s cute to see ren getting jealous lmao
Congrats!!
Thank you for the chapter!! ❤️❤️
Congraaats!!
And thank you for the chapter~
awww he’s a little jealous
thanks for the chapter <3
Reading about Ari again was refreshing. I like her.
I wonder what Ren truly is…