Here is the next chapter. I knew there wouldn't be much with Necromancer teaching Yami how to cook, so I decided to have him deal with sickness throughout the whole or half of the chapter. Besides, it will keep things interesting. Review please!
It took at least two week for Atem to finally recover from his sickness. Rosencruz was astounded by Atem's quick recovery, since it usually took longer for patients. Atem never even used leeches for his fever to recover. Though, Rosencruz kept thinking over the very few information he was given that was never taught by Aristotle and Hippocrates. He was willing to learn as long as he was to never give away any of this information to anyone in return, until the time was right.
Rosencruz read over his notes about a few important things needed for the future of England when the time comes they face a devastating plague. This was caused by fleas from rats. Two of the most common causes of sickness is from someone else or bug bites. The sickness that spreads is usually caused by viruses, in which there is no cure for commonly. The best solution is for the body to fight the sickness on its own or invent medicine to treat it. Rosencruz never knew the human body could fight its own sickness.
There were many interesting and new things Rosencruz never knew, even after studying from the monk monastery all of his life, being taught the Bible and education. He flipped a few pages and snorted slightly, a smile peeking from his lips, as he saw the notes about why the world was not flat. He still found this hilarious. He looked out into the horizon, curiosity filling his mind, knowing that there was an unknown world far west that would never be discovered for another several hundred years.
"Christian, what are you doing?" Michael asked as Rosencruz closed his notes.
"Just recapping of the new knowledge I just learned. You will be inheriting my book someday. You speak of this knowledge to no one, but the king, no matter who takes the throne," Rosencruze ordered his brother.
"Do you believe Henry will win the war?"
"I don't know. Only Lord knows. I'm even wondering if siding with his majesty King Richard III was the best idea."
"You can't turn down our lord and majesty, Christian!"
"I know. Though, in return, I also betrayed my most important and dearest friend."
"You two had history together, I understand that. Though, Prince Henry is not like Atem. He's spoiled and ambitious! You know that when he wins this war he will not hold back decapitating you!"
"And how is he any different from our lord and majesty? Michael, the only thing we can do is hope for the best and see if Henry shall show us mercy, if he wins this war."
"What about Atem?"
"We need to focus on letting him help us win this war and return him home. It's the only way to protect him from our king's wrath. Atem was lucky to make himself an enemy out of Henry right away or he would be decapitated right now."
"Speaking of the devil, when do you think our king will reply to us."
"Very soon, Michael."
"My lord!" A messenger cried out, running to Rosencruz with a scroll in his hand. "A message from Lord Crawford!"
"Let me see!" Rosencruz said, grabbing the scroll, unrolling it, and reading it. His eyebrows were scrunched, then he looked up to the messenger and nodded. "Thank you, sir."
"Your welcome, my lord. Good day!" The messenger replied before leaving.
"What is it?" Michael asked.
"Lord Crawford seems to want to pop by for a visit. We will need to prepare, Michael."
"On the way!" Michael replied before quickly walking from the balcony him and Rosencruz were standing on.
While Michael was making preparations for Lord Crawford's arrival, Rosencruz decided to check on Atem's progress. After recovering from his sickness, Atem continued where he left off in the kitchen for another three weeks. It didn't surprise Rosencruz when he heard from Necromancer that Atem did surpass him. Atem did claim that cooking was a skill he was familiar with from his home town. The idea was learning to cook using the old fashion tools and supplies. Once he got the hang of it, the rest was a piece of cake... probably literally.
"You did good, Atem. I will be taking you to your next trainer. This time, they won't be as easy as this one. This one was to train you in knowing how to cook using a fire when you're out on your own. This is probably the most simplest training you'll ever get from now on... though your sickness probably made it harder," Rosencruz stated, adding a joke to the side.
"That being said, you still have to be in the kitchen. You'd be a fool if you think you've seen the last of me!" Sir Necromancer smirked wickedly as Atem rolled his eyes.
"Oh really? Because in actuality, we have seen the last of you, you little bitch. Why don't cha get yourself some real gain or something... or at least some wrinkle decreasing thing, I don't know," Atem responded as Rosencruz sighed, half closing his eyes. Sir Necromancer glared, biting his thumb as Atem before he stuck out his middle finger.
"Where I come from, we do this to insult other people. The challenge is figuring out what it means."
"I'd like it if you didn't use lewd insults against my servants," Rosencruz requested.
"Sure," Atem replied in a sigh, regretting explaining to Rosencruz about using the middle finger.
Rosencruz led Atem back to the training ground to choose one of his two trainers: Sir Patrick the Miner and Sir Keith the Atilliator. Atem never liked either Bandit Keith or Panik, though had to choose one of them to train him. He decided he might as well choose one that he could tolerate the most. Bandit Keith was a complete asshole, but he at least didn't try to kill Joey. He kidnapped Joey, forced him to duel with Bonz, and trapped him and company inside a cave, but never tried to kill or murder any of them. Atem knew Bandit Keith attempted to murder Pegasus, but then again, he was a psycho, while Panik was just doing his job. That was when Atem came to the conclusion that Bandit Keith was a psycho, but a drunkard too. He perhaps was more tolerable than the man that forced and tried to murder Yugi, while also harassing Mai by dragging her from her tent.
"Sir Keith," Atem finally decided.
"You sure, kid?" Sir Keith asked with that sick smirk on his face.
"Honestly... yes."
"Very well. Looks like you made your choice," Rosencruz stated, then turned to Sir Keith with a serious look. "I'm sure you know what happened with Sir Rex. Don't test him."
"I'll train him like I've train my sons," Sir Keith replied as Rosencruz nodded.
"Good luck. Just know he's rougher than your previous trainers," Rosencruz warned.
"And Sir Patrick isn't?" Atem asked sarcastically.
"Good point," Rosencruz smirked before leaving.
"Follow me! Compared to all your other trainers, this won't take place under a safe roof with food given to ya whenever ya feel like it! You will hunt and cook your own food! Seeing that you were under Sir Necromancer, this shouldn't be a problem for ya!" Sir Keith commanded.
"Wonderful! Will I have to fetch my own water too? Maybe I won't get a bug in it this time, if I'm lucky," Atem stated.
"You can go back and get your damn refreshments from the castle. We won't be far. This isn't a war zone, kid!"
"Let's just get this over with."
"Follow me then! It's time you start learning how to make a crossbow!" Sir Keith said as he led Atem into the castle where there stood piles of logs. "Get some logs boy! You'll need 'em."
Atem began carrying logs in his arms and followed Sir Keith outside of the castle and to a stump with a stool behind it. They dropped the logs by the stump, then Sir Keith pushed Atem and sat him down on the stool before getting out an ax. Atem watched how Sir Keith would cut the log with his ax, then shape it to make a part of the crossbow. There was also getting part of the tool needed for a crossbow back at the blacksmith, which Atem had to forge himself at Sir Rex's shop. The skill was slightly more simple than working as a blacksmith, but still extremely hard. Sir Keith's treatment didn't make Atem's training any better.
There was also learning how to use a crossbow, which required alot of strength and skill. Atem had built up some muscle from these last few months of training and working hard. Now, it was starting to pay off. Atem was glad he was finally learning some sort of military skill, even if it was slightly military. It was at least a skill that Atem would consider one useful for fighting. He also predicted that surpassing Sir Keith would be harder than the other skills.
Because Atem never was allowed to go inside, it would get extremely hot and tiring. Atem's arms and legs would hurt from working on or using a crossbow. His thirst also grew, but it wasn't as bad as with Sir Necromancer in the kitchen. This time, however, Atem would go and drink beer or milk. If he was hot, he'd splash water on his face or go under the shade without Sir Keith seeing. The work was very hot and tiring for Atem.
After supper, one day, Atem laid on the bed, his hair in a ponytail from being so long, and sweat shown on his face and body. Sabrina arrived with a man with shoulder length black hair that seemed familiar to Atem. He peeked his head up with question in his eyes.
"Hello Atem! It's been a while. I'm here to give you a nice trim," the barber, who was the man next to Sabrina, replied.
"Do I know you?" Atem asked.
"He was in costume, so you probably don't recognize him. He was the one, who was going to give you the leech treatment before you said 'oh hell no,'" Sabrina explained as Atem's eyes widened, then smacked his face with his full hand.
"You're telling me that a barber was going to give me the leech treatment? How the hell does this make any ounce of sense!?"
"Everyone knows that barbers are in charge of surgeries and leech treatments! Do they not from where you live?" Sabrina asked as Atem smacked his head on the bed.
"Oh my... How does this make any sense? Why are barbers in charge of cutting hair and surgeries? That's like a cook also having a job as a guard. They don't match!"
"That's the way it's always been. It makes sense, illness is sent as a punishment from God and our job is to help treat the illness and prevent evil spirits by cutting hair," the barber explained as Atem's lips scrunched into a firm line, as if he was holding something in his mouth.
"Excuse me for one second... it won't be long," Atem said as he walked calmly out of the room and into another part of the castle. Very soon, Sabrina and the barber could hear Atem's loud laughter from the roof.
"No wonder he got that sickness. That guy is... as he would often say... an ass," the barber said.
"I'm not surprised. He's so much like Henry it's not even funny," Sabrina agreed.
It was only several minutes before Atem arrived, wiping his tears, then saying, "okay, I'm done. I just want a quick trim. Not to ward off..." Atem scrunched his lips before controlling himself. "evil spirits, but just so I don't have to die from dehydration when I'm with Keith or feel the sweat on the back of my neck that is driving me out of my mind. I also would like to have a clean shave."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm kinda young to have a beard in my time, it also makes my face look ugly. I mean you try messing with my hair for a change. It ain't easy."
"Fair enough. I'll give you a clean cut, so your hair doesn't get in the way during battle. This will prevent another illness hopefully," the barber said.
"Sure... whatever you say."
"You sure are more cooperative than when I tried performing the leech treatment."
"I trust you with my hair, not my blood. In fact, I've already proven that my body could heal itself as well."
"With prayer of course."
"Yeah..." Atem said, feeling awkward of the religious aspects of this country. He didn't want to tell these guys the truth... he was raised in a Buddhist country.
The barber began cutting Atem's hair.
A/N: This isn't to bash religion or anything, but to show the differences with how the religious aspects were different back in the day and how high they were. They literally did believe this. Yes, it is ridiculous, but back in this day, they did believe in alot of ridiculous things. They believed sickness was a punishment from God, they believed haircuts ward off evil spirits, yada yada yada. Barbers were seriously surgeons, they were dentists too, they pulled out teeth. I thought that was so bizarre, I had to mention that. Anyways... yeah, Atem's Buddhist. I don't care, this isn't focusing on religion or Christianity. This was only made for the purpose of showing how different everyone was back in the day and their belief system. No matter what your belief is, unless you're from a third world country or something, you have to admit that this is bizarrely ridiculous.
Someone told me that this timeline takes place after the Black Death. I apologize for that little mishap from the earlier chapter of this story. We can assume that Atem probably misinterpreted his historical facts, since he hates history. As for the bit at the beginning of this chapter, we can say that Atem was talking about a different plague since the Black Death, I don't think, hit England or wasn't as bad in Britain. There was another outbreak of the same plague, but it wasn't as major as the Black Death. One of them hit London around the 1600's.