-The Story-
Alfyn is an aspiring Apothecary who wants to save people the world over, just like the man who saved him, but just a day ago, his ideals were broken.
After unintentionally healing a dangerous Mercenary named Miguel Twinspears, Alfyn wonders if the man he met was right, and that some lives aren't worth saving. His mind a mess, Alfyn wanders in the direction of Orewell to somehow find the answers he seeks….
"I feel really bad for Alfyn. That incident we had with Miguel was hard on him to say the least." Kendo said.
"Join the club, that wasn't our best day." Hope said. "The purpose of an Apothecary is to save lives for no cost, and Alfyn unintentionally healed a dangerous killer."
"I think the best way we can help Alfyn get fixed is to find that man you told us about, in the Black Cloak." Flamberge said.
"But are we even gonna find him in Orewell? Alfyn just led us here." Akane said.
"I think that's Ogen right there." Daisy said pointing to the same man in black entering the same building as Alfyn. "And he didn't lead us, we followed him."
"Right… sorry." Akane said as they went inside and saw multiple people on beds and lying down.
"Whoa… looks like an epidemic hit this place." Hope said.
"As if the people lying down weren't really the first clue." Daisy said.
"Hey." Hope said coming up to Ogen. "We keep meeting. It's pretty funny we bump into each other like this, don't you think?"
"No. I don't." Ogen said focusing on his patient.
"Hey, you need some help there? Two sets of hands couldn't hurt, right?" Gemini asked.
"I work alone. I always have." Ogen said.
"Sheesh, what's that guy's problem?" Flamberge asked.
"Obviously he doesn't like being around others" Fuyuhiko said.
"Though...something does seem off about him. Since he started, I saw him drop his tools a few times." Inga said.
"Maybe there is. We should check him out, see if there's anything wrong with him." Mahiru said.
"A-Are you sure? I mean, if you really think he needs to be looked at." Mikan said.
"Don't be nervous Mikan, he's just a normal person just like us." Alfyn said.
After taking care of the patients, the group caught up with Ogen in town.
"Ogen...we need to look you over." Hope said.
"I don't need to be looked over." Ogen said before coughing up some blood.
"Oh yeah, that's a real nice argument." Hope said as Alfyn checked on him.
"Purple boils...high fever...you've been neglecting to treat yourself." Alfyn said.
"I know my own body and when something's wrong." Ogen said.
"You knew about this?" Alfyn said in shock.
"Then why haven't you done anything about it? You're an apothecary, aren't you?" Gemini asked.
"Child, you know why I choose my patients right?" Ogen asked.
"Yeah...cause that prisoner killed your wife." Hope said.
"I didn't tell you the rest of the story. After he did what he did, I was filled with so much hatred...I traveled the land hunting for him. Eventually when I caught up, he already had a wife and child. And when he was alone...I went and killed him. As apothecaries, we help those in need and it's hard...but it was so easy to take his life. I vowed after to continue healing others and let myself take all this disease as my atonement. I heal until I die." Ogen said as he walked off.
"Oh no you don't… get back here!" Kendo said enlarging her hand and grabbing Ogen.
"Get...off me you…" Ogen said before coughing more blood as he collapsed.
"Ogen! Kendo, let him go!" Hope said.
"Yikes!" Kendo said dropping him. "Sorry…I didn't mean to be that forceful!"
"It's okay, but I think we might wanna help this guy out." Hope said.
"Why? I thought he wasn't worth it." Fuyuhiko said.
"That wasn't until i heard his whole story. No one should have to die because they stray from their job and kill somebody. So atonement or not, we're curing him!" Hope said.
"But what can I do?" Alfyn asked. "I'm just a man. One small, insignificant man."
"No you aren't! You haven't come this far thinking like you have, you've faced down the likes of apothecaries in greed, and you can overcome this. You owe it to the man who saved you to save everyone. Apothecaries aren't gods, and they don't decide who lives or dies. So forget what Ogen said… and do your thing, dammit!" Hope siad.
"Hope, enough!" Alfyn shouted. "I don't need a damn lecture from you." he said looking out on the horizon. "Sometimes words just aren't enough. Heh...I remember that well enough when I was near death. With a high fever and purple...boils…"
"Wait...aren't those Ogen's symptons?" Mary asked.
"Yeah...they are. No..couldn't be. But...if it really is the same disease...that means there's a cure for it." Alfyn said.
"If you experienced the disease before and that man cured you of it, then you may know how he did it." Sakura said.
"Well, he gave me an elixir of sorts. He said it was made from the feather of an Ogre Eagle. And it happens to nest right nearby." Alfyn said.
"Then let's go borrow one of its feathers." Hope said. "You're gonna do the same kindness for Ogen as the man who saved you, with the same elixir he used."
"Yeah. Y'know Hope, even though you talk a lot and a bit funny, you're one of the purest hearts I know out there." Alfyn said.
"Well, that's because I'm sort of like you. I want to save others. We all do." Hope said.
The group then ran to the Forest of Rubeh at the Ogre eagles nesting spot.
"We made it." Alfyn said.
"I'll get its attention." Flamberge said before breathing in. "Hey, you big turkey! Your mother was a chicken in a farmhouse!"
A loud screech was then heard as the Ogre Eagle dropped from above and almost crushed Flamberge.
"Nice going, I liked the part about its mother being a chicken." Alfyn said.
"Well, I am pretty good at making things angry." Flamberge said.
"Yeah...though we want a feather, not for it to kill us." Rose said.
"Let's just fight this guy and make sure we get what we need!" Hope said.
The Ogre Eagle attacked with its talons and wind attacks.
"We need to bring it down before it goes and takes us down!" Rose said.
"Most avian enemies like these have two common weaknesses. Arrows and lightning." Gundham said.
"Lightning, huh? Aqua, lets give this overgrown eagle a shock! Spectral Thunder!" Hope said blasting lighting at the Ogre Eagle.
"Fall to my lightning. Thundaga….Shot!" Aqua said firing off a bolt of lightning at the eagle sending it crashing to the ground before it flew off in a hurry with a few feathers falling off its wings.
"We did it!" Mikan said.
"We definitely did, now let's get these back to Ogen so we can cure him." Hope said.
The group then returned to the house as Alfyn went to work, making the concoction that saved his life and using it to cure Ogen.
"Why couldn't you just let me die in peace?" Ogen asked standing up.
"People are sick out there, dying. The world needs apothecaries like you and Alfyn alive and well so they can cure the sick." Hope said.
"Heh...you talk like this other apothecary I knew who saved my life once. His name was Graham Crossford. He traveled the land with the same ideals as that boy. Even told me how he saved a young boy who wanted to be like him." Ogen said.
"That was...me." Alfyn said.
"You? Who would've thought?" Ogen said.
"Tell me, this man, Graham… is he still around?" Hope asked.
"Don't know...haven't seen him in years." Ogen said. "He was trying to save his wife from the same disease but...guess he arrived too late."
"Goddamn…." Hope said. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. But, i do wanna thank you for saving me." Ogen said.
"It's no trouble, it's what any fellow apothecary, and a wandering hero myself, would do." Hope said.
"Your heart is truly pure, young man." a voice said as Hope was suddenly in a black space.
"What the…?! Who are you?" Hope asked.
"I am Dohter, the charitable, one of the 12 gods of this land." the voice said.
"One of the 12 gods? I'm humbled. But I don't really know how to respond to that great comment of yours." Hope said.
"Young man, you don't need to reply to me. You are one who would wish to save all he can, including your own comrades. Such selflessness varies a great reward." Dohter said as a mark appeared on Hope's arm. "You now have the powers of an Apothecary. But...there is still work to be done. Head to Hornburg." Dohter said.
"Say no more. If there's still something I gotta do, lead the way." Hope said.
To be concluded in the Final Chapter…
