Mei practically busted the door of the Healers Guild clinic down, Rumi following along, dragging Izuku right behind her.

"MEL!"

Mei was stopped from running into the clinic by a nervous-looking [Preist] around their age, who must have been the follower of some nature goddess, as she summoned a wall of vines in front of the concerned Blacksmith.

"Miss Hatsume! You must not yell and carry on like this while inside the clinic! You will disturb the other patients!"

Mei slammed right into the wall of vines, her hands glowing with what Izuku assumed was likely whatever version of [Blacksmith's Strength] Mei had received when she became a [Magic Smith] as she tried to tear through them.

The vines held, however, and Rumi dropped the back of his rolly chair to pick Mei up by the scruff of her jacket. "Chill the fuck out. You'll get in quicker if you calm down."

Mei struggled for a second before her hands stopped glowing and she allowed herself to be dragged out of the thicket of vines she'd gotten herself tangled in. Izuku sent a look of apology to the light green-haired elven [Priest] who had stopped her as Rumi wheeled him forward with her foot.

The [Priest] frowned at the trio as Mei was placed back on the ground by Rumi, but when the Blacksmith didn't try bolting again, she sighed, dropping the wall of vines that had been spawned by her skill. "I understand that you are concerned for the safety of Lady Shield, but you must calm yourselves. I will allow no disturbances to the other people resting and healing in our clinic, do you understand?"

Izuku and Rumi nodded and he noticed her forcing Mei's head down as well. "Of course, I'm sorry that we caused a bother. Could we please see Melissa now?"

The [Priest] paused momentarily, glancing down at the book on her desk, which he assumed had the patients' information and visiting status. The [Priest] scanned the book briefly before nodding slowly.

"Yes, Lady Shield wasn't wounded during the [Incursion], and isn't in any need of emergency care, so I can allow you to see her."

"WOO!"

A glare at Mei from the [Priest] cut off her shout. "If you are quiet. If you create any excessive noise levels, you will be removed. After such a horrible catastrophe, these people deserve to rest in comfort."

Even Mei looked a little guilty at that, clamping both of her hands over her mouth and nodding. The [Priest] let out a sigh, before writing something down on a small piece of paper and handing it to Rumi.

"These are directions to Lady Shield's room. Please go right there, and do not attempt to enter any of the other rooms in the Nobles section. They can be rather particular about their privacy."

Rumi snorted, full of a feeling that Izuku was beginning to understand now that he had interacted with people like Commander Abraham. "Yea, I'm sure they are. We'll head up now, sorry for the bother."

Izuku made sure not to yelp as Rumi grabbed the back of his rolly chair again, dragging him behind her suddenly, Mei still held in the air with her other hand. He was actually already kinda starting to feel the strength in his legs coming back, but probably couldn't walk on his own yet, so he stayed in the chair.

As they turned a corner, they heard the [Preist] from before let out a small shout of surprise.

After a moment, Sir Ratsudon trotted around the corner, an odd expression on his rodent face, that Izuku somehow understood was annoyance. The summon jogged over to him and nuzzled up against his leg.

Izuku chuckled softly as the [Preist] peeked around the corner, and he patted Sir Ratsudon on the head. "Sorry about that, this is my summon, can he come too?"

The [Preist] looked as if Sir Ratsudon's appearance had scared the living daylights out of her, but she nodded after a moment of hesitation. "Yes, as long as it's your summon, it should be fine?"

Nodding, Izuku thanked her, and Rumi kept them moving towards Melissa's room. Sir Ratsudon padded along beside the rolly chair, looking a lot happier now that they weren't leaving him behind.

Scratching Sir Ratsudon on the head, Izuku took a deep breath, glancing at Mei as they passed into the Noble section of the clinic. She was usually really hyperactive, especially when it came to her blacksmithing. Still, right now, she was quiet, practically limp in Rumi's grip.

It felt wrong, seeing her like this. He hoped that she would be alright.


Melissa groaned as she slowly woke up.

What was going on? The last thing she could remember was that she had been trying to find a way to cure her father… wait. 'Where am I? This isn't my father's study!'

She sat up quickly, her head spinning slightly at the sudden movement, and glanced around the room. It took her a moment to really grasp what she was looking at. "Is this the Healer's Guild clinic?"

She had only been here once before as a child when she had fractured her wrist after tripping on a rock, so she only had vague memories of the rooms themselves, but the symbol she saw on the door, that of a cross with a snake curled around it, was definitely the logo of the Healers Guild.

She leaned back on the bed, her head practically being swallowed by the super soft pillow they'd given her, and one of her hands came to her forehead as she groaned. 'Did I overwork myself and pass out? I can't be wasting time resting while Father is incapacitated!'

She moved to hop out of bed, only for the door to fly open, a familiar pink blur darting into the room and tackling her in a hug. "Melissa! You're ok, right!"

Melissa coughed from the impact but made sure to hug Mei back just as tightly. "Yea, I-I'm alright. Just overworked m-myself a bit, haha!"

At that, she realised that Mei wasn't the only person in the room with them, spotting Izuku and Miss Usagiyama as well. Her eyes darted between the two of them over Mei's shoulder, and then down to the chair that Izuku was sitting in.

"Hey, Melissa. Are you alright? We were told that you collapsed… the Dragon didn't hurt you, did it?"

She could almost feel the guilt in his voice as he asked that, so she quickly put that to rest.
"No, no, I promise I'm not hurt. I just, uh, overworked myself, I think. I was… studying, and lost track of time, and then passed out from exhaustion."

Izuku sighed in relief, and Miss Usagiyama let out a soft grunt. "I guess that's the best-case scenario. You're looking for something to help your dad, aren't ya?"

Melissa couldn't help but flinch a little at how quickly Miss Usagiyama saw through her. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded, feeling the corners of her eyes start to water as she smooshed her face into Mei's shoulder.

"I just… he still hasn't woken up yet. He's been on full HP, Stamina, and Mana for days now, but they still can't tell what the [?] is or what it's doing to him… I'm just really scared right now. It's just been me and Dad for so long now, as long as I can remember, and I can't bear the thought of losing him."

She felt Mei's arms around her squeeze even tighter at that, and even though she didn't say anything, Melissa knew that she understood how she felt. After all, Mei had told her before that her parents had- shaking her head slightly, she banished the thought midway and allowed herself to sink into the hug even further.

Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. Not with her own father still not out of the woods yet. Opening her eyes, she looked over Mei's shoulder and spotted Izuku leaning forward in his rolly chair, his chin in his hand as he mumbled something she could hear.

Lady Usagiyama's right ear twitched every now and then as he did, but if she could hear him at all, her face didn't show it. Biting the arrow, Melissa spoke up, a small blossom of hope arising in her chest. "What is it, Izuku? Do you know something?"

Izuku flinched at the question, a small look of panic appearing on his face before he quickly schooled it, his eyes darting to her as he took a breath. "I… think I do. But I need you to promise that you won't pry too deeply into why I think I do. It's not bad, I promise, it's just… complicated. I'm still figuring it out."

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him, and even Mei stopped squeezing her face into Melissa's shoulder to look at him with a confused look because of it. She was, however, very desperate, and no one else had any ideas about her father's condition, so she nodded.

"Fine, I won't ask any questions, just tell me what you're thinking."

As Izuku let out a sigh of relief, she spotted Lady Usagiyama narrowing her eyes at him slightly, her ear twitching again. Clearly, she wasn't happy with the secrecy, but Melissa truly didn't mind as long as he was able to help.

But as Izuku spoke in vague language about what happened to him after he had defeated the Dragon, and told them a clearly very edited tale of the void he had been floating in, the damage he'd been taking, and the fact that it also shared the [?] description.

"The system kept telling me that I had been healed using [Restoration Potion] or [Greater Restoration Potions], but… well, I've never held a potion in my life, so I'm a bit confused about where they came from, to be honest. But from what I saw, we should be able to fully clear your father's condition with a [Greater Restoration Potion]. Do you happen to have any?"

Melissa couldn't help the fact that her mouth was hanging open in shock at his tale. She had never heard anything like it ever happening to another adventurer, and by the look on Mei and Lady Usagiyama's faces, they weren't any better.

"Kid, you're not fucking with us, are you? If you get the ladies' hopes up and dash them it's gonna be bad fucking news, y'know?"

Even with her harsh-sounding words, Lady Usagiyama's tone made the question, as well as the statement after it, sound like genuine advice, instead of a threat towards Izuku. Izuku looked aghast at the words, however.

"No, no! Of course not! I'd never lie about something like this. Sir Shield is very important to Melissa, and the kingdom as a whole. I just want to help however I can."

Melissa sighed at the earnest words, drooping slightly. "I know you do, Izuku, the unfortunate part of all of this is… well, there aren't any [Greater Restoration Potions] around at the moment."

Mei frowned, cocking her head to the side. "Wait, what? That seems like something a heal-y place like this should have, right?"

Melissa nodded. "Yes, they're supposed to have one for emergencies that nobody is able to remedy with their healing magic, but the one they were saving was discovered to be missing when they went searching for it to heal my father."

At her words, she saw Izuku stiffen, his face a mask of horror… but only for an instant, as he schooled it so quickly that she almost wondered if it had happened at all. But what she was sure she saw was him emitting a bright green pulse of energy, and she gasped as he stood up shakily.

It was almost funny seeing Lady Usagiyama's eyes bug out of her head as they did, but she made no move to put Izuku back in the chair. Still glowing green, he shook his legs out slightly, and she saw him wince, gritting his teeth. "Izuku, what on earth are you doing?"

She was about to keep talking when he turned and met her eyes, and she could see pure guilt in his eyes, and suddenly her own brain supplied her with the conclusion Izuku must have reached. "Wait, Izu-"

"-I'm sorry. I have to go. Rumi, please take care of these two. I'll be back as soon as I can be."

Lady Usagiyama just sighed, shrugging. "Fine, I'll play bodyguard for ya. But whatever it is you're doing, make it quick. You probably can't keep that ability up forever and you'll be shit out of luck if your legs give out on you again."

Izuku nodded sharply, before striding out of the room, not even looking back at the girls as he did, Sir Ratsudon following his master along, staying close in case he fell.

As the door swung shut behind him, Melissa hugged Mei closer. She couldn't help but feel bad for Izuku, and the guilt he must be feeling, but if she was right, and he was going to try and find a [Greater Restoration Potion], then she also couldn't help but hope to god that he was successful, and swiftly so.

She didn't know what would happen to her father if they didn't get him the potion, but she couldn't imagine it would be anything but terrible.