"There is an expedition to source out the root of the recent wyvern swarms, and because of their innate ability to absorb mana from their surroundings, healers and mages are not so effective. If you are to accept then I promise proper compensation. You will be escorted by some of the finest knights in the kingdom so there is no cause for concern in terms of safety."

Though the King phrased it as if it were a request, Manami knew that she really had no choice even though she had only just recently settled into the palace.

"W-will there be any other sources of healing?"

"There will be others that are adept in first-aid and basic medical care, but otherwise you would be in charge of the more severe injuries."

"I-I see…" Manami bows once again, "I-I humbly accept as a servant of the kingdom t-to dedicate myself on this expedition."

"Great. Then Lord Akabane can fill you in on the details of the expedition. You are both dismissed."

Bowing once more, they both take their leave quite swiftly out the throne room. As soon as they are far enough to no longer be heard by the palace guards or anyone else in the vicinity, Karma clicks his tongue,

"What a condescending old man."

Manami immediately goes wide-eyed and quickly scans the area, making sure no one else heard that. Once she sees that it is only the two of them in the corridor, she breathes a sigh of relief. Karma laughs a little at her intense reaction.

"Don't worry, I'm usually quite careful about things like that. I trust you won't indict me for slighting a royal, will you Miss Witch?"

"I-I would never!" Manami flushes, "I-I'm not one for royal etiquette either…" she stammers, bashfully scratching at her face. Karma gives her a small genuine smile.

"I must admit it's the first time the King has ever employed a non-divine medic for the expeditionary team, so you must be quite special. Divine healing is certainly weaker near wyverns, but it still works quite well and medics are hardly expected to be in close proximity to the frontlines. Though… His Majesty did still speak to you without your title… So I wonder if he really does value you."

"A-ah… Well I'm quite used to people f-forgetting my title," She looks at him a little purposefully and he reverts to his cool smile, lacking the warmth she momentarily just witnessed. Upon locking eyes for a brief moment, her face flies down to the floor, redder than before,

"I-I wonder why he called for me and not Kotaro. We have shared our notes and research so we practically are able to serve the same purpose…"

"Does Kotaro have any experience on the battlefield? If not, I'm sure anyone can see that you are undoubtedly the better choice."

"Ah! That makes sense. Kotaro was on the battlefield, but he ended up leaving early. Kotaro is a delicate soul." Manami laughs lightly such that her eyes squint, hiding it behind her closed hand. Karma looks upon her expression with his unchanging smiling expression in quiet, startling her a little once she notices him looking at her.

"How did you two meet?"

"M-me and K-Kotaro? I-I'd have to think about that…" Karma opens the door for her to the meeting room where a few other knights are seated, engaged in their own conversations.

"I have time."

"W-well, I think it's been about 4 years now… We were both apprenticing at the same hospital under the same teacher and we also got dispatched together in the war. I-I wasn't very close to him until then."

"How come?"

"He…How do I say this…Kotaro was quite adept with illnesses and ailments, but in terms of monster inflicted injuries, well he was certainly not the most pleased to be working with that. He ended up fainting and I had to also care for him, which I suppose triggered this sense of camaraderie with him that I didn't have before because of his flawless record… After our tent got attacked by a few undead, he ended up leaving early for his health. That was a bit of a struggle… but thankfully, by that time, the prospects of winning were much higher and the amount of injuries coming in were fewer in turn. In the end, we ended up working together again at the hospital and our lines of research aligned, so once our apprenticeship ended, we tried to set up a clinic by ourselves that didn't rely upon divinity and magic. A-and now we're here in the palace."

"Hmm." Karma pulls out a chair for her to the left of the chair at the head of the table, smiling at her like a sly cat. After she sat down, he sat down at the head of the table and the rest of the knights at the table promptly went quiet. Karma pulls out a map and a few small figurines to lay on the table.

"I'm sure most of you have been briefed, but to make sure we're all on the same page I will be going over the plans for the next few weeks. There have been several sightings and invasions by wyverns in Mutegrove and His Majesty has assigned us to kill them. Since this has been reported fairly early, this will be a small-scale mission done with haste and precision. I have been anointed supreme commander for this dispatch. Any objections then raise them with the king." Karma moves the figures on the map.

"This is the formation we'll be using, and the leaders of each section have been informed. We move out tomorrow and the trek will take roughly a week and it will take us no longer than a few days to finish… Unless your abilities are below that of a pitchfork wielding civilian."

At the unprompted insults and arrogance Karma exudes, a few knights start arguing and complaining about the expedition. Some of them saying that the expected time frame is too short and cruel for a human's endurance, some feeling insulted by Karma questioning their abilities as knights. Manami quietly sat there, feeling somewhat unimportant to the discussion. Clearing his throat, Karma shuts the entire room up by the suffocating aura that surrounds him,

"Before we adjourn, the lady to my right is a professional medic with expertise outside of divinity and magic. If the healers are unable to treat you, then she is your first point of contact."

Manami inwardly panics at the sudden attention directed towards her, but she musters a polite nod of her head as a greeting.

A few knights begin whispering to each other at a volume so that she can only pick up certain words such as, "Poison Witch" and "Death Incarnate". Karma gives them a knowing and deathly stare, before everyone shuts up again.

"This meeting is adjourned, any questions don't direct them to me. The vice-commander will answer in my stead." Karma pulls out Manami's chair and holds out his hand, escorting her out the room whilst the other knights clamour and some look aghast at his attitude towards her.

Karma takes her back to her research office and opens the door for her.

"T-thank you for bringing me back, Lord Akabane."

"Very few people have called me by my title. Seems that I quite like the sound of it from your mouth." Manami's cheeks are dusted with pink.

"Also, His Majesty didn't specify whether he wanted Kotaro or you to come on the expedition." Karma's smile crooks up a little and his dimple in his right cheek faintly appears. He then kisses her on the hand,

"Until tomorrow."

"T-t-tomorrow…Y-yes until then, Lord Akabane."

Once he has left, Manami closes the door and drops to her knees with her hands resting on the door. Her face completely reddened and her thoughts whirling at his parting words and gestures.