Medicine was his life, and no amount of peril or threats would dissuade his pursuit.
Caster was already giving up much by agreeing with the charade of joining the subjugation group as a field doctor.
Throw Heracles at it, and the problem was solved.
It always worked for Jason, so Caster had no doubts it would work for him.
However, this time was a matter of principle.
Caster had half-of-a-mind to surmise that Assassin would jump at his absence to ferry the souls of dead warriors. Rather than seek a doctor to treat the injured, those damn Valkyries would nod their heads and preach about the coming glory of Valhalla.
They were made as guides to give solace to the departing as their life ebbed away, but Caster was different.
His job was to wrench the departing souls and stuff them back into their bodies.
Caster and Assassin were just incompatible.
Nevertheless, Caster was presently busy working through extra work and experiments to make up for the time he'd miss while out traveling with Orario's newly established raid party. The departure date was tomorrow morning, but Caster decided that he'd be delaying his departure until Zeus and Astraea's Familia were back on their feet.
They'd meet up with the main party later.
Grudgingly, Caster would have to give Assassin free reign on a battlefield and to the mortally injured while he played catch up. Though, it was unlikely that the main subjugation force would start the raid until Caster and the others joined.
For now, there was too much to do.
Zeus and Astraea lay crumpled on the side of the medicine hall. Both were laid down on clean beds, but neither was in any condition to do anything else than rest.
Astraea was speaking gibberish in her light headedness and muddled eyes, while Zeus was completely passed out from massive blood loss.
Laid out before Zeus and Astraea were various foods that Caster had Hestia collect to 'nourish' both Gods, filled with meat and iron to replenish blood lost. It was almost like a morbid case of blood farming that had Hestia giving Caster dubious looks, but in the end, Caster was a doctor far outside the scope of ordinary doctors.
When one thought about it, you couldn't even reason that Caster was going too far. If someone died, he'd just cure death, creating vicious cycle in Hestia's mind about whether she should intervene despite knowing Caster may harbour ulterior motives with the contrast between Astraea and Zeus…
It was the first time Hestia ever felt pity for Zeus when he'd always been so successful.
Irrespective of Astraea and Zeus's treatment, Hestia couldn't argue with the results as many of the comatose patients were showing signs of awakening.
The problem was the quantity. Even if a few woke up, there were still many more to go, and Ryuu would constantly pester Hestia to check up on her Familia.
Hestia was flustered each time because there was a level to Caster's tolerance. Disrupting Caster's work every day to check up on patients Caster already gave a time frame for was just annoying for the eccentric doctor.
Ryuu was not helping her ban case in the least.
Nevertheless, today wasn't about Hestia, Zeus, Astraea, or even Ryuu.
It was about work and medicine, and Caster was all for it.
There was much to be done today, and just as Caster was about to tune all else out, he blinked as a woman appeared to place one of his used decanters into a sterilization area.
Caster paused in his work and stared.
Patient Zero, Alfia was standing in front of Caster with a blank expression, chin held up as she was certain that Caster was in process of moving his used decanter. She just did it for him in order to save the doctor time.
Silence stretched between the two for a good minute, making Alfia think she'd got one over Caster, but that was far from the truth.
Caster flicked Alfia on the forehead, scowling. "If you could move, you should have said so."
"Uwee," Alfia flinched, making a cute noise she'd never thought possible from her when she registered the pain of the impact. She'd forgotten how it was to be weak. Coupled with the lack of pain after Caster cured her of a disease, she believed unassailable, and her nerve receptors were being too reactive.
Alfia maintained a strictly neutral expression, but the crawling red rising from her throat and over her face showed her growing mortification. Her eyes were definitely glaring in the same manner Caster's would have been if he'd been slighted.
No, really. Caster was scowling.
Nothing irked a medical practitioner more than a misdiagnosis due to the patient withholding information but when he thought about it…it wasn't as if he could get mad at someone for trying to help him in his medical lab. It was a first, but still-
"You put the decanter in the wrong place." Caster nitpicked without any shame. "Blood is collected inside, and it could contaminate the other reagents where you placed it. Put it there in the bio contaminant area. It's set by category."
Alfia clenched her jaw, but held it in. She was the one in the lower position here.
"Right," she tried to smile, but it was an expression that would have terrified her enemies.
Caster knew the feeling. The last time he tried to smile to play down a mistake Jason had made, he spooked Jason silly on the Argo. Jason had insisted Medea cast poison checks on his food thinking Caster was out to get him.
Then again, there was also another exception where Caster would try to smile, and that was when he wanted something…
"Spit it out." Caster asked bluntly. "What do you want?"
Alfia opened and closed her mouth, realizing she wasn't fooling anyone before she reverted to her usual self. Commanding and with a hint of schadenfreude, a pessimist weighed down by the fate given to her and her sister at birth. However, fate was a whimsical mistress.
The burden that had weighed on her and her sister's shoulders for so long was lifted so easily by Caster that it left her with aftershocks.
Alfia was the happiest she'd been in a long while, but the problem was that she just didn't know how to show it or act normal.
The neutral expression she'd adopted to hide the constant pain of her illness was no longer necessary, and her concern for her sister was moot because she planned on having Caster treat her.
For all extents and purposes, she was now burdenless and left with only a single regret.
"I want to go with the subjugation party." Alfia said softly.
Caster neither judged or reacted to Alfia's words, but viewed them from an objective standpoint.
Caster turned around and faced Alfia, giving her a quick diagnostic with a single once over.
"You're sweating, your knees are wobbling just from standing, and no amount of holding your breath will conceal your breathlessness." Caster was blunt to a fault. He would not hold punches with a patient under his care. "You are unfit for long travel."
Alfia expected it, but it was also Caster who'd proved her wrong when they first met. He was someone who could clearly 'do' the impossible if he really wanted to.
"You are a 'talented' doctor, yes?" Alfia fluttered her eye lids.
"Naturally."
"Then-"
"It's not about whether I can or can't, but how much you want to kill these two?" Caster shrugged, pointing at a pale Zeus and Astraea moaning on the side. Both were reaching the verge of anemia. "That or find another God or Goddess willing to donate a copious amount of divine blood for you. It would be much easier if your patron God would volunteer. A doctor still has his ethics."
Alfia pursed her lips when the topic of her patron God Hera came up- The psycho bitch.
"I don't need to be in my prime." Alfia shook her head. "Right here, right now, I can walk, I can move. That's enough. It's not as if you'll be doing much moving yourself."
Caster's brow twitched, realizing that Alfia had heard his request to the Loki Familia to provide means for his transport, likely wagon or carriage. And if all else failed, he'd ride atop his metal snake.
"You make it sound as if bringing you along would be of use to me." Caster snorted.
"Because it will. I assure you that." A glint appeared in Alfia's eyes. "I am different from other pests and annoyances."
"Hn." Caster rolled his eyes. "You can try, but few have the patience or dedication."
Even Atalanta, an old colleague of Caster's on the Argo, could not withstand Caster's torturous silence while researching.
The edges of Alfia's mouth curled upward before she forcibly maintained her neutrality.
She'd never failed to meet a challenge. No, she always excelled.
It wasn't as if she was the most sociable person anyway.
Silence was golden in her candid demeanor.
.
.
.
The medical hall fell into a hushed lull, the two falling into an almost harmonious din of research and assisting.
Apollo yawned on top of Caster's head, staring at the two competing silver-heads.
An inwardly smug Alfia would wordlessly hand something to Caster just when he needed it, and Caster's lip would twitch as he clicked his tongue, before acting as if Alfia's actions were natural.
The only mistake Alfia had made was at the start.
She'd truly observed Caster for long enough to understand his habits and character.
It was all she'd been able to do when her body was immobile.
It was almost like a game between the two at this point.
A boring one.
Very boring.
Apollo rolled on Caster's head and considered pulling out a harp to play, but his son didn't like disturbances in the medical hall.
Nerds…
"…What does it mean to be a Hero to you?"
Bell flinched as he was sent flying back from a blow that shattered his guard and had his weapon clunking over the ground. Panting heavily, Bell wiped the sweat off of his forehead as he stared up at the form of a towering giant acting as a mentor for him.
"Weak."
It was the same assessment once again, making Bell grit his teeth. Part of him dearly hoped to attain the man's recognition because he was practically everything Bell saw in a true Hero, but even after so much training, Bell could hardly even touch the man's blade.
"We will resume tomorrow." Heracles said, watching Bell stagger back to his feet and grab his dagger.
"But I can-"
Heracles hook his head, and flicked Bell on the forehead, sending the teen right back onto his ass.
Funny really. Heracles could see where Chiron could draw amusement from fostering the next generation of Heroes.
Familia in this world weren't true Demi-Gods in the sense that they had no divine blood, but divine power coursed through their imbued Falna, making them semi Demi-Gods by nature.
"You must rest up for the march." Heracles reminded Bell.
Image was also key for a Hero. One could not put their faith in a Hero who was sloppy, hunched, or dressed in rags.
"You are the only Familia representing Hestia among numerous veterans. Hold your head high."
It was biased, Heracles knew it. However, Bell was someone Heracles couldn't help but have some expectation for.
Heracles and Rider had been training the subjugation forces while waiting for all preparations to be finished, and tomorrow was that day.
In the meantime, Heracles had been giving one-on-one lessons with Bell, and it wasn't just because of good feelings for Hestia, but due to the boy himself. There was just something about him that made Bell feel like a lost cousin.
Heracles could at least admit that Bell was a fast learner.
That was part of the reason Hestia allowed Bell to participate in the subjugation. Heracles had promised to protect Bell and use the trip to foster the boy's growth.
While others still struggled to stand up against Heracles's pressure, Bell was already trying to charge in.
Bell would prove a capable warrior in the future, if just a little…lecherous.
Words could not describe the level of patience Heracles displayed when Bell asked him if it was wrong to pick up girls in the dungeon?
A hero attracts women by just being true to himself. Act with righteousness and character, and the rest will follow. Even Jason knew that, and his friend's problem was commitment if nothing else. Medea could honestly by quite scary.
Enough about Jason though. This was about Bell.
For such a young teenager, where did he learn the indecency that has marred a warrior's mind?
Sighing, Heracles shook his head and knelt in front of Bell.
Reaching a hand over the lapel of Bell's shirt, Heracles pulled a long strand of blond hair and raised a brow.
"Effort where it counts Bell," Heracles said, grunting while waving the strand at Bell.
Bell froze stiff, eyes darting left and right before his expression gave everything away.
In the distance where Bell had packed his belongings on a wagon for tomorrow's march, the linens covering the perishables from the sun shifted uncomfortably, as if there was more than just food beneath.
He was clearly sneaking a passenger.
Evidently, Bell had yet to learn from his past experience with Ryuu and the consequence with Caster. Or perhaps it was because he just liked this woman more. Bell was at that age.
In his experience, Heralces would not miss something so obvious.
A man and a warrior's duty.
"I won't say anything, but a man must always know to shoulder in full what he decides to carry or promise." Heracles said solemnly, patting Bell on the shoulders and helping him up. "That includes stubborn women. Worse if you become the subject of their ire."
Heracles knew it all too well with the things Hera had put him through in life.
He didn't wish such an outcome on Bell if he could prevent it.
"Now go, before others notice." Heracles said. "Besides, I don't know how long the lady has been there, but she must be hungry by now and putting her next to rations is just torture."
"U-Understood," Bell bowed his head and hurriedly wheeled the wagon he'd packed with his belongings away from Heracles's scrutiny.
Grunting, Heracles stood to his full height and watched Bell run back towards Orario presumably to buy rations for two instead of one.
That guy…
Really, where did he get that attitude from?
It didn't matter. Heracles would work it away with time. Rather, there was someone else in need of council.
"You may reveal yourself, aunt." Heracles called out, watching Hestia nervously reveal herself from behind a tree in the clearing Heracles and Bell were using as a sparing ground. "If you're asking me to go easier on him, then you are doing nothing than else than endangering him. If he's unable to act under pressure or overwhelming odds, then he will not act when it matters most."
Oddly, Hestia hadn't come because of that. Rather, she made an appearance due to something else that was said.
"Heracles, about what you said to Bell…"
Hestia grew flustered as she began, but soon hardened her heart. Heracles was doing Bell a favour by teaching him, and a teacher shouldn't be left in the dark about his student's aspects.
"I need to talk to you."
.
.
.
Liaris Freese.
What? What did she just say?
Heracles made the most dubious expression he'd ever made. What he was hearing was unheard of.
Sure, it worked for motivation, but for it to reflect both physically and mentally in Bell's training was unprecedented.
Hestia definitely noticed what Bell did with the wagon, but the fact that she didn't stop it meant that it was also for Bell's benefit.
"The more love he feels, the stronger he becomes."
"…"
'Is it wrong to pick up girls in the dungeon?'
The line came to Heracles's mind unbidden as he thought of Bell.
-Aphrodite would have loved this development.
Elsewhere, Hephaestus found herself cradling her face with her hands.
Her office was a mess, items discarded, and pieces of broken glass strewn around as she battled with her inner thoughts and revelations. She didn't care about the gossip within her Familia anymore or whether or not they were secretly judging her.
She called off the entire competition with Welf and Shirou and had somehow managed to maintain a candid demeanor during Shirou's visit, but it was all a ruse that ended now that she was alone.
She'd uncharacteristically promised her full support and that of her Familia's without any trial or further scrutiny.
What she'd seen, what she'd felt, it was enough to bring her back into a spiral.
A part of her didn't know what to do anymore, but a deeper part of herself felt what could only be maternal instinct.
There had been a time where she was drowning in her loneliness.
The prospects of getting a partner were few and far between due to the deformity hidden within her eye. At the time, her creator's instinct had been on a full-time high and inspiration was aplenty.
If she couldn't have it, then she'd make it.
Hubris mixed with pride, and a failed result followed.
Whether Shirou was her son or not was the clearest to her.
Shirou- he who was closer to a living weapon than a human…
Hephaestus wept.
There was a secret she'd never told anyone but Zeus; a matter she'd embarked upon to create her ultimate master peace, but in the end, she got too attached to and thought ruined.
Project Pandora.
.
.
.
Numerous Gods and individuals had their own thoughts, reservations, and ideas regarding Orario's sudden changes, but time waits for no one.
-By the dawn of the next morning, the recommencement of the Grand Quest was at hand, and an exemplar subjugation force marched out of Orario under the lead of a flying Valkyrie.
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