A healer named Mark Dragunov was tending to William. "How did you end up alone in the forest? It's a miracle you survived. Even Jonathan would have struggled to spend the night alone," he said.
William shifted slightly, the pain still lingering. The poison had already been neutralized, but its aftereffects persisted. Mark's healing could only enhance the body's vitality to speed up recovery, but nullifying pain was another matter entirely.
Without waiting for William's reply, Mark murmured, "Status."
Name: Mark Dragunov
Level: 5
Class: Draconic Saint
Tutorial Status: Active
Equipment: Draconic ring, Dragon fang.
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STR: 18 (+100)
AGI: 34
END: 14
INT: 45 (+100)
WIS: 40
DEX: 30
LUK: 23
Skills: Dragons body, Heal, Cure, Fire breathing, Heat resistance.
From his inventory, he pulled out a glass bottle sealed with a cork. He uncorked it and handed it to William.
"Here, take this. It will ease the pain."
William took it and drank it in one go. It was bitter, and he couldn't help but make a face. Mark laughed.
"Is it bitter?"
William turned to his savior, offering a heartfelt smile and gratitude as he said, "Thank you. I didn't catch your name—what was it?"
"Mark Dragunov." said Mark.
William thought the name sounded amusing, so he jokingly asked, "Is your class related to dragons?"
"Why do you ask?" Mark asked with a questioning look.
William hadn't expected Mark to take the joke seriously. He flustered slightly before replying in a friendly tone, "I was just joking. Your surname, Dragunov, sounds like dragon, hahaha!"
At that moment, Mark understood what William meant and let out a chuckle. He then gave William a thorough examination and confirmed he was in the clear. The news brought a wave of relief. The infirmary tent small, makeshift, and built from wooden branches was cramped and barely accommodated the wounded. With William's treatment complete, he was asked to step outside to free up space for the next injured soul. Mark beckoned William from behind.
"If you don't mind sharing, how did you end up stranded in the forest by yourself?"
William still hadn't confirmed if his teammate had returned to the clearing, let alone their current status. Whatever he wanted to say would have to wait until it was all over, or it might backfire. He turned to Mark and smiled, "It's a long story. I'll tell you another time."
Mark saw through the forced smile William gave but didn't push. Instead, he replied in a humorous tone, "There's another time?"
A little puzzled by the response, but choosing not to react, he bid farewell to the doctor and headed toward the campsite. There was sure to be information about his teammate there—he could either ask around or find someone in charge.
The camp was built with wood and makeshift tents made of leaves. They used branches with leaves still attached to construct small huts. There were a total of five larger huts, one of which served as an infirmary located near the route to Mount Obelisk. It was set up there for the main team as they navigated the forest to find the Orc and complete their mission. The remaining major huts were near the center: one was used for planning, another for storing food, and a third for firewood. The last hut belonged to a team that was not present at the moment. The food and firewood storage huts were on the edge, while the planning room occupied the middle, adjacent to the main team's rest area.
There were smaller huts as well, offering shelter to a few people, but it seemed most were accustomed to sleeping outdoors. The fence surrounding the camp stood at the edges of the clearing, with the only entrance being the path leading to Mount Obelisk.
William stood before the planning hut, having asked around and learned that a few people had returned with an injured person. When the archer discovered that one of their members had been left behind, she prepared to go back for them. Jonathan tried to stop her, but when she refused to listen, he offered to join her. Together, they set out with two more members from Jonathan's team to search the forest for the missing person.
"I have to tell them I have returned on my own," he sighed as he stepped into the planning room. A guard was present, but the lazy man was fast asleep in the daylight. The planning room was spacious, possibly larger than the infirmary. In the center was a crude-shaped table surrounded by seven chairs. From what William gathered, Jonathan had five members, so five seats would be taken by them, and with Jonathan himself, that made six. The last seat, once offered to Mark, had been refused. Mark had told the council he was more useful in treatment than in strategy and planning. Eventually, the seat was given to a woman named Agatha.
"Miss Agatha, I am William, a member of the party that was previously seeking help to save its dying member. As you can see, I have returned safely from the forest." William recounted everything to Agatha, except for the betrayal of Gym Rat.
Agatha sat at the table, not looking up when William arrived. However, when he mentioned his return and his time in the forest, she glanced at him and nodded. "It's good that you're back. Wait, I'll signal the search party," she said. Clasping her hands, a glowing circle formed around her, and the air sparkled with mana. As she released her hands, a sound wave burst through the planning room.
"It's done. Now, before that, are you alright?" asked Agatha, her expression showing rare concern for a complete stranger.
William nodded. "I already went to the infirmary. I'm fine now."
Agatha visibly relaxed upon hearing that and, in a gentle tone, said, "Alright, let the search party come. I will inform your friends of your arrival." After a brief pause, she added, "You've got a really good friend; she was ready to search the entire forest alone to find you." Using her magic once more, this time targeting something close by.
A man clad in lion-like armor hears a voice in his head, "Come to the planning room, your friend has returned." Upon hearing this, his face darkens with a shadowed expression.