The Mysterious Black Magician

After Almina and the blonde girl defeated all the monsters charging towards Yman, he lost his consciousness.

The battle ended and the soldiers finished all the remaining few monsters.

Then the carriages proceeded from their halted travel.

<><><>

Yman slowly opened his eyes. He was greeted by a single lamp hanging up above the ceiling of the room and illuminating the surrounding with yellow brilliance. He glanced around him and noticed that he was inside a tent.

He frowned after remembering what was happened before he lost his consciousness, he slowly pushing up his body.

He felt weak and dizzy. But he could manage somehow..

He scanned around him but he could not see his deity Sistela. He needed to concentrate to feel his deity's whereabouts, though he needed to use his stamina. But because he was in a weakened state, he could not carelessly use it.

A moment later, Yman noticed a part of the tent-making a slight movement, which he believed was the entrance of the tent.

After a second, Miss Pai came in. "Yman? Hah, good that you're finally awake! But, uh, you're not allowed to get up yet. Go back to the bed."

Miss Pai said in surprise and sighed in relief when she noticed him standing beside the folding bed.

"....."

Yman was silent. He did not expect to see her here. After a second, he opened his mouth.

"N-No Miss Pai, I - 'm fine... just a little groggy." He said to her while trying not to cause any suspicion. "By the way, Miss Pai, where am I?"

Even though he tried to look normal, Miss Pai knew that he was still not feeling well.

Yman noticed her knitted brows and pouting face with a 'hmmph...' sound. It looks like she won't answer him if he won't follow what she wanted.

He decided to sit down on the bed while scratching his face and lightly laughed.

Miss Pai sighed before opening her mouth, "you are currently inside the medical tent. The group decided to take a detour to pass the night, since many of the participating trainees got tired from the battle this noon, and the soldiers guarding us said that it was not good to travel at night cause many hostile monsters will go out hunting. Early tomorrow the group will resume the travel. Right now, we are settling beside the river they called Silent River." Miss Pai explained.

"S-Silent River?" He repeated.

"Yeah. They said this river was historical and that it was the longest river in this world. Although, I'm not sure if I believe it or not, like you it is my first time here also."

She said at him while blending an herb in a glass.

"...weird."

Yman knitted his brows in puzzlement.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because wouldn't it be natural to call it the Longest River instead of the Silent River..."

Hearing him, she stopped her hands and showed thinking gestures.

"...hm, maybe because this river doesn't flow like the usual river should be that's why they called it Silent River."

"I - I see. So that's why I didn't hear any gushing sounds."

She nodded and resumed what she was doing.

"Anyway, you made quite a blunder out of yourself this noon." She told him with knitted brows.

After hearing her say this, Yman helplessly sighed and slightly downed his head. "S-Sorry." He mumbled shyly.

He could not say anything since Yman knew it was his fault after all.

"I know that some people made fun of you. But, don't forget that there are people too...that cared about you."

Yman slightly nodded his head and remained quiet. Somewhat her words felt comforting to him. She was like an older sister towards him and Yana.

Seeing him quiet. She approached him with the glass of herb in her hands. "Here, drink it," she said and handed the glass to him.

"This is..."

"That is an herbal tea made from Young Lilly herb that we found floating on the river and mixed it with a grinned 1-month-old root of Yellow Clover. I know that you dislike bad smell but this herbal was good for regaining your stamina a little bit faster. So please, bear with it and drink."

She said to him, however, she did not leave beside him. Yman knew that she wouldn't leave unless he drank it. He felt defeated when he took the glass.

|So, these herbs can also be found here, huh...|

He was a little surprised by these familiar names of herbs.

|These herbs can also be found on Outerworld.|

Slowly lifted the glass towards his mouth. His nose was invaded by the pungent smell it brings.

She was right. He dislikes drinking medicine or herbal with bad smell.

Glug...glug...

Yman held his breath and drunk the herbal tea in one go. Good thing that it wasn't so hot. He wanted to puke though.

She nodded and smiled at him.

Before Miss Pai left the tent, she told him that Yana was sleeping in her tent beside Sistela. And that she didn't know what happened to him.

Yman sighed in relief. He was afraid that his sister would worry about him. Looks like Sistela did not say about the fight to Yana.

Miss Pai finished her words saying, "isn't your goal is to heal your sister? (Yman nodded. She smiled and opened her mouth again.) From tomorrow onwards, your life might become more difficult than usual. However, don't forget what you originally wanted from the start. You might find enemies and they might look down on you, but don't forget that there are people too who finds you important to them..."

After saying this she stood for a second before she decided to leave the room.

Yman suddenly felt sleepy after she left. The herbal she gave him also has the effect of making someone feel sleepy.

Just like what Miss Pai said, the trip continued early in the morning.

Right now, Yman was inside the carriage just like before the fight with the monsters.