Elda was the first to speak, her voice was calm but had an underlying current of bewilderment.
"Albert, it's a pleasure to meet you. But what on earth are we supposed to work on together?"
Elda's curiosity was piqued, her eyes flickering between me and Albert. Albert, on the other hand, looked like he had just been handed a death sentence.
"Um, I don't know."
Albert who couldn't hide his surprise just gave up understanding the situation. Elda who had expected this looked at me and sighed before speaking.
"Asher, whatever you are planning, I don't think I will be a part of it. Do you not remember my leg."
She pointed at her severed left leg. She was not offended or sad just amazed by the situation itself.
I leaned back in the chair, my eyes never leaving hers. With a small smile, I asked.
"Do you remember my promise?"
Elda frowned, her hands grabbing the bed sheet strongly then she slowly nodded.
"Asher, you don't need to heal my legs or get me a job. I will be alright, please don't give me any more debt. I will never be able to repay you."
Her eyes searched my face, looking for any hint of pity or regret. But she knew me better than that. I had made a promise to her, and I never broke my promises.
Albert who was silently listening, leaned back on his chair. His face resting on his right hand.
"I have a way to heal it actually."
My voice was a bit louder than I expected due to excitement.
Albert and Elda's eyes widened in surprise as their mouth left agape.
"Heal it? That's impossible!" Albert exclaimed, his skepticism clear as day.
I nodded, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. "Impossible for some, perhaps. But not for me."
Elda studied me, the doubt in her eyes slowly giving way to a glimmer of hope. "What do you mean?"
Taking the white box out of my bracelet, I put it above the bed.
"How did you do that?"
"What?"
I don't remember doing anything extraordinary, but her expression looked like I did some kind of grand magic.
"The box—where did it come from?"
"It's a storage bracelet."
Albert just chuckled upon hearing this. Elda gave him a glare— Which seemed to be saying to shut his mouth.
I ignored Albert and focused on Elda.
Inside the box there were Four vials, one was half empty. Taking the half one out I looked at her.
"Elda it will heal your leg. But.... I am not doing it for free."
Elda looked at the vial with a deep gaze unable to understand what it was. The liquid was bright green unlike the mix of red and green vial Kena drank.
"Will it really work? It's even half empty."
Albert asked in a curious tone. He was not going to easily believe a small bottle could grow a limb.
"What is the price?" Elda's voice was steady, but I could see the hope in her eyes, mixed with caution.
"You"
I said without much thought. But it was a mistake— Hearing my words Elda's face turned crimson, she opened her mouth several times only to close it.
"Wh-what?"
Initially confused, I realized what I just said.
"Boss– I wish to be like you one day."
Albert not letting my slip-up go chimed in. He said it seriously yet I can see how hard it was for him to stop grinning.
"No, what I mean was that I want your loyalty. That you work for me." I hastily clarified.
Elda's expression shifted from shock to skepticism. "What could I possibly offer you?"
"Currently nothing but in the future I hope you can find your worth."
I have no expectations from both of them. The reason I chose them was simple—They will not betray me easily.
They owe me too much. I have done many things for them, and they know that as well. I didn't ask for anything in return but I made it clear everything has a price.
Albert's laughter was cut short when he saw my expression. He knew that look, the one that says 'this isn't a joke'.
"Listen both of you... Right now there is nothing you can help me with neither with fighting or my problems."
I looked at them one by one. Their eyes shook in guilt but they didn't stop— With a deep breath Elda asked.
"What do I need to do?"
"I will tell you after you heal your leg. The potion will work. I already tried it on someone. It's safe."
During my hunt last night. I had already used the vial on someone, half of the vial did the work re-growing their shivered limb.
Elda looked down at her leg, the hope growing stronger. She nodded slowly, reaching out her hand to take the vial. "Alright, I trust you."
I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Drink it and just leave two drops in the container. I have some use for it."
Elda nodded, taking the vial with trembling hands. She unstopped it, sniffed the contents, and then downed the green liquid in one swift gulp. For a second, nothing happened. Then, the air around her leg began to shimmer, and the room filled with a faint scent of iron and earth.
"Ah!"
She groaned in pain her eyes turned red. Her heartbeat quickened an unnatural pain filled her left leg. Gripping the bedsheets she let out muffled breaths. Then she stopped moving.
Albert gave me a worried glance but kept his silence.
"Are you okay?"
I touched her shoulders helping her to sit properly as she had lost her balance.
She opened her eyes, her face looked healthy not starved anymore. Then her eyes widened– She felt it—She felt her legs.
She didn't answer me instead she removed the sheets covering her lower half and gasped her eyes teary.
"It's... It's back!"
Elda's voice was a mix of disbelief and awe as she looked down at her fully restored leg. The skin was smooth and unblemished as if the injury had never been there. She tentatively placed her hand on her thigh, feeling the muscles contract beneath her touch.
The sensation was strange yet familiar, a ghost of pain long forgotten now replaced with a warm, tingling sensation.
"It really... Came back."
"You didn't believe it."
Looking at Albert who had not believed my words I gave a smug look.
"Um, I believed your words boss. Why will you even doubt me?"
Nodding like a parrot Albert gave a dissatisfied look.
Elda ignoring our rant stood up. Her hospital gown fluttered at her sudden movements. Unable to stand up properly she almost fell on the bed.
"It's okay."
As I was about to catch her she stopped me–Using her hands she took support of the walls and walked around the room with light steps.
Bouncing on her feet she smiled sweetly. Her speed increases with every step she takes.
"Don't start running, You should rest."
But she didn't listen to me—Her joy was overwhelming, she had to explore. She had to feel the strength of her legs once again.
*****
Sweat rolled down Elda forehead as she sat on the bed. Her breathing was heavy.
"You should have stopped me *huff* from running this much."
Elda panted heavily, but she couldn't wipe the grin off her face. The feeling of having two legs under her again was exhilarating, a feeling she had given up hope of ever experiencing again.
Albert who heard her just shook his head.
"We did... You just didn't listen."
Ignoring his words Elda took the food we had already started eating without any hesitation.
"Boss I am getting ignored by my junior.~"
Albert complained in a playful tone while passing me a piece of bread. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Elda's unbridled excitement.
"Who is your junior, I am older than you brat."
Elda replied in her own teasing tone, making Albert's lips twitch.
"I am 19 for your information. How old are you anyway... Oh! Don't tell me it's past 30."
Albert retorted, taking a big bite from the skewers.
"Heh— I am 22. You don't have good eyes to see a youthful girl."
Seeing them bicker my lips curled up—It was peaceful.
"Asher, you should be around my age. Teach this brat how to talk properly."
Elda's voice pulled me out of thoughts. I could only sigh at her words— "You both are older than me, still I feel like the mature one."
"Eh—"
They both stopped and looked at me as if I told a bad joke right now.
"What?"
Both Albert and Elda's voices chimed in unison, their eyes wide with surprise.
"How old are you?!"
"This year... I am seventeen years old."
I replied, watching their expressions change from surprise to astonishment. Elda rubbed her face while Albert was in deep thought.
"Are there any problems?"
My question broke the silence that had fallen over the room. Elda was the first to recover, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"No, no problem at all. It's just... I never thought you were so young. You've been through so much, and you have so much power.... It's just surprising."
"Who would have thought... That reaper will be only seventeen."
Albert muttered his eyes looked dead— He was ashamed yet proud over this.
"...Reaper?"
Elda who heard this was in shock as she looked at me. Her face changed expression several times— Then nodded to herself as if it all made sense.
"Let's end these heavy topics. You both will have too much work to do from tomorrow. So let's talk now."
Elda's eyes shone with excitement, while Albert nodded in agreement. I knew that they were eager to prove their worth and repay their debt.
"Just tell me about yourself, we don't know anything except each other's names anyway."
I suggested, breaking the tension in the room. Both of them looked at me and then at each other.
Seeing their faces, I started my story first.
"Let me start first— I used to live in a small Village named Enor... It used to be near Saffron City but it doesn't exist anymore."
My voice was calm as I recounted my past, the memories still fresh in my mind.
"Doesn't exist... what happened?"
Albert wanted to ask this as well but Elda beat him to it. Seeing their eagerness to hear my story I smiled, leaning back I crossed my arms and put my legs on the bed.
"I don't have memories of my past... My Grandfather adopted me three years ago, when found me asleep near the village... Some months ago me and Grandpa came from town to village everything was alright but suddenly the same night a neighbor died. He was hung on a tree, the next morning his brother died. By evening everyone was trapped in roots.... Luckily I managed to awaken at that time. A tree was behind it. The old tree was alway in our village but whatever happened it turned into a beast and killed everyone. In retaliation, I burned everything in the village, killing all the monsters."
Their faces paled as they heard me, I had left many important details knowingly to show a bit of vulnerability to them. To make it look like my mind couldn't comprehend it. And I actually can't— When I first told this story to Anny and the others my voice would end up stiff and I would start stuttering.
But today was different.
Today, I have friends who know my true nature and still don't fear me. Today, I had a purpose, and a goal to achieve.
"Wow... That's intense, man."
Albert's voice was filled with genuine concern, his eyes never leaving mine. Elda nodded in agreement, her expression a mix of shock and sympathy.
Seeing their reactions, a warmth of unknown nature filled me. At the same time, I felt guilty.— Was a part of me trying to gain their sympathy— Their trust?
Was I becoming like Greth? I hope not. I wish to be kind, not treacherous to his own people.
Elda looked at me and gave a gentle nod before speaking.
"My story is normal... nothing crazy like yours Asher. I was born in a normal family— A small but happy family. We were not rich but not too poor. We would struggle together. My mother would work alongside father in factories and in the evening I would help her do cleaning jobs in houses. In the end, they both passed away due to health issues two years ago..."
She sighed and smiled at us. "This feels like a team bonding exercise."
"Well it is a team bonding exercise~"