Zouteland Street, Indus Region.
Bogda came early and walked from one end of the street to the other, repeating it three times until his liver started to ache. His hand reached for it to relieve the pain, even for a bit.
The sun was still rising from the horizon. The air was accompanied by the distant chimes of far away cathedrals.
Finally, he reached the foretold street number. There lies a building, a sign was pasted on the wall, etched with in clear formal writing; "Blackthorn Security Company."
A commissioning company... Bogda muttered to himself.
After he went in, he saw the receptionist with curled brown hair, leisurely reading behind a desk.
He looked at this receptionist and said, "Excuse me. I saw that this is a commissioning company? I would like to hire."
The newspaper covered Rozanne slowly peaked at the man, wearing a top hat.
"Right! Yes", she stood up, placed the Tingen Morning Post aside on the counter and asked, "What service will our department be of help?"
Seeing the attendant with polite smile. Bogda recalled what the seer from yesterday had told him.
"I-I wish to seek help for my condition", Bogda stuttered.
He failed to see how a commissioning company would help in his sickness. Regardless, he chose to believe in this fortune-teller.
Rozanne fell silent for three seconds before saying, "Uhm... I'm sorry but we're not doctors. Neither is this department a hospital."
"..." Bogda's face darkened.
"But I can give you a few examples of services we can offer. One is to find your lost items, track your lost pets, document a few things for you and more", Rozanne tried her best to be presentable.
However, Bogda's expression only turned grim. His thoughts were spiraling with apprehension.
"Alright", he said with heavy heart as he turned around.
As she watched the man leave. Rozanne felt the lost a little.
Our agency doesn't have a doctor. If we have then I might suggest for them to consider your request... She ruminated over the matter, slightly puzzled.
A doctor...
Suddenly, Rozanne recalled Dunn's exchanged with Old Neil last week.
She abruptly stood up and lightened, "Ah wait! Please wait!"
Bogda stopped just a few inches from the door. He turned around to see the receptionist quickly stood up.
"If I may ask. Any doctor would suffice right?" Rozanne asked.
At one point, Dunn Smith had mentioned about Selina Roy, their most recent staff and newly appointed official during one of his conversations with Old Neil, as someone who frequents a Herb shop, not as a customer but as an apprentice.
Maybe this lady may be of help!
"Yes! Any doctor would do as long as they're from this company", Bogda raised his spirits. He touched his abdomen, gesturing for his condition.
Apart from his mood, he suddenly reckoned as to why a commissioning company had a doctor in their agencies.
Rozanne smiled politely and offered a seat toward the lounge.
"Could you wait over there? Let me be sure she's available", she said, appearing calm and amiable for the client.
Before she could leave for the entertainment room, Bogda raised his voice and called, "Is the lady a doctor?"
Rozanne fell silent, she lifted her right index finger to her lips and thought for a bit before she replied, "Ms. Roy is not entirely a doctor. However, I can guarantee that she may be of help in whatever condition you have."
This wasn't assuring for Bogda.
"Well, if you'll excuse me", Rozanne briefly bowed and left the reception area.
...
At the entertainment room.
Rozanne pushed the door open. She saw Leonard seated with his foot over the table, reading an article of Awwa County Daily, while not far from him is Seeka Tron conversing with their newest member Selina.
She swept her gaze for a moment, then raised her voice, "There's a commission!"
Leonard lowered his newspaper and saw Rozanne standing at the door. He smiled gently and asked, "What will it be this time?"
Selina and Seeka Tron both turned their heads as the receptionist replies, "It is quite different this time. The mister came here to ask if there are anybody who could help with his condition."
Leonard straightened his posture, "Condition you say? Had he seen our signage at the entrance? This is a commissioning company."
Rozanne nodded but retorted as she shook her head, "Perhaps he had seen our signage but still intended to enter."
At this moment, Leonard shot a glance a Seeka Tron. He saw her arched her brow and proceeds to ask a follow up question, "Intended?"
This matter could possibly lead to two things; either he's desperate for his condition that he'd thought any official agencies could help him find a skilled doctor or that he had discovered the mysteries of beyonders.
"Tell him to leave", Leonard said kindly. Appearing warm for the receptionist they had been acquainted with for a long time.
"What condition?" Selina's voice spoke.
Rozanne pictured the man's palm pressed tightly over his abdomen. She replied, "It seems it had something to do with his abdomen. Perhaps it's something similar to what Old Neil experienced few years ago, grimacing while complaining of the pain, making fun of his waning age.
"Ah right! Ms. Roy, you're an apprentice of a herb store owner before right?"
Selina smiled wearily. She answered, "At one point. Yes, I became his apprentice."
Sigh... I would not be surprised if you guys knew that a cat visits me every night... A faint breath escaped her lips.
"That's great! Mister—actually I forgot to ask his name, anyway the client said he came for this department in particular. Anyone is fine as long as they're available for commissions and have medical field experience", said Rozanne with delight.
Leonard set his newspaper aside, "I know our funds are... empty. However, with Klein's commission that he and I finished recently. It should have helped us in awhile right?"
At this moment, Rozanne puckered her lips to the corner, "Yes it should... But with the operation about the suited clown yesterday. The medical fees teared a hole in our safe."
"Medical fees?" Selina was just about to leave the sofa and head to the reception area when confusion struck her.
"Yes. Although Old Neil's ritualistic magic greatly helped with our team's health, as he had described, ritualistic magic is not entirely powerful. So expenses such as their medical attention are still needed to be considered", said Rozanne ruefully.
I see... Reaching out for the beyonders of the Church with abilities to heal is also quite inconvenient considering the time it took for them to arrive. Even if they are, it's a waste of resources since the causalities are only mild. It's a relief it ended that way...
Selina ruminated on Rozanne's answer and returned with a smile, "Thank you for explaining."
Seeka Tron placed her pen down and walked over to Rozanne. She said calmly, "Let's go see him. Clearly, this commission is for Ms. Roy to take."
Selina followed suit. The trio left the lounge as they turned from the partition.
On the sofa where the sun streams from the oriel windows on the corner. A young man with short hair, a sallow face and brilliant red eyes that when seen replaced with a dim glow occupies the side of the tea table.
Rozanne was the first to approach him and said amiably as she present her hand to Selina, "This is our newly appointed member, Selina Roy. Before joining our department, Ms. Roy had a few experiences, one of them is being an apprentice."
Bogda's heart turned wary. However, in an attempt to soothe, he brushed his arm with the palm of his right hand.
"Please feel free to be treated first and consider the payment before which depends on the outcome."
"Alright." said Bogda with mixed emotions.
He swept his gaze from the two. Seeka Tron on her right and Rozanne. He was perplexed upon noticing this third person, regardless he turned his eyes to the receptionist's left side.
Both had a silver-white hair yet this lady managed to tugged a string in him. She was beautiful became an obvious comment for him, yet his lips failed to produce them.
This feeling was sincere yet he felt mundane of it and could easily shook her appearance off as just another lady from day to day.
Because of this, he looked at Selina as he would have in any lady he didn't took interest in and said, "Could you take a look at me?"
Selina gave a soft smile, "Yes, if you can give me a few minutes."
"Alright", Bogda tensely replied.
As she walked towards the seat next to him. Selina lifted her right hand as though contemplating and secretly tapped it twice.
Beneath her calm tone, internally she was conflicted on her first time actually tending a patient.
Okay... How do I do this? I have been given lectures about human illness and conditions from Mr. Darkwade. I have also diligently read books about herbs and have studied how herbs interact to cure illnesses. Treating a patient shouldn't be hard...
Selina took a deep breath and took Bogda's arm, straining for any anomalies in his pulse when in fact she was examining his Ether body.
The scene took a mysterious turn as several series of colors blends to form humanoid figures.
As she took in this corporeal world that seemed to reach the illusory fog above. Selina laid her eyes toward Bogda.
He's tensed... Selina muttered. She saw his hands acting on impulse ever so slightly.
"What's your name kind sir?" she said as she gave gentle taps on Bogda's arm.
Bogda stopped his right hand. He looked at Selina with obvious apprehension before saying, "My name... It's Bogda Jones."
"Alright Mr. Jones could you shift your full body to me?" Selina requested as she find it difficult to discern the man's body just from seeing his side.
Bogda did not stand on ceremony. He nodded and raised his knee to sofa before circling his waist.
Selina saw various colors of Bogda's body including the redness of his limbs. However, unlike this, the parts that makes up his regulatory system appears dark-green, while in particular his abdomen was reaching a critical color.
He's having a liver failure... she acutely noticed.
Her hand stopped from pressing for his veins. Selina carefully retracted them and said warmly, "Sir Jones, have you experienced vomiting of blood, difficulty in thinking, and is prone to bruises or bleeding?"
Bogda widened his eyes. He stuttered, "H-How did you know what I've been through this past weeks?"
"Your heartrate is unusually fast. You're nervous but it gave me hints of your condition", Selina tried her best to explain in a conventional manner.
After this, she stood up and said, "Could you wait for me here? I have something in mind that may help you."
Bogda was in disbelief that he could only watched the silver-haired lady leave the lounge.
For exactly five minutes, he waited on the sofa with rising hope for a cure of his illness.
Moments later, he saw the same silver-haired lady walked in.
Rozanne, who was behind the desk saw Selina and immediately went to tend the client in her presence.
Seeka Tron left awhile ago after confirming a suspicion of her and Leonard.
When Selina returned, she was holding a small bag containing the herbs she took from the alchemy room.
Thankfully these were available. Hopefully Mr. Old Neil wouldn't mind a few ritual materials being taken. Especially since Sanctuary Roots have rejuvenating effect...
"Here you go. To administer it, add sufficient water and boil it into medicine. After boiling it, add ten drops of fresh rooster blood, then drink it down immediately. This bag of herbs can be cooked thrice. You will be fine after three times."
It sounds extremely shady... Bogda gulped down his saliva and said, "That's it?"
"Mhm", Selina nodded.
"Oh, and for commissioning fee, please return. Since I would still need to confirm your condition afterwards in case of things", she curled her lips gently.
Of course this is to be certain that what she did is right. Feeling the guilt of worsening his condition is not a very favorable outcome.
Bogda received this paper bag, sighed, then turned to Selina and replied, "Thank you very much."