– Memories: Logout [Retracted]

Keen heads to the Guild Hall at the center of Topsy Town. He saw no hospital or clinic in his singular trip around the large town so the massive central piece most probably have something similar to a healing facility.

To hide his ability class, he walks normally after arriving behind a mahogany tree in the plazas southern section. The people hovering around mostly have no neck cuffs. Some of those with evidence of being Transfers either do not show any concern for seeing the wounded woman Keen carries in his arms or are simply lost in deep thoughts with their slightly red eyes looking at the sky.

He reaches the entrance of the Guild Hall decorated with a golden banner stating its very name. Its widely opened double doors are made of one foot thick, ten feet high oak wood carved with intricate details depicting a scene where animals are gathered and looking up at a humanoid figure with light rays emanating from the body.

Keen dismisses the idea of evaluating the door further. He has a more pressing matter at hand.

”Is there a healing or nursing facility here? ” His voice is deep and coarse, but with hints of reluctance. He clears his throat. Good thing his fangs do not unnecessarily protrude from his lips when not in battle.

Surprisingly, upon entering the guild hall, some people approach him upon seeing the wounded woman on his arms.

”What happened? ” A lady with a wizards hat walks briskly forward. Her braided blonde hair gives a fine exposure to a pair of long, pointed ears. Her well-embroidered moss green dress extends to a knee-length skirt with a slit on the left. Her sandals create no sound while she walks despite being made of sturdy wood. The neck cuff in her neck is greyish, instead of the charcoal-black ones Transfers have.

”She was attacked by a mob of Insane at a dark alley in the south. ” He replies matter-of-factly.

The braided blondie gasps momentarily before dismissing whatever brief thought came to her. ”I see. There is a doctor, a healer, and herbalist here in the Guild Hall. ”

”Ill summon them! ” A frail-looking boy with an afro hair and narrow eyes rises from his seat and salutes to their direction. He only has equipment in his elbows, fists, knees, and ankles. Besides those, his clothes seem to be common leather.

Upon receiving a nod from the braided blondie, he starts running towards the back of the hall with a speed that doesn seem to match his body.

”Thats Jerud, ” the braided blondie gestures to the running boy. ”And Im Elise. Lets go upstairs. At the third floor, your friend can rest for a bit. Ill give her first aid while we wait for the experts in treating her wounds. ”

Without motioning for Keen to follow her, she starts walking briskly to a levitating stairway. Meanwhile, the woman in his arms is still unconscious but steadily breathing.

”Shes not — ” Keen stops his speech halfway after taking only five steps when his surroundings suddenly warp towards Elise at the focal point. Any other human would be amazed at such an event, but his has an even more overwhelming feeling. What piques his interest is the character level of Elise and her unusual neck cuff.

When she announces that they are in the third floor already, he realizes what skill she used.

”Teleportation magic? ” Keen inquires with a calm tone.

”Yes! ” She answers spiritedly, then clears her throat as she opens the glass door. ”Im sorry. I got carried away. I am just happy that someone finally isn overwhelmed after seeing my teleportation magic. Now, you can put your friend here. ” She points at the nearest bed at the left.

After following her instructions, Keen looks around the room. Six pairs of white beds complete with two pillows and a blanket each are on either side of the room separated by semi-transparent white mesh fabric.

The room is practically empty of other residents aside from the woman he brought there. The room has a relaxing soft green hue and good ventilation. However, he senses something further beyond the wall at the opposite end of the room.

”The expert medical team should be here any moment. ” Elise tries to give him a reassuring smile while she invokes an incantation for first aid magic over the unconscious womans torso.

He tries to dismiss the urge to stay longer in the place. He has an important task to do.

As if feeling his uneasiness, Elise initiates a conversation again. ”I kind of felt that you are strong, so I was sure you wouldn find my teleportation magic that fascinating. That spell is all Im good at, anyway. ” There is a sudden bite of sadness in her last statement.

”But thats quite the useful spell in this place, ” Keen manages to reply. He doesn really remember being good at making conversations with women.

”Thank you, ” she tries to look for his face underneath the hood of his long coat.

”Your ability class is an elf, am I correct? ”

”Yes. Its not uncommon in Esprit. However, only a few can actually maximize its potential. ” While she pauses momentarily, Jerud slams the door open. Elise almost jumps from her seat in surprise.

”Heya there, everyone. The medical experts are finally here, ” he announces, lifting a thumb up towards Elise while grinning. ”The doctor Vulgrim, herbalist Zeke and healer Arom are here as I promised. ”

Three people come out behind him. The first one is a real-looking doctor. His square framed eyeglasses, almost bald hair, and white lab gown is the image Keen would instantly think of when the word doctor comes to mind. Right after him is a brown haired boy with big circular eyeglasses, leather clothing and carrying a bag about half his size. At last is a tall, green-haired man with pale skin and wearing a jewel-embroidered, blue wizard robe whilst carrying a pen-shaped wand.

Elise is just about to tell them something when Blue Robe Guy rushes forward and starts enchanting a spell to the unconscious woman. ”You are a careless party. It seems like you don even have a healer in your group for her to have this much physical injuries until now. ” His voice has a hint of annoyance.

”We are not a party, ” Keen replies firmly.

”Oh, ” the doctor brushes his chin. ”Curious. It is more than rare to have someone help a complete stranger here in Esprit. ”

”Are you…perhaps new here? ” Big Bag Guy stutters.

”Ive finished catering to her internal injuries. You go deal with the external ones, Doc Vulgrim. ” Blue Robe Guy taps the white-clad mans shoulder.

”Sure will, Arom. ” The old man goes beside his patient. He then takes out a needle with a string that is almost invisible to the naked eye. With a swift motion, he goes over the bruises and lacerations. Right after, the womans skin was smooth again like it didn encounter any damage earlier.

”Im Vulgrim, anyway. I was a real doctor before entering Esprit, so people here are fond of calling me Doc. ” He taps Keens left shoulder, then laughs weakly. ”Take care of your comrade. Her beauty is a great loss if you keep her at the front line. ”

The third guy, supposedly the herbalist Zeke, walks erratically towards the unconscious woman on the bed. Elise is standing beside him with an amazed expression in her face. Suddenly, Zekes eyes glow in a purple shade and start scanning his patient. Afterward, he conjures a potion flask from thin air and hands it to Keen.

”Make her drink this when wounded in your next monster hunt. It should recover some of her HP and MP. ” There is a sudden air of confidence in him.

”As I said, shes — ” Keen is cut short when he sees Jerud land a punch on Aroms chest. The healer suddenly disappears! Elise doesn seem to be surprised by the event.

Jerud does the same to Doctor Vulgrim and the herbalist Zeke.

”Thats some weird teleportation skill, right? ” Elise answers Keens curiosity.

”Its pretty hard, actually. ” Jerud laughs humbly. ”I need to punch the person in the manubrium of his ribs with a certain amount of force for this skill to work. Its called , which returns the target to where he was half an hour ago. It is a difficult skill to execute so its a good practice of my concentration in preparation for monster hunt. ”

”There he goes bragging again, ” Elise teases. Jerud blushes. ”Doc, Zeke and Sir Arom are busybodies so I thank you for having the courage to ask them to come here all at once. ”

”Anyway, I need to go now. I still have to train before I go on a quest with my team later. ” Jerud rushes outside and closes the glass door behind him.

After a moment of silence, Elise inquires again. ”So, mister nice guy. Why did you save the girl if she isn part of your party? ”

”I don know. ” Keen answers matter-of-factly. ”I don even know why Im here wasting my time when I still have to collect Release and gather my missing memories. ”

Just as Elise is trying to say more to Keen, the unconscious woman twitches a finger feebly and begins to open her eyes.

”Where…am I? ” her lips are still pale.

”In the infirmary of Guild Hall. ” Elise presses her hand firmly. ”Thank goodness you are awake now. Are you hungry? Ill get some refreshments. ”

The braided blondie heads out without saying a word to Keen.

The feeble woman turns her head in his direction. ”Thank you…for saving me. Im Vi. ”

”Keen. ” He answers briefly.

”You are strong. You were able to save me from that large group of Insane. ” She tries to reach his hand but fails due to loss of strength. ”Were you hurt? ”

”No. But I wasn able to defeat them. I only fled. ” He grits his teeth upon recognizing he is still far too weak and thinking whether he can survive Esprit alone.