After leaving Natalak to his recovery at the RadiantFlames, Sheila, with her curiosity, remembers when Natalak pulls the spear out from his bag. She then plunged Natalak's newly found sword into his bag. What she discovered changed her view of Natalak. She tries to draw the sword back, yet the bag is empty.
Positioning the sack upside down, followed by a restless flapping, hoping that the relic could vomit the items. And while occupied, three knocks can be heard coming from her door.
"Miss Sheila, food is ready." Chifya follows.
Suddenly, the door rapidly swung open. Pulling Chifya into her room, Sheila was reluctant to share what she had learned.
"W-what is it?" Chifya's voice shakes.
"Look," Sheila said, holding and pointing her fingers at the bag.
"Could you give me some clarity regarding that man's bag?"
Quickly, then, Sheila grabs a broom and shows Chifya how his bag swallows anything. Uncontented, she grabs two buckets and feeds them to his bag again.
"You thinking, what I'm thinking?" Sheila breathlessly said.
"Slow down, Sheila, let's not let our emotions get the best of us."
"You do know about this relic, right?"
"Yes, but do you think it's strange for that man without any magic to carry this relic?"
"I'm not sure."
"I suppose we'd best keep our interest for a time; there's no telling what that relic holds. And I suggest we should keep that bag of his a secret." Chifya said, going towards the exit.
"Got it." Sheila nods, placing Natalak's item on a chest,
Following that, Sheila secretly placed a sealing barrier on that chest before she trailed the lady half-elf.
Through the temple of the Radiant Heart, situated near the inner city of Ravalind. The traveller finds himself in a closed room, his eyes wandering over the area. Two windows open, letting the calm breeze enter. The walls were made of stone and wood, through which the exit was, with two green flames burning on a flat chalice plastered on the wall. Only a little moment of his siren relaxation, a thought came to him.
"Fuck my bag!"
Panically, Natalak quickly rummage the room. All he found was his armour; there were no signs of his swords or his relic.
"The hell, did I leave it in that dungeon?"
He paused and let his mind do the reminiscing.
"Ah, I remember those adventurers and that woman. Well, I do remember their name, Sheila, was it? — Fuck I hate going back to that guild. I hope they didn't run off selling my treasures."
He looks at his battered armour and scoffs, "Now what, sorry but have no pouch of money to repair you."
Sensing a presence, Natalak looked back and saw a boy standing on the exit. He looked at his feet and saw that the lad was barefoot.
"Ah, you're awake, Mr."
"W-where am I?"
"You're in the Radiant Heart temple. Stay here, I'll notify the receptionist."
When he returned, the boy saw Natalak wearing his maltreated armour. He gazes back at the lad now holding a tray of milk and bread, along with a small paper. Accepting the boy's offer, he placed it on the table. He didn't quickly gorge on the food; instead, he was more on the paper.
"Um, might I ask brother… do I still need to make a payment to the temple?" His voice cracks in embarrassment.
The boy shakes his head. "The temple's service is free, but you can give donations if you want. I'll be leaving you, mister; I have other patients to attend. And if you're done, you can give that paper to the receptionist, if you want to resume your journey."
"Ah, thank you, brother." Natalak nods.
Once he has gorged on his simple meal, he tries to open the cupboard, hoping there's a penny left forgotten. Though his reason was his items, and luckily enough, there were three coppers.
"Forgive me for my sins."
Gently taking the three without looking as if lessening his guilt, he then quickly pockets them before leaving his room. He glances at the other rooms and sees other old patients in their deathbeds.
Returning the paper to the receptionist—
"Let's see here, your name is Natalak, correct?"
"Yes, that's my name."
"Ah, we've already sent your conditions to your companion's name, Sheila, from the adventurers' guild." The receptionist said, analysing a different type of his documents.
"Yes, that's her."
Little did Natalak know that a truth-seeking orb was hidden under the counter.
"Alright." The receptionist calmly replied, pulling out a small pouch of coins and a map. "Your companions left you a location of their houses."
"Um, what are these coins for? If you don't mind me asking?"
"Ah, that's our temple's gratitude, you did help one of the adventurers in subduing a corrupted force."
Suddenly, Natalak felt really guilty for stealing those three copper pieces.
Showing where the exit is, Natalak hides in a corner and quickly counts what the temple had given him. All in all, there was one silver and twenty coppers.
"Fuck me." Natalak gave a very embarrassing expression.
Swallowing his guilt and embarrassment, Natalak pushed the door open. What he saw was a place filled with glamorous design. It's a marvellous piece of architecture, with different varieties of plants and herbs growing on every side of the temple.
The building was somehow large yet bright inside; light filtered through the ceiling windows, shining down on the plantation. The atmosphere smelled like perfume, not too strong to the nose, just a pure, smooth scent of nature.
Seven people can be seen tending the plantation. The one closest to him was a girl wearing a white robe embroidered with gold strips at the end. She didn't wear any slippers or shoes. Yet Natalak can tell she was somehow used to walking barefoot. She was busy transferring the herbal plant to the other pots.
"Good day, young miss, can you tell me the way to this place?" Natalak implores the girl.
"Follow straight to this path." The girl responds, pointing at the large double door. "There… go left until you see a large red tree. Also, there are four paths. Follow the door that symbolises a fire there you will reach a chamber. If you use the left side door, it will lead you to the exit door."
Natalak can see her hands dirtied by rich black soil. He was more interested in the herbal plant she was tending.
"What's your name, young miss?" Natalak says, sitting in a squat posture.
She didn't hesitate to reply; instead, she quickly said her name.
"Name's Mir." She said with a joyful face.
What he didn't know was that it was Mir's first time having a conversation with people outside. After that, Mir turns away, facing the plants, and goes to collect the leaves. Natalak can tell she was happy to have a conversation.
"Mir eh… You can call me Natalak." Natalak smiled, drawing his hand for a shake.
Mir looks at Natalak, and Natalak shakes his hand too.
"Nice to meet you, too, Mr Natalak." She smiles.
"Mir it is then. Kindly tell me something about these flowers?" Natalak follows, picking a similar flower she had gathered.
"They're not flowers, this one is called Elven Shade," Mir says, picking the flower that she collected from the basket.
Natalak wanted to ask Mir about the plants. Their effects, their cure, and how to create a potion using them. Unexpectedly, Natalak then remembers his relics and Sheila.
Just before Natalak could say farewell to her, Mir stood up.
"Oh, I forgot. I had some things to deliver too. I can show you the way."
"Well, I'm in your care then." Natalak sigh in relief, he doesn't really grasp the direction Mir gave.
"Wait… let me grab my things first." Mir halts, going towards one large pot, and there she pulls a bloated satchel.
The moment Mir opens her satchel, she scans for something. He caught a glimpse of her belongings; they were full of papers and books. As she carefully searched the bag, Mir brought out a white-brown envelope. It wasn't slim; it holds dozens of compressed letters. After that, she puts the plump envelope in her satchel, mixing it with the different varieties of herbs. Curiously, Natalak was very interested in Mir's herbal knowledge.
While Mir and Natalak walk in the corridor full of flowers, roots, mushrooms and some glowing plants are planted at every corner of the room.
"Mir, can you tell me about this plant?" Natalak said. Showing her the one that he took.
A purple-colored flower, it had an aromatic smell that somehow stimulates his brain whenever Natalak sniffs it. The leaf was star-shaped and had a few purple dots. At a glance, Mir can already tell the plant's variety.
"Ah, that one. We called it the Florida Dream. Don't inhale it too much, it makes you hallucinate."
"FloridDream…" Natalak says, somewhat curious as he again sniffs it harder.
He looked at Mir and saw she was awkwardly gawking at him.
"Is there something the matter?"
Mire rummages through his satchel and pulls out a peculiar leaf. "Here, put this on your tongue and don't swallow it. That Florid Dream must have already addicted your mind."
Fair enough, the leaf did reset his brain. But the taste was a mixture of bitter and menthol, biting his tongue. As they move, the leaf would dissolve, leaving no traces.
"What do these have?" He continues, plucking another plant.
"Purple Mountains... It can restore a little of your stamina. Also, some people used this to make tea to resist the icy cold at the mountain tops when gathering some ingredients. But using it too much gives you its bad effect."
"I see… this is like drugs then… You sure know a lot about this plant. Are you perhaps an alchemist?" Natalak said.
"Not really, learning different varieties of plants is the basic foundation of an Alchemist. I'm more of a herbalist."
"Ah, I see." Natalak nods.
After walking another 20 meters, they reach another room. Sitting at the centre of the chamber, there was a peculiar tree surrounded by pure, clear water. It was no ordinary tree; the leaves were indeed reddish, reflecting the light of the sun. Somehow, there is a faint ember that sometimes emerges through every part of the tree, including its leaves. And at its base, different fertile plants grow with the tree. It was another majestic sight.
"What is this tree?"
"What, you didn't know this?"
"Well… ah, the truth is…" Natalak says, scratching his cheeks.
"This tree, it is known to be the Tree of Azarus. During that time, Azarus fell deeply in love with an incredibly beautiful human; not only was her beauty what attracted him, but also all of her. As for the rules of the gods, well… it was forbidden to mingle with the life mortals. So Azarus had to secretly leave their realm for him to see her, using Althiranii's oldest trick." Mir said, looking around for a bench to sit.
Fascinated by her storytelling, Natalak follows her, sitting and waiting for Mir to continue.
"Um, do continue with that story," Natalak spoke, seconds of no continuation.
"Want some?" Mir offers him half a slice of cake.
Still hungry, he kindly accepts her offer. From that moment on, there was silent as the two peacefully ate their fill. Swaying her legs, while she calmly piece by piece consumes the cake. As for Natalak, he could have swallowed the whole cake in seven bites, but watching the lass shows discipline; he respects her rhythm.
Following their simple meal, Mir then continues her stories.
"So… what became of them?" Natalak said, looking at the Florida Dream.
"All was lost, but she was able to save her child from the prince."
"And her?"
"The prince killed her. For Azarus grieve, he turns his body into a tree, and that became the legend of this tree." Mir continues.
"Ah, so the legend says that this tree is her?"
"You could say that, though what became of her son was a mystery. Some say it was Faravish himself."
"Faravish?"
Mir nods, and what follows is another of her stories. And Natalak couldn't help but be allured by her storytelling.