Darla, no longer able to resist, dashed through the barn gates, straight into Olga's side and began nibbling on the carrots in her palm. Olga laughed softly, patting the mare's mane before pulling out an extra carrot she'd hidden in her pocket.

"She's such a sweet girl," Olga murmured. "Where did you find her?"

Stephen didn't answer. The mention of the Mage Knights had already set off every alarm in his head. All he could think about now was getting away from here with Tello, but with Gila still tied to a bed, how the hell was he supposed to do that?

"Umm... can I back out if it's not too late?" Stephen asked.

Olga didn't hear him over Darla's eager neighs. She just kept talking, smiling faintly as she stroked the horse's nose.

"I know it might sound odd, but I can speak to animals. Not literally, of course," she said. "But when I look at these magnificent creatures... it's almost like I can see their pasts... and whenever I look at her, I see such a happy life... followed by such a horrid one."

Stephen turned to Darla, watching her chew through the last of the carrot.

"I'm assuming you weren't the one treating her badly, since she saved you earlier," Olga continued. "But do you know who it was? I'd like to give them a piece of my fist."

"No... I don't." Stephen said quietly. "It was probably a noble couple, now that I think about it... but I couldn't say for sure."

"I see." Olga gave Darla one last pat. "Well, perhaps it's for the best. She's safe now, anyway."

"Yeah..."

Olga smiled, then shook her head. "Sorry, I get too caught up with my animals sometimes. You said something earlier?"

"Yeah. It's about the job you offered me." Stephen scratched the back of his neck. "I didn't hear the part about being the medic before I agreed. To avoid embarrassing you or Gaolei, I think it'd be better if you went yourself."

"Don't sweat it. It's only for necessities, since the guild passed a rule for knight groups not to go without a medic. You know, life preservation and all that," she explained. "You won't actually need to heal them. You'll probably just hold their bags, if anything."

"But they're still Mage Knights, no?" Stephen waved both hands. "With how important they are to the city, I wouldn't want an event where they get hurt and all I can do is watch—"

"Oh, don't sweat it!" She tapped his shoulder with her spit-soaked palm. Darla's spit. "They're Mage Knights. Nothing's going wrong, and nothing can go wrong since this is just an escort mission."

"No. I insist!" Stephen said. "I'm going in your place. I wouldn't want to embarrass you—"

"And I'm telling you not to worry," she sighed. "You'll probably end up healing the enemy before you heal them. Also... now that I think about it, they're not Mage Knights yet, I guess. It's more like... they're in training."

"Hm?" Stephen muttered.

Was this safe then? If they were Mage Knights in training, then they definitely couldn't have been Vivi or Hara. Still... the odds of them showing up as mentors for the trainees were not zero.

"Even still, you know..." Stephen was running out of ways to get out of this. Olga was unnecessarily persistent.

He raised his arm, planning to slowly back away, but just as he did, his elbow flared with pain. The same spot Vivi's bullet had hit.

Stephen winced, louder than it actually hurt, of course.

"I don't feel good enough to do it. Like... my head and arms hurt really bad!

"Hm? You healed pretty well, though," Olga replied. "But I guess not. Is it really that bad?"

"Yes, it is." Stephen fell to his knees, holding his head, chest, arms, legs, any part that might sell the pain. "It could be internal..."

"I guess so," Olga muttered. "I doubt Go checked for any internal bleeding."

"Yeah, he probably didn't," Stephen said quickly.

"That's a shame... I guess I'll have to find someone else for the Mage Knights, then." Olga sighed. "Go's busy... who else could I call?"

"When do they get here." Tello barged into their conversation, his voice coming from the entrance to the main building.

They both turned back as he walked in closer.

"I heard your conversation," Tello said. "Can I go instead?"

"Oh... they'll probably arrive soon. We scheduled for early today," she said, then paused as she fully processed his words. "Wait.. you want to go?"

"Yes," Tello responded. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, no. It works." She nodded. "But why? What's the point of doing it? Or is it just the money? Because if it is, I'd say it's better to stay by her for the time being."

"I want to pay off our debts... it's the least I can do," Tello said. "Also, they're Mage Knights who have been trained and taught by the finest of the finest... one of them might know how to save Gila."

"I see." Olga folded her arms and nodded. "Very admirable."

"Wait..." Stephen said, but neither of them listened.

"I can arrange for the both of you to be paid then," Olga added. "I'll tell them it's a two-in-one deal, that way they're forced to accept."

"Thank you for that," Tello said.

"Wait... we're both hurt, we can't—"

Stephen tried lying, anything to get out of doing this. But just as he started, the sound of wheels spinning across grass reached his ears, followed by a burst of mana.

A carriage stopped just short of the small gate leading into the main barn and house. All three of them stood there, watching as two women stepped out. They wore identical white robes, the only other color being the gold crosses embroidered on their chests.

They walked across the long, acre-wide field, stopping only a few feet away.

The shorter one spoke first, clearing her throat.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but this is the Go Pharmacy, right?"

"Yes, it is," Olga replied.

"Is the medic we ordered ready yet?"

"Unfortunately not. I have a horrible wound on my person. If not, I would've accompanied you myself, but never fret, I have replace—"

The Mage Knight interrupted. "I don't see any wound."

Olga paused, then quickly continued. "It's internal bleeding, it's really bad."

Stephen squinted at Olga, watching as she shamelessly stole his lie to get out of following them.

The Mage Knight sighed. "I see. I guess we'd better find another medic then, Sully."

"Wait!" Olga shouted, pointing behind her. "These are my students. I've been teaching them for nearly two years now, they should be ready to accompany you to the field."

"Hm?" The Mage Knight turned back. "We only need one."

"That isn't possible. They come as a package deal," Olga replied. "They'll cover for what the other doesn't remember or doesn't know how to do."

"We don't exactly have the pay for two medics right now—"

"It's fine!" Olga said quickly. "They're a package deal through and through. They can share the pay!"

"I see..."

Both Mage Knights exchanged a look, one more dull than the other. Then the first one sighed again.

"Alright. We're already running late." She turned, the sword on her hip swinging to the side. "Let's go."

Stephen hadn't seen either of them before, nor the insignia on their chests. That meant each country likely had its own Mage Knight division, and while that cleared up half his worries...

If he'd been deemed a national threat, and news of his face and name had spread, getting in an enclosed carriage with them would be the worst decision possible.

"You know..." Stephen keeled over. "I'm feeling really sick... maybe I shouldn't have eaten all that rice earlier, it's really messing with my—"

"You can take a dump on the road," the Mage Knight said flatly, never turning back. "Now hustle! We don't have all day."

Tello walked past him, already trailing behind them.

Stephen could only stand there, searching for words to get them out of this... but none came. And before long, both he and Tello were sitting at the back of the horse-drawn carriage, surrounded by Mage Knights he could only hope wouldn't recognize him.

"What Have I gotten myself into?"

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