Cassian stood before the city gates, cursing his luck and the goddess who had sent him into this world. The weight of his misfortune pressed on his chest, threatening to crush him. He had tried to get through the gates, to start anew, but the guard had turned him away for lack of an ID. He didn't even have the means to pay the toll. How had his life come to this?
His hands clenched at his sides as he muttered under his breath, "What kind of world is this, and why did I end up here?"
Just as he was about to give up and turn away, a calm and sweet voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.
"Are you the one who wants a job here?"
Cassian's head snapped up, and his eyes locked onto the source of the voice.
A beautiful woman stood before him. She had flowing blonde hair that shimmered in the light, and her deep, black eyes held an air of tranquility. She wore a silver priestess dress, adorned with a simple cross pendant on her neck and small cross-shaped earrings to match. Her serene presence was enough to make Cassian forget his frustration for a moment.
"Yes, yesterday I got my class as a healer, so I thought I'd try to work in a city to support my family," Cassian explained hesitantly, unsure if she would even listen to him.
The woman's gaze softened. "Hmm, I see. Come with me, I will help you."
Cassian felt a wave of relief wash over him. "But I don't have the money to pay for the ID," he quickly added, worried she might change her mind.
The woman shook her head with a small smile. "We don't take tolls from healers in any city. You can get a new ID later," she assured him, already turning to walk away without a second glance.
The guard, still standing by the gate, spoke up with a dismissive tone, "Didn't you hear? We don't ask healers for tolls."
Cassian's eyes widened, and without wasting another moment, he rushed after the woman, his heart racing. "Run, run! Don't make her wait, she'll give me a job!" he muttered under his breath as he hurried to catch up with her.
But in his excitement, he accidentally stumbled into two adventurers—both tall, muscular men who were carrying swords.
"Hey, boy! Are you blind?" one of them growled.
"Can't you look ahead?" the other snapped.
Cassian froze, his body feeling the familiar tension. His body refused to let him retaliate or even speak harshly. He could only bow his head deeply, apologizing, his voice soft. "Sorry, I was just a bit excited because I'm going to get my job as a healer."
The moment the word "healer" left his lips, the adventurers' eyes hardened, and they exchanged a knowing look.
"So, you're a healer, huh?" one of them asked, voice dripping with disdain.
Cassian felt his heart sink. He quickly tried to downplay it. "Actually, I don't know any healing spells yet, so I can't really say I'm a healer just yet."
The adventurer snorted, clearly uninterested. "I see. A new healer, huh? Why are you so nervous?"
"Yeah," the other one added. "If you become a bad healer, I'll personally make you straighten up."
Cassian laughed nervously, trying to keep his composure. "I'll be a good and honest healer."
"You better remember that, boy," they warned him, then turned and walked off, their swords swaying ominously at their sides.
As the two adventurers disappeared into the crowd, Cassian let out a sigh of relief, muttering, "Phew, that was close."
The woman with blonde hair, still walking ahead, didn't seem concerned at all. "It wasn't a big deal," she said without breaking her stride.
"But they had swords," Cassian murmured, his voice filled with concern. "That's not common where I come from."
"Don't worry," she said calmly. "With me here, no one can harm you."
Grateful for her reassurance, Cassian quickened his pace, catching up to her. "Can I ask your name, miss?" he asked, hoping to ease his nerves.
"Silvia," she answered simply, glancing at him with a kind smile.
"Hello, Miss Silvia. I'm Cassian. Where are we going now?" he asked.
"To the Healer's Guild," she replied. "You need to register and work as an official healer."
Cassian's curiosity bubbled up. "Okay, but can I ask you something else?"
"Hmm, sure," she answered.
"Why don't they take tolls from healers?" Cassian asked. "Are they special?"
Silvia nodded. "Yes, healers are considered special. They have the ability to save lives, and the Church grants them this right."
Cassian thought for a moment before asking another question. "Then why do people hate them? Even in my village, people spoke badly about healers."
Silvia's expression grew slightly more serious. "Well, some healers become greedy and charge excessive amounts for their healing services. If someone can't afford it, they might even force them to sign a slave contract," she explained. "But slavery is banned here, so they have to find other ways to take advantage of people."
Cassian nodded slowly, his understanding deepening. "I see."
They walked in silence for a while before Cassian spoke again. "But there must be a reason why they charge so much. I mean, I don't think they'd do it for no reason..."
Silvia didn't answer right away, and Cassian didn't push her to. He was still processing the harsh reality of being a healer in this world.
After about thirty minutes, they finally arrived at the Healer's Guild.
It was a beautiful building—four floors high, painted in a pristine white, with golden accents that gleamed in the sunlight. At the top, a large cross symbol stood proudly as a reminder of the Church's influence.
Silvia stopped in front of the door, stretching her arms as if welcoming him. She turned, smiling at him. "Welcome to the Healer's Guild."
To be continued...