Two doors.

The first led to a tiny entryway enough for two people... like a mudroom.

Or a decompression chamber.

When the first door closed, a shiny key was produced. Burping, the frizzy oddity shoved Daire aside to unlock the door in front of them.

"Come."

It was pristine, like entering an entirely new world. The walls were made of bright white marble clean as mirrors. Sealed cabinets, a polished granite slab, moveable carts with tools neatly spread out. It looked like a medieval rendition of a 21st-century operation room.

Daire's suspicions were immediately confirmed.

"Sit on that table. We need those bandages off."

At the doctor's word, Daire performed a little hop onto the thick granite table. Removing his shirt, he tried not to irritate the wounds further.

The doctor set down his bottle and was checking a few drawers when Daire spoke.

"Name's Daire. May I know yours?"

Not glancing up from his rifling.

"Strickles."

"Nice, to make your acquaintance."

Strickles grabbed what he needed and wheeled the moveable cart closer. Neatly separating out some tools and gauze, he clutched a vibrant green leaf and shoved it into Daire's mouth.

"Chew on that."

Daire did. It tasted fruity. The pain dulled significantly.

Strickles began carefully unwrapping the bandages. Daire looked on absently at his destroyed arm. It was a mixture of yellow, white, and red. His finger burnt black, topping off the nauseating color pallette. It felt like he wasn't looking at his arm but someone else's through a tv screen.

Strickles winced. Not a good sign.

"This is magical, isn't it?"

Daire thought he saw a gruff, gray unicorn looking at him in the corner. It grinned at him—with human teeth.

Daire gently bobbed his head.

"Played with Fire. Fire played back. Ouch. Stupid."

"Indeed..."

The doctor washed Daire's arm, getting rid of the pus and blood that had been leaking. Luckily, Daire couldn't feel his toes so it didn't hurt.

Strickles began cutting away at dead flesh using an obsidian scalpel. The areas became tender and inflamed but returned to a less horrifying skin tone.

Strickles pinched an orange powder in his hand and blew it onto Daire's arm, causing the color to change to blue on contact. Daire wasn't sure of the veracity of this procedure, too fascinated by the noise his teeth made when he clacked them together.

Giggling, he didn't comprehend how his arm flashed rave colors when Strickles applied a type of salve. Maybe that was his imagination. Either way, it got covered up again, wrapped by new and fresh bandages.

"It is nice to meet a fellow scientist."

Strickles stiffed. The unicorn gnawing on his head.

"You're a scientist?"

Daire shook his head.

"OF course! the pursuit of science, leads... huc. to new horizons."

Strickles jaw hit the ceiling in an expression of surprise. The smiling stars tried to smack his jaw like a whack-a-mole.

"Here."

Daire felt a new leaf enter his mouth. Chewing absently.

After about five minutes, Daire returned to his senses. Horrified that the grinning unicorn was trying to ride him. Eternally grateful that didn't happen, he addressed the doctor.

"I am not a fan."

Strickles was chewing on his own leaf.

"Really? I think the flying fish are funny. Their puns were horrible at first, but they grew on me... Anyway. You said you were a scientist. Were you serious, or was that the leaf talking?"

Examining his arm, he felt no pain as he stretched it, the bandages conforming and not limiting his movement. To his pleasant surprise, the claw marks on his other arm were also fully healed, the stitches he painstakingly made were removed.

When did that happen?

Moving both arms to test their range of motion he answered the doctor.

"I believe in science and the pursuit of knowledge. I was conducting experiments with magic. In particular, the element of Fire.

"And how'd that work out for ya?"

He ceased spinning his arms to glare pointedly.

"It was going so well that I got carried away. I managed to get it under control and not die, but it was closer than I would like to admit."

Strickles rocked back, balancing the chair on two legs.

"So?"

Munch and chew.

"What did you find out?"

Daire put his shirt back on sighed through his nose.

"Fire is incredibly impressionable. It listens to almost any command, yet it can't understand anything complex. Telling it to burn hotter, or longer, or to heal instead of destroying was elementary. But when I asked it if it wanted to stay for a while, the Fire was confused as to what I wanted. So it carried out my wish in the only way it knew how..."

Pause.

"By eating me."

"It is logical from a child's perspective."

Daire continued.

"Stopping it while on fire was difficult. Ordering it to slumber while literally burning to death was not the easiest thing I've ever done. I'd rather not wake it up.

Strickles looked like he wanted a pipe to smoke but was left with only a leaf to chew on.

"I don't study magic myself. I prefer to find ways to get by without it. With practically everyone using magic these days, people will become too reliant on it. The church and the kingdom are too closed-minded. They don't like anything different or new. Anything they can't control."

His gestures indicated strong undercurrents of struggle.

Daire waved to encompass Strickles' entire appearance.

"I knew the act as soon as I saw it. Are scientists not treated well here?"

A raised eyebrow.

"Nearly anywhere in Meist, and even Shen, scientists are treated as blasphemers or idiots who don't understand the world. Tch. Even when that is our very purpose. "

Waving his hands around the room while sulking in his seat.

"Why do you think I have to hide my practice like this? Have you not come across the discrimination?"

"I think I understand. And, no, you are the first I admitted this to, and I don't openly practice it. I come from a place where science is the norm and magic is considered fiction."

Crossing his arms, continuing to chew on a leaf stem.

"How nice. And I assume this place is off-limits to outsiders."

"In a manner of speaking. Yes."

Strickles was in the midst of rolling his eyes when Daire continued.

"But I have a way around that."

Strickles stood bolt upright, letting his chair fall backward with a clatter.

"WHAT! What are you saying? That there are others like us?"

Daire held up his hands, slowing him down.

I didn't expect THAT reaction.

"Hold on, hold on. let me explain."

Daire bit his lip, trying to figure out the right course of action. Strickles reminded him of some of his favorite story and pop culture characters. The impression was favorable, and the fact that he treated Daire's wounds so completely and without requesting any remuneration as of yet...

He thought of a way to word his argument.

"I have a personal library containing knowledge regarding multiple scientific areas of study. It contains everything from biology, to chemistry, to physics, and branches off in more directions that one can feasibly imagine."

Daire looked around the room for another moment.

"I assume you are most interested in biology, focusing on zoology and botany. Have you studied microbiology yet?

The leaf in Strickles' mouth fell, his jaw slack. He walked over to a cabinet and grabbed a different leaf, chewing on it.

About two minutes later, he spoke again in a graver tone.

"My ears weren't playing tricks on me, were they? Can you repeat that?"

Daire did.

Strickles vibrated, his goggles slipping down his face.

"Microbiology! As in the minute particles that are too small for normal vision to pick up? I found clues that might suggest such a thing, but I never thought..."

Strickles passed to and fro, talking to himself more than to Daire.

"I knew there was something smaller. Blood can't just be a liquid like water; otherwise, we could substitute one for the other. There has to be more to it! What makes up a liquid. Each drop... No, even smaller? You said "micro," didn't you? I assume that is a prefix regarding something of a mass or mode smaller than a pinpoint. I've tried getting a glimpse of that world, modifying lenses, and attempting to create goggles that could enhance vision. Magic would surely make it easier, but that would sully the whole process! Accursed mages think everything is made up of pixie dust."

"Ah, pixie dust isn't real, Violet told me as much."

"Huh? Oh! Right. I forgot. There is an actual pixie out there..."

Strickles slicked back his receding hairline, it wasn't clean, but he looked considerably more refined.

"Anyway, it's not just Microbiology? You said zoology and botany. Botany refers to herbs, so I presume zoology discusses anatomy, skeletal structure, blood circulation, living creatures' health, etc. If there is even more..."

Daire watched quietly as Stickles mulled over the possibilities. Stickles was wrong or mistaken in a few areas, but Daire wouldn't nitpick.

"You have books regarding all these topics?

"Books? The information is in a written form. It is in a safe, isolated location. I figure this would be the best way to repay you for treating my arm and as goodwill towards a fellow."

Daire cast the bait and caught a live one. He just needed to reel it in.

"I can share them all with you. Most of them are above my head to comprehend and would take too much time to study personally. I prefer pursuing magic anyway. Are you open to moving shop?"

Strickles looked down at his one shoe, then glanced around the room. All his supplies, equipment, and things were here.

Daire added.

"I don't have any tools. Just the knowledge."

Strickles lifted his chair back up, taking a seat and resuming to gnaw on his new leaf.

"I don't get many patrons or visitors these days that aren't trying to vandalize my property. So moving shop to study wouldn't really hinder me."

"We have land, and I can build you a personalized workshop or bunker since I am experienced in Earth magic. The only ones around would be me, Violet, the pixie I came in with, and numerous docile animals."

Daire should really wait to ask Violet's permission first, but Daire thought he could make things work by digging a cellar/laboratory outside the grove. Willow seems to prevent people from entering willy nilly. Stickles is the recluse type, too. There would likely be little interaction other than business and career curiosity.

Daire would have to get more comfortable with the man before allowing him complete access to his and Violet's home. Inviting people he just met to his only hideout and safe haven was a fucking ridiculous move.

Yet, he needed a doctor.

Realizing that he was moving a bit fast, he decided to slow things down a bit. He needed to have a chat with Violet.

We also need to name our home. Do we simply call it "home"? Ah, forget it; we'll decide all that later. Right now is the deal.

"What are you getting out of this? I refuse to believe there isn't a practical reason for you trying to poach me."

Daire wasn't sure if he could poach someone who didn't belong to an organization but let that point pass.

"I need a healer. But not for me."

Strickles eyed Daire with suspicion.

"I'm no necromancer. I don't bring people back from the dead."

Chuckling, Daire thought about how he technically could revive the dead, given the right conditions. Daire waved a hand, refuting the idea.

"No, they won't be dead. I am not sure the exact condition they will be in when I reach them, but I can't trust a random healer or pay an exorbitant fee. I don't have the time to search for anyone better. And seeing your setup and how you treated my wounds first-hand? I doubt there is anyone better anyway."

Strickles is quack, but a good quack.

"This is a good opportunity for us both to benefit. I can give you new knowledge, a safe haven, and a place to work on experiments unhindered. You can expand your craft in peace, and I can have a doctor on retainer for emergencies. You won't find a better deal."

Strickles combed his frazzled hair back a second time and stroked his beard, chewing on something other than his leaf. Stickles's eyebrows were furrowed as if confused.

"This is all well and good. But we barely know each other. What do you even do?"

"I am a trader."

"Of course you are! With that pitch, I would be gobsmacked if you weren't. Turning an emergency into profit... pff."

Strickles spat out his leaf and stood back up.

"I won't make a decision right now. You seem like a decent person, and the offer is very generous. Once I get to know you a bit more, I will decide."

Daire smiled pleasantly.

"That's reasonable. I was thinking the same thing. For now, I can pay you with meat. I noticed you were eating gruel earlier? A full belly of protein will do the doctor good?"

"Hah. Fine. Since you are offering, sure."

They both shook hands. Daire rubbed his stubble.

"Say, you are a barber too, right?"

=

Daire walked out of the back room with his back straight, a new man. He felt amazing. He wasn't sure exactly what Strickles did to him, but he felt like a million bucks. Emmy and Violet were sitting on the far wall, talking. Upon his exit, Violet flew up from her seat with a worried expression.

Her gaze kept flickering from place to place, looking for signs.

"Did everything go okay?"

Daire beamed widely. Twirling his arms and clapping twice before pointing a thumb to the doctor behind him.

"I'm good as new. Strickles here is the best doctor I've ever seen."

Violet had a relieved expression, but Emmy seemed to boggle and had her mouth hanging open for all to see.

"You'll catch flies like that little girl."

Emmy jaw clamped shut. Thankfully her jaw didn't unhinge... That would be unsettling. Strickles seemed quite alright with both Violet and Emmy being of different races. Nor was he bothered by the fact that Daire just spilled his beans.

"We worked out a deal in the back. We'll pay him with a rabbit now, and the rest will come later. I'm having him clean up this infuriating stubble real quick for a few coppers, and then we can get on our way. Did you two work out a path?"

Emmy still seemed out of it, reverting back to her nervous self.

"Umm. Yeah. I mean. Yes. We did. We'll stop by to see Miss Leecy, the tailor, first. Since she is closest."

"Awesome. Thanks, Emmy. You getting us here so early was a good move. Remind me to cook you an extra rabbit later this evening."

Emmy's tail started bouncing.

"Ah. No. You don't have to. I mean... If you insist."

She was trying to hide her drool.

Daire smirked at how easy it was to read her.

Strickles removed a pair of razors and wrapped a towel around Daire.

"I thought you said you sold rabbits; do you cook them too?"

Violet answered this time as Daire was getting his beard trimmed.

"We planned to sell them whole, but when we went out for lunch yesterday, we realized Daire cooked better than all the stalls on the street. So we set up a stall. Everyone really enjoyed them."

Violet blushed slightly, thinking back.

"Oh, how much gold do you sell them for?"

Violet cocked her head.

"We don't charge gold. They are twenty a meal."

"Twenty silvers!"

"Wow, that is cheap."

Emmy shared a look with the doctor.

Violet correcting herself.

"Excuse me. I meant twenty coppers."

"TWENTY COPPERS!?"

Strickles and Emmy shouted in sync.

Daire was just glad that his throat wasn't cut.

Emmy spoke first.

"You sell meat for only twenty coppers? That is like selling diamonds for silver coins!"

"You could probably sell a whole rabbit for about twenty gold at the right shop. Over a hundred if you had two that could copulate."

Violet looked back and forth, unsure of what to say. She just learned about money yesterday. Was there such a large discrepancy?

Daire interjected between cuts.

"We weren't selling them to make money necessarily. One reason was for me to compete with another stall.."

Daire thought of that rat-man.

"The second reason is that we were selling to a demographic that couldn't afford spending gold. Since we supply the rabbits ourselves, we can set our own price."

"But, then, how do you still have any rabbits left."

Violet spoke since Daire became indisposed again.

"We limited three meals per person. Most only had one meal or could only afford one. Daire spread out three-four meals per rabbit, so we still have plenty."

"People must have gone mad."

"Trinket was acting as bodyguard."

"Trinket?"

Strickles asked.

"The black bear pulling our cart."

"Oh."

Strickles glanced at the bear head mounted above the back door with a grimace.

After finishing, Strickles removed the towel with a flourish, and Daire stood grandly.

"It's likely things won't go as smoothly as last night after word spreads. We will stick to first-come-first-serve. You should come later too, Doc. I'll save one for you."

"I will have to if it's just twenty coppers."

"Thanks for the trim. I will grab you a rabbit for yourself. We will be in town for a few more days once our rabbits run out. I will need an answer by then."

"I will think on it."

Daire led the others out of the building. He walked out to see Trinket licking his rear. The black bear looked up for a moment but quickly returned to business.

Resolutely ignoring that Trinket's tongue had twice been in his mouth, Daire went to retrieve a rabbit. Carrying it by the scruff of its neck, he delivered it to Strickles post-haste.

Rubbing his hands together, Strickles received the rabbit with a cackle.

"I can't wait to open you up!"

The poor thing stiffened as it seemed to understand what was happening.

He doesn't seem to be acting anymore... I suppose this is another side to the man.

Daire thought it suited the mad scientist vibe.

"Alright. Hopefully, we will see you later, if you aren't busy..."

Daire looked pitifully at the rabbit.

Strickles just cackled some more before closing the door.

"Okay then. That is over. Shall we head to the tailor then?

Daire put his hands on his hips, addressing the ladies, plus Trinket.

Emmy seemed to come back from a trance. She had been staring at the door the doctor disappeared behind. Violet was in a similar state, although slightly more subdued.

"Sure. Um. This way."

Daire was chipper as he followed after, beaming at Violet. Strolling along, side by side.