The Survivors of Loktus

Chapter 3: The Apothecary

Chapter 3: The Apothecary

    All Ked wanted to do when he got back home was to play. To have some distraction. Who wants to do work after spending 8-10 hours in school working? 

    "I'm still dressed like this. It is so embarrassing but I have no clothes to change into," Ked thought. Immediately when he came home and walked up the stairs to the second floor, his grandmother was in the kitchen with the stove still on. The bathroom was right across the front door so right after he unlocked the door, he burst into the bathroom, taking in his large bookbag. 

    "I'll shower first and luckily I always keep my towel in the bathroom. It won't seem suspicious if I come out with in my bathrobe and towel." Ked quickly stuffed that suit and dress shoe into his bag before stepping into the tub. 

    Approximately 10 minutes later, his plan succeeded and he was in a fresh clean t-shirt and shorts. 

    "Eat before you start playing," his grandmother called. She expected him to arrive home at this time and made some dim sum. Ked gulped down the food with a cup of milk. Noticing that Ked was in a new set of clothes, she figured that her grandson must have thrown the dirty clothes into the laundry bin. At last, Ked logged on to play the game. 

    "The laundry bin is empty," his grandmother inquired, "He must have thrown it somewhere on the floor again."
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    There was no longer a crowd of people outside the starter's ground. Instead the buzzing from the streets a few blocks ahead could be heard like loud murmurs . Only the old man was there, and his impatience was getting the better of him. Before Ked had the chance to walk up to him, the old man was in front of him.   

    “I don’t have anymore bread,” said the old man. “Take this instead.”  

    The old man gave him his gift, wrapped in a coarse cloth. Inside there were three pieces of wrapped candy bars. 

    “I’m not a child,” Ked replied. His stomach growled and he felt his satiety dropping. He swiped the three candy bars from the old man, peeled the wrapper off and chewed on the nutty caramel conglomeration. It tasted sweet and delicious too. 

    “I’m glad you like it. There's a nice lady over there on the very edge of town, on the other side of the famous Magic Institute. If you want more Kid, she makes the best treat.” The old man pointed off in the direction of the hubbub of the madding crowd and resumed his position again on the platform, having completed his duty. 

    It was only the second day, and there were still several institutions recruiting to train new members. 

    The Liberal Arts institutions attracted many newcomers with their sonorous speeches, singing, appealing music, expressive poems, paintings and solemn sculptures. Ked had no artistic skills and gave up any hope to excel in the arts. 

    Then there was the military. Most of recruits were compelled by the glory of war and battle, following the codes of chivalry, honor, loyalty, and brotherhood. There was the Magic Institute that attracted a particular large group.

    In a small section, on the outskirt of the Magic District, in a dilapidated house, a woman in her forties resided for many years. Her cures are as ancient as the passing of traditions, but she lived in the Magic District isolated from the other mages. Her house used to be the place to treat ailing patients, treating myriads of illnesses, her herbal medicine miraculously effective.

    She was not an NPC hower, but the mother of a developer. She given birth to a genius at a young age, and volunteered to be a beta tester years ago. She was alone often in real life while her son worked on his programming, so she often spent time treating other beta players. She understood the game fairly well, but she never left the city. Nevertheless, her accomplishments cannot be looked down upon for she contributed greatly to the recipes and crafts. Without her, a whole section worth of  knowledge in the field of magic; even the magic pots and glass bottles would have taken a complete different form if she didn’t set the standards.