Shangri La Pt. 1

36: Priming

"Ah– There you are, Izumi. Did you have any trouble leaving the palace grounds?" Zeri asked as she watched the greenette approaching her in the city. 

"No, since I know a secret passage to leave the palace grounds, I didn't have anyone notice me leave." 

"I see, that's good, just make sure no one will spot you when we return later." 

"Mn. I will keep that in mind." 

'I still can't believe this is actually happening, Zeri is going to teach me medicine!'

( Flashback! )

After a long day of working and cleaning, Izumi was exhausted from how much she'd been walking. Her feet ached with each and every step and all she wanted to do was go straight to sleep. 

'I'm just glad the Great Pisces gave me the rest of the night off, I haven't walked around the palace grounds this much in one day for a really long time. I need a good rest and I'll be refreshed in the–' 

"You seem to be physically drained." 

"Hm? Ah–" 

As she slowly lifted her head to see who spoke such words, Izumi wasn't expecting to find a certain doctor waiting for her arrival in the shed. 

"Ack! Z-Zeri?!?" 

"Oh good, you're not too tired that you can't recognize me, that's important." 

"Wha– What're you doing in here?" 

"I was going to wait for you to enter the temple since I'm close to the Great Pisces, but then I was told that you'd been working all day and that you were exhausted, so I came here and waited for you." Zeri explained.

"O-Okay... But why are you here?" 

"Right, I suppose you would be curious about that, but first I must ask if you would be willing to wake up before Sunrise?" 

"Eh? Before Sunrise? I am a morning person, so any time is alright." 

"Good, then that means you will be meeting me in the city tomorrow morning before Sunrise." Zeri answered. 

"Oh okay... Wait– What?!?! But why?!?" 

"I'm sure you remember our little conversation we had when we had to heal a certain Captain not too long ago, yes?" 

"I-I do." 

"Then I'm sure you remember that I said I could teach you medicine since your powers have yet to come, right?" 

"Ah– Then that means–" 

"Yes, I will be taking you out with me outside of the city and will teach you medicine."

And without warning her, Izumi ran up to the doctor and hugged her tightly while jumping up and down. 

"Really?!?! Do you mean it?!?! Oh– I'm so excited now!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!" the greenette cheered. 

"Geez, no need to thank me yet when I haven't even done anything." 

"R-Right, sorry, but thank you for giving me the chance! So does that mean you'll be teaching me all day?" 

"Not exactly, I'll be teaching you until noon–if not sooner. I'm expecting some old friends to be coming here some time tomorrow, and that means I need to be in the temple with the Great Pisces before they arrive." 

"Oh I see, then I will do my best. I-I'm a fast learner, so anything you teach me, I will drill it in my head!" 

"Very well then. That's all I wanted to tell you, so just meet me at the entrance of the city gates before Sunrise tomorrow."