Distributed Regret: Promised Autonomy

Chapter 1: Doctor's Complaints

Romaric Witherlens was a 27 year old doctor who has a very low reputation due to his past crimes as an illegal gambler.

Though he only did it for his younger brother who was suffering from a cardiac condition.

Little did others know, he had potential in understanding other species' anatomy and capabilities just by feeling their pulse's speed and rhythmic pattern.

One early morning at 2, he was burnt out from various paper works for his patients' whereabouts and current conditions.

As the room was dead quiet, the silence was interrupted by the ringing tone on Romaric's phone.

he picked it up "hello?" He said, groaning in frustration but trying to hide it as an attempt to be welcoming.

"Is this Mr. Witherlens?" A man said through the other side of the phone.

"Uhm.. Yes, who is this?.." Romaric asked with slight confusion and hesitation, regarding the time this person called.

"You may refer to me as..."

Before Romaric and the man could strike a proper conversation ,they were interrupted when Valerion, Romaric's younger brother, entered the room

"I'll call you later, Sir, just send me the matter at hand through text, thank you" Romaric hung up on the man

"Kuya, Who were you talking to?" Valerion Asked, followed by a yawn.

Romaric sighed "why are you awake at such an early time? Go back to sleep, you know what would happen if you don't." Romaric said as he knelt down to Valerion's level and patted his head.

"I'm just worried about you, you're working too much again and I can tell you're getting tired." Valerion said with visible concern.

Romaric sighed "you don't have to worry about me, kiddo, besides, you should be worried about what I would do if I caught you awake at night, you know? " Romaric chuckled and gently pinched Valerion's cheek as both of them shared a laugh.

"haha, Okay, I'll go back to sleep But Promise me, you'll sleep tonight?" Valerion held his pinky out.

"I promise, kiddo" Romaric smiled as the two brothers did the pinky promise gesture.

After Valerion headed back to his room. Romaric's smile faded as his face faltered into worry and sadness for his little brother not being able to have a normal life.

Though, his daze was interrupted when his phone buzzed and the moment he read it; He knew he had to do this for his little brother.

With second thoughts still plaguing his mind, he took a coat from his closet and changed his clothes, preparing to leave the house for this presumably Important meet-up.

He left the house and headed to the hospital he works in, the destination in which the man mentioned.

He was greeted by a fellow doctor there who was secretly a scientist working for an organization,

"Ah, Mr. Witherlens, I was wondering when you'd show up." He extended his hand for a handshake in a welcoming gesture.

Romaric nodded and shook the man's hand.

He was tasked to head inside; The Obsidian Oak forest, An unknown and heavily forbidden forest to enter.

Romaric took a deep breath "with all due respect, Why exactly did you choose me for this job?" he asked with skepticism in his voice as his eyebrows furrowed.

His fellow doctor chuckled "I know you don't have a good reputation around town and you need money for your little brother's treatment.. Bring the subject to me alive and I'll consider paying for your debts and your little brother's hospital bills.. Deal?" The doctor held his hand out for a hand shake.

Romaric was hesitant, he did not want to risk anything else that was left of him, however, he knew this particular doctor was one of the most well known and intelligently successful doctors in the whole town and was always honest.

Romaric sighed and took a moment to think... "When can I start?" He asked, for clarification and to know his objective for this illegal trespassing, in hopes he wouldn't fall into the same old rabbit hole again..