You, Me, and the World Between Us (Dragon Quest)

XVI - Just What I Needed

Maxim and Inessa shared concerned glances with one another before entering the room. They entered the room behind Eleanor and Collen, taking cautious steps. The room was bare, save for a bed, a nightstand, and an armchair. A man, none other than Eleanor's husband James, sat propped up on the mattress. The young Tsarevna had to repress a gasp when she caught sight of him - he was grotesquely skinny, with dark, sunken eyes and sallow skin. He burst into a coughing fit as the other filed into the room. Once controlled, James looked around at the new occupants of the room, forcing a smile on his face. "Well, I've just been all sorts of popular lately, haven't I? Who'd have known that catching a serious illness made people like you so much?" he joked, following up with another cough.

"James!" Eleanor scolded, reaching out and hitting her husband's arm with the back of her hand. She sighed and shook her head, leaning in and placing a kiss on his black hair. "While I am glad you're able to maintain your sense of humor, you shouldn't joke about your health like that. Now, I have some kind young folks to introduce to you," quickly, Collen darted out of the way as his mother pushed the Zamoksvans closer to her husband. Eleanor stood off to the side, gesturing to the royal siblings "James, this is Maxim and Inessa, from- I'm sorry, if you told me, I must not have caught it," she apologized.

"Zamoksva, far west from here," Maxim piped up, his sister nodding along by his side.

"Zamoksva! My, the pair of you are far from home," Eleanor remarked, "as I was saying earlier, these two are here to hopefully help get you back on the mend. Miss Inessa here proposed a plan to me which I think might be the best way to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. From what she's explained to me, Maxim is a very efficient when it comes to battling monsters. In that case, he should be able to collect a Crested Viper's venom so I can get started working on the medicine that will cure your illness. Isn't it fantastic?" she remarked, earning an approving nod and smile from James, "In the meantime, Inessa tells me she's well learned in the field of magical mending, so she could help relieve a few minor symptoms of yours."

"Well, it's certainly a blessing from the Goddess that you two happened to be passing through town right at this moment. Such kind young people, I... I don't quite know what to say," James shook his head before coughing a few more times, using his hand to cover his mouth. He looked back up to his wife, raising a curious brow. "Where on earth did you find such benevolent folks?"

"Don't thank me, thank our son," Eleanor responded, nudging Collen towards his father. The young boy bore a big, toothy grin on his face as he stood tall. James looked from his son up to his wife, then back down to his son, a smirk growing on his face. He leaned forward in his seat, ruffling the boy's hair. "I hadn't a clue they were in town, but Collen met up with them on his way home, and they were kind enough to offer up some assistance. Now then, how about we-"

"Mum, Dad, I'm on my way out now," a voice spoke up as the door creaked. All eyes turned to face the newest occupant of the room, a boy who could be none other than Collen's older brother. He appeared to be close to Maxim's age, and he looked like the spitting image of his father, dark hair and all. He bore an expression of shock as he noticed that his parents and brother weren't the only occupants of the room. He locked eyes with Inessa for a few seconds before glancing away, his cheeks growing slightly warm. Looking up to his mother, he narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I thought you said we weren't bringing in more healers. You know, each one says they're 'the one' that can fix Dad, that they know something the other healers don't. But they all know the same tricks, and none of them have been able to improve his condition."

"Charlie, there's no need to speak like that. And in front of guests, you should be ashamed," Eleanor scolded her eldest child, shaking a finger in his direction. She sighed, closing her eyes for a mere second. Then, she put her hands on Maxim and Inessa's shoulders nudging them toward her son. "There's no need to cause such a fuss, either, because they're not healers. Not exactly, anyway," Eleanor finished with a sheepish smile towards the Tsarevna.