Chapter 36: Preparations

Isolde was still unreadable.

"After she passed, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I’d spent so long caring for her that I forgot who I was without that." She let out a slow breath. "But I realized that I could still help others. That I could be there for people who needed someone. That I could give them what I couldn’t give her."

She met Isolde’s eyes.

"That’s why I do this. I can’t save everyone. But I can help. And that’s enough."

Isolde was quiet for a long moment.

Emeric watched her face, reading the subtle shifts in her expression. The guardedness hadn’t disappeared. But something else had softened there. Just slightly.

She turned to him and gave a small nod.

He let out a breath.

"Then let’s go over the details," he said.

Emeric led Tatia to the small kitchen. He prepared tea and they sat across from each other.

But before talking about the arrangement, he asked questions. Her background, her experience. Her references. What she could do, what she couldn’t. How she handled emergencies. How she would manage Isolde’s care during the three days he’d be gone.

She answered everything honestly.

"One more thing," he said. "My wife’s condition is... complex. She’s not just injured. Something is preventing her from healing so she would need constant therapy and healing. That won’t be a problem right?"

Tatia’s expression didn’t change.

"I know."

"How?"

"I can see it. The faint marks around her neck. The way her mana feels like it is struggling against another." She paused. "I can help with the physical side. The atrophy. The pain. The everyday things that make it hard to live."

Emeric studied her.

"Thank you Tatia."

"When can I start?"

"Tomorrow."

He was too busy watching Tatia as she stood and walked back toward the sitting room.

"Let me spend some time with your wife," she said. "I need to understand her needs before I can help."

He nodded. "Of course."

He watched her go. Then he leaned against the kitchen counter and let out a slow breath.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[NEW SKILL: PROBE]

[ACTIVATE SKILL?]

The new skill was pretty explanatory and he knew exactly what it was intended for.

He stared at the question for a few seconds before thinking it.

Another notification appeared.

[TARGET: TATIA]

[AGE: 49]

[TIER: 6th Tier]

[AFFINITY: WATER (DEDICATED HEALER)]

[PROFESSION: CAREGIVER, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, HEALER]

[EMOTIONAL STATE: STABLE, DETERMINED, AUTHENTIC GRIEF]

[DECEPTION DETECTED: NONE]

[ASSESSMENT: TRUSTWORTHY]

He’d used his skill the moment the system told him he could. He would have been a fool not to.

The system confirmed what his instincts had already told him. She was genuine.

But he didn’t dare gamble; not with who cared for Isolde. He focused on his Bond Link, reaching for the faint connection to Isolde in the next room. He could feel her. She was calm. The tension in her shoulders had eased slightly.

He waited.

Twenty minutes passed. Then thirty.

Nothing happened.

Tatia emerged from the sitting room with a small smile.

"She’s resting," she said quietly. "I’ll be back tomorrow morning to start properly."

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet. Thank me when you come back from the Hunt in one piece."

He blinked. "You know about that?"

She smiled, but there was something knowing in her eyes.

"I also did my research on you, my Lord. A man who wins a duel against a Tier 6 gets noticed." She paused. "And I’ve seen that look before. The one that says you have something to prove."

She walked to the door. Paused.

"Come back alive. She needs you to."

Then she was gone.

Emeric stood at the door, watching Tatia disappear down the street.

He felt... something. Was it relief?

Yes, it was. He knew Isolde was in safe hands and that was the thing that had weighed in his heart for the last few days.

He worried about leaving her but now he knew she would be safe.

He had to come back. He had no choice.

For now, he had other things he needed to get prepared for the hunt.

He was sorely lacking in gear and Bjorn was just the man. Even though he would be pissed at him for only showing up when he needed him.

——

The morning light was still grey when Tatia arrived.

Emeric opened the door to find her standing on the porch, her small bag slung over her shoulder. She wore the same simple dress as the day before. Her hair tied in a practical and neat form.

"Good morning Lord Halden."

"Morning Tatia ."

He stepped aside to let her in. She moved past him with the easy confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before.

"Is your wife awake yet?"

"Yes. She’s in the sitting room."

Tatia nodded and headed that way. Emeric followed.

Isolde was by the window, her chair angled toward the light. She turned when they entered, her eyes finding Emeric first. Then Tatia.

"Good morning," Tatia said. "I hope you slept well."

"Well enough."

"Good. I brought some herbs for tea. Helps with the morning stiffness."

Isolde’s lips twitched in an almost smile. It was close.

"You’re very prepared."

"I try to be."

---

Emeric hovered by the doorway, watching them. Tatia moved around the room with easy familiarity, unpacking her bag, setting out small pouches of herbs, adjusting the position of Isolde’s chair to catch more light.

She worked quietly and efficiently..

Isolde watched her with guarded curiosity, her eyes questioning every decision she made.

If Emeric didn’t see it, he could feel it from their bond. The need to be careful and thorough.

Emeric cleared his throat, walking closer to Isolde.

"I should go soon."

Isolde’s eyes shifted to him. Her expression didn’t change, but something in her posture tightened.

Tatia paused. Looked between them.

"I’ll give you a moment," she said quietly. She stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

The silence stretched between them.

Emeric was half the distance he’d begun to make. He finally crossed the room and knelt in front of Isolde’s chair. He reached for her hand. She let him take it.

"Three days," he said.

"You said that already."

"I’m saying it again."

She squeezed his hand. Her grip was stronger than she intended for it to be.

"Three days," she repeated. "Then you come back."

"I will."

"You promised."

"I promised."