Then he called to the next room, "Oris! Measure this boy!"
After Noah was taken into the next room, Riveria quietly stepped forward. "Lord Goibniu, is that weapon...?"
With a wave of his hand, Goibniu interrupted Riveria, indicating he knew what she wanted to say. "The sword is just a small problem. He's already mastered it. I just think that if your brat hadn't met you, she would have grown up to be like him, using herself as a sword..."
In an instant, the scene of Ais entering the Dungeon for the first time emerged in Riveria's mind. The sight of her desperately fighting monsters, disregarding the collapse of her own body, was still vivid.
Only this time, the blonde girl turned into a silver-haired boy...
Noah... was he once like Ais? No, it's different. He made it through all on his own.
The delicate hand holding the staff tightened, blue veins appearing on the pale skin.
"Let's take him to the treatment center," Goibniu continued. "Forcing himself to push his limits without the Falna must have left a lot of hidden scars on his body... I can sense his body is a little unstable. I wonder if this is the reason..."
Noah was not used to physical contact with others, but this time he endured being measured by three or four men with rulers.
When he walked out of the room, he felt uncomfortable all over, as if ants were crawling on his skin. However, when he saw the way Riveria looked at him like she was looking at a stray puppy on the roadside that hadn't eaten for days... he felt something was wrong.
"Miss Riveria?"
After looking at Noah for three seconds, Riveria took a deep breath, regained her composure, and slowly looked away. "Just call me Riveria."
He didn't know what had happened, but seeing that Riveria didn't seem to want to explain, Noah had no choice but to nod and pretend nothing was amiss. After thanking Goibniu, the two left.
Next, under Riveria's guidance, Noah went to greet members of several Familias along the way. It wasn't until the sun was at its highest point that the two arrived at the last destination of their morning trip: the Dian Cecht Familia Home, which was across the street from the Guild.
The gate in the middle was decorated with emblems of light orbs and herbs. It was called the Blue Pharmacy. Apparently, there was no one at the front desk because they were busy admitting the injured from the attack on the food distribution event the previous day.
"You can wait here for a while. Don't touch anything. I'm going to find Lord Dian Cecht and will be back soon."
Watching Riveria's departing back, Noah looked at the series of medicinal herbs and potions on the counter, walking slowly while falling into deep thought. He felt that after coming out from Goibniu's forge, Riveria's attitude towards him had undergone some subtle changes.
For example, her instructions sounded like, Just stand here and don't move. I'll go buy...
"Ouch!"
His body seemed to collide with something small and soft. Noah broke out of his thoughts when he heard the cry. However, apart from a few scattered boxes, there was no one in front of him.
Hey, there's nothing! Did I see a ghost?
...
"It hurts! Who is it?!"
In front of the empty counter, a childish low moan floated in the air, making Noah even more confused.
Is it a female ghost?
Fortunately, Noah was only stunned for a moment before he understood and quickly looked behind the boxes.
A girl wearing a white robe, with silver hair the same color as Noah's, was supporting herself on the ground with one hand and covering her head with the other. When she raised her eyes, her gaze met Noah's.
This girl... no, this young lady. Although her temperament was a little more mature than Ais's, even sitting down, Noah could be sure she was slightly shorter than Ais.
She was definitely less than 130cm tall; it wouldn't be surprising if she were mistaken for a Pallum. However, because her face, beautiful enough to be mistaken for a fine porcelain doll, was also petite, her body proportions were quite balanced.
Paired with her formal robe, she looked like something one would want to hold carefully.
"Hey! Who are you? The look in your eyes makes me feel like you're thinking of something rude!"
Facing the girl's wary gaze, Noah stretched out his hand without changing his expression. Just as the girl was about to refuse, Noah instead picked up the boxes scattered on the ground, leaving her speechless.
"I'm Noah Sifel, a new member of the Loki Familia. Riveria brought me here. She just went to see Lord Dian Cecht."
For some reason, the girl puffed up her lips, stood up, brushed off non existent dust from her robe. "My name is Airmid Teasanare. Good afternoon, Mr. Noah."
When she stood up, Noah confirmed that she was indeed a little shorter than Ais.
"Um?!" The girl named Airmid suddenly raised her head and glanced at Noah with sharp eyes. But this time, even after Noah gave her a confused look in return, she couldn't see anything unusual.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing." Giving up the pursuit, Airmid was about to continue moving the boxes when Noah lifted them easily.
"Let me help you. Where are these going?"
Airmid blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like feathers. "Well, then, please put them at the front desk. Thank you."
"After all, I bumped into you. Also, I should help kids..."
But this made Airmid unhappy. She frowned and quickly caught up with Noah on her short legs. When she realized it took her three steps to match his one, her pink lips couldn't help but pout. "I'm already eleven years old! I'm a proper lady!"
Eleven years old is still young compared to seventeen. Although she was staring at him seriously, as if Noah had committed some terrible mistake, because she was so adorable, like a kitten trying to look fierce, he almost smiled.
What?
"Well, this lovely lady, is it okay to put them here?"
This!
Hearing Noah's sudden praise, the seriousness on Airmid's face vanished, and her eyes became a little unnatural.
Girls always like to be praised for being cute. Although Dian Cecht would praise her, Airmid only treated the white-haired god like a grandfather. And because she was praised all the time, she had gradually become used to it.
As a rookie in the Dian Cecht Familia who was highly valued by their god, other peers in the Familia subconsciously kept a certain distance from Airmid. It wasn't rejection or fear, just a kind of carefulness that prevented easy communication, let alone praising her for being cute.
And Airmid could see that Noah said it casually, which made it clear he meant it sincerely.
How should I put it? A little... happy?
"What's wrong?"
"Ah! Nothing!" Under Noah's gaze, Airmid quickly lowered her slightly hot cheeks, almost trotted to the counter, and began processing materials. Perhaps due to talent or personal preference, Airmid loved making potion; it calmed her mood. But today, because someone's gaze kept focusing on her, she made several mistakes in succession. Finally, she couldn't help but stop and sigh.
"Um, Mr. Noah, could you please mind your gaze?"
"Sorry. Is the pharmaceutical process confidential?"
"Not really. It's just that your gaze is a little... concerning."
Seeing Airmid's pale ears, with slightly red earlobes showing from between her silver hair, Noah suddenly realized and looked away. "Sorry. I'm really interested in pharmaceuticals and medicine, but I only know the basics. Although I've tried some things before, most were useless. That's why I find you professionals fascinating."
These words made Airmid look at Noah, a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes.
"Why? Most adventurers care more about their weapons, right?"
Although adventurers were fond of potions, in Airmid's opinion, it was just out of necessity for life saving items, not much different from their pursuit of weapons, armor, and magic swords. It was like how most people like delicious food, but not everyone wants to be a chef.
Airmid didn't object to this; she thought it was normal. After all, no amount of potions could protect others if you couldn't defeat the enemy.
For example, in the past two days, Blue Pharmacy had accepted many adventurers and residents injured in the Evilus attack, which made Airmid blame herself for not having the talent to fight. Sometimes, she really wanted to pick up a sword and destroy all those who hurt others, just like the Astraea Familia. Because of this, she was a little surprised that Noah seemed genuinely interested in potions.
Anyone who could enter the Loki Familia must have great fighting talent. Shouldn't people like that be obsessed with fighting?
"Isn't this perfectly normal? Putting aside the fact that fields like alchemy and magic, filled with unknowns, are truly fascinating, even just for the sake of combat, learning these things is perfectly normal, right?" Noah, on the other hand, was puzzled by Airmid's confusion and tilted his head.
"After all, fighting is about protecting. If you kill all the enemies, but the people you want to protect are dead, and everything you want to protect is destroyed, then what's the point of fighting?"
Looking at those serious blue eyes, Airmid opened her mouth but found her mind blank.
She didn't know what to say.
"Good grief! Airmid! Why did you come out again? Didn't I tell you to get some rest?!"
A powerful and wild shout rang out, the volume almost deafening. He was a middle-aged male with gray hair and beard, but his hair was still thick. Even with wrinkles, he still looked majestic, like a person with a calm temperament, possessing a charm unique to older men.
He was wearing a gold and silver robe, huge jewel rings on all ten fingers, making him look like a nouveau riche.