Chapter 2: The Herbalist's Grandson

The sound of the crackling fire had woken the five-year-old kid. The smoke was already thick and his surroundings were bright red-orange. The boy covered his mouth as he coughed. The smoke made it hard for him to breathe.

He heard his mother called for him so he dragged his tiny body out of the bed. The room was so hot and the smoke burned his eyes, yet he still continued to move outside his room and go to his worried mother.

He followed the direction of the voice and found his mother's room. Despite the burning pain, he turned the knob.

He saw his mother lying on the floor, some of her skin was burned but what brought terror to him was the dagger pierced in his mother's body.

"Mother!"

"Dio!"

Dio immediately opened his eyes and saw his grandfather's worried expression.

"Gramps, mother is. . ." Dio hugged his grandfather.

Archie caressed his grandson's back as the boy cried while calling for his mother. It was one of Dio's frequent nightmares which usually kept the both of them awake at night.

"I'm sorry, Gramps. You won't be able to rest again because of me," Dio apologized after he calmed down.

"Since we were both already awake, will you help me make some new medicine?"

Dio smiled and nodded his head. He really enjoyed helping his grandfather make some medicines. The scent of the herbs also helped him relax which helped in forgetting about his nightmare.

"For someone who doesn't need medicines, you sure love making these things," Archie told Dio who was wearing a genuine smile as he ground the herbs.

"Mother told me that everyone would need medicine even once in their entire lifetime." Dio looked towards his grandfather with a smile. "Isn't it satisfying to see that the medicines we deliver can help save people's lives?"

Archie chuckled. Despite being a thirteen-year-old lad, Dio could understand and adapt to his environment already. He felt so lucky that his grandson turned out to be intelligent and kind.

Both of them started to look at the sky when the light slowly spread out.

"It's already morning." Dio finished grinding the herbs in front of him. Then he shook off the herbs stuck in his hand as he stood up. "I'm going to prepare breakfast now."

Archie took the last batch of ground herbs. He watched Dio's small back move towards the kitchen.

Pristine, your son has grown into a fine young man. He smiled as he remembered his deceased daughter.

"Dio, you're early today!" The middle-aged woman greeted him with a smile.

"Dio, did you bring the herbs I requested last week?" A girl in her early 20's followed up.

"Dio, how about the tea leaves I ordered?"

The people from the inn started to swarm around him as they started to inquire about their requested herbs.

"Stop!" A young man in his late teens stood in front of Dio as he tried to prevent the people from going closer.

"Thanks, Matt."

Dio started giving out their orders one by one while leaving a piece of cloth on the table where his customers would put their payment.

"Making deliveries must be hard," Matt commented as he watched Dio pack up.

"Not as hard as being an adventurer." Dio smiled before putting the money he received in his coin bag.

The South City was located next to the Howling forest where demon beasts and monsters reside. It was an area where most adventurers went hunting and train.

"Why don't you join my party next year? You're turning fourteen, right?"

"No thanks. I couldn't leave Gramps alone."

Matt chuckled at his reply. "Whatever. Just don't forget my request for next week."

"Sure thing. See you!"

Dio took off and went to his next destination. He needed to bring the high-quality tea leaves to the most famous tea shop in the city.

"P-please, I'm b-begging y-you."

Dio stopped in his tracks when he heard a faint voice in the back alley. He sighed when he realized that it had been a daily occurrence in that place ever since he moved there.

"J-just k-kill me a-already. . ." The owner of the voice coughed. ". . . I-I'm g-good as d-dead anyway."

He clenched his fist and took a deep breath before he went to the back alley to check what was happening.

Dio felt his blood boil when he saw the situation. A pale kid was covered with bruises and blood. The boys who were ganging up on him were pouring some powder on his open wounds.

He heard the painful groans of the pale kid and the laughter of the other boys.

"What are you doing?" Dio acted like he just arrived at the scene.

"We were just teaching this kid a lesson." The chubby boy who seemed to be the same age as he said with confidence.

"Is it fun?" Dio's expression turned cold as he approached the boys.

"He's. . ." One of the boys pointed his fingers at him. ". . . he's the herbalist's grandson!"

The boys immediately ran when they heard those words. Dio let out a sigh as he walked towards the pale kid who was curled on the floor.

"Can you stand?" Dio offered his hand to him.

"Thank you." The pale kid took Dio's hand and stood up. "You're like a hero," he said as he let go of Dio's hand.

Dio let out a scoff. "The herbalist's grandson? What a lame name for a hero."

The kid laughed at Dio's remark. Dio then checked around him before letting out another sigh.

"You need to get treated."

The pale kid looked at the sack on Dio's hand. "I can go alone. You still need to deliver those, right?"

"Can you make it there on your own?"

The pale kid smiled. "Yes. Thanks for the help."

The pale kid waved him goodbye and he watched him walk further. He grabbed his sack and continued on the completion of his tasks for the day.

He grinned when he finally saw the shop in front of him.

Cup of Words.

It was the most famous tea shop in the city and the southern lands. It would be great for them if they started doing business with this shop.