Let’s Heal Them
On the third day, according to plan, we should meet the Vaash today.
As we continued onward, with Atre and the Tonitrus leading the way and subduing magical beasts along the route, the trees began to thin out.
Atre told us we had entered the Vaash’s territory.
A little further ahead, we spotted three Vaash watching us.
Atre translated for me, explaining to them that we had come to ask for some milk.
“If that’s the case, fine — but you’ll have to milk us yourselves,” they replied, according to Atre.
Thankfully, a few of the knights had experience raising goats in their villages, so we asked them to help.
Honestly, I hadn’t considered we’d have to do the milking ourselves.
I only watched, but it looked far more difficult than I imagined.
By taking turns, they managed to collect enough milk for everyone, so we thanked the Vaash.
Just as I told everyone, “Let’s drink,” the person who helped with the milking suggested boiling the milk first for safety, so we did just that before drinking.
The milk from dairy cows is delicious, but the Vaash’s milk was even richer and more flavorful.
This would make amazing ice cream.
I thanked the Vaash, saying I’d never tasted such delicious milk before.
They let out a low “Moo.”
Atre explained, “They’re saying, ‘Of course it’s delicious.’”
“Vaash, would you consider living with us and providing milk?”
“Moo, moo.”
They replied that they would provide milk if we came to get it, but they wouldn’t live with humans. They value their freedom.
As I kept trying to convince them, another Vaash approached.
This one looked different from the first three — it was thin, with white, patchy spots on its skin.
The three earlier Vaash wandered off as this one drew near.
When I asked the spotted Vaash if it was sick and offered to treat it, they agreed to let me try.
I placed my hand over the white patches and used healing magic, but it didn’t work.
Other healing magicians tried as well and concluded that the creature’s mana wasn’t circulating properly — the blocked areas repelled the healing magic.
When I asked how to treat it, they said the only way was to restore proper mana circulation, but few healing magicians could do that.
Even then, it would only be a temporary fix — it would have to be done regularly.
When I placed my hand over an area without white patches and used healing magic, the spell wasn’t repelled.
I slowly guided mana through the Vaash’s body, but it hit what felt like a wall and wouldn’t flow any further.
This must be the white patch area.
Visualizing warmth melting the blockage, I sent the mana through again. It began circulating, but soon hit another wall.
I repeated this process over and over, and after about 10 minutes, I managed to complete a full circuit.
Looking at the Vaash’s skin, I could see the white patches had visibly shrunk.
The White Dragon perched on my shoulder and remarked,
“If it’s mana blockage, a daily soak in a hot spring will cure it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that sooner? I just spent ten minutes pouring my mana into them, and now you tell me there’s a simple solution?”
“Well, you looked so determined to help, I couldn’t find the right moment to say anything…”
“At least with their condition earlier, they wouldn’t have made it to a hot spring anyway. Your treatment was the right call,” Atre added, trying to smooth things over.
“Y-yes, exactly! Besides, even if I’d told them a hot spring would help, they wouldn’t have believed me. But seeing you work so hard to heal them, now they’ll trust us,” the White Dragon added in a flustered tone.
Did the White Dragon think I was mad?
The Vaash then asked what a hot spring was, so Atre explained.
It was about a day and a half to the forest hot spring from here.
The Vaash said traveling to the hot spring would be difficult.
A single trip might be fine, but bathing there daily would require moving their territory closer — and they liked where they lived now.
I asked if they would consider moving somewhere similar to this environment, where they could also access a hot spring daily and live near humans.
They replied that those with the same condition might be willing to go.
“Please, I’d love to speak with everyone. Even if they refuse, I’ll still provide them with the same treatment I just performed,” I offered.
They told me to wait a while.
After a short wait, two more Vaash with similar conditions approached.
On closer inspection, their white patches were even larger, and they appeared sicker.
It took me about 20 minutes per Vaash to guide the mana through their bodies, given how many blockages there were, but I managed to shrink the white patches on their skin.
It seemed they trusted me now.
They invited me to come meet the rest of the herd, so I followed them.
We arrived at a grassy field where Vaash lounged about, but in one area, over ten Vaash gathered in a group.
As we approached, I saw they, too, bore the same sickness.
What do you think about this chapter?
