Graham along with the girl and her injured father trotted towards the girl's village. Small talks was not one of Graham's best abilities but still he tried to engage with the girl. The girl also warming up to the presence of Graham and started opening up to him. She told her name was Alise and her father's name was Winklson.
Graham engaging in the small talks initiated by the girl seemed to have forgotten all the other pain in this world. He wanted to embrace the petite girl in his arms hugging her tight but something restricted him from doing so.
Some wild demonic beasts wanted to launch sneak attacks while moving through those jungles but the presence Graham had a strong deterrent effect on those beasts. They would just move away creating a safe way for the party of three.
They were constantly going forward in their journey without any hindrance but Graham could feel Winklson's body getting colder by the minute. He wanted to warn Alise about her father but her somewhat carefree and happy state stopped his words from coming out.
She had hopes of everything being okay and Graham also committed to it, increasing his pace subtly so that they could take Winkleson faster.
Alise did not notice change in their pace and kept walking while talking about her life. Graham was generally a man of few words where he neither talked much nor liked to hear others talk. He refrained from small talks and also talking about personal matter. Small talks would irritate him visually. But this girl's talk rather than irritating him made him give extra attention to it.
Alise stopped talking mid way and pointed towards a cluster of light not so far. She turned around to look at Graham give a huge satisfied smile and with a sigh of relief said "That is our village."
Graham looked at Winkleson and jumped up carrying Alise on other soldier and started sprinting with best of his abilites.
Alise blushed covering her face with both of her hands. " Is he carrying me beacuse he thinks i am tired ? " with this thought her cheeks reddened even more. A seed of affection also started growing in her heart for Graham.
She had never seen a manly man like him ever before. A strong man appearing out of nowhere and saving her life was now carrying her into safety. It was like dream come true for Alise. So she did not give Graham's action a second thought and just went with the flow.
Graham had carried Alise because she was not able to match his full speed and anymore delay could be the reason for Winkleson's death.
Leaving her here was also not an option as it would be very dangerous because of the demonic beasts lurking everywhere around the jungle.
He would have never guessed that his little gesture would be misunderstood by the girl. Winkleson's grave condition motivated Graham to push his abilities to the limit and he could feel getting faster.
Within a short span of time they reached the village. Without wasting anymore time carrying both Alise and Winkleson into the village, he instructed Alise to point towards the healer's house.
Understanding the gravity of the situation Alise hurridely gave directions to Graham and they arrived at the healer's house.
KNOCK .... KNOCK ..... KNOCK ....
Alise knocked on the doors infront of her which was answered by an middle aged man.
" Alise ! What are you doing here during this hour ? Did you not go to city with your father ?? " Maxwell asked with shocked expression.
" Uncle Maxwell.... We were attacked by demonic dogs on the way here. My father is gravely injured. You have to treat him fast. " without even taking a breath Alise blurted out hurridely.
" Okay..Okay . Bring your father inside and put pot of water on the stove. I will bring herbs out from the attic. " Maxwell went inside pointing Alise to bring her father inside.
Graham hurridely carried Winkleson inside and put him on the bed made out of straw while Alise went inside and warmed the pot of water on fire.
Maxwell was a well known war medic that worked along with Alise's father. Winkleson and Maxwell were like brothers having experienced and overcome various life or death situations together.
Maxwell had some medical abilities while no one in the village knew anything about healing magic or the uses of herbs. So Maxwell used to treat all the small big ailments in the village.
He was well known among the villagers and had earned much respect from the villagers with his knowledge of native herbs and their uses. People in the village treated him like a god of medicine and he had significant influence in the village.
Maxwell returned with a pouch in his hands. A strong sweet aroma was coming out of the pouch. Maxwell opened the pouch and boiled the herbs from the pouch in the pot of hot water.
He took the herbs out and ordered Alise to feed the water to her father the herb infused water. While Maxwell took those soaked herbs and started grinding them on the mortar and pestle he had.
After Alise had done feeding the water to her father, his breathing became calm. His condition also improved visually. Maxwell then applied the grinded herbs on the wounds of Winkleson.
After bandaging Winkleson up, he ordered Alise and Graham to wait outside. Alise had a expression of relief on her face and gave a warm smile to Graham. The smile melted away Graham's tough expression and he even showed emotion after countless years.
Lost in Alise's smile Graham was brought back to reality by Maxwell's voice.
" Winkleson is out of danger but still needs extensive care and rest. What in the hell injured him to this degree ? " Maxwell stared at Alise.
" Demonic dogs from the deep jungle came out and attacked us. " With a sad expression Alise replied.
" That was dangerous. Thank god nothing happened to you. And timely medication also brought Winkleson out of damage. " Maxwell thanked god with a sigh of relief.
" Uncle Maxwell.... This gentleman here saved us from those beasts and even brought us here in time. " Alise with visibly reddened cheeks interrupted Maxwell.
What part of him is gentle ?? Maxwell thought looking at Graham. Love sure makes even the brightest dumb Maxwell thought moving his gaze towards Alise.
He was a aged veteran. He could sniff the love and affection of Alise from far behind. The way she looked at Graham with such gentle gaze.
But whatever he thought was just his thought. He would not let his thoughts manipulate his words and let everything to fate.
" Thank you sir for your timely help. Without your intervention I cannot even think about what would happen to this father daughter pair. " Carrassing Alise's hair Maxwell geniuenly thanked Graham.
Seeing Maxwell's hand on Alise's head angered Graham. Maxwell felt all his senses urging him to take his hands out of the girls head. He felt as if a sharp sword was hanging on his neck and a move more would chop his head out.
" You don't need to thank me uncle. It was my responsibility to save her. " Graham did not know what took over him but just controlled his anger and replied. He called Maxwell uncle giving out subtle implication.
Any more and this gentleman here would have eaten me alive Maxwell thought but still gave a slight nod of aknowledgement to Graham.
" Okay now I will go and look after Winkleson. You two should also take some rest. I will call you tomorrow to take your father home." Maxwell giving an excuse left Alise with her gentleman and went inside.
" Yes we should go home now. " Alise blushed looking at Graham.
Graham remembering his past and tears trickling down his face silently followed Alise towards Alise's home.
The word home made him remember a lot of unpleasant memories but he swiftly wiped away his tears moving away from the darkness towards the new light he had just found.