Chapter 44: A Figure from the Darkness

It turned out that what came to Leva was the figure of a woman with a slightly hunchbacked back and gray hair that was in a ponytail. Between the wrinkles on her face, she smiled.

???? (Lone Wanderer)

STATS:

Ranged attack: 44/100

Melee attack: 7/100

Even though she had that much of a ranged attack stat, this old Lady didn't appear to be carrying a ranged weapon. She only brought a leather sack like Leva had, but it was smaller in size.

"What's your name and where are you from?" Per my instruction, Leva asked the woman whose clothes were in tatters, even though it wasn't really that primitive. The clothes were similar to those worn by Reha and Tosa, Leva's former comrades in her previous Tribe.

"I'm Tia. My Tribe was attacked and completely destroyed." The old woman sighed. "It was a miracle that I managed to escape, even though many were younger than me and deserved to live more.... Ah, I'm talking about unimportant things. Well, basically I'm wandering alone now. My traveling companion has also died…. Ah, what's your name, young girl?"

Now, the profile of the girl named Tia can be seen entirely by me.

[Tia, 68 years old (Lone Wanderer)]

STATS:

Ranged attack: 44/100

Melee attack: 7/100

Construction: 33/100

Crafting: 70/100

Cook: 75/100

Plants: 24/100

Mining: -

Animals: 67/100

Medic: 98/100

TRAITS:

Productive – Tia can easily stay focused on the task and gets things done much quicker than the average person. (working speed +30%).

INCAPABLE OF:

Mining.

HEALTH ISSUES:

Bad Back - Degradation in the spinal column and surrounding musculature. This makes it hard to move and bend smoothly. (working speed -15%, walking speed -35%)

Stab scars on the right pinky. (working speed -1%)

Damn, you've had a lot of experience, old Lady. With such a trait and a large healing stat, you will be a great addition to my colony. I don't care if you're old and can't do the heavy lifting anymore. Let the other colonists take care of you, and you focus on healing them.

"Just answer the question, Leva." I gave the order because the red-haired girl just froze.

"My name is Leva." Leva answered while still holding up her shovel. "What do you want from me?"

Well, in this wild without human laws, it seems that you really have to remain vigilant, even though what you are facing is only an old woman.

"I just wanted to ask for some food. I think that's too much to eat alone." While widening her smile, Tia pointed at the stick with the grilled cat stuck in the ground. "In exchange, I will heal your wounds. It seems, your treatment is not good enough."

After I spoke to her again, Leva lowered her shovel. "Please."

Tia breathed a sigh of relief, then approached Leva closer. "May I see your wound?"

Despite raising an eyebrow, Leva complied with the old woman's request. The red-haired girl raised her left arm, revealing a scratched wound where the bandage had almost come off.

With a slight trembling, Tia put her hand on the wound, then closed her eyes. Slowly, Leva's eyes opened more and more, as if she saw something she shouldn't have.

Huh? I thought she would fix the bandage or something.

And moments later, Tia withdrew her hand. Leva immediately checked her arm.

"What in the world...." Leva choked.

I'm amazed too. All that was on the red-haired woman's arm were bandages and remnants of blood. The scratch wound had disappeared without a trace.

[Hidden trait unlocked]

[Miracle Healer - Tia has the mysterious ability to quickly heal wounds and various ailments]

I'm not wrong to ask Leva to help you, Tia.

The old woman narrowed her eyes to observe Leva's body.

"Looks like you still have a lot of scars. Well, I can remove them all if you want."

"Just say yes, Leva...." I stopped whispering into the woman's ear when I found Tia looking a bit breathless. "After you two eat."

"I would and I would really appreciate it...." Leva looked confused, maybe because she didn't think about doing what I told her to do. "But we'd better eat first, Lady. You must be very hungry."

"Thanks very much." Tia looked at Leva with almost teary eyes. "I haven't eaten in two days. I can't hunt anymore and just rely on fruit I found on the road."

Seeing the grateful expression, Leva smiled. I smiled too.

Leva split the cat meat in two, and Tia accepted it happily. The old woman seemed to find it a little difficult to bite the slightly too burnt flesh, perhaps because her teeth were not as strong as they used to be. However, she refused when Leva offered her a much softer Jerky.

"This alone is enough." The old woman smiled again.

***

"So, I haven't asked this, young girl." Tia asked while treating the thin slash scars on Leva's back using both hands. "Why did you go alone? You're not a loner traveler like me, are you?"

"Ah, I was looking for clay to make a fireplace in preparation for winter." Leva shrugged. She covered her chest with the clothes she took off. Her back is now fully exposed. "Somehow it's so hard to find the materials to make those bricks. I've been walking all day, but to no avail."

"You can find it in about half a day from here." Tia points to the distance. "There's a lot there."

"Is that true?" Leva's eyes lit up slightly. "Great, I don't need to look in the opposite direction anymore."

"Ah, it sure feels good to be in front of the fireplace in winter." Tia sighed. "As for me.... I don't know what my fate will be in winter. I don't even have any warm clothes."

Now is the time to say that, Leva.

"How about you join our tribe, Tia?" Finally, Leva spoke those words. "I think they'll accept you. You can treat us if we get injured. The people there also have scars that you can heal.... Well, maybe someone will protest, but I guess he'll accept you once you've healed him."

Yes, finally, I could heal Manu entirely so that his working speed became more normal. That would be another benefit for my colony.

"Is that true?" On her tired-looking face, Tia showed a sparkling look. "I would really appreciate it."

"So welcome, Tia." Leva nodded, smiling again.

[New colonist acquired]

The old woman looked like she was about to speak again, but she coughed quite violently several times.

"Hey, are you okay?" Leva asked in a worried tone.

"I am alright." The woman said hoarsely, then got up. "I'm just tired, maybe I need to rest. Your scars are all gone... Ah, you can use my sleeping bag if you want."

Leva shook her head. "I don't need it. This fire is enough for me."