"I want you to become my apprentice."
"Okay…" Evans blurted out without thinking. But after comprehending the meaning behind the doctor's words, he cried out loud.
"What did you just say?"
Tsk,
"Didn't you hear the first time?" the doctor said, irritated.
"I'll repeat then. I want you to be my apprentice."
"…"
Evans stared blankly at Bennett, his brain refusing to accept the words he had just heard.
"M-Me? Becoming your… apprentice?" he stuttered.
"Yes, yes," Bennett waved lazily, as if offering an apprenticeship to the child was a daily chore. "Don't make me repeat it a third time. My throat is already tired from yelling at you earlier."
Evans's mouth hung open.
"Apprentice? But… I don't want to become a doctor!"
Bennett blinked. "Excuse me?"
Evans swallowed, but his determination didn't waver. "I said I want to become a swordsman… not a doctor."
Bennett set his quill down. Very gently. Then leaned forward.
"Do you have any idea what you just turned down? Especially when you know how hard it is for someone with a background like yours to be accepted as an apprentice."
Evans wasn't sure how to answer that. So, he nodded awkwardly.
"Many are lined up, begging me to take them as my apprentice. Some are even willing to pay a fortune to have their children accepted. And here you are declining my offer so bluntly," Bennett said loudly, annoyed.
Evans didn't know what to say. So, he lowered his head, staring at the floor in silence.
"I'll ask one more time. Do you want to become my apprentice or not?" Bennett asked sternly.
"I… I don't know," Evans replied in a low voice, confused and conflicted.
Bennett let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"I'll give you some time to think over it and discuss with your parents before giving me a proper answer."
Evans simply nodded.
"Now that everything is done, you can go back home. Your mother must be waiting for you."
Evans nodded absentmindedly and turned to leave.
Just as he was about to open the door, he suddenly remembered something. He quickly reached into his bag and pulled out an envelope.
"Mom told me to give you this." He said, extending the envelope toward the doctor.
Bennett raised an eyebrow and took the envelope from his hand.
As he turned the envelope over, its weight made him pause. A soft clink sounded inside. Bennett narrowed his eyes and opened it. Five silver coins fell into his palm.
Evans quickly replied, "Mom said it's the fee for Dad's treatment. She doesn't want to owe you anything."
Bennett stared at the coins in silence for a moment… then clicked his tongue and placed the coins back into the envelope.
"I already told her I didn't do it for money," he muttered, sounding more annoyed than angry. "Yet she still sends payment… That woman never listens."
He closed the envelope again and firmly pressed it back into Evans's hands.
"Take it. I won't accept it."
Evans blinked in surprise. "But… Mom said—"
"I don't care what your mother said," Bennett interrupted, "I didn't treat John because of money."
Bennett crossed his arms, a small smile tugging at his lips. "And if you really want to repay me... then become my apprentice."
"..."
"I'll think about it," he replied softly, inner conflict clear in his voice.
"Don't take too long, Opportunity doesn't wait," Bennett said, turning away as if the matter was already settled. "Also, I won't be able to check on your father tomorrow. I've something urgent to take care of. But don't worry — I'll come the day after tomorrow," he added as he walked towards the lab.
"You can go now, you know the way out, right?" Bennett said, pointing towards the window.
Evans looked at the window and puffed his cheeks.
"I'll use the door this time…"
"Suit yourself," Bennett replied with a nonchalant wave, already disappearing into the lab.
Evans let out a quiet sigh and stepped outside, the clinic door closing behind him.
By now, the sun was already nearing its peak, and the streets of Velmore had grown livelier under the midday light. Vendors were calling out to passing customers, food carts were being pushed around the streets, and the air smelled faintly of fresh bread from a nearby bakery.
Evans ignored everything else and rushed straight home; his mind was occupied with too many things.
***
Unlike earlier, the path wasn't empty anymore. Many people could be seen walking by, and some even stopped to ask Evans about John's.
The further he went down the path, the fewer people there were, until eventually, only his footsteps remained in the quiet.
He soon reached the small house he called home. As he opened the outer gate and stepped into the courtyard, he stopped in his tracks. A man in his early 40s was standing with his mother, talking quietly, and his mother looked uneasy.
As the door creaked open, his mother and the man immediately turned their eyes towards him. The man called out to him with a familiar tone. "Evans, you've returned. I was just about to visit the doctor — good timing, you've saved me quite a bit of trouble." The man said, keeping that familiar smile on his face.
A smile that had always bothered him.
Evans didn't reply. He kept a small distance, instinctively stepping closer to his mother.
"So? What did Bennett say? Your father will recover soon, I hope?" his tone sounded friendly… but something sharp lurked beneath every word.
Evans' fist tightened at his sides.
"My dad will be fine," he answered quickly, not looking him in the eyes.
The man raised an eyebrow, amused by the brat's coldness.
Lisa gently placed a protective hand on Evans's shoulder and interrupted them. "Thank you for checking on us, but Evans just got home. Let him rest."
The man chuckled softly, raising his hands in a harmless shrug. "Of course… of course. Just caring for family, that's all."
Evans doubted whether there was anything caring about him.
The man stepped past them, but before leaving, he turned his head slightly, his voice lowering enough for only Evans to hear. "Tell your father I came by," he whispered, eyes glinting, "and make sure to take good care of him."
"You don't have to worry about that, Uncle Felix," Evans replied, forcing a polite smile.
"Good. Then I'll leave it to you," he said.
He adjusted his suit and headed towards the gate. The gate creaked shut behind him. Evans held his breath until Felix's footsteps faded down the dirt road. Only then did he exhale.
Lisa rested a trembling hand on his back, "Don't mind his word, he always talks like that," she whispered, trying to hide her worry.
Evans stared at the closed gate, jaw tight. "No," he muttered. "He doesn't."
Lisa fell silent, unable to deny it.
After a brief moment, Evans turned towards the door. "Let's go check on Dad. Mr Bennett gave me medicine that will help him to wake up."
Lisa nodded slightly.
Evans walked inside, clutching the pouch of medicine closer.
Whatever Felix wanted…
Evans was certain it wasn't anything good.