99 No home to return to (1/2)
Surgit had visited Iosefka at her clinic and exchanged a few words with her regarding blood healing and the possibility of curing people from the beastly scourge. Her speech about healing patients was pretty ambiguous and Surgit felt that Iosefka hadn't been acting like her usual self.
Since he came back to see her after his fight against father Gascoigne, she had changed her beliefs about not letting anyone inside her clinic and accepted to allow the ill in order to receive more treatment.
What struck Surgit as odd was that Iosefka wasn't willing to open her door under no circumstances. That was also aligned with what Yharnamites did during the night of the hunt. Her sudden change of heart surprised Surgit even if he felt that it was a positive move. He thought about Gilbert and how the poor man couldn't stop coughing.
He was on his way out from the clinic and was heading towards Gilbert while he was processing all the information received from the doctor. As he reached Gilbert's house, he knocked at the window from which they usually talked. He heard intense coughing from behind the curtain and the sound intensified as Gilbert approached it.
- ”It's you…*cough cough*…I'm glad you're still breathing” said Gilbert in between his fits of coughs.
- ”Hi Gilbert, I see that your coughing has intensified.” Surgit couldn't conceal his worry towards the sick man.
- ”You needn't concern yourself with me now…” and Gilbert started coughing again violently unable to speak again for a moment.
- ”You're the first person to ever help me in this foreign city. I owe you a lot Gilbert. I think I have a way of helping you defeat that illness that's eating away at you.”
- ”As I said before dear hunter, you shouldn't concern yourself with me… *cough, cough*… I'm afraid I'm of little help to you now. But before you go…” Gilbert disappeared from behind the curtain and went inside his apartment. When he came back he opened the window and handed an object to Surgit. ”Take this… I made no use of it, but perhaps you…” And the heavy coughing resumed again, halting his speech.
- ”Gilbert there's this doctor, Iosefka's her name. She has a clinic near your house. She can help you get back on your feet again. I can escort you there and keep you safe.” Surgit was almost pleading to him. He really didn't want to lose any more people who have helped him in Yharnam.
- ”What inflicted me was incurable…” Gilbert started speaking again after his coughing fits had stopped. ”But this town gave me hope.Their strange blood bought me time… I was most fortunate, unharmed by the plague of beasts. I can even die human. I'm no longer looking for a cure for my affliction good hunter.”
- ”But… you'll finally be able to leave this city and live your life anew. This doctor, she's good and she oversees a clinic full of afflicted humans. I'm sure she can help you.”
- ”I have nowhere to return to. I prefer to end my days in peace, in this house. Thank you for your offer good hunter, but I'm no longer seeking that miraculous cure people spoke of before.”
- ”But…” Surgit's mouth was open, he tried to say something but didn't find the words to use in this situation.
- ”I had a home once,” started Gilbert before coughing stopped him on his tracks. ”I never felt welcome there. Because of my sickness, people shunned and avoided me…” Gilbert's coughing intensified even more. Surgit felt the pain Gilbert had been through.
”When I set sail to retrieve the city of miracles, I never thought I could walk among humans, without feeling like an outsider. This city was brimming with foreigners, seeking refuge and healing. Even though Yharnamites didn't like us, we had each other. I could finally walk in peace and observe the sun, setting beyond the valley.” *cough* *cough**cough*… Gilbert's words left Surgit speechless. He patiently waited for the man to regain his composure. His story didn't seem too unfamiliar to Surgit.