After the Sand Plague was defeated and a cure was produced thanks to the work of Haruspex and his colleagues – the Bachelor and the Changeling – life gradually began to return into its normal course, despite all the losses.

Artemy took over his father's place, fully understanding and accepting his legacy and his role in the future of the Town, becoming a proper surgeon, physician and a Menkhu. In his old house, where he now lived with his spouse, for the first time in a long time there was no smell of death and decay lingering over the floorboards. His spacious, bright office smelled of candle wax, steppe herbs and the sweetness of medicinal syrups.

He was commonly respected and was regularly visited by both children – with whom he was able to establish a caring mentorship – and adults, for guidance and health-related assistance.

...

Artemy was leaning over his desk, leafing through the pages of his worn-out, leather-covered medical journal. The window opposite the desk was wide open with its shutters inward, the curtains swaying in the cool autumn breeze. Outside, the yellowed leaves of the trees rustled peacefully, and in the distance, the steppe fields swayed gently, akin to ocean waves.

You walked up to the tall man from behind, quickly covering his eyes with your hands before he could turn around, smiling playfully.

"Guess who," you murmured, and he covered your knuckles with his calloused, sizy palm in response.

"Is it my one and only?" he replied warmly.