His mother reappeared the next morning, in a good mood. She pretended nothing happened, brushing off questions. The only sign something changed was when she dragged Olivia to the table. Then she stated in no uncertain terms, that the young maid would be having meals with them from now on.

Orn’s father raised an eyebrow at Olivia joining them at the table but said nothing about it. This was the first morning of Orn’s new normal.

…

[Two weeks later]

Orn sat on his bead with his shirt lying next to him. His mother was making sure he was healthy enough to start training. “Your father says you intend to start trying to hurt yourself since I am done putting you back together.”

“I will be careful,” he repeated… again. No matter how many times he repeated the phrase, she would not believe him. Her expression made it clear she still did not. “I will be with Father, and you know he will not let me get hurt. And if this works I will get hurt less.”

“If…” She sighed, “You know it is possible to take too much after your father? Both of you running straight into trouble.” She shook her head. “You are mostly healed. I do not understand how though. You have always healed quickly, but the last couple weeks have been absurd.”

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She slowly unwrapped his arm and put her hands against his shoulder. “Close your eyes.”

“Mother?” He was confused, she never asked me to do that before.

“Oh, I thought you wanted to learn…?” She let her voice trail away.

“Really?!” Orn almost jumped up, “Thank you!” Orn quickly closed his eyes, a smile creeping across his face.

“I learned when my grandmother healed me as a very young child. I was in so much pain, but as she healed me, I could feel it happening. After that, I could do this…” She cleared her throat. “Try to focus on the feeling.”

Orn did as he was told and felt the warmth spread from where her hands were. He felt the warmth spread out before gathering around places that hurt, and slowly disappearing with the pain.

After a couple minutes, the warmth faded away completely. He opened his eyes to see his mother looking tired. “Mother, are you alright?”

She patted his shoulder, “I am fine. This is nothing a nap will not fix. I will rest for a bit, and I will be just fine. So did you feel it?”

“Yes,” Orn nodded enthusiastically, “I could feel it. It was warm and gathered around the places that hurt, taking the pain away.”

“That is how it should feel.” She smiled, “I had to be healed several times, and I felt it each time. I even started to try doing it myself to make the pain less.” She shrugged, “I do not know if that is enough to give you the skill.” She got up to leave, “Go ahead and get ready, I’m sure your father is ready for you to start. “

As she made it to the door, a question occurred to Orn. “Mother? “

She stopped and turned back to look at him, “Yes?”

“How did you get hurt so badly?” She stiffened at the question. “It must have been rather bad to need to be healed several times.”

“I do not remember.” She replied flatly, closing the door behind her.

Maybe it is not just Father I take after… Orn thought as he stared at the door.