“Laira!! For crying out loud!! KNOCK IT OFF!! DON’T MAKE ME GET ROUGH WITH YOU!!!” Crile's voice reaches us from the other side of the room. Oh boy...

“She's at it again...” Amana and I sigh together. More sounds of things breaking fill the air.

“Here goes nothing...” I open the door. For safety measures and Laira's own sake we have her stay at the Palace. To make it easier for her and us, we prepared a separate room for her where we look after her in turns. Ever since the funeral we haven't been able to leave her to herself not even for a single moment... Crile has Laira in a gentle arm lock now. She's been on a rampage ever since...

“I swear, she's stronger than she looks.” Crile pouts. I notice the slight discoloration below the left eye.

“She got you that time, huh.”

“I let my guard down...” He admits. “Star, any time now?”

“On it.” Amana rustles with the potions. Keeping Laira subdued is the only way she doesn’t try to hurt herself... It wrings my insides each time we have to force her to take the meds...

“Come on, Lairry. Please...” Star begins the eternal plead... We try not to use force, but she's too unpredictable, it's simply frightening... Star gives up and forces the potion down Laira's throat with her chanting. She cries each time she does it. So do I. On the inside...

“I hate seeing her like this...” Crile lays Laira down on the bed again. I tuck her in.

“What else can we do... She's not in a stable state of mind, hence why she seems stronger than she is. Her mind is fighting the cruel reality, forcing her body to try and escape...” Amana explains. “I wish there was a spell to take her pain away...” Me too... “Unfortunately not all wounds heal the same...”

“Even so...” Crile sighs. “It's killing me that the only way I can help her is to put her in a headlock...” No kidding...

“We can't keep her under for the rest of her life.” He adds. “She's gonna have to start functioning again.” True.

“Give her more time. She's a child still.” Star says. Yeah... “Although I do agree. The solutions I use are for knocking patients out before an operation. It’s not sleep magic, it’s more like a hard daze, like a brick to the head... It's not healthy for her to use it on her so much or so frequently...” Ouch...

“There you have it. Even more reason why she needs to come back to us...” Crile yawns. “Ok. Who's tagging me?” Crile waves his left while rubbing his neck with his right.

“I am.” Star says. “I just need to run down to the infirmary to restock these and...”

“What?” I ask.

“And I forgot that I have an exam tomorrow...” Star mumbles.

“So?” I ask again.

“It's my turn to watch Laira, but.”

“It's fine. I'll take your shift.” Crile says yawing wide again.

“You just had your shift!” Star argues.

“So? I don’t have an exam tomorrow. It's fine.”

“I'll take over. You can sleep for the next four hours. We'll switch then and then again when it's my turn.” I answer.

“I can stay up now.” Crile argues.

“I rather you slept. I have training later, but I'll stay the night with her as per usual.” I explain.

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“Gotchya.” Crile gives me a thumbs up and shamelessly takes his shirt off, cozying up to the empty side of the bed, next to Laira.

“Don't you have to go home and study or something?” I smile at Ammi.

“Is it really ok I go?”

“Of course. Your studies are important.”

“Laira is important too!” Ammi pouts. I smile and walk over to her to pat her head.

“It's fine. We'll manage.”

“Ok then. See you tomorrow.” Ammi walks out.

“You could just have them postpone the exam, you know.” Crile's lazy tone speaks behind me.

“But, of course, you don’t want to use your "authority" in that way because it would be too easy, and you want Star to achieve this with her own abilities and not as your lackey...”

“Lackey?” I slowly turn around.

“That's how they see us. Especially her.” He stares right at me. Should have known...

“Shut up and sleep already, idiot.” I pick up the half dead chair and sit down.

“'kay! Nighty night.” Crile smirks at me and hooks his arm around Laira ever so gently.

“Wanna join us?” He winks at me.

“Wanna die today?” I wink back. Crile giggles and drifts off, leaving me alone with my thoughts...

    “You’re home early?”

“Isn’t it your turn to watch the girl?” Dad asks.

“I have an exam tomorrow so they let me go for today. I kinda forgot about it...” I admit quietly.

“Amana, I understand it's rather easy for you, considering the connections you have, but try not to disrespect them too much. They are only nice to you for as long as–”

“As long as I play by their rules, yes, I know, thank you, mother, for reminding me that yet again.” I close the door to my room and take out my notes. I'm supposed to be a Water Shaman, but in reality, I'm a mixture of a Cleanser and a Shaman. I'm learning as many healing techniques as I can. The only thing I can't learn is Vines, but I'm not a Ravo, so it can't be helped. Other than that - everything goes. I swore to myself I'd heal all her wounds and I will.

Now then. What's the most important thing for a Water Shaman to remember? Not to overflow the subject too fast and too much. Usually when a person drinks something and something is wrong, they can cough it back up. When a Water Shaman treats the person instead, they need to regulate the flow of the potion as not to drown them. If used with more force it is possible to make a person explode. Ew. That apparently was discovered by "accident" on a rat. Thankfully... Important thing to remember #2: Poison and Heals differ by a fraction. #3: Never mix Mana and Heals together as they cancel each other out. Why that happens is not explained.

So. When taking multiple potions at the time, make sure they are of the same kind. Take the different potions in turn instead. Mana potions can only be administered orally. Whereas the Heals can be used for outside wound healing as well. Hence why these potions are classified in two colors: blue for Mana and green for Heals. As stupid and childish as that is. Next.

Potions vary in quality only. Which common people mistake for strength. Same herbs are used in potion production, however, since harvesting high quality herbs takes longer to grow them, some potions are made "weaker" due to the fact that the herbs used can be harvested several times within the same season. These are cheaper and more popular as they are available anywhere. Mostly.

The most danger that a Water Shaman presents is Blood Manipulation. Lettos are what Blood Shamans are called. Technically, it's not the blood that is manipulated, but the particles of the herbs that fuse with the blood. Like Temeros Poison Manipulation. There is medication that is made for restoring blood after a major blood loss. It speeds up the production. Now, because the herbs, or rather whatever is left of them, fuse with the blood itself, it is possible for a Shaman to manipulate them. In reality, it is enough for an open wound to come in contact with the herbs to facilitate Blood Manipulation. Or inhale even.

It is mistakenly assumed that Lettos are Water Shamans, but more often than not, they are Air Shamans. The only "trick" preventing more Lettos from happening is - it takes three times the regular amount of Mana to cast the spell. If not more. Most just lack the conviction to put the extra effort in. Minor Blood Manipulation does not count.

Technically, I am able to manipulate blood too. I did have to learn the basics for it, for healing. The only thing that bothers me the most is the fact that they taught me the method to kill yet expect me not to use it. I mean. I'm not saying I wanna kill, I'm just saying that it is unrealistic to give the knowledge with the intention of not having the wielder use it, is all I am saying.

What else? Right. Why Heals are thought after in-depth Biology? Stupid question. Because one needs to have a decent grasp of the body before attempting to heal it. Even more so when the medication can be sent directly into the system. It takes an above average understanding of it to succeed. That is why they drill Biology in before letting you chant the first spell. Luckily for them I am so devoted to Zarri or I wouldn't have the patience otherwise, seeing how I have been learning Shamanic techniques even before they began teaching them to me here. But alas, rules are rules... What a joke...