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Broken Gates
CH Four: Eastern Frontier Kingdom

CH Four: Eastern Frontier Kingdom

The road back to the guild took Anisha and Murdera a day and a half to get back. The extra load of the cart slowed down their pace tremendously. Anisha stayed by her summon side walking next to the cart. Checking his breathing. And every now and again reaching through the bond to see how he was doing mentally. His nightmares had diminished in occurrences but he still shifted in his sleep.

Anisha shared his unease, she wasn't sure what was gonna happen next. She was walking straight into a place where if anyone found out what she'd done, not just her but her summon could be executed for the crime of necromancy. Murderas reputation as a guild master would be tarnished.

She knew not to push her luck any further than she already has. By her luck or curse she managed to summon a dead noble's son back to life so it explains his overall strange-ness. But she doubted she could keep up the charade for long.

Another concern came to her mind, that being what would her summon do once he came back to consciousness. Does he remember being dead? Will he thank her for bringing him back or despise her for defiling his body with Hmotas black crystals?

Anishas concerns had to be put on pause once the gate caller yelled out to get their attention.

In front of her stood the towering double door gate that was the main entrance for the kingdom.

The gate caller wore a pointed helm with a yellow plume. From his elevated balcony in the gate house he ran through the usual questioning.

"Who wishes to enter the gates and what is your business here?!" Called the gate caller.

Murdera took the lead on the procedures.

"Murdera Stormchin Guildmaster of the Eastern Frontier kingdom. We are returning from a quest with a casualty and an injured noble."

At the mention of his title Guild master, the caller straightened up and was already giving the order to open the gate. The gate's speed doubled when he mentioned the injured noble.

Anisha guessed none of the guards wanted to be held accountable if the noble died because they took too long to open a gate. Nobles have placed blame like that before.

The streets of the Eastern Frontier kingdom were not as nice as the older and more established cities. Their roads are still dirt with only some stone pathing just recently being placed in the town's center. The market square was still a hive of activity that they had to sluggishly weigh through with their cart and passengers.

"Rusted flecks, can't they see we're trying to get through here!" Murdera cursed as the crows around the stalls seemed to be an immovable wall now.

All the citizens seemed to be taking their time at the markets recently. With the increased gate security, few merchants have been making the usual trek to resupply their sellers here. Anisha guesses that today just happened to be a day when a fresh caravan of merchants have arrived. She recognized some of the kingdom crests that were displayed close to the merchants stalls signs. She saw merchants from Blandgedi, Clifractian, Modland, and even saw a group of dwarven smiths from Krozneath. Anisha thought Murdera might have been a little pleased to see some of his kin from his home. But he only gave an audible grunt before putting his focus back on trying to push his way through the crowd. The other dwarfs in kind didn't seem to pay much attention to Murdera either. Too busy working on their metal work.

Anisha always looked for others like her in large crowds. Half breeds were uncommon but not rare. She saw a Dwarman working the kilm at the Dwarfs stall. In dwarf terms she was much taller than the other dwarfs and a bit more lean, but still had the characteristics of looking sturdy.

In the crowd she saw a small family of Horcs. Noticeable by their paler green skin instead of the thick calisted dark green orcs usually have.

And to Anishas sudden joy she saw another Helfman, however this one's hair was a mix of gold and brown, instead of Anishas red and black mix.

Meaning he was a descendant of the gold Elfs, next to him clutching his arm was a very old human lady, Anisha guessed she was probably in her late 70s. In contrast the helfman, who Anisha assumed was her son by how he carefully held her up and was patient with her as she chose her items from the stall. Looked no more than 25.

Anisha couldn't help but smile at them both. It was nice to see someone care for their aging parents.

Being born of mixed races often came with both pros and cons. For those of half elf blood, it was about a 50/50 chance you would age either a little bit slower or faster than one of your parents. Elfs naturally had long lives, some even believing Elfs can live indefinitely in the right conditions.

Anisha herself landed more on the life span of her father, who was human. She's aged a little slower, but currently looks about 23 when in actuality she's 28.

A man who stood towering over the crowd got her attention. His steel and bronze rimmed armor shined in the afternoon light like a beacon. He stood seven feet tall and held a tri leafed spear that looked as long as a flag pole. On his shield and chest piece an orange bronze oak leaf was embraced and polished to a shine that would make glass jealous.

Sir Haltis Holyoak, Lord knight of the Eastern Frontier Kingdom, marched dutifully through the crowd. Careful not to bump into others with his size, but it seemed unnecessary as the crowds parted for him.

"Guild Master Murdera!" His deep but pleasant voice boomed from underneath his great helm.

"I came as fast as I could when one of the callers informed me of your recent 'casualties'. " He said with a bit of pain coming through his voice. The goliath of a man kneed down to be more level with Murdera who was half his size. Leaning in he put his hand up as if to dampen his loud whispering to Murdera but to no avail. Anisha, and she bet most people close by could hear him just fine.

"I came once I heard an injured Noble was entering the kingdom. As Lord Knight it is my solemn duty to ensure his safety through these streets. Please allow me to escort you and your fallen to their destinations." Before Murdera could even respond, the giant shifted his attention to Anisha. While kneeling in front of her she stood above him which was quite honestly a strange sensation, seeing him at a more eye contact level instead of craning her neck to look up at him.

He placed his gauntlet hand on her shoulder, careful not to let its way pull her down he hovered it slightly.

"Miss Anisha. I am sorry for the loss of your compatriots. It's a sad day whenever our fine kingdom loses one of our valued adventuresers. I'm sure that they are resting in the Halls of Verden. And awaiting their reincarnation."

With that he stood back to his towering height.

"Alright let's get this Nobleman to a healer on the double. Murdera hand me the reins on that cart. Don't argue friend. you've carried your responsibilities long enough. Let me carry it the rest." Once again not letting Murdera protest he slung his shield over his back, collapsed his long polearm into a half its size and shielded it on his back as well. Grabbing the cart, it looked like a child playing with a toy. He looked towards Anisha and asked. "Forgive me, Anisha but it seems I do not know any good healers in town. Perhaps you know someone worthy of treating a noble?" Murdera mumbles something about Haltis being dimmer than a half drenched charcoal.

Before Anisha could give a name Murdera took out the bag that held all the man's armor. And slung it over his shoulder.

"Murdera? What are you doing with those?" Anisha asked. Unsure of what the dwarf was up to now.

"The man saved my life, seems fitting that I take his armor to be repaired, and after passing that there dwarf smiths ways back I bet they can repair it to its previous quality." He said it as though it was the obvious thing to do next. Turning he started pushing his way back through the crowd. Ignoring Haltiss words of "So chivalrous" and "That's why he's guild master"

Hoisting the cart easily, Haltis yelled out to the crowd around them. "Make way! Move aside for the Injured." On his command the sea of people parted, a wide alley down the center of the market cleared right away. Anisha was impressed by how they all obeyed and moved just because he said to.

"Where to miss Anisha?"

She couldn't see it, but he knew he was smiling at her under his helm.

A few minutes later Anisha and Haltis were In Front of Mrs. Malissa Healing and Herbs Clinic. A small but tall building nearer to the town center and close to the guild. She was the predominant healer for serious injuries from Adventuring. She's seen it all and if it bleeds she can heal it. How does Anisha know this? Well because she's also Anisha's Magic teacher. The one who taught her everything she knew about magic. How to control her gate, how to mix the crystal's power with her own mana. It was her that inspired her to study the arcane arts and specifically with a focus on healing.

A pale white Urashin, with 4 large white petals for hair greeted them at the door. Lifting her goggles up, her reptilian-like eyes blinked at the peculiar view in front of her shop. The four pedals that lined both eyes opened and closed repeatedly as if a sign for Anisha to explain herself.

"Anisha... What brings you here, shouldn't you still be out on your first quest for a few days? Don't tell me Murdera backed out again of your detail." The white flower pedals on her head began to flap up and down as her anger rose.

"That stubborn Dirt Eater I'll teach him a lesson the next time he comes seeking my healing! Maybe I'll just lace his armor with Spiral dust, and Ooshin clippings." Snapping her fingers, an action Anisha learned to mean listen up. "What are the effects of combining those two ingredients?" Anishas back straighten immediately, years of being subjected to Mrs. Mallissas rather 'unique' style of teaching. Caused her body to react on instinct and an answer to leave her mouth before telling her teacher why they had come.

"By combining those two you get a cream that causes skin irritation, and can often lead to rashes, itching. And if ingested a week-long sickness."

"That's the correct pupil. Nice to see you haven't been slacking on your studies while away." The large smile that almost split her face in half showed pride in her student.

Malissas Eyes went up looking up towards the large armored knight that stood behind Anisha.

"And you big guy, are you here for healing or just looking for a job as a new front yard decoration?" She asked, completely ignoring his clear ranking in the Lords guard.

"M-Mrs. Malissa." Anisha began, alleviating Haltis flustered state, she guessed he wasn't used to people treating him like that so openly.

"Murdera didn't do anything wrong, in fact he did take me on the quest." The Urashins face softened from that, but confusion soon appeared on her face instead.

"Then what brings you here? you look fine? You are fine aren't you?"

"No-no I'm, I'm fine Mrs. Malissa. I-its um, we, ah." She struggled to say the words to her teacher. She wanted to tell the truth so she could hopefully heal the man, she didn't know if healing didn't work the same on a summon as it did on a living person. Additionally the guilt from before resurged with even greater effect now that she was standing in front of her teacher. As a failure.

"I-I'm so sorry..." She started to cry openly now, and just as the tears began to run again. her teacher of 8 years rushed to embrace her. Her hand wrapped around the back of Anishas head and cradled her into her shoulder.

That action brought out everything else Anisha was holding in. All the fear, shame, and guilt was finally being let out.

"I-I... I couldn't do it Malissa... I couldn't cast. it's all my fault they're dead. I- I couldn't do anything to save them." Anisha said outloud muffled in her teacher's hair.

"It's alright young Pupil. Let it out." Her teacher's soothing voice worked its magic. Anisha could feel herself getting control of her emotions again. After some time passed her teacher pulled her off her shoulder and set her square in front of her.

"Anisha, you shouldn't blame yourself for not being able to do what you were not ready for. A first quest almost never involves something that can fight back so something must have gone wrong. It's not your fault you were caught unprepared. Why don't you spend the night in my study and rest. And we'll talk more tomorrow.

Anisha sniffled a few more times before nodding her head. Wiping her tears on her sleeve she turned to the cart. Gesturing to the man.

"I wouldn't be alive right now if it wasn't for him. P-please can you heal him?"

Her teacher looked back only now realizing the injured man that laid in the back of the cart.

"As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow my pupil." She walked over to the cart and placed her hand on Anishas summons forehead. For a moment nothing was happening. Then the blue crystals that hung off a golden chain on her teacher's hip suddenly began to glow and levitate slightly. Her teacher's face twisted in concentration.

Anisha waited on baited breath. Fearing that her teacher's soft words would soon turn to anger.

"Get him inside now!" She ordered Haltis. Reacting as if he just received an order from the Lord of the kingdom himself. Haltis lifted the man's body up and, having to duck his head to get inside, carried him in.

Inside the building she heard Malissa shouting orders to her two staff. Venus, her husband, and herbalist came from the backroom. Still wearing his gloves and apron. Without hesitation he discarded what he was working on and quickly began to help his wife clear a spot for the man.

They placed him on a long wooden table in the middle of the shop. around the room were hundreds of shelves that held all manner of specimens, samples, and other odd trinkets she's collected over the years.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Anisha asked, seeing the speed at which Mallissa was working alarmed her. Was he that close to dying? She thought he was stable, and recovering.

"I don't know, if you had come any later there might have been nothing I could do for him." Her blunt answers showed that she was focusing on the task at hand. Not wasting any time to give Anisha another surprise test, or questions.

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"Where's that weed sawdened Dryfolk!" Malissa yelled out to no one in particular.

As if on cue a black cat Dryfolk girl came down from the upper study.

Kameko Shig, Malissas other student and Anishas best friend, seemed to have just woken up. Her black second set of cat ears on her head drooped a little. And her tail hung limply behind her.

"W-wahhhh's goin on?" She said through a yawn and stretching herself out. Her body was extremely flexible. Twisting her back she was almost able to spin her torso all the way around.

"Kameko, take Anisha to the study and heal any of her wounds. Once that is done come back down and help me here." Seeing the seriousness of the situation Kamekos eyes widened and she quickly began doing as her teacher instructed.

Masterfully jumping down that last few steps and landing with a quiet thud she gracefully bobbed around the two healers as they moved quickly around the room. Instead asking Haltis to move his massive body she instead jumped and crawled over his back and slid down his shield landing near Anisha.

Kameko looked at her friend in concern. Her eyes hung on the man their teacher was working on. Her face was pale, and she noticed that her eyes were red from crying.

She reached out and grabbed Anishas hand. But this didn't seem to break her focus. pulling her along Anisha followed behind but at a slow pace. It took some time for them to reach the study but once they did and Kameko closed the door behind them Anisha slumped to the floor next to her old cout.

She sat there in a ball for a bit before Kameko slowly approached her and sat next to her.

"I'm gonna check you for injuries okay?" Anisha gave a little nod though she didn't uncover her face and stayed curled up.

Kameko began the magical process of checking for injuries. Using a blue crystal that hung off her side similar to her teachers she used it to penetrate Anishas very body. Not seeing any serious damage besides a bruise on the side of her head, she quickly pulled out a green crystal and began healing the injury to Anishas head. Within seconds the bruise vanished.

"How do you feel?"

"A little better, thank you Kameko." Anisha finally said something, which made Kameko relax a little. She had never seen her friend like this. She has seen other patience that Mrs. Malissa treated before. They always had a far off look and seemed to not be in the present moment. The fact that Anisha was starting to un-ball herself continued to relieve Kamekos concerns.

"I-I did it." Anisha said after a few more moments of them sitting in silence.

"You did what?" Kameko asked, her head tilting far to the side. Causing one of her ears to flop over.

Instead of answering, Anisha slowly moved her hand to her back satchel and pulled out a piece of leather fabric that was well worn and in tatters.

It took Kameko a moment to recognize what it was Anisha was showing her.

She jumped up to her feet unable to contain her excitement "You used it! How was it? Were you able to control your magic using the crystal? What did it feel like?" She had a thousand more questions she wanted to ask but her stream of thought stopped when she saw Anisha didn't share her enthusiasm.

"I- I didn't want to use it.... I tried, Beskyttende knows it, I tried to use every other magic I could think of. But when I lost my other crystals and Murdera was left to fight alone, I didn't know what else to do.

"Oh Gods you didn't let Murdera see you use the black crystal did you? You know he'd report you to the guard as soon as you got back if you did."

"No. No he didn't see me.. But, I didn't have a choice but to use it to..." Anisha choked off at the end. Her body shook as she tried to hold back more tears and guilt.

"To what?" Kameko was starting to get really concerned now. What had her friend done that had her like this?

"The-... The man downstairs... he's.. he's not."

"Alive..." Kameko finished her friend's sentence for her. Anisha nodded slowly, head now buried in her arms again.

"Anisha. Do you know what this means?"

"That i'm a crypt defiler necromancer who's gonna be executed if anyone else finds out" Anisha said glumply through her balled up state.

"No! Well, yes! But also no! Anisha this means you completed one of the hardest spells known to mortal kind! Summoning Bruin was one thing, he's an animal from Hmota. But making a pact with a full fledged human! and completing the ritual! Anisha this confirms my suspicions. Your magical attunement is to Black Crystals! "

Anisha could only look up at her excited friendly glumly.

"That's not a thing to celebrate Kameko! That's like telling me I have the power to feed on people's souls. Or or... raise the dead" Anishas glum words didn't seem to dampen her friend's mood though.

"Anisha. For the longest time you and Mrs. Malissa believed that your problem with using other crystals was from you not being able to control your gate. But now we know that it's because your soul an incredibly strong attunement to Black Crystals!"

"How is that even possible?... The Gods never made us compatible with the corrupted crystals. Let alone be attuned to Hmota! In order for me to be that attuned to the dark river means I was probably a horrible Avist worshiper in my past lives, or something even worse! I probably deserve this punishment for what I've done." Anisha buried her face back into her ball form.

Kameko was really getting tired of that. She kinda wished Anisha would act her age rather than how she looked.

"Anisha, you are the kindest person I know. You told me that you wanted to become a healer so that you could make people feel better. To fix the wrongs of the world. Does that sound like someone who was once a worshiper of the literal God of treachery?"

Anisha seemed a little comforted by her friend's honest words. Looking at her friend she asked.

"So- what now? What am I supposed to do with an undead nobleman as a summon?"

"We worry about that- Wait did you say he's a nobleman? No deal with it later right, later. For now you let me worry about your 'Summon' and you get some rest." Her never glum personality started to rub off on Anisha. Slowly she lifted herself up and laid down on her old cot. Draping a blanket over her Kameko shut the blinds and silently stepped out of the room.

Kameko couldn't help but do a silent dance on the other side of the door. She was so excited by the news! For the first time in recorded history someone was born with an attunement to black crystals! HA hA!

She could hardly believe it herself even though researchers had theorized about the possibility for a while but once Anisha first told her about how she had summoned Bruin about a year ago and Anisha showed no sighns of corruption she knew there was more to it.

Summoning was extremely dangerous, and what made it even more dangerous was the total lack of knowledge about it. Years ago when the magic was first outlawed everybook on the subject was burned and anyone practicing necromancy was arrested and usually executed to keep them from spreading the knowledge of how to raise the dead and summon familiars.

She couldn't believe her luck as a researcher. In all the world, heck in all the realms the gods have ever created, how did she end up being friends and fellow student with the one person in known history to have a connection to Hmota so deep that she can summon even as a novice mage!

She had to go see this summon for herself. She had so many questions to ask him!

Dashing down the hall quickly she jumped the stairs and landed on the floor with another quiet thump. In front of her, her teacher, Mrs. Malissa had her gloved hands that went all the way to her elbow were covered in blood.

Lord Knight Holyoak was nowhere to be seen, probably seeing that he was no longer needed he had left to give the professionals room to work.

The man that no one except Anisha and herself knew was a rotted corpse a few days ago. Layed on the table. His gray tunic peeled back to show his bare rather well defined, chest. Bloodied bandages were strewn about the room. Venus held the man's head in his hands. A blue crystal around his neck floated close by Glowing from use.

"He's still blocking me out. I can't tell if anything we're doing is helping." He said in frustration. His pedal eyelids twisted with concentration, and his wide mouth curved down in frustration.

"Then we'll have to fix him the old fashion way. Hand me the pliers. Oh good your back finally. Quick grabbed that thread there and bring it here. I'm gonna have to sew him back together." Malissa's knowledge of the Human body was truly remarkable. Healing was usually done by the person's own body, and the healer simply supplied the mana for it to repair itself at a faster pace.

To repair damage like this by hand was quite the feat even for her teacher.

When Kameko went to hand the thread to her teacher she saw the damage to the Summon. A hole the size of a spear shaft was punched straight through his entire body. If she looked she thought she could even see his lungs moving on the inside.

Taking on her role as assistant and pupil she stood at her teachers side grabbing every odd tool she requested. Some of them were buried behind years of old experiments and samples that their original purpose has long since been forgotten.

Hours went by and it wasn't until the sun had set long ago that Malissa put down her tools and slipped off her gloves. Wiping the sweat from her brow she slumped onto a nearby stool and hunched over, chin resting on her hands. She stared defiantly at her patient. Who laid in front of her. Venus slumped into the stool beside her. Exhaustion evident from maintaining the blue crystals power for so long.

"Well, did we do it?" he asked, dabbing his forehead with his handkerchief, that was covered in so many alchemy stains Kameko couldn't tell which one was the original color of it.

"He'll live. But It'll take months maybe even a year for that wound to heal properly." Snapping her fingers, and without looking at the exhausted assistant Malissa started another questioning.

"Pupil! We are unable to heal our patient through the use of magic, why is that?"

Kameko, even though she was exhausted, shot up from her seat, stiff backed and alert. But she didn't know how to answer the question. At least she has a few theories. Like that fact that perhaps traditional healing magic does not work on a summon. And he could theoretically only be healed with more black crystals. Does that apply to other magics? Would a gray crystal not be able to strengthen his body to resist injury. Would use of a Red crystal to enhance his reflexes. Could a blue...

The blue crystals, Venus wasn't able to perceive his mind. Could that mean. yes it's possible, having been made entirely of a corrupted crystal it could be hypothesized that his very existence acts as a cancellation to all other forms of magic!

'Pupil..'

She'll have to write these experiments down somewhere and make Anisha help her with her research! She could stand to learn so much from this golden opportunity

"PUPIL! You've got two sets of ears don't you?" Mrs. Malissa was not a very patient person, and her annoyance was convened clearly through the ruffling of her petals on her head.

"Ahh.." Kameko zoned out again! She had to think of some answer that wasn't true but also wouldn't make her teacher think she wasn't smart enough to figure it out.

"umm, B-because Venus wasn't able to make the mind connection. Therefore his body wasn't able to be told to start repairing itself with the supplied mana?..."

Malissa nodded slowly to it.

"yes.. But for the love of Beskyttende why not?..."

"I've never experienced anything like it. I'd have a better chance digging a hole through the city's wall with my bare hands than connecting with that man's mind. It's like a bastion of steel. I feel I nearly cracked my gate just trying to press through it. There must be something blocking me from his mind." Venus looked the most exhausted out of all of them. His lime green skin has faded to a lighter version. His eye pitals dropped almost covering his eyes.

"Malissa when that Anisha pupil of yours wakes up we're gonna have to ask her some questions about how this man got injured."

Mentioning the wound made Kameko look at the man again. His chest, rather barbarically she had to admit, was sewn together by nothing more than a piece of thread. Her teacher had to do what she called a "Tissue transfer" where she had to cut out layers of skin from another part of his body, she cut out several square sections of skin from his forearm, chest, and leg, and reattach them to make a complete seal of the original wound as there wasn't enough.. "Material" to patch it up.

She couldn't see what work she did on the inside of his body. Her hands blocked her view, and she was so focused that Kameko didn't dare approach the table unless especially ask to.

She'll have to ask her teacher more about this method of healing.

"Something isn't right about this." Her teacher finally concluded after a few more minutes of silent contemplation.

Her husband leaned over and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Mallissa my dear, we've done all we can for the man. You're the best healer in the kingdom hey maybe even in the world!" His remark made her smirk a little but she maintained her concentration on the man as if, waiting for something to happen.

"Come my dear, it's late. Why don't I make us some Singwood flower tea and get some rest hmm?" When she didn't respond he let out a sigh, standing up he looked to Kameko who was still studying the stiches on the man's body.

"How about you young pupil? The singwood arrived just this morning, it won't taste any better than if you have it tonight?"

Kameko didn't register what Venus was saying. Instead she reached out her hand to trace the stiches, curious if the style of stiches was important to the healing.

A strong hand gripped her wrist and pulled her away from the observations.

"DON'T TOUCH THE THREADS PUPIL!" Mrs. Malissa's tone showed that she was truly angry. But for once Kameko didn't know why. Sure she knew she had a habit of zoning out but her teacher always encouraged her intellectual curiosity.

"M-Mallis.. Mrs. Malissa. You're hurting my arm." She finally said. Her voice tinged with fear looking at her teacher. She'd never seen her this angry. All her petals were outstretched making her look bigger than she actually was. Her eye petals spread wide showing her eyes in full detail.

"Malissa my dear, calm down, the pupil just wanted to study your work." Venus tried to defuse the situation. But it only earned him a glare from his wife.

"My work... my work! What good is my work if I can't even heal a single scratch on this man! Blood of the gods! It should have taken effect by now! Kunnskap Knowledge why do you forsake me now!" Malissa's use of the gods in her language didn't bode well for her mood.

"Teacher, What do you mean, he is alive, and you fixed him by umm, sewing him up. Surely you have done something."

"All I've done is put a fabric patch over a dress that's half burned to ash! The thread spool, hand it to me."

Kameko quickly acted, not wanting to bring any more anger her way. Grabbing the spool of thread off the counter where she left it she quickly handed it to her teacher.

Unwinding the thread a few times in her hand, her teacher, without warning, took one of her small thin blades she used during the healing and cut a gash in her own hand.

"MALISSA!" the tea that Venus was holding on a tray crashed to the floor as he ran over to her side.

"What in Hmota are you doing to yourself?!" Turning to the side he quickly grabbed some white cloth and was gonna wrap it around her hand to stop the bleeding.

Not seeming to care one bit of what she just did. Malissa took the twine and snapped the thread loose from the spool. As she did a light shot through the thread slightly illuminating the room.

Malisa clenched her fist and steam arose from her fist. Quickly the thread in her hand disintegrated into nothing.

Both Kameko and Venus stood back and watched in amazement as Malissa opened her hand. Her uninjured hand.

"By the- how..." Venus's eyes went wide in shock. Kameko figured her eyes probably looked the same too.

"The Earthborn call it Miracle Thread. A magical substance that doesn't require any mana from the user to heal a wound. Very rare, glad to see I didn't waste my money on a regular spool of cloth" She said this, flexing her hand open and closed as if testing to ensure there was no pain left. Seeming satisfied with her little demonstration, and the bewilderment on both her pupil and husband she stood up and approached the man.

She ran her finger across the stitches feeling each bump and twist of the miracle thread.

"It should have healed the skin at least. But it seems using the thread did nothing at all. Might as well have been a thread bought at the local seamstress shop. But as you can see here" Holding up her hand to the light. "It works just fine. I supplied no healing or mana to it whatsoever."

"What could it mean?" Kameko asked her teacher, wanting to know.

"I... I have know idea" that response seemed to pain her to admit openly to her pupil.

"It would seem I have no other choice. This man's care is out of my ability to care for." Setting her face she stood up and headed to the front of the store. Kameko and Venus right behind her.

Putting on a satchel and cinching her knife to her belt. she draped a dark purple cloak over her. Her front two hair petals just barely sticking out the front of the hood.

"I'm going to see the Oracle." Her face distorted with her own declaration.

Kamko panicked at the mention of the oracle.

"THE ORACLE?!" Her exclamation caused her teacher to stop half way through the door.

"Yes, though I'd rather remove my own arm with a dull scalpel than ask an Avysky for help. I'm out of options, and my priority is my patients well being. I will be back as soon as I get the answers I want out of her."

"A-are you sure you should disturb her at this hour?! I mean it is late and you know the Oracle doesn't like to be disturbed." Kamekos mouth opened before she had time to think of a better response. She had to keep the Oracle away from her newly acquired research subject.

"Frankly I don't care if she's in a meeting with the Kings of every kingdom! She'll have to make time whether she likes it or not. Get some rest Pupil, I'll be back as soon as possible." And with a flourish of the cape she disappeared into the dark streets.

Venus, who had just finished picking up the shattered tea cups sighed again. Accepting his wifes stubborn attitude he didn't protest once she set her mind.

"Don't worry, pupil. I am sure everything will be alright. How about you go check on Pupil Anisha while I tidy up down here."

Kameko's slow stride to her upstairs room gave her time to worry even more.

The oracles' involvement with the summon wasn't good. wasn't good at all.