Tsugi awoke in an unfamiliar place. He was warm in a comfortable bed and the ceiling was made of wood and cobblestone. The faint crackling of burning wood reached his ears from the corner of the room.
“Another reason you should leave this alone.” Master Lumes sat on the couch and flipped a page of her book.
Tsugi tried to get up, but his body was not responding. Every part of his body ached everywhere from the top of his head all the way to his toes. All he could do was barely move a finger.
“You won’t be able to move, even if you wanted to.” She muttered, peering up at him from the top of her book. “You’ve depleted your energy. On top of that, you were using your own life-force to heal.”
Tsugi tried to argue back but he could only manage a groan.
“I’ve told you, you won’t be able to move.” She sighed and closed her book, setting it down on the table. “Your stupidity and recklessness isn’t wanted in the field. As a healer, you need to be able to think clearly and fast. You let anything cloud your judgment and it will cost lives, not just others but also your own. Although, from what I gather you don’t seem to have any regard for your own life. That is a very big reason to not teach you anything.”
Tsugi’s heartbeat pounded loudly in his ears, from anger and frustration. For him, his life meant nothing to him without those he cared about, so if he couldn't save them, he found no reason to live. He’s already lost so many, but now he found a friend he wanted to stay with and protect.
“If you die, how would you think everyone would feel?”
They wouldn’t care. He would mean so little in their lives that it would make no big impact, but for him, they meant the world. His hands and feet started tingling from the connecting synapses that fired through his system.
“Do you really think you mean so little to everyone?” She said as if she could read his mind. “Nomatter. Either way, I won’t be taking you under my wing.” She sneered and headed toward the door, but before she could even reach the door, she heard the creaking of the bed. Her ears perked and she turned around, widening her eyes in surprise.
Tsugi had gotten out of bed and was standing beside it. He was sweating profusely with his whole body trembling, and his legs struggling to support the weight of his body. He dropped to his knees and fisted the floor. “Please.” He muttered breathlessly.
She smiled amusedly. “Well, I have to say I’m surprised you’re able to move so fast after depleting your energy. You definitely show potential, I’ll give you that. Enough potential to possibly be a powerful healer one day, actually. But…no matter how much you beg, I won't train you.”
“Why?!” Tsugi gritted his teeth.
“Because, with your mindset, you’ll be the reason why more will die from trying to save you from your stupidity.” Her smile turned into a frown. “Just like today.”
“What?” Tsugi looked up at her, fighting to stay conscious.
She walked over and knelt in front of him to look him in the eye. “You used your own life force to heal, spent all of your energy, and passed out in the middle of the field. It was a good thing your friend Lugo was there to protect you, or you would’ve died. Although, thanks to you, he will have a permanent scar on his leg.” She shrugged and stood back up. “Well, I suppose it was lucky that he didn’t lose his leg, or worse…his life. At least this time, luck was on your side.”
“Is…is he okay?”
“He’s been healed, so he’s fine.”
“Please.” Tsugi begged. “I’ll do whatever you ask. I won’t deplete my energy, I will only heal those you tell me to heal.”
“Even if your friend is dying in front of your eyes?” She glared down at him from her nose.
Tsugi gritted his teeth. “I want to learn so that I can save everyone.”
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, kid, but not everyone can be saved. You need to understand that.”
“I know…I just want to at least try.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Master Lumes sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead, exasperated by this stubborn child before her. “I admire your determination, kid. I will take you as a pupil under one condition.”
Tsugi lifted his head. “Anything!” His eyes widened.
“You heal who I tell you to heal, not who you want to heal. If I tell you to run, you run and don’t look back. Should you deplete your energy, use your own life force or put anyone in danger…it all stops. Should you pull a stupid stunt like you did today, I will kill you myself. Understood?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“We leave first thing in the morning. Say your good-byes.”
Even through his shock that he would be leaving so soon, he managed a bow of his head as she opened the door to leave. Lugo stood by the door with his hand raised, about to knock, but looked up in surprise when he saw Master Lumes glaring down at him. He looked behind her and his eyes widened when he saw Tsugi kneeling on the ground.
“Tsugi!” He ran over and helped Tsugi back into bed. “Are you okay? Why were you on the ground?”
“I’m fine.” Tsugi grunted as his exhaustion began taking over. “I got her to take me as her pupil.” He managed a weak grin on his face.
Lugo huffs a chuckle and shakes his head. “You can actually manage a smile amidst your state? You must be really excited then. Here, eat something, you’ll feel better.” Lugo gave him a bowl of chicken soup. Tsugi gladly took it and drank it greedily. He hadn’t realized how famished he was. “So, you’re leaving with her tomorrow?” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.
“Yeah.” Tsugi exhaled loudly after putting the bowl down from his lips. The broth was appetizing and refreshing. “Why don’t you come with me?”
Lugo chuckled. “You think I have nothing better to do?” He laughed and shook his head. “Jenene and I are leaving to travel the world. She says, the best way for me to learn is to travel and place doors down.” He pulled up a chair next to the bed. “We are also leaving tomorrow morning.”
“Oh.” Tsugi felt an emptiness that was forming in his chest. “Master Lumes said that you saved me?”
“Yeah, you were about to get eaten by a rucai, an alligator-like creature that spits acid to dissolve their prey.”
“Master Lumes said you got hurt?”
“Eh, just a flesh wound. It’s fine.”
“She said that you could’ve lost your leg.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t. It’s no big deal. She’s just trying to scare you. I’m fine.” He brushed it off and waved his hand through the air to dismiss the subject. “Oh!” Lugo reached into his pocket and pulled something out, handing it to Tsugi. “Here.”
Tsugi turned the object in his hand and looked down at the raven colored item. It was a stone that was carved and hollowed with holes in the side of it. “What is it?”
“It’s an ocarina.” Lugo smiled. “Here, let me show you.” He grabbed it back from Tsugi and held it to his lips. He blew softly into it and started covering the hole with his fingers, playing a beautiful melody that melted Tsugi’s heart.
As Tsugi’s eyes closed, he began to sway side to side to the melody that was both beautiful and melancholy. Then he started to feel this odd feeling inside of him as it drew forth an odd tickling in his head. Though there was nothing but darkness, the music filled his ears like a long lost memory he can’t recall, yet it calmed him. “That was beautiful.” He said softly and opened his eyes. “Where’d you get it?”
“It’s mine.” Lugo handed it back to Tsugi.
“Then why are you giving it to me?” Tsugi took it from him and looked at it in his hands, running his fingers over the smooth shape.
“It’ll give you something to do. You can learn how to play it yourself and then…when we meet again, you can show me what you’ve learned.” Lugo smiled brightly at him.
“But…I don’t even have anything for you.” Tsugi’s eyes shifted side to side as he tried to think of something. When he figured it out, he closed his eyes and made a copy of his chained daggers. “Here.” Lugo’s eyes widened when Tsugi handed it to him. “I don’t know how good it’ll be, but I’ve learned to cut it off, so it’ll stay materialized. It’s just like normal daggers. Although, I don’t know if it’ll disappear once you break it or not, so just be careful.”
Lugo turned it in his hands and touched the blade, admiring the design and the sharpness of it. “I can keep it?”
“I will practice with the ocarina and you can practice with the daggers. The next time we meet, let’s see who did the best.” Tsugi smiled.
“Oh you’re on!” Lugo grinned so wide it was as if his face had split in half. “I’m so going to beat you. I’m already a natural.” He stuck his nose into the air, and proudly puffed out his chest.
“Pfft…” Tsugi chuckled and rolled his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
***
Lugo, Tsugi and Ruzo met up with Jenene and Master Lumes at the orphanage, with their bags on their backs and ready to depart.
Jenene opened up two separate doors on the ground and the doors opened. One to the summit of a mountain, and the other into a green meadow.
“Alright.” Jenene gave Tsugi a hug. “You take care of yourself darlin. Smile more often.” She said and stood by the door to the summit, while Master Lumes waited for Tsugi by the door to the meadow.
Tsugi and Lugo felt a wave of sadness hit them, but they both pushed it aside and smiled at each other. They had only just recently become friends, but they were already saying good-bye so soon.
Tsugi had the ocarina tied to his belt and Lugo had the chained daggers tied to his.
“The next time I see you, you better not be so pouty.” Lugo chuckled.
“The next time I see you, you better not be so annoying.” Tsugi pouted and they both broke into laughter.
Ruzo nudged Lugo’s hand and he bent down to pet Ruzo on the head. “You take care of him buddy.” Lugo smiled wistfully and followed Jenene through the door.
“Ruzo.” Ruzo ran through the door, chasing after Master Lumes. “Lugo!” Tsugi called back and held up the ocarina. “Thank you!”
Lugo held up the chained daggers and waved back at him as the doors closed behind them and disappeared.