With a golden opportunity, she meant going upstairs and focussing on letting the green energy within me seep into the palm of my hand. This wasn't easy, but doable after a few attempts.

I focused on my hand and visualized the energy going into it. It moved through my veins and I could feel the separated skin’s desire, it wanted to reunite and become whole again. Too bad nothing happened. Vel looked somewhat disappointed 'Maybe we went a little too fast, you've only been practicing it for two days I suppose.' Her words had a small sting to them, but like she said it had only been two days. I told her that I did feel something so I was probably getting closer to really doing something with it.

'That's true you felt the right things, the result is just missing. That's no biggie. After a little more practice you should be healing such a wound without a sweat.' That sounded very promising and it got me excited. We were sitting in her room again. She looked at me and then said. 'It's getting late Jacob, I think you should go to sleep, you’ve practiced quite a bit today.'

I nodded, 'sure, but maybe? could I stay a little longer?' she tilted her head a little and grinned ‘what? So you can see me get dressed for bed or something? You really did like what you saw.' She chuckled a bit and I managed a nervous laugh of my own. 'well maybe it's better if I go.'

'Maybe another time Jacob'

I smiled at her, knowing it wasn't my place to ask such things of her, but luckily she didn't brush me off entirely. I went downstairs to say good night to Malanda who was working at her embroidery and went to bed after me.

Laying in the darkness I thought of the green energy and wondered if I could practice everywhere. I tried it and after a couple of minutes, I saw the colors bumping into each other. Soon after, I decided to sleep. This last session had made me extremely drowsy.

The next morning would be the day Master returns. We didn't know what time he would. Malanda decided against getting his favorite food in advance because,- ‘you can never anticipate anything with a rascal like your Father.’ she had told Vel.

Vel and I checked my wound and it was completely healed, it must have something to do with sleep then.

She thought my chest wound from a while ago had healed in the same unconscious way. I used the healing energy within me as I slept. After that Vel left me in a magic circle to practice again and I think she kissed me on my forehead after she told me she was still sorry and that it must be hard for me going through all these changes. As I was concentrating it felt very far away, like the last sound of an echo. I didn't know if it was real as I sat there unresponsive in silence focussing on the task at hand.

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In the afternoon I got dizzy again and Vel got a little bit anxious for her father, although she tried not to show it. Master had still not returned.

'He always comes back Vel’ I said as I came closer to her with some wobbly steps. Her concern swiftly shifted to me, then I put my arms around her, sleepy as I was.

'I know, I know, but something could have happened. I mean word of the West doesn't come around much' I had my eyes closed, it felt like I was spinning. I managed to say 'We could ask Malanda if she wants to ask around for us.'

When I opened them again, I was laying in her bed. She must have carried me. How strong is she? I decided to lay there for a while under the small vails illuminating light. I still felt tired so it should be fine. The sheaths and pillow strongly smelt of her, maybe it’s weird that I know her smell. Okay, I should go now, no sense in being weird here. I went downstairs and Malanda was gone just like Vel seemed to be, strange. They are probably both concerned about master. What if something really has happened, I heard people from the West are moving around a lot lately.

I drank some water in the kitchen and worked on the chores I saw in front of me. The table wasn't cleaned so I made it sparkle, almost. I found some dust here and there, which I immediately eliminated.

Huh? What's this? A little hole in the wall. A mouse? Should I set a trap? I decided to do so and used some cheese. Just after the trap was set I heard the door opening. Vel and Malanda entered. They seemed to have calmed a bit. 'Where have you been?'

Malanda quickly responded in a casual tone. 'Ow, just the market, we asked around a little about what's going on in the west.'

Vel went on. 'The people we talked to said something about sightings of mindless undead near their cities. Probably some stray necromancer who lost his pets or something.'

A weird feeling came over me, and had a question 'Okay that's strange, but why are those people here then?' It’s nothing master couldn’t handle.

Vel went on 'Some random villages close to a major city got attacked, they already feared some grant Apocalypse and decided to flee.' Then Malanda interrupted her. 'You must agree Lady Vel it does sound scary.'

Vel turned to Malanda speaking more to her than me. 'I know, but they also said that just one village was destroyed as far as they know, the others managed to fend them off.’

I looked at her, she was downplaying it, her concern for her father was really gnawing at her. 'Still master went to look into the matter, so it must be resolved soon.' Saying it as confidently as I could, maybe it would help Vel.