Queen vs. Healer

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"Three students and Sir Thomas Blackwood have been safely rescued, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Council's special agents under the leadership of SA Lukas Schmidt. They are all stable. While this is a positive development, the search continues for the remaining—"

A soft, feminine voice cut through the newscaster’s voice: "Eydis Von Ap... Apfelhof?"

Eydis swiftly silenced her phone and removed her earbuds, rising gracefully to her full height, which put her a few inches above the woman who had addressed her.

"That I am," she stated with a gracious inclination of her head. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she glanced over the woman, noticing the sharp white coat and the finely tailored white suit. "And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

The woman's brow furrowed subtly, her ocean blue eyes narrowed. It was clear she expected to be recognised.

“Dr. Melissa Le Bleu. Please, follow me.”

‘Ah, a touch prideful, I see.’ Eydis’s lips twitched.

Eydis was guided through the antiseptic-scented corridors of Melissa's private clinic. The doctor's office, however, was surprisingly tasteful, brimming with sunlight. The green foliage outside swayed gently, despite being in the heart of Alchymia’s CBD and with winter just a few weeks away.

The doctor instructed her to lie down on a plain examination bed before snapping on a fresh pair of blue latex gloves. "May I?"

“You may, though I suspect I don't have much choice in the matter." Eydis replied, noting the doctor's surprised blink at her directness.

“Close your eyes,” Melissa said curtly, not bothering to explain further.

With her eyes shut, Eydis sensed a gentle caress on her scalp. A soft, warm blue glow seeped through her closed lids, beginning at the back of her head and filling her with an unexpected sense of peace.

She let her guard down, allowing the realm’s reputed healer to work. Weightless, adrift, her mind cleared. Healing without potions... this was a first. Was there any healer in her world capable of such a feat?

Melissa Le Bleu, how intriguing.

Once the session concluded, a nurse escorted Eydis for another X-Ray scan before returning her to Melissa's office.

"All done. You should rest for another fifteen minutes here while we monitor your reaction," Dr. Le Bleu stated cooly as she compared the new X-ray scans to the ones St. Kevin's had provided.

"As you wish, Doctor. Thank you for your time,” Eydis replied, settling back onto the bed as instructed. She used the distraction to study Melissa.

‘Why was everyone in this realm so incredibly striking?’ she thought. At least, all the Gifted individuals were. Not only were they blessed with some form of magic, but each seemed to radiate an otherworldly presence, as if their power was woven into their very being.

Melissa's long, wavy azure hair was tied in a neat ponytail, save for a few stray locks framing mesmerising blue eyes. She wasn't what Eydis pictured a healer to be. Young, in her mid-twenties, lean, and most unexpectedly...

A long silence stretched before Melissa finally spoke. "In all honesty, I was starting to believe you'd found a way to transcend the need for medical attention altogether. My professional pride was this close to shattering," Melissa said with a haughty lilt, holding her thumb and forefinger a hair's breadth apart.

...That attitude. Delightful.

Eydis smirked, propping herself up on the bed, her amber eyes locking with Melissa's in a playful challenge.

"Who knows, doc," she said, "perhaps I was a tad worried about what secrets you might unearth, poking around in my... overly occupied brain."

The doctor’s eyes sharpened, darting between the X-ray and Eydis. “Interesting. The fractures have healed entirely. Given the severity of your initial injuries, this level of healing is… unexpected,” she paused, glancing at Eydis. “St. Kevin’s medical facilities are hardly renowned for such expertise. Care to explain, Miss Von Apfelhof?”

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And this was precisely why Eydis avoided checkups. As her power returned, her body had grown stronger, efficiently healing any lingering injuries.

Time to give this perceptive doctor a taste of the Queen's wit.

"Completely healed, you say?” Eydis said, innocently tilting her head. “I must confess, it's hard to believe myself. Such a quick dismissal of my injury, Doctor Le Bleu... one might almost think we're jumping to conclusions."

Melissa's jaw tightened visibly. She crossed her arms, her voice cold and steady. “I’m not in the habit of missing details, Miss Von Apfelhof. I assure you, your scans are clear. Or are you implying that I would falsify them?”

With a sly grin, Eydis leaned in. “Forgive me, Doctor. I would never imply someone of your standing could overlook something so simple. Or is there a chance…” she paused, “...that you're inclined to assist a certain aspiring Senator in erasing his daughter's blemishes? A signature, a minor downplay of my injury... it would be a small favour with immense benefits, wouldn't you agree?"

Eydis could almost hear the cracks forming in Melissa’s composure. The doctor’s cheeks reddened slightly, her grip tightening on the X-ray. Clearly, Melissa had an ego, and a well-placed hit to her pride and professionalism had worked like a charm.

Melissa straightened, clearing her throat. “You think a few rumours will tarnish my standing? I’ve built my career on expertise and merit, not gossip. Don't presume a child like you understands the complexities of the adult world."

Eydis’s grin widened. ’Ah, the classic ad hominem fallacy. How... predictable.’

She fluttered her eyelashes innocently. “Oh, dear doctor, this ‘child’ is only laying out a logical thought. You’re a brilliant woman—full scholarship, graduated top of your class at St. Kevin’s. But should Tiffany’s… bad habits make an appearance, people will wonder if a certain doctor is involved in a certain… game of nepotism. Do you disagree?”

The blue in Melissa’s eyes flared with otherworldly light before cooling back down. She gritted her teeth. “Nepotism? By helping you recover faster? Or is simply doing my job a crime…Eydis?”

“Speaking like a true doctor," Eydis purred. "But tell me, Dr. Le Bleu, does the truth ever truly matter?" She unlocked her phone casually.

"Miss Von Apfelhof, I believe our session is over—"

"Forgive the interruption, but I thought this might interest you,” Eydis said, casually angling her phone toward Melissa. “Conspiracy theories are buzzing about Thomas Blackwood and his close connections. And look at that—you’re playing a key role in one. A million followers and counting… quite the audience. It seems even the most respected figures can fall under suspicion, wouldn’t you agree, Doctor?”

"My association with the Blackwoods is purely familial. My work stands on its own,” the doctor snapped, though her voice had lost some of its edge.

“Does it matter, doctor? I suspect the mere subject of your age has already caused you enough headaches, hasn't it?" She observed Melissa's subtle flinch with satisfaction. “Tiffany's little school antics are still kept under wraps, thanks to the Blackwoods' influence and St. Kevin's notoriously tight-lipped policies. But imagine if..."

“Are you… blackmailing me?” Melissa asked with disbelief.

“Black…Blackmail?” Eydis gasped, adopting a wide-eyed innocent look. “How could I, a poor, powerless teen, even dream of such a thing against an esteemed, Gifted doctor? I'm simply offering a friendly observation.”

The doctor carefully set the scan aside. A glimmer of challenge lit up her eyes. “Please, enlighten me—as a fellow alumna, what observation would a ‘Talented’ student such as yourself have made?”

Eydis’s voice dipped. “It would be a pity, wouldn't it, Doctor, if your stellar reputation were tarnished by association? Especially now that Thomas Blackwood is the city's darling, having bravely faced that smoke monster. The press is practically eating out of his hand. And, curiously, you weren't the one tending to the hero of the hour. I wonder why that is?"

Melissa’s eyes widened, as if the words had struck her with the weight of a collapsing building. Eydis’s amber eyes twinkled, letting the implication settle before she gracefully stood from the bed.

“Oh, would you look at that—my time is indeed up. I must admit, Doctor, I feel thoroughly refreshed. Your care has been... quite illuminating."

Eydis swiftly left the office, leaving a bewildered doctor to herself. If her hunch was right, someone as highly regarded as Melissa, also given their family ties, would be one of the top attendees at the Gala. The Queen’s gambit was in motion; now, Envy would play its part.

From what she gathered, the event was highly secured, with important figures from across the country attending. As it was a masquerade, "anonymous" fundraising event, instead of the usual identity checks, they'd rely on the invitations to access the gate. Each invite had an embedded chip for entry. At the door, there would be an AI scanner to check the attendee's physical description.

While Melissa was shorter than her, Eydis had a way to infiltrate this. All she needed now was to remove Melissa from the equation before securing the invitation. And it was just her luck that Thomas Blackwood had sent his trusted family doctor to watch over her. If this plan failed, she might have to resort to... a much more violent method.

‘Wouldn't you say so, Envy?’

‘I certainly hope this doctor fails to see the logic you present, Your Majesty. I’m vibrating with anticipation for some action, as your power courses through me,’ Envy hissed with glee.

‘Woof woof,’ Cerberus barked enthusiastically, probably already tasting the potent power coursing through Melissa.

Eydis left the clinic shortly after. Now that her power was stronger, Envy could operate further away from her physically. The seed had been planted; now, she only needed to wait for it to sprout.

As she stepped out into the city square, a holographic newsfeed caught her eye, reporters swarming Thomas Blackwood over his apparent “selfless act” of saving the children, who had no recollection of what happened to them before and during the kidnap. A poll at the bottom of the screen declared him the frontrunner in the Senate race.

‘Envy, you have much to learn about the art of manipulation.’ Eydis playfully teased Envy.

The serpent grumbled telepathically, ‘Indeed, Your Majesty. And I suspect that tomorrow... the real performance begins.”

‘Tomorrow,’ Eydis repeated as she descended into the metro's depths.