After he finished cleaning up the barn, it was time to clean the tools. It gave Anthony a chance to witness the process that Zoe had demonstrated once before, but had no understanding of the process itself. She placed the tools down on a metal plate and pointed her fingers with a glowing fast hot intensity of light. He recognized this technique as Holy Light, the highest grade of High Master Fire Mage techniques. Its beam was so intense it could melt steels and scorch bone and flesh in an instant. Never had he seen someone use it to cleanse the metal tools of all blood and fluids to make it shine like it was new.
The scorching was done on a mythril plate, Anthony knew by the waves of heat radiating from the plate as she moved her finger up and down in a rapid pattern until all the tools were cleaned. When the plate cooled down she immediately flipped the tools on the other side and repeated the process. All the while, Clio had been monitoring Lycus by placing her fingers on his temple. Massaging his head, she eased him back into consciousness gradually enough so that he wasn’t startled by the sudden realization of his situation.
“Lycus, do you hear me?”
“Y-yes.” He said in a groggy whisper.
“Where are you at, Lycus?”
“In the barn. You were performing surgery on...” Clio helped him lift his chest up just enough so he could see the healing scar on his leg. “...My leg, is it fixed?”
“Not entirely kid, you should give it some rest for a few days.” Zoe walked into their resting area, having finished cleaning her tools. “One thing that healers can never completely control is time. So, if I were you, I’d cut back on your activities even if you know what I mean.”
He turned his head knowing that she had figured out the true cause of his injuries.
“You’re not as clever as you think, hiding your gambling debts from your parents, but I understand what it’s like growing up in a small town with nothing better to do than risk your life in the betting houses and taverns.”
“It’s my life, why do they have to decide what I do with it?” He started to regain feeling in his body.
“Who do you think’s paying your medical bills, kid?” She asked with a cold and icy stare. “Believe me, if you can’t afford to pay for my services someone will. Know that all your debts must be paid, whether you like it or not, don’t let your family suffer for your inexperience.”
She motioned to Anthony to walk with her and Clio helped him get back on his feet. It was a slow cumbersome process, but he could tell that he felt more than relieved to get out of that horse blanket on a bed of hay. As they walked back to the house, Anthony caught a glimpse of crops that seemed nearby but didn’t see much more than a few rows of wheat and grains, making him wonder what could be the payment Zoe would accept for her services.
“If you’re worried about my payment, don’t be concerned with those rows of grains.” She could almost read the thoughts in Anthony’s head. “The real cash crops aren’t in plain sight.”
At the front of the farmhouse was the family of Niles, his wife Thisbe and his daughter Ida eagerly awaiting the news of their son's condition. They were almost scared stiff when they saw Zoe arrived with a somber look, but when she gave a pleasant nod and smile they all quickly perked up.
“The operation was a success.” She said, “Clio is helping him get back on his feet but it'll be a few days of recovery before he’s in any condition to work again.”
“Better than the few months he would have needed without your help Master Zoe.” Nile grabbed her hands and shook it firmly.
“Thank the Kings for your miracles in saving my son.” Thisbe grabbed her hand weeping as she did.
“It was my duty as healer, but more importantly regarding my payment we discussed earlier.”
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“Of course.” Niles released his grip and turned to his daughter. “Ida, please escort Master Zoe to the Green Fields and help her gather as much herb as she can carry.”
“Yes, father.” Before they left Ms. Zoe turned to Anthony with a bright look on her face.
“Well kid, are you coming or not?” She smiled. “Just because I can carry it doesn’t mean I gotta haul it back to the wagon by myself.”
Anthony followed the two ladies as they traveled off the farm property, into the surrounding woodland areas. Through the wild brush and tall trees through corners of rocks and dirt paths they traveled until they reached their zenith. As they traveled, Ida was careful to help Zoe walk down the hills for fear that her wooden leg might slow her down, but she politely refused, proud of having managed this far in life with only one leg. Anthony was curious as to why the field they were going to was so far off from the property.
“You’re very lucky you know, not many people outside the family get to see the Green Fields.” Ida mentioned as she walked next to Anthony as they reached the final stretch of their journey. “If Ms. Zoe trusts you, I suppose that makes you like her family.”
“Yes, I suppose you could say that.” Anthony remembered how they first met in rather shaky circumstances.
“Well, that makes you part of our family too.” She smiled.
“Have you known Master Zoe for a long time?”
“Oh yes, she’s been visiting our family for years. Practically the only healer who will come out this far, all the other healers demand we make an appointment and fees my father or mother couldn’t afford.”
“Whatever you’re giving her must be worth something considering the resources she’s put into fixing you brother in such prime condition. The methods she used I’ve never heard of outside the Empire or the Luxury States of the Duchy.”
“That’s because the average person can’t afford such advanced treatments, they’re mostly available for people who can afford them.” Zoe said. “These methods are only half baked imitations of the ones that other healers use, but just as effective. Just because the rich can afford it doesn’t mean the poor should be any less deserving of medicine and care. Then, there are other ways people can pay forward my generosity, then mere gold or luxury can provide.”
“We’re now Ms. Zoe.” Ida pointed to a large overgrowth of wild shrubs with an especially green hue.
Behind the ordinary greenery of brush and tall trees was hidden a grove of long bamboo like stalks that glowed with a lime fluorescent that made it sparkle like living gems. Its leaves were spread out in every direction releasing a strange essence that smelled of strange cut grass in the morning mist. As they stepped into the fields, Anthony got to examine every fiber of this mysterious plant but for the life of him could not identify its origin or name.
“What manner of herb is this?” He asked his master.
“Well the locals call it Lycan Grave Flowers, but to the Alchemists of the Empire it’s known as Emerald Leaf.”
“Emerald Leaf?!” He immediately let go of the leaf and proceeded to wipe his hand.
“What’s the matter son, you get stung by a bee?” Zoe laughed.
“Emerald Leaf is a hazardous substance, strictly forbidden amongst the Empire.” He protested. “They say it can cause hallucination, paranoia, upon contact.”
“Ha, so glad that the Empire is still running that old rumor mill.” Zoe casually plucked the herbs from the top large bamboo stocks and started gathering them in a bag she had by her side. “It’s true that the plant can cause hallucinations, in fact some water mages believed that it awakens the inner power of the spirit force, but there is another use that only a select few are privileged to know about.”
“My family has been using it for years as the pain reliever in this part of the states.” Ida said, helping Zoe pick the plants. “Some other families even use it for rituals they’ve been performing since they worshiped the great beasts.”
“She’s right, the healers of the Empire know this and use it to create a powerful anesthesia, the only reason they forbid it is to maintain control over the medical facilities.”
As she picked the plant, Anthony recalled that many of the texts he read about the leaf were second hand accounts. Never a true manual studies by a specific mages but a Fire Mages analysis on the art of other mades. If what she was saying was true, then there might have been some things the government felt the public was not ready for.
“How do you know about this?”
“When I was younger, I had many jobs but the one that stuck out most was assistant to a brilliant old Wind Mage named Zephyr. Unlike the most healers in the Low States, he treated everyone fairly so long as they did the work, but as time passed I noticed him suffering in silence from an unfortunate condition known as The Squall.”
“I’ve heard of that condition.” Anthony watched as she continued about her work with Ida. “It affects the memory and mood of Wind Mages who overuse their gifts especially late in life and can lead to dementia, language problems, and memory loss.”
“When I started working, he could barely remember what he was doing without my help, but he couldn’t retire either because he was one the only Doctors who could see patience regardless if they had to pay.” Anthony could sense this story did not have a happy ending. “That was until the day of my second awakening.”