Zoe and young Ida had finished picking the Emerald Leaf and giving it to Anthony to lug back to the farm carried in a long strap of cloth that Ida had brought wrapped in rope. As they walked back along the trail, Master Zoe regaled him of the tale of her second awakening to gaining the power of fire.

“Master Zephyr believed that healer was not some title that should be bestowed upon someone who can fix a body, but who also fixes the soul of a person. To deny that simply because one possessed no specific magical talent was the greatest flaw of character.”

“Sounds like the old code of the hunter’s.” Anthony mused. “A true hunter does not kill for sport or glory, he hunts to give what is needed. That’s why I only hunted for things that everyone could use, and made sure animals that were hazardous were not left to rot in the field.”

“Chivalry aside, I was encouraged not only to learn what Master Zephyr had to teach, but also helped him with mage craft as well. This was mostly regulated to gathering special metals and tools at first, until once one time his power was too strong for him to control. It started as a cold air that ran through the halls, but turned into a cyclone at the center of his office. Only a fire mage could cancel that storm by releasing a flare that could cancel out the wind force, but no fire mages were there that night. If it wasn’t handled it would have completely siphoned his life until it destroyed the whole clinic, maybe the whole area. I suddenly thought of fire being fanned by the wind. If the wind was strong, the fire would fall, but if the fire was sturdy it could feed off the air to create a strong flame. It was at that moment I concluded that fire can not start without wind, but wind can start fire if it is sturdy. So in the face of a cyclone inside that clinic I stood my ground, took a deep breath and for the first time in my life, I could release...fire.”

“Incredible, Master Zoe.” Anthony was amazed by this story adjusting the weight of his heavy load. “How did you even know you knew that would work?”

“Honestly kid, I didn’t.” He turned white with amazement. “Sometimes in a desperate situation, you’ll do something incredibly brave or stupid. I don’t know what it was that clicked in my head but it worked, and the next day Master Zephyr finally accepted his retirement. He said it because he realized the next morning that he already found someone who could carry one of his work. I thought he was crazy, because nobody ever heard of Fire Mage being an Elemental Healer. He was confident that I would find a way, as long as I learned all I could and kept my mind free as the wind.”

“Yet, you served in the Empire, went to a university.” Anthony noticed.

“I also gained access to some of the finest facilities in learning, and got to see first hand some of the best healers in the continent both here and abroad. Although they didn’t share much I could observe, I could deduce, I would even ask around to some of the people who worked close and notice other things too.” She seemed proud of her achievements. “There’s only so much you can learn about in books Bios, that’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Speaking of which...” She turned her eyes to Ida who had been standing behind them the whole time. “...do your parents realize your brother has been out in these fields recently?”

“W-what?!” Ida seemed surprised.

“I could tell by the way your fields were haphazardly picked recently. If I had taken more than my share I could have over harvested the plants.”

“I know my brother Ms. Zoe, he would never take from the Green without asking. It is a sacred place guarded by my father since his grandfather’s time.”

“Sacred only applies to what one reveres or respects. Can you honestly say your brother, with a known gambling problem, truly respects your family’s lifestyle?”

Ida was struck speechless, until she was halted by Master Zoe who suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“What’s wrong, Master Zoe?”

“Just a hunch Bios, but if I were you I would put that bundle down for now and walk with me. Ida, stay here and try not to bring any attention to yourself.”

“Ms. Zoe, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t you hear it, kid?”

“I hear nothing Ms. Zoe.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Anthony quickly placed his bundle of herbs on the ground. He had felt this many times before, only in the most dire of situations. There was the typical sound of nature elements, but nothing bigger than insects and small game stirring about. There were no birds, no animals, but there was definitely something at the farm as a malevolent presence that a seasoned hunter would notice. To Master Zoe, it was an all too familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach, that made her feel very annoyed.

“I’ve got a feeling I’m not the only one here who’s come to collect.” Zoe shook her head.

“Master Zoe, is it wise to leave a young girl here unguarded?”

“Hey, I can take care of myself.” Ida protested. “This far from home, I could walk these trails in my sleep.”

“Good enough for me. Bios, you coming or not?”

He nodded his head and head off with Zoe leaving behind his bundle of goods with the Ida. With every step they treaded lightly trying not to make too much noise, until they reached the edge of the barn. It was when they were several feet away that they heard the cries of pain hollering in the distance.

“Waah!” They heard the voice of a young man cry.

“Where’s the healer!?” They heard another man’s voice called back at the screams of desperation.

“She’s not here I swear!” The older man’s voice replied.

They heard the sound of an older woman’s voice crying and pleading.

“No more, please!” A woman wailed. “For the love of the Kings, don’t hurt my son!”

From their hiding place behind the brush they saw exactly what was transpiring. Three strangers, wearing dark hooded coats, were standing in front of the three captured farmers. One was a scraggly looking man with a scar down his cheek and his long curly beard, the second was a blonde haired man with a curly waxed mustache, and the third was a youngest looking gentleman with short brown hair. While the scarred man held Lycus by the arms, the blonde haired man stood in front pacing back and forth. Niles and his wife Thisbe were being guarded by the youngest man, who despite trying to look intimidating was trying hard to avert his eyes from sight of his tortured prisoner.

“Why must you hold out on such a simple question?” The blonde haired man rubbed his aching head. “She’s not your blood, she’s not your kin, but you still refused to tell us where the healer is?” He reached out his hands, creating sparks from out of his finger tips that when he pinched them together a small “zap” called out the snap of crickets chirping. “Your son is more cooperative, but he’s so out of it he couldn’t give us the time of day in his current state. So I’ll ask you both again, where is the healer!”

“She isn’t here, I swear!” Niles stood his ground strong as the blonde hair man stepped in front of him.

“Do you take me for a fool! We found her wagon outback, we’ve checked every corner of this place and found no sign of her which means you’re hiding her somewhere. Are you going to tell us or must you let your son suffer more for your stubbornness?”

“D-dad, p-please!” Lycus said, struggling to hold his thoughts.

“Niles!” The mother pleaded, before Niles shook his head.

They continued this discussion with neither side refusing to budge, all the while Anthony and Zoe would only watch and wait.

“Where’s Clio?” Anthony whispered from behind his hiding place.

“She’s probably hiding in the back, in the hidden room of the storm cellar.” Zoe whispered back. “Niles told me it’s where they used to hide precious goods in times of raids, so it should be big enough to hide a person.”

“I can make it back to the cellar, if I had the chance to...”

“...Here’s your chance, kid.” She suddenly walked out of the bushes making a loud commotion as if she had accidentally tumbled out of the brush one accident. “Dang, this old wooden leg of mine is stiffer than oak. It's made of oak, but after a long walk...” She caught the attention of the three strangers who turned their eyes at the crazy looking woman. “...Well, I didn’t know you were expecting company Niles.”

“Zoe, thank the Kings, you’re...” Thisbe was relieved to see her, but her husband was in utter shock and horror.

He had lived through pressures in the Slums like this before and each always ended the same way. Even if they got what they wanted they would never keep their word, which means that their life was even more at risk than before. The blonde-haired stranger was particularly happy to see the healer, walking away from the family and instead focused his attention on her.

“Zoe Gaia, the master healer we’ve heard so much about.”

“I don’t like to brag, I just go where I’m needed, and right now you’ve got one of my patients strung up by the arms.” Her eyes turned sharp as knives. “Care to talk about that?”

Anthony felt that things were about to get intense, but his mission was clear. He knew Master Zoe could handle herself, but Clio being inexperienced Water Mage was practically defenseless and in need of his help more than hers. As they continued their chat he snuck around the back of the house making his way to the storm cellar.