The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window of Elder Merakia’s room, grazing her face and waking her from slumber. She stretched her tired muscles and yawned as she rose from her bed for the day ahead.

She stepped to the window and opened it to let the cool breeze into her room. The sounds of the birds and the fresh scent filled her senses as the sunlight shone through. She took in the view for a moment before closing the window.

After a shower, she dressed, pulling her dark brown hair into a neat bun. She went about her routine, starting with a cup of brewed coffee in her office. She focused on her work, reading and writing letters to her recipients while sipping her drink.

As Elder Merakia wrote the letters, a bird flew through the open window and landed in a cage. In its chest area was a rolled-up scroll tied with string. She approached the cage, took the letter, and released the bird back into the world outside.

She untied the string from the letter, unrolled it, and read the message inside. She then set the scroll aside as she continued her work. When the letters were finished, Elder Merakia rose from her chair, feeling a slight ache in her limbs from sitting too long. She stretched and let out a satisfied sigh.

“Ah, the letters are finished,” she muttered to herself, cracking a few joints in her limbs. “Now then, time to attend to my duties.”

“Hi Elder Merakia, how are you?”

She turned her head to see a a small Zhivopian appeared from the window, her large eyes looking at her with curiosity.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were there, Mariju,” Elder Merakia smiled at the little guest. “I’m fine, thank you for asking. What brought you to visit me so early this morning?”

“I was passing by here looking for my friend and thought maybe I wanted to come and say hi,” she said back. “I heard that you were going somewhere. Where are you going, Elder Merakia?”

“I have a client who needs medical attention. It is my job as a local physician to ensure their well-being. I have to prepare everything and meet them promptly according to my schedule.”

Mariju nodded, “Oh okay, I understand. I hope the patient feels better soon!” she giggled and smiled as she left the scene. “See you later, Elder Merakia!”

After the young child ran off, the elder mage took another sip of her coffee and left the office, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she made her way to prepare for the meeting with her client.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

The elder mage was standing at her front door, putting on her coat and boots, when a mail carrier appeared and greeted, “Oh, nice to see you again, Elder Merakia!”

She turned to see Firlija flying down onto her mailbox. “How have you been? Are you going to work soon?”

“I am about to leave very soon, so yes indeed.”

“All righty!” She started to put the new mails in when a recent memory popped into her head. “Ah, it’s only been two days since I last saw you. Did you find out where that basket of cookies came from?”

“That basket, huh? It’s still sitting in my office, and I haven’t found any clues or directions as to who delivered it to my house.”

“Is that so? I remember smelling a lot of chocolate chirps—I mean chips in that basket, and it smelled so fresh that I thought it was all homemade. So maybe that would be a clue that someone took the time to make all those cookies for you.” Then she gasped, “Oh? Maybe you have a secret admirer!”

“Oh don’t play the fool with me,” Elder Merakia said, furrowing her brow and crossing her arms. “If I did had a secret admirer, then how come I received a black envelope instead of a bouquet of flowers?”

“Well, you are right with that part. Hm, did you opened the envelope and read the message inside?”

“I did, and then I have my friend burned the mail after.”

“You… what?!”

“Burned the mail,” she repeated. “I have a sharp memory, so keeping that mail around is of no use to me.”

“What does the mail say?”

“It was all nonsense and nothing you needed to know. It was a short message.”

“Aww, so you won’t tell me?

“I told you what I said, Firlija.” Elder Merakia pulled the gloves into her hands and picked up her suitcase and umbrella when her carriage arrived. “Now then, I will go to my client.”

Firlija watched as the elder mage walked past her and asked one last question, “If that’s the case, what are you going to do with all those cookies and the mysterious message?”

“Firlija, don’t tell me that you are a sugar addict, are you?”

“Oh, no-no-no, I’m not an addict!” She immediately shook her head.

“Well, I am not a wasteful person, nor can I trust gifts from an unknown sender,” she sighed. “I will figure it out in time.”

Firlija nodded and closed the mailbox. “Fair enough. You’re as cautious as ever, Elder Merakia. It’s a good quality, I suppose. By the way…” She noticed the umbrella and looked up at the gray clouds gathering overhead. “Do you think it’s going to rain soon?”

“I am bringing an umbrella in case it does happen. You are a mail carrier, I will leave you to your work so you can finish all your deliveries in time before a possible downpour.”

“Oh, thank you! I wish you good luck to reach your clients in time!” she flapped her wings and hovered in the air.

“Take care, Firlija,” the elder mage said and waved as the mail carrier flew away, quickly disappearing into the distance. The driver got out of the vehicle and helped her into the carriage. She settled into the seat and placed her suitcase and umbrella beside her.

“Where to, madam?” the driver asked.

“To Oakleaf Street,” Elder Merakia replied, her tone calm but firm. “The patient there is expecting me.”

“Understood.”

The driver closed the door and walked away before transforming into his Zhivopian form. He got into position before pulling the carriage to their destination.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

As they traveled, Elder Merakia glanced out the window. The gray clouds were thickening, the once faint scent of rain growing stronger. She leaned back in her seat and let her mind wander.

The carriage followed the road to the north side of Iröstos Forest, making its way to the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Illumija Village. The elder mage opened her eyes again and looked out the window, seeing people on the sidewalks and children playing.

Eventually they neared their destination, and the carriage pulled to the side of the road. Elder Merakia stepped out of the carriage, paid the driver, and walked down to the client’s residence with her suitcase and umbrella. As she did so, her eyes caught sight of a group of children gathered under the shade of a tree. Some of them noticed her presence, and she smiled at them in return.

Their expressions turned to one of surprise, and they exchanged reactions and words as Elder Merakia went about her business. Arriving at the residence, she stepped onto the path leading to the front door, rang the bell, and waited.

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After more than a minute, the door finally opened and an elderly woman with grayish-brown hair pulled back in a braid stood in the doorway. “Oh my, Cecil, you surprised me with your early visit.”

“No worries, dear Daryla,” Elder Merakia said with a polite nod. “I came as soon as I could with my busy schedule. How is your husband faring?”

Daryla sighed, “He’s been bedridden since yesterday, I’m afraid. His fever hasn’t subsided, and he keeps mumbling things in his sleep—nonsense, mostly. I’ve tried everything I can think of, but nothing seems to help.”

“I see. Please, lead the way to his room.”

As Elder Merakia entered the house, she took a quick look around: the walls were adorned with family portraits, and the flickering candlelight gave the room a warm glow. She noticed the neatly arranged decorations and the aroma of home-cooked food in the air.

When they reached the bedroom, Daryla quietly opened the door. The room was dimly lit, and on the bed lay a man, his face pale and slick with sweat. He shifted restlessly under the covers, his breathing shallow and labored.

Elder Merakia approached the bedside and set her suitcase down. “Paul, can you hear me?” she asked softly.

The man groaned faintly but didn’t respond coherently.

Daryla clasped her hands together tightly. “He’s been like this since morning. It’s as if he’s trapped in a fever dream.”

“Is that so? Hm…”

After a brief moment of thought, she then said, “Rest your worries, dear, I shall treat your husband’s condition from here on.”

Elder Merakia knelt by the bedside, her hands hovering over the man’s fevered body as a soft, golden light began to emanate from her palms. Daryla watched with her breaths held within, her hands clenched tightly together as if in silent prayer.

The golden light enveloped the man, bathing him in warmth and vitality. His restless groaning subsided, replaced by deep, steady breaths. His face, once contorted with pain, softened as the lines of discomfort melted away.

“My words, they are gone,” Daryla murmured, barely louder than a whisper. “No one but the current and past forest priests and priestesses have ever caught my eye like this before.”

Elder Merakia did not look away from her work. Her hands moved in deliberate motions, directing the theonum to the areas in need. Then she placed her hand on his chest, her sharp eyes narrowing as she assessed his condition through the flow of his spiritual energy. ‘Hm, his fever is related to a rare imbalance in theonum levels.’

Looking further, she thought to herself, ‘There is an abnormal increase in DR levels overpowering the WI levels that govern balance and harmony in his body. It seems that his fever, delirium, and erratic breathing were symptoms of a rare syndrome caused by this imbalance.’

She turned her eyes and said, “Daryla, your husband is suffering from a rare disruption in the natural equilibrium of his theonum levels.”

“Suffering from what?”

“Suffering from a rare disruption in the natural balance of his theonum levels,” she repeated. “His DR energies are overpowering the WI flow, causing his body to spiral out of sync.”

Daryla’s eyes widened in alarm. “What does that mean? That sounds dangerous.”

“It is dangerous if left untreated,” Elder Merakia replied, her voice calm yet serious. “Fortunately enough, this is still in an early stage where he can still be treated, but it requires precision. I will need to draw out the excess DR energy that is causing the imbalance. Once that’s done, I will replenish his depleted WI energy to stabilize him. It’s a potentially very risky process, but based on past records, cases like this can suddenly accelerate to fatal stages.”

Daryla hesitated before clasping her hands tightly. “Do whatever it takes to save my husband Paul. I trust you Cecil.”

With a reassuring nod, Elder Merakia turned her attention back to the man in front of her. She placed her hands directly over his chest, feeling the pulse of DR energy beneath her palms. Closing her eyes, she began to channel her own theonum to counteract the imbalance within him. A dark, almost gray glow emanated from his body, which she began to draw outward, like pulling threads from a tangled web.

“That aura…” Daryla muttered out in shock.

“This is all is theonum energy, specifically DR. Normally, each type of theonum has its own trace of color, even if it is invisible in the air, but in this case, everything I am holding is almost colorless, which means there is dead theonum in his concentration.”

“D-Dead theonum?”

“Yes, dead theonum,” she said, her expression remaining calm as she carefully guided the swirling, grayish glow into a concentrated orb above her hands. “It is a stagnant, lifeless form of energy that should have naturally dissipated into the environment. Instead, it has accumulated abnormally in his body, causing the imbalance by acting as a toxin within his system.”

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but she didn’t flinch. Daryla covered her mouth with shaking hands. “How could this happen? Paul has always been so healthy…”

“He may just be a healthy individual. However, that depends on the causes that led to his current condition.”

As the orb of colorless energy grew denser, the man’s breathing began to ease. His restless movements calmed, and a faint flush of color returned to his pale cheeks.

“The first step is complete,” Elder Merakia said. “Daryla, I would like for you to do me a favor and hand me the dark square container from my suitcase.”

Daryla immediately went to the opened case and saw, among various vials, herbs and tools, a dark square container made of polished wood. She picked it up and handed it to the elder mage.

She took the container and opened it to suck out the dead theonum. Covering the object with the lid, the elder mage let out a slow breath before placing her hands back on the man’s chest and saying, “It’s almost done. Now comes the second step. I will safely neutralize it by transferring WI energy to restore balance.”

“WI energy, but from where?”

Elder Merakia’s lowered her gaze sharply, “From me, as the only person in this room capable of theonum transfer. He needs WI energy to restore balance, or his body will remain weak and prone to reactions such as seizures.”

‘This is a gamble, I can’t be certain if this type of WI energy is compatible with him,’ she thought to herself.

She closed her eyes, summoning her inner reserves. The elder mage began to channel her WI energy into him. A soft, silver-blue light radiated from her hands, permeating his body like ripples on a calm lake, flowing from her palms and into his chest. As the light enveloped him, Paul’s breathing slowly calmed.

“Dear Asnoiji…” Daryla murmured under her breath, her hands covering her mouth. “He’s getting better…!”

“It will take time,” Elder Merakia said, her voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. “His body must adjust to the WI energy. It is like watering a parched plant—it must absorb the energy gradually.”

“But what about you? You’re giving him your energy. Won’t that hurt your body?”

Her lips curved into a slight smile. “I have enough reserves to spare. Do not worry about me.”

There was silence in the room for a while. The man’s chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, the lines of strain on his face began to fade. After a few more moments, she finally removed her hands and sat back in a chair behind her, breathing heavily. “It’s done. His levels are stabilizing.”

Daryla rushed to her husband’s side and grabbed his hand. “Paul? Paul, can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered open, and he looked up at her with a dull gaze. “Daryla…?”

“Oh, Paul!” she cried, tears streaming down her face as she leaned over him. “You’re safe. You’re really safe!”

“I… feel lighter,” he said, looking around. “What happened?”

Daryla turned to the elder mage, who was now sitting on a chair she had pulled from the corner of the room. “That lady—Cecil Merakia—she saved you.”

“Saved me?” he turned his eyes to the physician and let out a flicker of recognition. “Oh you… you look like a famous eccentric mage I knew long ago.”

A small chuckle was heard from the elder mage, and his wife frowned at him, shaking her head. “Paul…”

“Oh dear, it seems I still have that reputation to this day? And here I thought people would have forgotten that about me by now,” Elder Merakia said with a grin.

“I didn’t expect such a mage like you to take care of me today,” Paul said. “Even working as a doctor in this forest.”

“Paul, please be more respectful. This person came to treat your illness and even saved you from a… possible life-threatening scenario.”

“What do you mean by ‘saving’ me, Daryla? What even has happened? I was just laying down sick with a fever, that’s all.”

“What on Asnoiji’s—do you not remember what happened after that?”

“Calm down, both of you,” Elder Merakia intervened. “Daryla, my work here is done. Your husband’s body will heal itself now with proper care. As for you…”

She turned her eyes to her husband Paul and said, “If you experience any symptoms, send me a mail as soon as possible. I will schedule another appointment in a few days for further instructions and prescriptions.”

After giving her client advice for a speedy recovery, Elder Merakia was packing up her materials and supplies to leave when Daryla approached her and said, “Thank you so much for treating my dear husband. I owe you all my gratitude for your efforts. If you would like, I would be happy to treat you to a meal.”

“Oh, no,” she waved her hand politely. “There is no need to treat me to a meal. I have a busy schedule at the moment. Perhaps next time, when I am free, I can come and join you and your husband.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, and on top of my workload, I have a small child to take care of,” the elder mage smiled.

“I understand,” Daryla nodded. “That reminds me of all the times Paul and I raised our children together.”

She turned her eyes to the picture frames hanging on the walls. “Only our youngest daughter lives with us now. She will be twelve next month. Paul and I are planning a birthday party for our little girl. We can invite you and the little one for that very day.”

Elder Merakia smiled as she closed her suitcase. “That sounds lovely. A birthday party is always a joyous occasion. I will see if I can arrange my schedule and bring my little one. She would enjoy making new friends.”

As the elder mage went out the door, she said her goodbyes to the couple and stepped back into the world.