Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Here, give him to me. I’ll carry him the rest of the way.” I say, moving the sword to my chest.

They lift the near lifeless body onto my back while huffing and puffing, their expressions a mix of relief and guilt. Muffled voices echo from behind, growing closer and closer. We trudge ahead. They throw their arms up to protect their faces against the whistling wind and swirling snow. I take the cruel and stinging whips head on.

The trail we’ve left behind goes on for hours. Anyone starting back at the village could find their way to us if they wanted to. There’s no way we’re escaping from these guys. We don’t have the speed. It’s only a matter of time before they catch us. If it weren’t for this snow or Sio being sick, we’d be long gone by now…

I wonder how many people are behind us. If I just turned around now, so long as Wellen or Saelac aren’t there, then I might be able to win. They’d be too distracted chasing the others and by the snow to notice a few of their friends missing.

“They’re using magic to catch up. Don’t slow down!” Axel shouts.

A glance proves Axel’s statement. Even with the snow thrown up into the air, under the low light of night, a faint blue glow emanates from their feet. It’s almost alarming how much faster they are, like a pack of wolves excited at the sight of an injured animal.

I wrack my head for spells. My common earth spells come into mind but I see no problem it would pose for them. Stone bullets and pillars are easily dodged, earth and mud walls can be gone around and climbed over, fireballs are useless for the same reason as pillars. A firebomb might slow them down but can I even throw it accurately from here?

Iris slows to a near stop, turning around muttering a near silent incantation. Mud spews from her hands. It seeps into the snow turning it all into slush and starts a mini mudslide. Those in the front have no time to react. They’re caught in the mud and slow to a crawl if not dragged down. Some of the ones using magic, however, break out of the mud and take a slightly different path.

“Watch where you’re aiming your magic,” I yank Iris along as I pass her. “Keep on running.”

Although slowed by Iris’ magic, we’re afforded little time. Our pursuers caught in the mudslide break free and wade through after us. The ones using magic make up the difference from the distraction with their swift movements and abuse of trees as slingshots. I lob a fireball in anticipation but miss.

“Which way do we go?” Axel screams.

“It doesn’t matter. The left,” Istruan shouts. “Take the one on the left.”

We bunch up like a herd of animals with no goals other than survival. It’s nearly impossible to know where we’re going. We’re simply following the vague directions given to us days earlier. “Go that way to find the healer,” the village elder said. “He should be able to help your friend with his infections.”

Whether or not the other road was the way to the healer, there’s no telling what’s going to happen even if we do reach him. Would he allow a group of wanted “criminals” in his home? Would he even have the necessary ingredients to treat Sio’s wounds? Would Sio still be alive when we reach him?

As useless as the questions are, I can’t shake them. All of this could have been avoided if…

“Everyone stop!”

Emile throws his arms out and tries to push us back. My grip on Sio loosens as I crash into Aisha. She lets out a surprised grunt. My momentum, paired with the slippery snow, causes everyone to fall out of sight. Soon enough, I’ve also lost hold of Sio. The moon and the soldiers’ magic become blurs as we tumble down an unforgiving, steep slope into someplace too dark to see.

When all the tumbling and rolling stops, I lie flat on the ground with my face buried in the snow. I push myself onto my back and stare up at the faint blue lights above. Neither of us move for a while. We simply stare at each other, like the stare shared between predator and prey.

And then… like evil spirits warded off by some holy relic, they disappear back into the night. A few seconds later and I remember to breathe. Emile, despite being the one most in danger of being crushed beneath all of us, gets up first. He hauls Istruan to his feet. I stand and help the others.

“Are you okay Aisha?”

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“I can’t tell if falling down here is a blessing or a curse,” Kat says.

Iris coddles her arm, “It’s a blessing for sure. I don’t know how much experience you have had with our empire’s treatment of criminals but it isn’t the nicest. Elis and I may have gotten off easy but I can’t say the same for everyone here.”

“Criminals…” Fia whispers the word like it’s her first time hearing it. “I guess we are criminals aren’t we?”

“We made the decision, no turning back now,” Istruan responds.

While they’re talking, I look around for Sio but can’t seem to find him. Axel takes notice of my panic.

“Where’s Sio?” he asks.

Emile points, “He up there!”

Fuck. I rush to grab him while ignoring the “be careful” from my sister. Before picking Sio up, I check his breathing, then for any possible injuries, and then his fever. His forehead is nice and warm. Just a little longer and I can feel my fingers again…

Istruan’s voice shocks me back to reality. “How is he?”

“Huh? He’s- he’s not doing so well. It’s gotten a lot worse since we left the village. We have to keep looking for the healer.” I toss him over my back again. He seems like he’s gotten heavier since the last time I carried him.

Istruan nods but he doesn’t stop leaning on Emile. He smiles wearily, “I’m sorry but I think I might have injured my leg during that fall.”

Shit… I knew it was too good to be true. The only benefit is that we’re not being pursued, for now at least. We have to take advantage of this if we want to escape. Once we get Sio into a stable condition we can go back to searching for my master. If we can find him before the empire finds Aisha then we’ll be in the clear. He’ll hopefully give us a place where we can hide again until we can think of something.

“Do you know where the healer is?” Emile asks.

“I don’t even know if we chose the right path,” Istruan replies. “He could have been on the other path…”

Just our luck. “We’ll keep moving.” It’s the only thing we can do.

Everyone silently agrees, walking deeper into the woods. Compared with the fast and ear pounding chase, the quietness of this new section of woods borders between a welcome peace and a haunting paranoia. Similar to when we first came out from underground, heads whip around at even the tiniest sound.

“I’m tired,” I hear Fia whisper. She clasps her hands together and closes her eyes as if in a prayer. She doesn’t say any words during it but keeps walking. It’s interrupted a few seconds later by a glowing light.

“Take cover!” I hiss.

We throw ourselves against the nearest trees and sneak peeks at the light. It’s not blue like the magic the soldiers used. Rather, it’s a warm, orange light like a flickering fire. Drawn to it like moths, we approach it, neither worried about empire soldiers or goblin hunting parties. A shadowy figure holds onto the light with one hand. It’s a lantern.

“Come out,” he says. “I know you’re there. Come now, I won’t hurt you. That’s the opposite of what I do.”

I exchange a glance with Axel. “How did you know?” I ask.

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He chuckles, “Well, other than the monsters roaming around lately, it’s fairly quiet in these parts. Another reason, perhaps, is because someone wished for help? I heard it and so I came. Am I wrong? Are you in no need of assistance? If so, I will return home. My plants are in need of watering again.”

He turns around and casts a long shadow out towards us. I grit my teeth and step out from behind the tree. “We need help,” I answer. “You weren’t wrong. Our friend here is sick and we’re being chased. We’re looking for a healer. We were told he lived up here. Is it possible that you can help us find him? Or, if you’re him, will you help us?”

“Hahaha. Of course, I will help you. That is what I do. That is why I’m here. Come come, follow me now. I will lead you to my hidings.” he slowly walks forward while swinging his lantern from side to side. “Make sure to stay close. I do not wish to make second trips.”

We gather close to the man both wary and weary. Wary of his sudden appearance and strange knowledge about our situation, but weary of the long day and cold temperatures. Our already low morale and his harmless look pushes for our faith in him. He continues swinging the lantern back and forth while leading us.

Time seems to slow to a near stop. A snowflake catches my eye. The wind carries it astray as it falls, choosing a different destination for it. Before I see where it lands among its siblings, the man hangs his lantern on a hook and walks up the steps to a door that came from nowhere. The door creaks as he opens it and he beckons us inside.

We’re reluctant at first but with no other options and coming this far already, we head inside. It’s a rather small wooden house with few luxuries. The kitchen is barren with only a table and three chairs to fill it while a single sofa sits facing the fire burning under the chimney. Our guide gently nudges us out of the way as he walks past, taking off his winter cloak and tending to the dying fire. He welcomes us to gather around.

“What about Sio?” Istruan asks. “I thought you said you could help.”

“Yes, my apologies. I meant those that aren’t injured may feel free to warm up. Please, bring yourself and that young man upstairs. Sorry, but I’ll be borrowing your strength for a little while. I’m not what I used to be,” he says.

I nod, too tired to respond verbally. I let Istruan and Emile go first. The trek up the stairs puts my legs into a state of burning exhaustion. I’m more than relieved when the man helps me set Sio down on the bed. With his condition being more severe than Istruan’s, he quickly checks Sio’s health. His hand lingers on his forehead.

“How is your leg?” he asks Istruan.

“It hurts a little bit but you should focus on Sio. He’s been like this for days.”

“I see. Can you tell me how he became like this? Was he exposed to the cold too long?”

Istruan explains the details of the battle against Vormar and the recent chase. He avoids mention of our particular “crime” of helping Aisha escape. I drift between sleep and consciousness for the duration of the story. The healer nods and listens without a word. Once finished, he stands and leaves the room. We watch him go, unsure of what’s happening. He returns minutes later with a concoction and various plants in hand. He sets the plants to the side as he tilts Sio’s chin up and pours the liquid into his mouth. After emptying the glass of its contents, he plucks a leaf and places it on Sio’s forehead. It begins glowing out of the blue.

A faint scent of peppermint spreads throughout the room, growing more potent as time passes. The leaf breaks down from both ends like sand in an hourglass, falling little by little onto his head and absorbed into his skin. Sio’s breathing calms.

“What’s going on?” Istruan asks. “Why did it suddenly start glowing?”

The healer plucks another leaf off the plant. “I added magic. Many of the plants found in this forest are popular herbs. These plants by themselves still act as effective medicine but add a little magic and you get something special.”

“How come more apothecaries and herbalists don’t mix magic with herbs? In the village I grew up in, the apothecaries have them completely separate from each other.”

“It’s not common practice I will tell you that much. The herbs I have brought with me are compatible with magic.”

“You mean some aren’t?” Istruan asks.

“Yes, some are not,” he answers softly. “Think of it like the element of lightning in magic. When used against water it is effective, yes? However, when used against earth magic it requires more mana, more energy to give it the punch it usually has. Many of these plants are the same. Some are conductors and some are insulators.”

“Then why don’t others switch to plants that are “conductors” of magic?”

“Because of the simple answer that some do not possess enough magical talent. When it comes to the usage of magic in conventional medicine like herbs, magical talent is the needed basis. The ability to use magic is not good enough. Fine manipulation and extensive knowledge of the plant itself is required. For plants grown without much sunlight, limp and longer by nature, they attune to a different “pattern” of mana than those with an abundance of light. That is one example, broad, unspecific. Even two plants growing next to each other under the same conditions may have a different “pattern” than the other one.”

“What’s this “pattern” you’re referring to?” I ask.

“I am referring to the “waves” of mana I send to the plant. I have an affinity with water. It would look like this for some plants” He creates a ball of water in one hand and passes it to his other hand. “Unlike the waves of the sea that come crashing down in a calming, rhythmic fashion, the pattern I speak of is akin to a sequence of short bursts of mana.”

He passes the ball of water between his hands some more before stopping. “And like this for others.” Instead of throwing the entire ball to his other hand, he pulls a string of water from the ball, separating it completely at one point. He does so again with varying sizes for each string until either all or most of the water is transferred to the other hand.

“It looks… difficult,” Iris says. She and the others from downstairs appear in the doorway.

“I did say it requires some amount of talent but, like with all other things, enough practice and it will come naturally to you.”

She nods, “It may be rude to ask this of you while you’re working, especially since you have so kindly let us into this house without inquiring so much as our names, but where can we rest for the night?”

“Ah. There are a few rooms down the hallway there. I am lacking when it comes to beds as I don’t get many visitors up here. The one right next door is usually for more wounded but please help yourselves to the beds in there.”

“Thank you,” Iris says as she leads the group down the hallway.

“I think I’ll get some rest too then,” I say, waving goodbye.

The healer stares at me, “There is something… no, nevermind. Please rest easy for tonight. We shall discuss more matters in the morning. Your friend with the broken leg will stay in this room. I will tend to him after one more leaf.”

I close the door behind me as I leave. Aisha, probably listening in, leans out of her room and flags me down. “We’re having the boys sleep in the room next door,” she says, her eyelids getting heavy. “Good night,” she whispers.

“Good night,” I whisper back. I reach into my pocket and feel for the flower. “I hope it’s another good dream.”