I learned about healing in various healing temples during our travels. In those places, I was taught that my duty was not only to care for the sick but also to reassure those who watched over them. Irene was nervous; I could sense it even without seeing her. Normally, I enjoyed that part where I could calm the atmosphere around me with soothing words, but time was against us on this occasion. I reached out my hand to Irene, summarized what I was about to do, and without further delay, I began my work.

I located Caisam's forearm, injected my particle, and closed the resulting wound with my talents. Then, I placed my palms on him, one near his chest and the other on his abdomen. The poor lad was so weak that monitoring the energy signal of my particle in his body was quite easy.

I felt the energy travel from his arm to his heart, then it moved swiftly through every corner of his body until it weakened in an area near the solar plexus, roughly where the liver was. I fed and retained the particle near that area, moving it from side to side and up and down, carefully analyzing the speed at which his energy was being drained and attributing that to the proximity to the parasite. Offering my energy to the worm was the most efficient way to locate it, but it wasn't as easy as one might think. If I didn't hurry, I risked ending up as weak as Caisam. The process was so demanding that I began to sweat. Some parasitic infestations required sessions of several hours in which up to ten healers had to take turns until one could locate the beast or beasts draining the patient's energy. My master approached me from behind, took my hair, and exposed my neck to change the three romular stones that I kept as a necklace behind my neck. There were no other healers for several kilometers around, and only I could do something for poor Caisam. I felt a brief calm as my master replaced my stones, but it didn't take long for me to feel tired again. Dizziness, nausea, and spasms began to assail me. I had to finish before the parasite incapacitated me completely.

My hands chilled as my vision blurred. My perception of time had also disappeared. There were only Caisam and me, floating in nothingness. The noises faded as I struggled to keep my consciousness afloat.

I managed to feel something. I kept circling the area for a few seconds to be sure. I passed above, below, and on the sides. I had it. I came out of my trance and projected in front of us a figure of Caisam's body, highlighting with a bright spot the position of the parasitic worm. I had only enough strength to maintain the image for a few seconds before suffering a terrible dizziness that made me shake my head.

My master had had enough at that point: he laid Caisam face down, took out a knife, and stabbed it on the side of the spine. The wound in that area immediately fought to close itself. Parasites often accelerated the regeneration of areas near their position to prevent damage, but my master had taken two metal pins from my backpack and kept the skin open. He began probing his entrails with one hand while a lot of blood bubbled from the wound. He closed his eyes and focused on his touch, ignoring the young man's groans. It lasted a good while. He fixed his gaze on the wound and then quickly withdrew his fingers, carrying with them a gelatinous mass with dozens of small tentacles wriggling erratically.

Irene helped me recover with the last romular stones I had in my backpack, then I hurried to share my energy with Caisam to regenerate his internal wounds.

My master stepped back with the disgusting creature still in his hands, and I removed the metal pins from Caisam so he could heal his wound. It seemed like a good time to calm down, but the discovery my master made had us as terrified as disgusted.

—What is that? —Irene asked.

—It's the worm —my master said as he sliced it with a knife, and it writhed erratically—. Yes, it's a worm, although it no longer looks like one. It traveled through tiny blood vessels, then replaced them while feeding on blood until it reached the size you see here. This particular parasite is easier to trace in the body as the victim weakens, but it increases its ability to absorb energy from the healer. I've only seen three similar cases, two of which ended fatally because the worm had replaced a part of the circulatory system that supplied blood to the brain. You should consider yourselves lucky.

Irene rushed to her lover, relieved because he seemed to be improving. Caisam was in pain, but he had opened his eyes completely. He saw Irene effusive, smiled happily, and tried to return the hug with all the strength he could muster. He murmured something that only she understood by being by his side, but I guessed they were words of love. He must still be in critical condition, although it didn't seem like it at all. The first sign of hope was hearing him thank us with a deep and lively voice. Later, he regained the color of his skin, and finally, he had enough strength to stand up and embrace his girlfriend. He was an incredibly strong Usshyer, there was no doubt.

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It took them a while to remember our presence after their displays of affection, but eventually, they spent another good while thanking us. He didn't know my master, but he had heard his name from his personal guards. Irene explained what the commoners said about Asmodeus's work, between praises and brief summaries of distant adventures we had had. My master introduced me as his apprentice while wiping his hand with a handkerchief, and both continued thanking us. I didn't know what else to say or do to calm them. They would have died if not for our intervention, and they kept repeating it when I tried to downplay our influence.

Since they were so receptive, I couldn't help but ask them about their true story, the reason they ended up in that predicament. Both exchanged a worried look, as if it were very difficult for them to reveal that to us, but my master intervened immediately.

—Spare yourselves the reservations —he said while placing a hand on my shoulder—. Allow me to introduce you, Abigail, to Caisam L'Elker, prince and future heir of the city.

There were almost as many nobles in Elker as in the capital Stavenger, so I didn't bother thinking too much about the identity of Irene's lover. He could have been of any type: emerging politician, successful merchant, or influential businessman. I would never have imagined that our problem would be related to the firstborn of the city. I knew of his existence, but not much more.

—Do you already know me? —Caisam asked, surprised.

—A while ago, I was a substitute teacher at your university on the recommendation of an influential friend —my master said—. History of Norus was my subject. I didn't have the honor of teaching you, but ignoring the charismatic young man about whom everyone murmured cautiously was quite difficult. That's how I eventually learned your identity.

Caisam smiled, thanked once again, and then took Irene's hand. I was curious about what his life was like at that university. I wanted to ask about it and start a conversation. Everyone seemed relaxed already, and I thought it would be a good time, but the matter was not over.

—Do you recognize the situation you're getting into? —my master asked in a low voice, but we all heard him as if he had spoken directly into our ears.

—I think I don't understand what you mean —Caisam replied with the dignity of a diplomat.

—I mean that you will lose everything you have because of this wish —he said—. Is that really what you want?

—We fled risking everything to preserve our love —Caisam said, a little irritated—. What does that say about my intentions?

—That you love passionately but lack wisdom —he said—. The best for everyone is for you to return to resolve your situation. Look at what you've exposed your girlfriend to: an endless journey, shortages, stress and deadly dangers. Why? Because you're not strong enough to confront your family.

—That's not true! —Caisam shouted.

I remained silent during that time. Irene looked tense. It seemed that I was the only one completely unaware of what was happening. I looked at my master, and he returned the gaze.

—Caisam did not reveal his social position to Irene's family —he said aloud—. What do you think that's about?

—Mrs. Briseida has a poor opinion of the people from Stavenger —Caisam said—, especially the nobles. That's why I preferred to hide my identity.

—But that's not all —he said—. The real reason is simpler. You didn't want her to know that her daughter was related to the betrothed of another woman.

Caisam looked disgusted to hear that. Irene, on the other hand, shook her head while avoiding our gaze. She already knew.

—It's an arrangement I never agreed with —Caisam said, trying to maintain eye contact with my master but unable to raise his head—. An arranged marriage —he said, looking at me while taking a few steps to confront the couple—. It's a tradition among many nobles in the world, especially Stavians —He looked at Irene—. It's another thing your mother despises about Stavenger, I'm sure.

—That's why we didn't want to say anything —Irene said, embarrassed—. How did you find out? —she asked Caisam—. Won't my father have hired him to bring me back?

—Your father —my master muttered —I think he would be more concerned about the public scandal than your well-being.

He took out the Life Link from his nolet and placed it on the table. I'm sure the couple recognized the object instantly, but no one said anything.

—I assure you, young Caisam, that I don't care in the slightest about your background —he said as he put the Link back—. What matters most to me right now is the integrity of your girlfriend. Ahead of you is a long journey, without food or water as far as I can see, and without enough survival skills. It's neither safe nor sensible to continue this journey. I know some ways in which the trade in Elker operates, so it wouldn't be difficult for me to find you a safe and discreet transport to the Cassinger kingdom. In the meantime, you can stay at my house.