Golden blood seeped from a gash across Aerith’s side. She had met a merchant once who saw a cruel business opportunity in profiting off the liquid gold. Of course, that liquid was not gold but something the man found to be infinitely more valuable.

Laniakea shooed the thought aside and refocused her efforts on healing the child in front of her. The door whipped open again presenting Embla who gripped a bucket of water with a ferocity that was not necessary for the task. She set the water near Laniakea and knelt next to her.

“I had no idea you were adept in healing.”

“I do what is necessary,” Laniakea replied, curt and completely focused. “Do you have a cloth or a rag? Something to clean the wound. I can’t heal her until the wound is cleaned.”

Embla nodded and quickly returned with a brown rag. There was a stain on the corner, but it would have to do. They didn’t have much time. Laniakea dipped the rag into the water, wrung it out, and began to wipe away the blood.

Embla narrowed her eyes as the realization of what lay before her sunk in. Laniakea knew the woman must have questions, so many questions, but she was thankful Embla had the decency to hold them back. As the last of the brilliant yellow blood soaked into the cloth, Laniakea threw the rag into the bucket. The blood had already begun to congeal in the air and continued to stick to the rag instead of spreading through the water.

Laniakea unlatched the wooden pendant from her neck and flipped open the decoration around an oval turquoise jewel. She held the delicate treasure between her fingers as if it were about to burst. Positioning it above Aerith’s wound she let it go. The instant it hit the girl's skin the solid gem exploded into a puddle of liquid. She held out the tip of the pendant and conducted the liquid’s motion. The wood and liquid remained intrinsically linked by some unseen force. Guiding the glowing blue mass she stretched the puddle across the gash. There was no resistance as she wove a careful intricate pattern. She tied off the weave with her needle that was much too dull to be called one, yet that was the only way Embla could describe it.

“If only Ori interacted well with Nerith and not Terna. Obscurses has no cause in interfering with it,” she said in frustrated undertones.

Ignoring the unfamiliar words, Embla leaned over Aerith trying to puzzle out what Laniakea just did. “Will she be okay?”

“By the morrow,” Laniakea sighed. “It takes time, but the weave should hold.”

“What did you do?”

“A trick I learned on my travels. The Luminaries are more adept at healing than most of the world gives them credit for.”

“I thought they were a myth.”

Laniakea brushed back the hair hanging in front of her face. “I suppose someone so far from the Luminaries' homeland would think so, but I can assure you they are real.” Signaling an end to their conversation, she stood up and approached Njal, who was still standing in the kitchen.

The young boy stared off into the distance with eyes that held the experience he and Aerith had gone through moments ago. Laniakea snapped her fingers in front of his face, which shook him out of his daze.

“What happened,” she said, trying to pull back on her interrogating tone.

“There was a bear,” he mumbled. “It attacked us and she tried to protect me, or maybe she wanted to pet it. I don’t know.”

Fool girl, Laniakea thought to herself, yet she retracted her inward statement. This isn’t her fault. The nature of the Stellapuer brings danger. I’ve seen it many times before it’s as if the whole world seeks their death. If anything it’s my fault for letting her out of my sight.

“Are you okay?” She squatted to Njal’s eye level and hoped he saw her question as an earnest one.

“I’m fine. Will she live?”

“Yes, there is no need to worry. You did the right thing in bringing her back quickly.”

The young boy seemed to be on the verge of tears. Did I say something wrong, Laniakea wondered.

Embla put an arm around Njal’s shoulders and guided him to the bucket of water near Aerith. “Let's get you cleaned up.”

Later on, lunch was eaten in silence. Laniakea wondered when the questions would come, but everyone was still too preoccupied with the incident to ask. Bjornik showed no signs of concern, and Laniakea was beginning to wonder if the bearded man had any emotions at all. Before the sun dipped below the horizon, Embla sent Bjornik with Njal to tend to the sheep. The boy protested, but after a scolding about his safety from Embla and a few grunts of agreement with her from Bjornik, the matter was settled.

Laniakea continued to monitor Aerith’s condition throughout the rest of the day. As night fell the family gathered in the room with the fireplace. Whether she could call it a living room or bedroom, Laniakea did not know. She was not used to such a cramped space, but anything was better than staying out in the cold. Sleep was hard that night. She woke often to check Aerith’s condition and readjust the weave of light as the wound healed. Bjornik’s snores didn’t help her restless anxiety either. Aerith slept peacefully.

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It was nearly morning as Laniakea tugged at the tightening net of ethereal liquid. The little girl breathed evenly now and her rose-colored cheeks signaled the brimming vitality within her. Laniakea laid the back of her hand against Aerith’s soft cheek and felt her innocent warmth.

“You will never truly be safe,” Laniakea sighed in hushed whispers. “And I don't know if I’ll always be there for you.”

There is a way she can protect herself. The thought she desperately wanted to push down rose to the surface. She had trained Stellapuer before. Made them into soldiers, yet she didn’t want to twist this child into one. If only for her protection perhaps I can teach her the basics. The placid and young face beneath her held no murderous intent. She lifted her hand from Aerith’s skin and made up her mind. I will teach her to defend, never kill. If it came to that she would do it herself.

She took to the floor again and pulled a spare blanket, Embla had offered, over her shoulders. Closing her eyes she hoped to get at least another hour of sleep.

As the first rays of sun seeped through the only window in the house Aerith awoke. Laniakea smiled as she held the girl’s side. Pushing the pendant near Aerith’s wound, Ori's essence became a solid jewel once again. She latched the wooden necklace closed and reattached it around her neck.

“How are you feeling,” Laniakea whispered.

Aerith’s eyes darted around the room. “There was a bear.” She rocked to the side and put her hands down to steady herself. “Where is Njal?”

Laniakea put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. “He brought you back. It’s okay.”

Aerith’s lips trembled as she pressed them together like a dam to hold the rush of emotions. Yet it broke as soon as she threw her arms around Laniakea. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was so scared.”

Laniakea held the crying child in her arms as the rest of the people in the room stirred. Aeirth wet Laniakea’s shoulder with tears as she rubbed the child's back. No words were needed this time. Her embrace was enough.

Embla, Njal, and Bjornik left them alone and began breakfast in the kitchen. Soon after, they were joined by the pair they had left behind. The porridge they ate retained little flavor but it was filling and hot. Two things that Laniakea refused to complain about in the harsh winter.

After they finished, Bjornik left to continue his work outside, and Njal took Aerith into the other room. Laniakea stayed with Embla to clean up after the meal. The northern women seemed focused on something else throughout the process. She knew what the woman wanted to ask, so why didn’t Embla just get it over with? The silence from her was unnerving.

“You must have questions about yesterday.”

Embla nearly dropped the bowl in her hands. “It’s not my place to pry. There are many things in this world I have no right to know about. No right.” The tension in her voice almost made Laniakea feel sorry for her.

“Aerith is someone special. Not dangerous, mind you.”

“I never thought that for a moment. She’s only a child after all.” From Embla’s tone, Laniakea knew she didn't think Aerith was just a child.

“I understand it can be unsettling to see such unusual things, but she is nothing more than a little girl.”

“Of course.” Embla quickly nodded as she gathered the rest of the clean dishes.

Laniakea sighed hoping the women’s superstitions wouldn’t trump reason. It was time to begin Aerith’s training. Peeking into the other room she called for Aerith to accompany her and offered a quick apology to Njal for taking away his playmate. After clothing themselves in another layer of comfortable attire they were out the door.

It wasn’t long before Laniakea located Bjornik in a shed a few paces away from the cabin. She threw open the door to a gruff and wide-eyed man, shock written on his face. He can express emotion, she proudly exclaimed to herself as if she had discovered some hidden secret. The man held a file in one hand and a garden hoe in the other.

Bjornik cleared his throat and set down the tools. “What is it you need?”

“Can you show us the biggest tree near here?” Aerith gripped the edges of Laniakea’s cloak as she spied around the brown mass.

“And why do you need to know that?”

“After the unfortunate incident yesterday, I decided it was time she learned to defend herself.” Laniakea put a hand on Aerith’s head and guided the bashful girl forward.

“Don’t see why you need a tree to do that, but I’ll show you.” With a gentleness that belied his stature, he set the tools in hoops that hung on the shed's walls.

Leaving heavy imprints in the snow, Bjornik guided the pair away from the house. The silent atmosphere emphasized every sound in the morning air. The crunch of their boots, chirping birds, and the quiet wind that made branches creak with the leisure of an ancient rocking chair. After a few minutes, Bjornik stopped at a tree ahead of them.

“May not be the biggest in the forest, but it's larger than most of the ones around here.”

Laniakea stared up at the large wooden pillar. Its branches were sparse until about twice her height. She wasn’t about to make a fool of herself in front of the man, but if she wrapped her arms around the tree she wouldn't be able to reach across the whole diameter.

“This will do.”

Bjornik chuckled and slapped the firm bark. “If it's good for you, I’ll leave you to it. Whatever it is you intend to do with the tree.”

After the man was out of earshot Aerith looked at Laniakea, optimistic confusion evident in her eyes. “What are we doing?”

Laniakea squatted until they were at the same eye level. “I’m going to teach you how to defend yourself.”

“Even against a bear?”

She smiled at Aerith’s enthusiasm. “Yes, even against a bear.”

The little girl giggled as she jumped up and down with excitement. “What do I do first? Tell me. Tell me.”

“First you need to cut down that tree.”

Aerith stopped bouncing about and looked at Laniakea as if she had just spoken an alien language. “How am I going to do that?”

“With the power you have hidden within you. Together we’ll draw it out until even this tree is nothing more than a stick to snap in two.”