Chapter 2

The Healer

Krysta offered no response, verbal or otherwise, to Terrill’s bold claim.

In fact, after a few moments of standing there, posing, Terrill began to feel a bit silly about having claimed anything at all. It wasn’t like Guardians were well-renowned outside of their circles, and having finally said it to someone that wasn’t a Guardian made that fact painfully obvious. Taking his sword in hand, Terrill rubbed at its hilt while the smoke of the monsters abated, and he turned away from the young woman.

Terrill took small steps forward, unsure if he should say anything at all or get out of there as fast as possible. As he contemplated, he heard shuffling behind him and watched the already orange and yellow leaves begin to look as though they were on fire. Sunset was coming.

“What was that?!” Krysta finally said and Terrill realized she was making her way around front. Her eyes were wide and probing as she leaned in his direction. “That was… You moved the earth so easily! But you’re… You seemed…”

Terrill couldn’t make heads or tails of what she was implying. He just put his hands on his waist and matched her leaning position, their noses borderline touching as each regarded the other with scrutiny. “I wouldn’t say I moved it easily, but it’s not like you don’t have powers of your own.”

“Yeah, but mine are light-based. I haven’t seen anyone capable of using Earth Magic outside the Academy.”

“The Academy?” Terrill backed away, his own brow now knitting in confusion. Krysta pulled back, tapping a finger to her chin like she wanted to figure something out.

After a moment’s deliberation, she did just that. “Oh, right… You’re from Hart, which would have no dealings with the Academy… Must be a coastal thing, ha ha!”

“You’re not making sense.” As soon as Terrill had said it, Krysta appeared to shrink in manner. A smile crossed her face, but Terrill wasn’t sure if it was sheepish or sad. All he knew was that his head was beginning to hurt something fierce, and his body was exhausted. Though his knee was healed, the pain throbbing from it, combined with the gaps in his memory, made him wince. To this, Krysta took notice.

“Hey, Terrill, you okay?” He would have answered her, but the pain of his leg caused his knee to buckle, and his body to fall against hers. She caught him, touching to his forehead. “You’re not burning up, so it must be…exhaustion.”

“Long day.” They were the only two words he managed to get out. Swallowing the new lump in his throat, Terrill pushed against his new companion, not wanting to rely on her for support. “Sorry, just…that battle with Golbrucht was something else.”

“Right… King of the Dark…” Terrill’s breath was heavy, and Krysta noticed it, but she moved away to gather the supplies she held nearby. While she did so, a cry split the air, causing both to turn in its direction. It was the same, wolfish howl from before, indicating that the foes they had just vanquished were not alone. “Let us talk about this later. The forest will definitely be more dangerous at night, and if those other monsters are out there, I do not want to be trapped in the woods while they hunt us down. Think you can walk?”

“I’m fine.” In truth, he just wanted to sleep, but a couple of slaps to his face later and he managed to convince his body to keep walking, at least until he could find something resembling a bed. As he did so, Krysta took point, her crystal earrings glittering with the sunset, giving her face a glossy, glazed appearance.

“Follow me, then. I know my way around this forest.”

She didn’t wait for his acknowledgement, or any sign that he was following. She just started forward, wending her way through the trees, away from the river. His body giving no room for argument, he pursued her without hesitation, kicking up dirt and leaves as he walked. His legs felt sore, and Krysta would occasionally look back to make sure he was doing okay, but otherwise beat a path through the autumnal forest. Wildlife fled at their tromping, and the sun crept lower before the duo finally emerged at a dirt path that led directly out of the forest. Once there, Krysta sped up.

Another howl sounded out, making Terrill look backwards when he reached the edge of the forest. That cry sounded lamentable, and he presumed the creature had found the wisps of its fallen brethren.

At least one of us found something…Terrill said to himself, offering the time for a scoff. He took one last glance around the forest, hoping to find a further sign that Lumen, or anyone really, had been there. Where are you guys…?

“Hey, slowpoke, you going to keep staring into the forest, or are you coming with me?” Krysta’s persistent tones pulled Terrill back from his introspection, and he put his eyes upon the woman. She adjusted the pack on her shoulders. “Carth isn’t far, and I don’t think we want to still be outside the city at night.”

Unable to stop his frown, Terrill looked away from the forest. If the others were there, then either they would find their way out eventually, or make their way to the city. Terrill chose to gamble on the latter, rubbing at his knee and making sure to catch up to Krysta.

She kept an even pace in front of him, her bag bouncing up and down, beating against her ponytail with every step. A part of him felt at ease with her walking forward, as though her very presence issued a certain lightness, but the other part, the more cultivated part, made his fingers twitch in case he needed to defend himself. He didn’t want to be caught off-guard, so he sped up, keeping one eye on the forest behind them while the dirt crunched beneath his feet.

“So, why were you in the forest again?” Krysta blinked, but Terrill didn’t change his tact. He wasn’t going to beat around the bush. She picked up on that.

“Herb collecting. I run a small clinic in the city. And by small, I mean very small. Just a couple patients.”

“Odd, I’d think you’d have more with all the monsters out and about.”

“Someone hasn’t been around this place long.” This time it was a wink she sent his way. Terrill frowned again. Whether it was playful or flirty, he didn’t like that the smile wasn’t reaching her eyes. It never seemed to. This time, however, her finger was lifting, pointing forward. He followed it, and very quickly came to understand just what Krysta was talking about.

In the fading light of the day it was a bit harder to see, but near the end of the path, on the western coast of the continent, was a large city. It wasn’t as large as the capital city to the north, Terrill figured, but dwarfed his hometown at least ten times over. From the citadel rising upwards to the docks that, to Terrill’s surprise, already had ships docked at them, it was a marvel of construction. Certainly, only the capital of Sayn had anything to match its opulence.

But the feature that answered Terrill’s query was none of that. Rather, it was the large wall that bordered the city, protecting it from invaders and monsters alike.

It was a detail that assuaged his fear. His fingers stopped twitching.

“Yeah, not too many monster attacks around these parts, and most people do not go in the forest, I’ve noticed. Makes for some nice peace and quiet.”

“So, you’d notice if there was someone else there, right?” Terrill asked. His ache made him wince, but Terrill fell in step at Krysta’s side, his left foot shuffling on the dirt road. Up ahead, he could see lanterns lit and carts trundling northward or westward towards the gate leading into the city. Krysta sped up at the sight of them, the city ever-closer. “It’s just, I’m looking for some people. Companions of mine.”

“Lumen and Charles?” Krysta asked. “You were mumbling their names in your sleep. And another, but I couldn’t make it out.” Terrill didn’t fill in the gap. “I didn’t see anyone else in the forest. Thought I might have heard someone, but it was probably just you. I must say, I didn’t expect that!”

Terrill sighed. Not knowing what had happened to his companions soured his mood a bit, though the inviting lights of the city helped stave off the gloom that came with that. The nearer the city became, the more Terrill was amazed at the number of merchants and travelers coming to the city. A smile stretched on his face. Sayn was already picking the pieces up with Golbrucht’s defeat.

“Well, they’re probably in the city if they’re nearby.”

“We’ll ask around,” Krysta said. The chatter of the travelers coming to stop for the night could be heard, reminding Terrill they were back in civilization. A final glance to the forest, well behind them now, made it look distant and lonely. He pushed it from his mind, his fingers feeling for the royal crest in his pocket. His head started to hurt, but he had one more question for Krysta.

“You seem awfully willing to help me. Why?” he asked. Krysta stopped in the middle of the intersection, forcing a man on his horse to trot around them, tossing a dirty look her way. Like before, she tapped her chin.

“Would it sound bad if I said you interested me?” she asked. There was no smile playing her lips this time, but Terrill couldn’t help but feel she was trying to emulate something coquettish. She dropped whatever act she was facilitating quick as she could. “You helped me. I help you. Your magic interests me, and I’m curious about why you call yourself a Guardian. Not something you hear too often. Kind of an archaic term don’t you think?”

Terrill kept his mouth from falling open, flabbergasted that she would look at a position of being a Guardian as archaic. Sayn’s sworn enemy had been dead for but a couple hours, yet this girl found the role of Guardian passé? Now it was his turn to be interested in her. He smirked.

“In other words, you want to sate your own curiosity. Kinda selfish, don’t you think?”

“Something like that.” It was difficult to tell with the dusk, but Terrill was sure her smile finally lit up her eyes, though it didn’t last long. “Come on. We need to get you off that foot. Not far now.”

Terrill didn’t argue with that, his movements growing more sluggish than he would have liked. To increase their pace, Krysta ducked under, placing his arm around her shoulders and dragging him towards the guarded gate inwards. There were soldiers standing around, but they seemed lazy in their inspections, as if there wasn’t a care in the world. When the duo approached, they waved them in without checking them over, and Terrill let out a breath once in the safety of the walls.

The sound of their footsteps changed from shuffled dirt to the clickety-clack of stone, and Terrill raised his head to take in the city. It was very different from his rustic and rural hometown, though not all that different from the capital. A bit smaller, Terrill figured, but the people were still in high spirits under the protection of its walls, and the lights that had been strung about the capital city were just as populous here. Down the main road, Terrill could see a square full of dancing people, and a tavern that looked to be bustling. Many of the merchants were making their way there or to the inn, but Krysta turned them to the side.

Pushing into an alleyway, Terrill noticed the streets get a little less bright, and the houses a little less taken care of, but the people were still as cheerful as the ones he’d seen dancing. The stones became uneven at their feet, causing both to stumble a little, though Krysta kept a firm hold on him. Terrill’s head turned every way it could, making sure to twist around enough to see the castle. That royal sigil made him wonder if Lumen could have headed for there from the forest, but Krysta pulling to a halt put his attention back on the here and now.

“Just a moment,” she informed him, digging in her bag to pull out a key. She had let go of him to complete her action, and Terrill leaned against the wall outside a row of doors, including the one his new companion tried to get into. The longer he watched, the more Krysta looked out of her element, giving him a chuckle before his head looked down the row to a group of children playing with toy swords. A woman was outside, watching them and on the verge of scolding them, but she continued to let them play in the dim light that illuminated the street.

At first, Terrill smiled, his own fond memories of playing swords with his best friend coming back to him. The confidence they both exuded. The joy they took in a world that tried to steal it from them at every turn. Terrill even wondered if, perhaps, one of those children would also make the proclamation to become a Guardian or a Chosen One.

The smile gave way to a frown as more memories began to hurt his head, this time of that battle, and his best friend with the unnatural smile. The pleading.

Everything felt like it had gone wrong. He just wasn’t sure what was wrong yet.

Breathing out, Terrill turned back, a piece of parchment ripping off a building at a sudden breeze. It fell to the dirt, displaying a hooded face for all of a second before it was ripped away. Terrill wanted to chase after it, the depiction on the sheet familiar, but Krysta’s chiming announcement precluded that action.

“Well, here is my humble abode, Terrill! Let’s make you at home!”

He had never felt more grateful.

The door to Krysta’s home swung open, and the woman made her way over to him to help him inside. The second she was in and had shut the door, he heard a finger snap, and Terrill saw little lights fly from Krysta’s hands to the different lamps on the wall, illuminating the small building. For the second time that day, he was amazed, but it didn’t stop Krysta from stripping him of his sword and pushing him over to a rather visible bed that was used for patients. Once he was upon it, she pulled up a chair and rolled his pant leg up without argument from him.

“So, that’s…magic? What you do? What I did?” Now that his body had fallen on to the soft surface, his mouth had a mind of its own. Instinct, or just exhaustion, Terrill didn’t care. He was more curious for answers.

“You can lift slabs of earth, and don’t even know that what you’re using is magic? Don’t be silly. I know most folk don’t use it, but everyone knows about it,” Krysta said. She shook her head, finding the comments amusing while she tended to his leg. There were no herbs involved, but that same warming light from before extended from her hands to his knee, soothing all of the pain away.

“Never really ran into anyone who could use it…or if they could, they never showed it.”

Krysta sat back from her work, and folded her arms while she surveyed him. “Not one, huh?”

“I don’t think that’s too unusual, right?” he asked. No answer came, which made an unsettling pit form within his stomach. He didn’t like not having an answer to what would seem to be a basic question. “Something like magic, like what you or I could do, it would completely change how the country would deal with Golbrucht. It could completely-”

The scraping of Krysta’s chair seemed to indicate she was done with the conversation. In the dim lighting of her tiny clinic, Terrill couldn’t see her face, especially when she turned away, but he had the distinct feeling his words bothered her. He grunted as his knee twitched, begging him to just sleep, but he continued to watch as Krysta walked over to the table that formed the centerpiece of her dwelling. She leaned on it for a second before moving things around.

“Magic wouldn’t do much good, I think,” she said softly after a length of time. There was a waver in her tone, not sure which way to lean, but Terrill listened to her. The more she spoke, the more she decided on how to best discuss the matter. “It’s not something that’s easily used. Only the Academy really knows much about it, and they’re loathe to share their secrets, and…for Golbrucht…”

Here, Terrill saw her take a breath before she turned around. Within the light, he could see she was smiling, though the rest of her expression was unreadable.

“Like you said, he will only come back. I don’t think magic would turn the tide so quickly, and I can’t teach you. I’m not that great at that.”

“But this Academy is?” Terrill questioned. She had made her way back over now, her hand gently pressing on his chest, lowering him to the bed. “Couldn’t they provide support?”

“They…” Krysta held her hand there, finger tapping away on his chest. “I don’t think there would be enough time. Besides, you have the Guardians, right? What’s their purpose again?”

“To protect the Chosen Ones from each town and guide them to the King of the Dark, as it was written in legend by the first Chosen One of Sayn. Freedom and respite in the eternal torment.” Saying it out loud, the creed he took when he’d become a Guardian a mere two years ago, made his hand grip at the bedsheets without notice. He could only think of the current Chosen One, the one who’d risen above the ranks of the others, and of the boy’s personal Guardian. “I wonder what’s become of him…”

“We’ll find out in the morning. I will ask around the city. If this Lumen is the Chosen One, and Charles is his Guardian, then there is no doubt there will be some information,” Krysta assured him. She finally pulled away, and Terrill watched her go. His eyelids were starting to feel heavy, no longer wanting to think, but his mind was racing on overdrive. All of the information of the day’s events was keeping his brain too busy for sleep, trying to parse through it all.

Golbrucht, that terrorizing force of darkness, was dead.

Lumen, the one chosen to kill him, and his Guardian Charles, were missing.

The power he had known almost all his life was magic, and there were others who had it.

Monsters were still around.

Terrill wanted to sit up at that last thought, another worry clenching at his chest. There had to be a reason for it, and one was ready to present itself. The woman. Yet again, his fingernails dug into the sheets of the bed, hitting the thin mattress with a grimace.

Was she behind the wolves? She had certainly been behind…whatever had happened at Golbrucht’s castle. Whatever chaos had occurred.

The grimace became a wince, trying to recall what had happened in the shuffle of wind, darkness and light that collided inside. Fragments of memory stuck out to him, but none of it made a lick of sense.

Nothing of it but one.

Terrill…help me. I don’t want to be…

Terrill turned over, and the young boy’s face surfaced in his mind, the face of a boy barely turned a man. It had been difficult to tell, but there had to have been tears coming from his eyes, lost in that nexus of darkness before the cyclone had flung them away.

“Atrum…” he breathed. “What happened to you in that darkness?”

What happened to any of us?

Hoping his sleep could rejuvenate his mind and help put together the pieces, Terrill finally chose to close his eyes, lulled to sleep by the rhythmic footsteps of Krysta shuffling around.

Despite the flashes of an enigmatic battle in his mind, though, Terrill eventually drifted away, determined to start anew in the morning.