Steps Through the Night

Steps Through The Night

Night had only just settled over Elen'shade.

The dim glow of an oil lamp hanging from the ceiling cast soft, wavering shadows across the clinic's wooden walls.

Zio still lay motionless on the bed.

His breathing rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, but there was still no sign that he would open his eyes.

Martha sat quietly beside him.

Her hands rested in her lap, and her gaze never truly left the young man's face.

A few moments later, the door creaked open.

A nurse stepped inside, carrying a bowl of warm water and a clean cloth.

Without a word, she replaced the damp compress resting on Zio's forehead. Then her fingers moved to his wrist, two fingertips lingering there for a moment before shifting to his chest.

She listened to the rhythm of his breathing, then gave a faint nod.

"No change," she said softly.

Martha answered with nothing more than a small nod.

The nurse straightened the blanket where it had slipped out of place.

"You should get something to eat."

Another quiet nod.

"I'll have someone bring you a meal."

Martha said nothing.

The nurse studied her for a brief moment before picking up the bowl and leaving the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Silence settled over the clinic once more.

Only the gentle glow of the oil lamp and the soft rhythm of Zio's breathing remained, filling the quiet room.

***

Time slipped quietly by.

The oil in the lamp gradually burned low, its flame shrinking until the room grew noticeably dimmer.

Martha rose from her chair. She picked up a small bottle from the table, poured a little oil into the lamp, and adjusted the wick until the flame slowly brightened once more.

Then she returned to her seat.

Her hand reached for Zio's.

It was still warm.

His fingers remained as still as before.

Outside the room, the night wind drifted through the corridor. Every so often, the sound of distant footsteps broke the silence.

Not long after, the faint rumble of carriage wheels echoed along the main road before gradually fading into the night.

A little while later...

The watchman's gong rang out from somewhere in the distance.

Once.

Then silence returned.

Martha remained where she was.

From time to time, her gaze wandered from Zio's face to the gently flickering lamp before settling on him once more.

Inside the room, time itself seemed to stand still.

Beyond its walls, however, the night continued to march on.

Little by little, weariness began to show on Martha's face.

Even so, she stayed by Zio's bedside.

***

Footsteps echoed through the stillness of the night.

The door opened once more.

A different healer entered, accompanied by a nurse.

The nurse carried a mana lantern and placed it beside the bed, its soft glow blending with the dim light of the oil lamp.

The healer raised a hand.

A thin circle of mana briefly formed above Zio's chest before slowly flowing through his body, following the course of his mana.

Several moments later, the light faded away.

The healer lowered his hand.

"No change."

The senior nurse jotted a few notes into her ledger.

The healer turned to Martha.

"If there's still no improvement by tomorrow, take him to the city."

Martha gave a faint nod.

"We've done everything we can for him here."

The healer turned toward the door, and the nurse quietly followed.

The door closed behind them.

Their footsteps gradually faded down the corridor.

Silence settled over the room once again.

Only Martha and Zio remained, enveloped in the same quiet stillness.

***

The night was beginning to lose its darkness.

The flame of the oil lamp in the corner had burned low once more, while beyond the window, the sky had begun to pale, slowly washing away the black veil of night.

Martha still sat beside the bed, the cold breeze slipping through the narrow gap in the window to brush against her cheek.

Her eyes never left Zio's face.

Then...

The blanket covering his chest shifted ever so slightly.

Martha froze.

She didn't even blink.

Her gaze dropped to his chest, then to the hand resting motionless at his side.

Several seconds passed.

Nothing else happened.

Then Zio's index finger twitched.

Just once.

Martha remained perfectly still. She didn't call for anyone.

His next breath came a little deeper than before, lifting his chest once more, this time unmistakably.

Slowly, Martha rose from her chair.

Even then, she waited.

She needed to be certain that what she had just witnessed was real.

***

A thin veil of mist still lingered over the clinic grounds as a wagon rolled to a stop before the front gate.

The horses' breaths drifted into the cold morning air as pale white vapor.

Trod hopped down from the driver's seat.

He rolled his shoulders once before turning his gaze toward the clinic standing ahead.

Behind him, the man with the wooden staff stepped down at an unhurried pace.

The tip of his staff tapped softly against the stone courtyard.

The two men stood in silence for a moment.

"We're right on time," Trod said.

The older man lifted his eyes to the clinic.

"Let's hope we aren't too late."

Without another word, they made their way toward the entrance.

Behind them, the morning mist slowly swallowed the footprints they left behind.