Part 2: A Pair of Healing Hands Begets Warmth in the Heart

“Court is not a fun time. I would know.”

—Robin Benz

Roo’s eyes meet mine for a moment before they flutter shut. Gentle light pulses in time with my heartbeat from his hands on my stomach. It’s a very weak light, but then the pressure comes on the small of my back. I hold my breath, waiting for pain, but it doesn’t come. As the seconds tick by, the glow gets brighter.

“My magic is flowing inside you right now. Do you feel any pain?” Roo murmurs. He has his lower lip stuck between his teeth, concentrating deeply.

“No,” I say softly.

His hands slide up to my torso at a painfully slow pace. As they move, the pressure shifts from my lower back to my ribs. It’s stronger there, causing me to wince.

Roo’s eyes fly open at the noise. “You okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, I just feel the pain more in that spot.”

“I’m getting closer to where the sand snake collided with you. Consequently, I’ll have to infuse more of my magic in you.”

I exhale shakily, not because of the increasing pressure, but more because Roo’s gaze stays trained on where his hands lay on my sternum.

I wish I never took my shirt off, I groan internally. I’ve never had someone stare so closely at my bare skin. The embarrassment consumes me so entirely that I start shying away from where Roo’s skin meets mine.

He tilts his head to the side. “Why are you moving away? Does it hurt?”

I press my lips into a tight line. It’s not that it hurts, I’m just overwhelmed. But I can’t exactly tell him that the touch of his hands do unspeakable things to me, now can I?

I’m so confused with my own feelings. I hate that I can’t put a name to the flutter of my heart, the burning on my cheeks, or the constant wondering about Roo. It makes me uncomfortable.

I simply mutter, “Yes.” Because what else can I tell him?

Roo huffs. “I can’t do much about that, Haruki. Just stay still and this will go faster.”

He closes his eyes once more. I clutch the sheets in my unwrapped fist.

After an eternity, his hands finally slip upward. I immediately grimace. The pressure in my shoulder blades and upper back is more than double what I felt in my ribs.

“Can you be gentler?” I whine.

Roo merely shakes his head. The light intensifies even more. It feels like the sinews and ligaments of my back are getting incinerated and then woven back together. Magic therapy is like doing a surgery on someone conscious.

Sweat slips down my temple before disappearing back into my hairline. I breathe quickly, blinking over and over as the crystals floating high in the ceiling double, and then triple.

“Haruki, what are you feeling? Tell me.”

I swallow. “Feels like my body’s caving in. Lights are blurring out. I think I’ve got double— no, triple vision…”

Roo’s voice comes crisp and clear despite my vision blurring. “I’ll go slower. I know you don’t like this, but if I keep pouring this much of my magic into you, you’ll fall in aqom.”

Mirei’s warbling face appears in the corner of my vision. She whimpers, “Don’t die.”

I wheeze.

“Don’t worry, little girl. Even if your brother falls into aqom, he’ll only need a short rest and healing potions. I don’t intend to push him into a state of mania like that, though.”

“Mania?!” I gasp. I thought he meant something like a coma, since the word sounded similar, but it’s definitely something different.

“Haruki, with all due respect, shut up. Every time you speak, you move your rib cage, which is the thing I’m healing right now.”

I grit my teeth and hiss, “Then stop saying scary things!”

“Alright, alright!”

For however long, the ball of pressure rolls around my upper back, sometimes concentrating on my ribs, other times on my shoulder blades. Now that Roo lessened the flow of magic into my body, it’s not as overwhelming physically. But mentally I’m a mess.

After what felt like hours, Roo finally lifts his hands from my chest. The pressure and glow dissipate together, leaving me relieved.

“Is it done?” I ask, voice hoarse.

“Yes. Your fractures are healed, but you have to rest. Magic therapy is very taxing on the body.”

I’m already struggling to stay awake. “You don’t… have to tell… me… twice.”

Sleep overcomes me.

* * *

I awake to the scent of flowers and a silk blanket laying over me. I blink open my eyes and see the familiar light of floating crystals. One of them falls slowly toward the bed, almost like it’s weaker than the rest. Mesmerized, I watch it sink closer to my face. Just when the crystal is about to touch my nose, someone stirs beside me.

“Huh… oh, Brother? Thank God you’re okay!”

It’s Mirei, whose head had been resting against her folded arms on the bed. She straightens in a chair—one I recognize as Roo’s desk chair—and lays her hand over my forehead.

“You’re much better. It’s been nearly a day since you passed out. You’ve had a fever, but now it seems you’re better,” She summarizes.

The crystal finally boops me on the temple. I bring up a hand to grab it and inspect its glowing surface. It’s much smaller and dimmer than the others, like a weak star. I prod it with my finger a few times before nudging it toward Mirei. Her eyes light up and sparkle with curiosity.

“It’s so pretty,” She says with growing amazement. She takes it between her hands and inspects it closely. I smile softly.

Then, a loud slam echoed throughout the room. It’s Roo, marching through the double doors that he flung open. His expression is dark, mouth set in a grim line.

“Takahashi siblings, your trial begins in four hours.”