Dressing a Wound

Hyla was lost in her own little world as she’d continued organizing her new living space. It was soon that the medical room had begun to take a form to her liking. When its various surfaces had been prepared for her studies, she had moved to detailing the mantle of her bookshelf with all of her most favorite reads. A medical journal here, a book on magical theory there, she was beginning to feel more and more at home. When she raised a rather inconspicuous book out from the box she had filled to the brim with tomes, she felt a little flame of heat touch her cheek.

From its dust cover it would appear to be another wordy and long winded volume filled with scientific jargon, but that had only served as a façade to the rather tantalizing novel it fronted. In the pages she now skimmed through were the vivid descriptions of a hot romance between a handsome knight and a workaholic doctor. She’d read her favorite lines one by one and felt the temperature in the room rise.

Well caught up in the scenes coming alive in its pages, the sudden distressed cry that sounded came to her ears as loud as a bomb detonating. When she had captured the airborne book, she’d quickly shelved it among the rest and jolted to her feet. Without a moment’s hesitation, she was already in full stride towards the voice. Her instincts as a first responder made her ready to run into the danger or despair she would find at the scene.

Upon arrival, the sight of blood was the first details that her mind had snapped to on reflex. The red droplets touching the ground were fast into her mind and in the very next moment, the soaked crimson hand that was being treated by the panicked maid.

Despite his injury and the blood that was flowing from the wound in his hand, Khiron remained completely devoid of emotion with eyes staring off to a distant world beyond the space of the manor.

While she was taken aback by his blank and emotionless response, Hyla quickly kicked herself into gear and went to him.

✩ ✩ ✩

Hyla was so very kind to me as she’d brought me back to her room and worked to mend the wound I’d given myself so thoughtlessly. Though even if she had given me so much warmth and care, I’d been entirely silent with her. Not a word given to explain how I’d managed to impale my palm with a few stray shards of the glass that were once a part of a cup. Nor a single word spilled as to why it had happened.

As she finishes the first step of her care with antiseptics and a strange tincture unlike anything I’d ever seen before, I slowly come back to earth. I begin to feel a deep sense of guilt pressing on my heart.

“It must have been very troubling to have come into that scene. I can only apologize for causing such a scene.”

“I didn’t expect that my expertise would be needed so soon.” She looks up from her work and lets me see her smile that is framed with cute irony. “At the very least, it’s an honor to be patching up the wounds of the Celestial Knight.”

“It’s your first day with us and already you have to handle a situation like this.”

“A good physician should be ready to act at any moment. Accidents happen, so don’t work yourself up too much over this. And besides; this is nothing compared to what I’ve seen before.”

She finishes applying the pinkish tincture with a cotton ball and medical tweezers. Tossing the used cotton into a bin close by, she next removes the glove on her right hand and gently touches her fingers to the site of the injury. Her eyes close and a deep breath is held fast. As she slowly exhales, a warm, glowing light begins to glow from her fingertips.

“This magic…” I’m awed by the sensation of the light which somehow feels comfortably warm and refreshingly cool all at once.

With the touch of the light, the remaining stinging pain I’d felt begins to dwindle and dull until it’s all but gone. My confounded staring is caught clearly by her as her magic makes its finish.

“Surprised, are you?” She’s well humored looking at me.

“I’d almost never had treatment like this before. My magical affinity is fire so it’s rare that anyone could help me with such powerful mending magic.” I pause and look to my hand, finding that the openings have nearly vanished. “Even when I was in academy there wasn’t a nurse on staff that could mend so well. The other elements, sure, but fire…

“It takes either a natural aptitude to work with the fire element in healing or dutiful training. Either you are a rare, natural fire elemental paired with a water element or you have much to practice to become a healer to those with fire in their spirit.” I think aloud to myself.

“It’s true. There’s much to be done in order to practice mending those born with a fire element. Even if you’re naturally gifted to do so it can still be quite an undertaking. But it was worth the constant effort, I have not a doubt about that.”

She gently takes my hand into hers again and begins to apply a sort of herbal paste before wrapping it up with a fine white gauze.

“But to be able to mend until its almost as if the wound was nothing but an illusion. That’s… something I’ve never experienced before.”

“What I’ve put on your skin will help the injury to mend further. I’d ask that you’d wear this wrapping through the night so it can have its full effect. It works best when you’re sleeping, after all.”

Once more taking her eyes off of her completed work, she finds me still in a dumbfounded loss.

“It seems this has have left quite an impression on you. Truth be told, I’d held off using too much energy. I hadn’t used too much, but I’d reasoned it’d be best to be sparing so that I’d have more strength to act in case anything were to happen to any of you.”

“You’re telling me that you could have mended the wounds entirely?”

“I could, but please don’t worry; that medicine will do just fine.”

“Oh, I don’t mean to say that you’re not doing enough, it’s just that it’s a bit shocking that you’d be capable to.”

“It’s okay, I understand. I’m flattered that you’re so atonished by my work.” Her words are given great validity by the profound feeling of joy she radiates. “I did have a natural talent for mending fire elementals, that’s true, but as I knew that someday I’d be working with you, I’d spared nothing to make sure I’d be capable to care for you when the day would come.”

“But that type of training would take years. Do you mean to say that you’d made sure to be experienced with such magic for the sake of the Celestial Knight?”

“Not a Celestial Knight. You.” Her complexion reddens in step with her admission. There’s now a playful coyness in her eyes which hide themselves from me.

“Then you’d…”

I try to put it all together in my head. I don’t have to wonder for long as she quickly fills me in on the details.

“Once upon a time I’d met a brave and honorable knight. He was the Celestial Knight that came before you. I owe him my life and I always will. When I’d confessed my resolve to repay his kindness, he’d let me in on a little secret. He’d said, ‘there’s someone very special in this kingdom.’ That he thinks of him like his own son. He’d even let me know in advance that that son he so adored would be the next Celestial Knight.

“From that day forward I’d worked to keep my word. To become the finest doctor I possibly could so I could tend to the son of the man who saved my life.”

“Solus…” I remember him and his face is as clear to me as ever in my mind’s eye. “So he’d rescued you as well. He’d… saved my life too.”

“Now that’s a bit of news to me. I’d never known that he’d saved his own beloved son as well. But that’s just the person he was. He was a hero through and through, wasn’t he?”

I nod my head in agreement.

“Despite that he had kept my father and I alive, he was as humble as you could ever know him. Thanks to all of the motivation he’d given me, I’m now where I am today. I take that that’s similar for you as well.”

“You’d be right. Solus is the reason I’d began dreaming to become the Celestial Knight. I’d wanted to follow in his footsteps. But it seems like both of our dreams have come true now. Thank you for helping me.”

“But of course. After all of these years I’m fulfilling my purpose. I couldn’t be more grateful. And… well… I’m more than happy to do that for you.” She takes a drink from her tea which had been set at the side during the operation. It masks her lips for but a sparing moment.

“P-Putting that aside for now.” She begins again and the clank of her cup against its saucer rings. “If it was fair to you, I’m curious as to what had happened. Why did you wind up breaking the glass in your hand?”

A cutting question a piece of me had wished she wouldn’t ask. But now that she has, there’s nothing to do but answer her. I spend a moment in contemplation, wondering how far I should take it and how much it could trouble her about my health.

“It wasn’t a seizure or anything like that, I want to make that clear. I know that those can follow concussions. Truth be told, there was a lot playing on my mind and I’d suddenly felt frustrated. Without realizing it, I’d gripped the glass too strongly and it caved.”

“You must have quite the gripping strength. As is fitting for a hero at his prime.”

“A hero…” I repeat her words aloud and feel a tickling sensation play on my chest. “What is it that makes a person a hero?”

I sit and idly wonder to myself but am quick to return to the conversation at hand.

“I’ve had plenty to think about recently. I suppose it’d gotten the best of me this time.”

“If there’s anything troubling you you’d be willing to share, I’m all ears. I’m not only a physician, but I’m a counselor as well. At any time you’d desire to have someone to listen, I’m here for you as well.”

“Thank you, Hyla. Maybe I’ll take you up on your offer sometime. For now, I’m well and will work through this the best that I can.”

I throw my jacket back over my shoulders and prepare to be on my way out. But as I’m before the door, I take pause and let my heels come to a stop.

“You… were the one who’d saved my life, weren’t you?”

“Ah. Well, it was a joint effort among all of us who were present and I couldn’t have done it without the help of the others.”

I turn to look her in the eye and she shyly avoids my gaze, taking another sip of tea while she’s at it.

“The greatest thanks I could have is seeing you alive and in good health. I’d be grateful if you’d take good care of yourself.”

“I can do that. I’ll do it for you as well. I’ve longed to say my thanks ever since I’d learned the truth. That it’s true is clear given how you were able to mend these wounds. It had to have been you.”

I present a full smile and dip into a modest bow.

“You’ve already repaid Solus by saving my life. Everything beyond this is going above and beyond that.”

“O-Oh…!” She blushes harshly, nearly becoming luminescent. “I still haven’t fulfilled my promise and it’s going to take my lifetime to. Solus had asked me to take care of you and keep you in good health for all of your life, even past your service as the Celestial Knight. My work has only just begun.”

Another hint of cute irony sent my way. As I part from the room, I begin to rethink my earlier decision.

“Talk to her about whatever, huh?” I stand out in the foyer and look out to the evening sunlight which prepares to part for the day. “I wonder if it would ever be a good idea to tell her the truth. About Fortino and those visions.”

Unable to come to a conclusion, I sit idly by and count the minutes thinking to myself. It’s then that an idea comes to my mind.