To Diagnosis

I finish my recollection. Look to Ebir for his response. He looks— Bottle-headed? I can’t tell. Can’t read him.

When I can’t stand waiting any longer, I ask, “What? What is it?”

Ebir responds, “You— you’re not making this up. Are you?”

I shake my head. Say, “No. Why would I make this up?”

Ebir pushes back his hair. Looks distressed. He says, “Never mind. I’ll make my report to Star Gwindore, and I’ll press for an urgent response. You should expect a summons within a few days at the most. But—”

When he doesn’t continue, I prompt him, “But what?”

“But you’re not going to like the response you get.” He finishes.

“What does that mean?” Sig asks harshly.

I shoot Sig a sharp look. A reminder that no one is to yell at Ebir.

Without acknowledging Sig, Ebir goes on. He asks Marine, “Time is critical, is that correct?”

She nods. “Yes. The sooner Mythriel is treated, the more likely her memories will return and more likely for no lasting complications.”

Ebir takes in the room. Looks at each person present. He seems to consider us for a moment, then in a hushed tone says, “What I am about to tell you. You did not hear from me. I will deny it if you try to claim otherwise, and will use all the power at my disposal to discredit you. Understood?”

Once each person gives their understanding, Ebir continues, “Triddy Forest does have a handful of other four aspect healers. However, as far as I’m aware, they are all still in training. The only person I know of qualified to perform any kind of procedure is— was Mythriel, herself. She is the progenitor of four aspect medicine.”

I smile. Almost laugh. Progenitor? As in founder? No, no, no! Ridiculous! That can’t be! That would make me someone smart, important, useful. All the things I feel quite certain I’m not.

I open my mouth to deny this revelation, but Sig speaks first. He says, “Hold on! Wait! If Mythriel invented four aspect medicine, then she should be indispensable to Triddy Forest. Super important! Why does it sound like you’re barely trying to help her? A few days just for a response from Star Gwindore? If he understands how important she is, he’ll summon her immediately. He’ll summon the other healers from Triddy Forest. Have them at least try to treat her. It sounds to me like he won’t even receive your report for a few days. I bet you're planning to delay your report to Star Gwindore just for petty spite. It’s plain to see you don’t like Mythriel.”

Ebir scoffs. “It’s true that I’m not fond of Mythriel. I have no problem admitting it. She circumvents my authority. Ignores my orders. Disregards procedure. Her lack of respect for my position and authority irks me to no end. But I would never allow such things to interfere in my work. I am no common droll. I am a true genteel. No, I will not be causing problems for Mythriel, the real problem is— well, you’ll see. I think I’ve said enough to make my point clear. You should not anticipate receiving help from Triddy Forest. You may in fact end up with the opposite problem.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, my voice purposefully polite.

“You’ll understand when you meet with Star Gwindore.” Ebir answers simply, with finality.

I understand we won’t get more from him. But I’m certain he already told us more than he planned. I thank Ebir for everything. Let him leave to make his report. Marine, Sig, and Shuri wait till he’s gone, then collectively berate Ebir before discussing what to do about me. I don’t participate. I’m too caught up in my thoughts.

If I really did invent this four aspect medicine thing, then why wouldn’t Triddy Forest help me regain my memories? That’s where I’m from, isn’t it? And it sounds like I might actually be important. Shouldn’t they want to help me? And what’s this opposite problem? Opposite of them helping me? Does that mean they want me to help them? Or they want something from me? Want something from me—? Want something—? She wants something— but she won’t tell me—? I wish she would tell me. I want to get her something special. Something special—?

“Myth!” Sig says with a nudge to my shoulder.

I startle out of my thoughts. Exclaim, “What! What! Oh, sorry. What did you say?”

“Not me. Marine. She wants to try something. But— are you okay? You were just staring into the horizon and not responding.”

“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about what Ebir said. Nothing to worry about. Just lost in thought. What did you want to try, Marine?” I ask.

Sig fixes me with a concerned look, but doesn’t push me for more. I think he can tell I wasn’t just thinking about what Ebir said. He does seem to know me well. Sees through me easily. But I don’t want to explain what just happened. Can’t explain it, really. It was like a trance. Or maybe a memory? I don’t know. She is certainly Cara. And I wanted to get her something special. A present? That follows, since she's special to me. But if that was a memory of wanting to get a present for Cara, then why did it feel so sad?

Not wanting to concern everyone with my odd occurrence, I put it out of my mind. Intent on thinking about it more later. I give Marine my attention.

She says, “I’d like to try something diagnostic to start. That should help us know how to proceed. Will you stand up for me, Mythriel?”

I hop down from the table. Marine has a thin disk of frosty glass with a ring set in the center. She takes out the ring and puts it on my finger. With the frosty glass in hand, she says, “Incipio.”

The glass in her hand blinks to life. As does the ring on my finger. The two glass pieces flash in unison, faster and faster, until they glow solid.

The air ripples. Streams of fire spin before me. An image comes to life. It takes a moment, but I recognize it. Me. A mirage of myself made of fire and heat. My heart is fire. Lungs are flames. Blood, a delicate stream of candlelight. I’m an inferno, a complex web of flames and rippling air. Bright, warm, beautiful.

Marine examines the fiery version of me closely. She scratches notes and hums to herself as she explains, “This technique is called Heat Mapping. It helps identify areas where excess heat is building up. Put simply, excess heat in one area of the body can be a byproduct of problems in another area, even if they seem unrelated. The cause of your memory loss is most likely centered in the brain. I can’t easily treat your brain, but this will tell us if there are other areas that I can treat to the same effect.”

Shuri tells me, “Marine is an expert at this technique. It’s why she’s the one I was planning to have you see.”

Without taking her eyes off the image of me, Marine responds, “I wouldn’t say expert, but this technique is unique to charmers like me.”

I’m still mesmerized by the radiant mirage. On reflex, I blurt out, “Well, you’ve certainly charmed me.”

At this, Marine looks up from the image. She eyes me. Looks stunned. Then bursts out laughing. Between fits of laughter, she snorts, “I’m sorry— I just— didn’t expect— to hear the same pickup line my husband uses— from an elf!— I’m sorry! I suppose that’s my fault. I need to explain properly since you're missing memories. Ahem! Flame charmer! I’m a flame charmer. Just as you’re a uh— a four aspect healer, I suppose. Shuri is a water shaper, Coral is too young to know for sure, but she’ll likely be a charmer like me or a life sentinel like her dad, and Sig is—”

“Also a flame charmer.” He fills in.

Marine continues, “And flame charmer is just a nickname for a person with high affinity for flame mana. Makes sense?”