Let Me Help Them To Heal

Chapter 31
“Something must have happened,” Bertold said in surprise. He had just examined Thalpus, unwrapping the bandages to check the wound. The poison was gone, leaving only ordinary wounds that would soon heal with normal treatment.

But the other patient’s wounds were still as bad as the day before, they were still blackened from the poison. Cautiously, Bertold asked Nalani if he saw anything unusual the night before while guarding the patients.

Nalani shook her head, “I was just compressing Thalpus’ wounds. It seemed to comfort him until he finally fell asleep.”

Deep down, Bertold began to suspect Nalani’s potential. However, he needed to test it.

He assigned Nalani the task of compressing one of the other patients while he watched closely.

His old but sharp eyes again witnessed the faintly flickering light from Nalani’s hand.

The light flowed into the wound, gradually drawing the poison out and dispersing it into the air.

The light was ethereal yet clear, an ethereal sparkle that pulsed with life and energy. Nalani’s touch was healing, not just comforting.

“Did you see that?” Bertold asked softly.

Nalani furrowed her brow. “See what?”

“That light,” he said, pointing to her hand. “The light that comes from you.”

Nalani looked down, but at first she could see nothing.

“You must concentrate,” Bertold said. “Tell your heart that you want to see it.”

Nalani followed Bertold’s advice; a few minutes passed with nothing. Then she saw the faint glimmer. Something at her fingertips.

“Oh!” She gasped. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw the light spread to the patient’s wound, the darkness of the poison fading away.

“I... I don’t understand,” she whispered.
Bertold placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You have a rare gift, Nalani. It’s like you’ve grown the flowers in your garden so quickly. You saved Thalpus, and now you can save others.”

“Flowers?” Nalani tilted her eyebrow.

Were the flowers also growing fast because of the magic of her hands?

“But... but what is this?”

Bertold shook his head regretfully. “I don’t even know if it's magic or just talent yet. But I think you’re different from me, even from the famous healers in my family. We don’t have that kind of light. Our talent is science. But, if I may give you a suggestion, child. Keep it from others. Whatever you have is still very raw. I don’t want it to invite ill intentions to misuse your talent, when you haven’t even been properly trained.”

Nalani nodded. What Bertold said made sense. “I will keep it a secret,” she said. “In the meantime, I will use it secretly to help others.”

Nalani went around cleaning the poison from patients’ wounds with her newly discovered magic. To keep her secret, she pretended to compress their wounds as she had done to Thalpus. When the sun began to roll westward, all the patients had been treated. Their blackened and almost rotting limbs had improved.

At the end of the day, a tired Nalani walked back to the castle with Mita. She needed to recharge her energy to treat them again the next day.
***

Nalani’s fingers touched the delicate petals of the wildflowers, a small smile spread across her face. “The flowers are beautiful, Loup. Thank you.”

Loup shifted from one foot to the other, his cheeks turned pink. “I picked them in the field behind the castle,” he said shyly.
Thalapus, who was resting on his bed, suddenly sat up, his eyes widened.

“Who did you go there with? Where is your mother? These are dangerous times, you must not gothere, Loup.”

“Your father is right,” Nalani added. “Children should not wander too far from the settlement.”

“Alpha Karyan accompanied me,” the boy replied shyly. “I was arguing with Mother who forbade me when Alpha passed by and he offered to accompany me.”

Nalani was stunned, while Thalapus breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness then.” Thalapus patted his son’s head gently. “You have always been an obedient child.”

Before Nalani could reply, the alpha appeared in the doorway with Radoff.

That day he had again donned his leadership robes, a sign he had called a meeting in the hall. “We’ve heard about the incredible recovery,” Karyan said. “Has Bertold Created an antidote to the poison?”

Bertold, who had been standing quietly at the back of the room, stepped forward with a humble smile. “Not just me. Nalani’s care and dedication are extraordinary. Her care makes the patients recover quickly.”

Karyan looked at Nalani. “I thought you only like gardening,” he said.

“I also like helping Bertold,” Nalani replied. “Can I be his assistant next time?” she asked hopefully.

She planned to practice her raw magic under Bertold’s supervision.

Therefore she had to work as the old healer’s assistant so that Karyan would not get suspicious.

Karyan’s eyes narrowed. “Of course,” he said then. “I have no reason to forbid you.”
***

Ever since the creature injured many members of her pack, Karina spent most of her time confined to her room.

She felt guilty somehow. She could guess what had disturbed the creature. It must have been the hunter, Thad, who was assigned to track down its lair.

He must have provoked the creature. Now, she hoped Thad would come to her soon, so she could question him.

Her wish was granted when Thad appeared with a grim expression, having heard about the attack. Without waiting for an invitation, he stepped into Karina's room.

"Karina," Thad began, but Karina cut him off with a sharp glare.

"Do you know what you've done?" Her voice was low but shook with suppressed anger. "You're supposed to be careful. You're supposed to gather information, not provoke!"

Thad's shoulders slumped. "I didn't mean to provoke. I was just trying to find the lair-"

"And you managed to anger him instead!"
Karina snapped, rising from her chair.

"Now, because of your carelessness, people are suffering. Injured. Some may not survive."

"I didn't expect that, Karina. He's never hurt anyone except border crossers," Thad said.

"Well, the fact is that now he's getting annoyed."

"So what should we do?" Thad looked at Karina, waiting for her decision.

"Have you found the lair yet?"

"Yes. I think I found it," Thad said. "There's a cave hidden in the middle of the forest. It's almost untouched by anyone."

Karina was silent for a moment. "Thad...." she said. "Take me there."

***