The Steadfast Sky : Travelling Alone III
The Grey Potter
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/11495/The-Steadfast-Sky
http://cosmicponyfiction.tumblr.com
~Celestia~
These thoughts are mine. They once were mine. I am these thoughts. They are me. Yet, why do they seem so removed from me? They are themselves, a part of me… The parts of me I cannot stomach. It makes sense. This still makes sense. It is very clearly put into the box of sense-having.
If I could, I’d cut every piece of me out. And then maybe, without them, I’ll see the sun again. Or the ideal of the sun or—
Uhg, shut up, Snippy grunted, This line of thought has been run into the friggin ground. I am so sick of thinking it.
Oh, why does thinking make my head hurt so much? Maybe I am sick. Princess bubbled into my thoughts, I wish we could stay in bed for a week at least, minded by the maids and nurses…
Lucky me then! I have found a hospital!
A white building poked itself just above the tree line. Its face was simple, wood and sheet rock, with windows peppering its face. My first impression was of those little eyes above the trees, of a tall white bell tower, mournfully tolling the hour. I was so relieved to hear that bell. Thank goodness! A part of me sighed. I walked evenly down the overgrown cobble path, watching the wooden roof as the trees slowly peel away from it, mind buzzing. Finally, I’m here.
It actually exists. It’s really real.
I mean, why wouldn’t it? Did I ever doubt that?
Oh my goodness, Princess interjected, Look at the construction of this place! Is that a wooden inlay on white marble? No, looks like it’s just cheap alabaster, what a pity. Yet they’ve treated it so well, I think I can forgive them for using such poor materials.
It’s big. Snippy snipped, swiping the bangs from my eyes. Showy. Hospitals shouldn’t be showy. Who the hell do they think they are, flaunting wealth like that?
Ponies will notice and remember it, won’t they? Martyr quietly approved. Lots of ponies knew that this place was there for them. How wonderful.
I had finally come around to the front. There was a squat stone wall surrounding the compound, fencing in a simple garden square, a simple fountain burbling at the center. It would have been a nice, lovely first impression, I’m certain.
Oh. Princess sniffed. They seem to have flubbed that, haven’t they?
The fountain was clogged with dead leaves, wet gunk plastering its basin. As I walked through that little courtyard, my eyes flicked down to the garden full of tangled, overbloated floral bushes and a matted carpet of weeds. Tall grass hung over the path like a short canopy, stalks tickling at my sides.
Without a tone or personality, I thought, The days of this place’s wealth are come and gone.
Princess had a stronger reaction that that, of course. How cheap! She moaned. They’ve completely skimped on the gardener! Don’t they know a presentable mane is more important than a presentable tail?!
Martyr shook her head. Healing sick people is more important than a pretty face, Princess.
I bit my lip as I popped the latch of the massive oaken doors, heaving them open. Both of these thoughts were true to me, weren’t they? Healing ponies was important. But …
Yes, that part of me was shouting again. Tut tut! Looking presentable builds trust before you’ve even said a word! I mean, how else are ponies going to take you seriously?
But no. No, that’s shallow, isn’t it? I was embarrassed at myself almost immediately, Snippy springing forth in an instant.
How does one build trust? Hm! What a mystery! Oh, I don’t know, maybe, by being GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO?!
And if you’re not good at what you do? A nice façade is good enough to keep one in business!
“Welcome.”
My head shot up. A pale Unicorn looked at me from across the hall, at a desk Princess was quick to note did not match the color of the décor. Her dark mane was tied back into a simple bun by what looked to be gauze. Little bits of paper zipped around her head, pulled here and there by her pink aura.
I looked away. Somehow, I had wandered into a kind of wood and plaster entrance hall, the floor a cold, polished stone. Plants sat limply in cracked pots, and the tables seemed to be submitting to age. There were no pillows, and barely half-filled dusty bookshelves. The room was artificially large, ceiling rising up to the second floor with big, gaping doorways yawning to my left and right. Two grand staircases rose to a quiet second floor, floor lit by a wide glass ceiling, rendered nearly opaque by dust and cobwebs, and dimly flickering crystals, like the ones I had seen in Canterlot.
This is a hospital? Princess scoffed, Oh, what a destitute, impoverished, sorry little—
Princess, it’s not nice to insult these people, Martyr chided, They help and they heal. They’re good ponies.
Still, I pity them. Wonder how much good they can do in this out-of-the-way, run-down, rain-rotted—
A lot, Princess. Snippy huffed, How many friggin ponies mentioned it along the road, huh?
“Ma’am?” the pony at the desk called out to me, propping herself up on her desk. The papers settled. She seemed very serious. “Is there something I can help you with?”
I closed my mouth. How long was it gaping open like that?
“No,” I said lightly, “Well. I don’t know…”
“Are you ill? Have you come for healing?”
Princess cried as the desk pony looked me up and down. Search me again will they?! Has not my privacy been invaded time and time again on this trip?
I turned away, shifting out of the Healer’s gaze. There was silence in the hall. Eerie, overwhelming silence, as if the place was abandoned. Is there nobody else in this building?
“I,” Martyr mumbled, “I’m shy.” Princess made my cheeks flush with indigence, like ‘shy’ was a dirty word.
The mare smiled thinly, and settled back behind her desk. A few more papers lifted from around her, zipping up the stairs or down the adjacent halls. She’s pitying me, Snippy hissed, She thinks she’s better than me!
Yes, I would have assumed that she pitied me. Martyr nodded solemnly. But is that necessarily a bad thing, pity, if you’re in need…?
“Dear, if you’re in need of help, there’s no need to be shy. We may be…” The healer looked off and away, and Princess giggled in my ears. We may be what? An awful run-down wreck of a hospital? “Whatever ails you, we’ll take care of you.”
Princess and Snippy shoved their way to my mouth, mixing thickly in my throat, “I didn’t come here because I was sick, you…! My lady…” I swallowed them down, and before I could say another sentence, Martyr rolled out my mouth. “I simply heard of the Sanatorium, and it caught my curiosity. Such a large hospital, attached to no city…”
“Ah yes,” the Healer nodded slightly, “This building actually used to be a sort of research center… the history is rather boring, I must admit. But we’re more than accommodating to the area’s medical needs.”
Once more, Martyr rolled out my mouth before I could stop her. “I would like to help.”
“Of course.” The healer nodded, her eyes drifting up towards my horn. “I hope you haven’t come from too far. We’re not currently offering full apprenticeships, but there’s plenty here we could use a unicorn’s help with…”
I wasn’t listening. I mean, I think her words were reaching me, some part of me. But most parts of me were now absolutely furious, pouncing on that stupid, self-sacrificing—!
Martyr! What do you think you’re doing?! Snippy groaned, tearing her hooves through her green mane. Help? Work? Here?! But we have far more important things to do!
But just look at the state of this place! Martyr clutched her heart, mournful. They must have so little money, all the way out here. We have to help them!
What they need is a nice maid…
Martyr nodded. Oh, Princess, that’s very correct! They do need a maid!
… And I refuse to be a nice maid. Princess finished flatly.
“Young lady…?”
I blinked. Oh sun and mood, the mare at the desk was still staring at me. Did she say something else? What were we talking about again?
“I’ve said something foolish,” Snippy grunted, jumping in. “Please, don’t mind me.”
“No, no, not foolish. I’m simply trying to spell things out for you, dear.” She chuckled weakly again, and two parts of me rolled in disgust. “It’s not that we don’t need the help. But fair warning, while we do offer room and board, we rely primarily on volunteer work. And since you seem healthy of body, you may be reduced to menial tasks for a good while…”
Again, her words faded into the background.
You dare to ask a Princess to do menial chores for your run-down shanty of a hospital?! Oh sky above what have you gotten us into, Martyr?!
Oh my goodness, all that cleaning we did on the way here must have been practice for cleaning this hospital! Martyr rolled on her hooves, ecstatic, for how much her reverent personality allowed. What a wonderful twist of fate! And, to do it for free? What a beautiful system!
Shut UP, Martyr! You’re an idiot! You’re so stupid! You don’t understand a single damn thing about economics!
“Ma’am?” The desk jockey snapped, voice crisp. “You seem rather distracted.”
“I’m struggling with myself,” Princess sniffed.
“Oh?”
“I mean,” I closed my eyes, just trying to find sense in my own head. “I’m actually a travelling unicorn. My name is… Helios.”
“Rather masculine name, Helios,” the Healer lightly joked. Again, Princess burned in me, rising in my throat like acidic heartburn.
She hissed, “I see the dust has gotten a little out of hand.”
No, no, no, why did I say that?! I don’t want to be rude. Why am I so angry all of a sudden? I’m the one who’s ignoring the desk pony and she’s just—
Presumptuous!
Dithering mule!
Why that’s not very nice nor accurate.
I detest her mane! The gauze is not nearly striking enough to bring out her hair’s natural color!
This is the absolute dumbest mistake I’ve ever made!
Please! Why am I angry? Why must I take my offense this far?
“Young lady? Are you quite alright?”
A new voice broke through my pit of self-loathing. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was, who I was talking to, or why. But in a moment, the world righted itself. Sanitarium. A black-maned mare and… A newcomer. Another mare, a light blue unicorn with a tight-cropped curly purple mane and glasses. She looked me very gravely up and down—
Oh I am so very SICK of ponies eyeing my body!
With a bow, the new pony said, “Welcome to the Sanatorium, miss Helios. I am Doctor Redheart. Are you tired from your journey? Let’s get you rested.”
“It’s midday,” Snippy grunted.
“All the same. This way, miss Helios.”
A million cold, angry thoughts rolled within me. Hating this place. Hating my offer to volunteer. Hating the lack of reason why I wanted to come here. Curiosity? I hate the feeling. I swear, I will never be curious again. I will never seek out anything. Ever. Seeking has just made everything so much worse.
A hoof placed itself firmly on my shoulder. I snap back from my mind and there’s that blue mare again, staring me in the eyes.
“Oh please, miss!” Princess shouted. “Don’t touch me!”
“You may be ill,” the mare said firmly. “Please. This way, my lady.”
“I am not!” Princess complained. “I’ve been looked over and examined by every stallion on the road. I do not wish to be taken advantage of again! I refuse!”
“We’re here to help, ma’am, we are a hospital. I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
The part of me willing to believe that relaxed a little. Martyr, probably. Willing to just give herself up at a word. Well, with a glance, I noticed this mare did have a proper Healer’s cutie mark.
But two part of me now were still resolute in their need to refuse. Princess, out of mistrust, and Snippy because… well Snippy, for goodness’ sake! The both of them rose in my throat, resisting my efforts to beat them back.
I begged with myself, But, a bed! They’re offering a place to sleep, Princess! You did say you’d like to rest with nurses attending you…
It’s probably full of lice and fleas and worse.
Yeah, what she said! Why did we come here in the first place?!
Oh Snippy, Princess sniffed, For heaven’s sake, you’re just bringing up conflicts for the sake of conflict. Do you even need to state your opinion at this point?
My eyes darted around, and finally found even more sorry and silent souls on the balcony, from around a hall. Maybe half a dozen in all. One held a feather duster in her mouth. Another was dressed in a white smock. He looked like half of his face was torn off, an eyepatch sinking deep into a caved-in slice of his skull.
This brings the total hospital population up to eight! Princess huffed. This place is practically abandoned!
Princess! I mumbled. Do you want all these ponies to see you being so obstinate? And… And with such a horrible mane cut, at that?
And that part of me heaved. I would be so embarrassed by this situation, wouldn’t I? Putting up a scene in front of all these ponies...
How about I just calm down, and go with the nice doctor with our dignity intact?
My legs jerked forward, barely under my control. Princess lifted my head high, as if intended to nobly strut. I just wanted to slap every part of me. Well, at least the doctor looked relieved as she firmly directed me up the staircase.
You know if she WAS a REAL doctor—
“Shut up,” I mumbled, “Just shut up.”
“It’s alright miss Helios. This way.”
Battening down my reactions, I was led to a bare little room. There was a bed. A little bedstand. A window. And just enough room to fit maybe four ponies side-by-side. Not exactly a suite… But I shouldn’t expect to it be. While Princess and Martyr were distracted by battling out the strengths and weaknesses of a large and small room respectively, the ‘doctor’ helped me settle onto the not-very-dusty and surprisingly-silky sheets. Then, while Princess admired the quality, the healer found the time to call for a ‘Smiley.’
To my shock, the pony with only half a face came wandering in, carrying a little wooden tray around his neck. His cutie mark was a hammer. Princess scoffed, What kind of doctor has a hammer for a cutie mark? At least Redheart here has a proper doctor’s mark.
“Now,” Redheart said, “I am going to have to give a short examination.”
“Nothing invasive, I should hope!” Princess bubbled out my mouth.
“No, not at all. But I do need a little cooperation from you.”
All parts of me eyed Snippy, huffing and puffing and mumbling quietly about credentials and such. Most of me actually hoped that she’d stay quiet for the proceedings
I mean, Princess said, If this isn’t another gross invasion of my privacy, then what is there to object to?
Oh. I don’t know… Snippy said sarcastically.
My eyes snapped into focus, eyes on the little box of tools. Or, what I had thought were tools. Redheart’s aura dipped into the tray and brought out, not an instrument of healing, but a broken fragment of rock.
I couldn’t stop myself. Snippy boiled in my throat. “What is that?”
“Thermometer.”
“No,” Snippy heaved, “That’s a rock.”
“Yes. Just a rock. Now tuck it under your chin.”
She lifted the rock to my throat, and it was a struggle against myself to just hold it there. I almost wanted to cry, out of both fury and frustration. You’re only one opinion, Snippy! I want to give this doctor a chance! Why am I struggling so hard against my own thoughts? Why?
As I was holding the rock, she turned back to the tray and pulled out— yep, another uneven chunk of gray rock. This lady is a total quack.
“Take this from me.”
Snippy sniffed, breath jamming up my nose. “What are these tests? Are you really a doctor?”
“Do you think my cutie mark’s a fake?” she replied simply. “I want to test your magical strength. Please try to take the rock from me.”
Snippy growled, and I could have sworn it escaped my mouth. I didn’t want to make this last any longer than it had to. Yes, that was me, but why did I feel it so strongly…?
My aura snapped around the little stone, and I tried to yank it out of her (stupid) purple aura.
But after a few spirited yanks, my horn was straining. It sputtered, and the aura began dissipating. I frowned.
“I can usually do much better than that,” I growled at myself.
“I understand. This is why you’re here. Now can I have my thermometer back?”
I blinked, and her aura ducked under my chin. I had (luckily) forgotten I was holding it.
“Cold,” she said. “Are you nauseous? Anything aching?”
I bit my tongue while I thought. No you will not yell her again no you will not yell at the helpful mare.
“My horn and head, a little,” Martyr hiccupped lightly. “Especially when I cast.”
“Any joint pain?”
“Oh yes. Right after a night spent sleeping on the hard ground, I ache all over.”
Healer Redheart nodded. (Buffoon.)
“I’ll need a blood sample to determine if—“
“I refuse,” Snippy spat. On principle. Obviously.
Oh shut UP, Snippy! We get it! You hate it here!
“Okay then,” Redheart said, turning back to the box of rocks. The pony with half a face chortled a little. I glared at him. I don’t know if he even noticed.
“So tell me.” Redheart pulled out another rock from the box, this one long and thin, like a shard of cloudy quartz. “What happened downstairs? Are you suffering blackouts? Times where you drift in and out of a dream?”
“What is that, now?” I snapped, hoof reflexively pointing at the rock. “A stethoscope? A curative spell?”
“No. Actually, I don’t know quite what it does. Call it a magical good luck charm.”
With her aura she sent it spinning, circling my head, dully humming. Little purple streaks blurred across my eyes. I swatted at it. Missed.
“I don’t black out,” I grumbled.
“Do you fade out then? Daydream or go into a daze? Amble by, not really paying attention to where you are?”
“Everybody has moments where they lose focus,” I mumbled. For a moment, it seemed like staring into the purple streaks made some parts of me less angry. Like a pressure was being pulled from my head.
“Oh, I guess so,” she shrugged, “But what exactly were you thinking about?”
“Myself,” I mumbled. “How much I just really, really hate myself.”
“What a thing to say. You’re not giving yourself a fair chance.”
I felt like right then Snippy should have something quite rude to say. Like, how dare she make judgments, or something.
But Snippy just rolled over in my right ear, ignoring me as she clogged my hearing.
“Would you say you’ve been under a lot of stress lately?”
“I… yes,” I mumbled, “I’ve been through hell these past few weeks.”
“So then, how about— Whoops!”
The spinning stone clattered to the ground, spinning and bouncing off the far wall. Instantly, my ears popped painfully, pressure shifting back into my skull.
The quack picked up the rock and tucked the crystal behind her ear. What a place for it!
“Smiley, can you and Papercut go down to the records and find all you can on magical diseases?”
“Sure can, miss Redheart.”
The Healer turned back to me and shrugged. “This isn’t anything serious, I don’t think. I just want to double check—”
“Speak!” Princess snapped, “What exactly is wrong with me?”
“Well. It’d be one thing if… Hm…” She stared at the ceiling, little purple aura tugging and twirling a bit of her mane. “Well… have you ever come into contact with a substance, something much like a slime mold or black rot. A mass that mimics animal movement? That’s cold to the touch?”
For a brief moment, I felt like she was describing my dreams. But no, those dreams came from somewhere. I just wasn’t entirely sure where…
And it wasn’t like the bits of me were very good at searching through my thoughts.
The healer continued, “If you have, did you happen to have eaten anything like it recently?”
“I can think of nothing less appetizing!” Princess gasped, aghast.
“So…”
“No, no, of course I haven’t!”
Healer Redheart nodded. “Well, then your symptoms probably stem from stress. How about you relax? Rest here. We’ll do everything within our power to help you.”
Different parts of me struggled with the response. Snippy was snippy, yes, but for once, Martyr won out. She made me bow to the mare, and said quietly, “Thank you, Healer Redheart.”
She stared at me for a moment, curious maybe. My emotions curdled around that idea, each side offering their opinion, none winning out. But Redheart didn’t stay for long, and in a moment more she was at the door.
She said, “We’ll bring dinner shortly,” and left.
And with that, I went right back to stewing in my own head again. The fact that I was confined to a room didn’t bother me so much as much as my own confused indifference to the situation. I was too busy loathing myself to really care about what exactly was going on in the hospital. I was detached. It didn’t matter. They weren’t hurting me. I could just—
I just wanted it to stop.
Yes, Snippy rose, Make those other two shut up. They’re seriously holding us back.
For goodness sake Snippy, can’t you find something other than yourselves to be mad at?
No! Listen to me dammit, I’m important! I keep you safe! And yet, you always side with that vain little—
Vain.
A new word. I latch onto it instantly, like it was a new truth. Vain. Am I a vain person? Are all of these personalities my vanity? Am I flattering myself, thinking of myself as the most important factor in—
Oh geez, look at you go. Think you’ve found the last piece of a puzzle, don’t you? Do you really think it’s that simple?
Martyr nodded along solemnly. Even large problems stem from simple ones, left to be. All of the First Gods became horrors from their flaws.
But perhaps they were all quite flawed people. And then, vainly, Princess said, I am not nearly that bad.
I tried to wave them away. I am neither acting rationally, nor consistently. I hated the road, so I longed to come here. Yet the moment I got here, found a reason to hate it too. I hated the doctor, and yet I listened to her. And even though I questioned everything, I still remain in this bed, not even trying to leave…
Yeesh, what have I been saying all along?! Snippy moaned, rolling her eyes. WELL THEN, WHY DON’T WE LEAVE.
My leg yanked out from under me in a large, violent twitch. I stared at it and shivered. I twitched again, body heaving over the edge of the bed, tottering on the side.
I’m going to fall! You’re going to make me fall!
No, no, no, no, I can’t bruise! Princess cried, I have a white coat! It’s so obvious when I’m bruised, it completely ruins my complexion!
You won’t get bruised if you stood on your own stupid legs!
The problem is not the hospital, Snippy! I mean… we have a bed!
Oh my goodness, yes, this bed! Not just a place by the fire or a pile of straw, an actual, wonderful bed! With sheets!
And… And we’re getting a free meal!
I don’t know… And now, of all thoughts, Martyr found it in her little head to object. We haven’t done a single thing to earn such happiness.
It’s a hospital Martyr! They’re here to take care of us! We can earn our keep later, can’t we? Help them—
Yes! Martyr clapped excitedly, Clean the entire hospital!
Nooooo! Snippy moaned. No, why, Baker?! Why did you set her off like that?!
You mean… set myself off like that? This is odd. I am manipulating my own emotions and reactions?
Aw man, can’t you go back to forcing us what to say? Make Martyr say she’s happy, don’t feed into her complex!
But the moment I stop actively thinking about how happy she is, she’ll just go right back to being a complex. I don’t stop her by pretending she’s not there.
You’ll keep her quiet for a little while, won’t you?
But why pick and choose? How about I do that with all of me?
NO
NO NO NO NO
I REFUSE
I SINCERELY DOUBT YOU COULD
THAT’S NOT NICE IT’S NOT NICE AT ALL
I clamp my ears down with my hooves. The pounding in my head got worse and worse, like cold claws pushing into my skull. Closing off my hearing didn’t seem to help. It just made the whispers louder in my head, like actual voices in my ears—
And then that spinning crystal zipped in front of my eyes. Instantly, the voices stopped. I watched as it boomeranged around my head, shot off in another direction, and clattered into a wall.
“Darnit.”
I stared at Healer Redheart, entering with Smiley again. Again, the voices boiled within me.
“What is that thing?” Snippy tainted my question, making it angrier than it should be. “Make it—“ spin again, is what I would have said. But in an instant, it was like my throat clamped shut. I struggled to breathe.
“I’m doing my best, miss Helios.”
Again, Redheart lifted the rock, and it was spinning around my head again. Smiley came up to me and set a tray on my bed. Bread and a broth stew. I stared at it, ears buzzing.
“I’m sorry for everything horrible I ever said or thought,” I mumbled. I felt like it was something Martyr would say, but she seemed so absent. “I am so very sorry.”
“Well, it’s good to have you back, miss Helios.”
I asked, “What is this thing?”
“I’ve seen it used to even patient’s moods, ease pain, pause magical processes. Usually seen a nurse take care of it while the doctor works for—“ The gem spun off course as she shrugged, but she caught it in an instant more. “Very obvious reasons. Now. Smiley is going to ask you some questions, and while you have a moment of peace, you’re going to answer them. Alright?”
I looked at Smiley.
Then, unprompted, I asked my own question, “Why are there so few ponies here?”
“There’s plenty of ponies here, miss,” Smiley grunted, voice strained. “This is just a quiet place, you see.”
“Then why is everything so run down? Why—“
“Miss,” Redheart said, “I can’t keep this up forever.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it, not wanting to be rude. But I did still have questions. Simple ones, leftovers of my former arguments.
“Did you find out what was wrong with me?” I asked.
“Either a very strong stress related infection, or a very weak poisoning,” Redheart explained, focusing on the gem as it streaked across my vision. “A very specific case of poisoning, really. Haven’t seen much like it before. But either way, rest should help. There’s little more we can do for you than offer this temporary relief from whatever you’re going through.”
“And if there’s anything else you need, feel free to ask us miss!” Smiley interjected. “Just give a holler. Papercut’ll probably hear you!”
“But please, miss Helios,” Redheart said firmly. “Our questions.”
“Yes…”
“So!” Smiley shouted, grin spreading over his half-empty face. “As a unicorn, what kind of magics can you cast?”
“Light,” I said instantly. “And um… a bit of law. A bit of fire, theoretically.”
“Law?” Smiley looked back at Redheart, confused. “Er… what kind of magic does that do?”
“Corrections?” I offered. Then, hesitated. Martyr offered to help with the cleaning, but now that my head was clearer… Did I really want to do that?
No voice echoed back to me. It felt like I had no opinion at all. I should at least have a feeling about cleaning the whole place, shouldn’t I?
“Corrections?” Smiley offered, frowning. “Like… to documents? I don’t understand.”
“No… It’s like putting things to order. Fixing things, restoring them like new.”
“Oh, I see! Sound very useful.”
“It has been,” I said lightly.
I answered more questions. Smiley filled out a little note sheet with a pencil in his teeth. I was asked about symptoms, of where I had been and what level my spellcasting was at. I hesitated at first, and practically on instinct I reverted to lies. I said I was from Ponyville. Said I was self-taught. Stuck to the name Helios. I didn’t particularly know why I lied. Certainly, it would cause me more effort to maintain these lies than stick to truth. But another part of me had already decided to hide the embarrassment of my past…
I mean, I lied for a good reason once, didn’t I? something about not wanting to be found, or embarrassment…
After a surprisingly short amount of time, the interview came to a close. Redheart stood up from her seat, and the gem seemed to slow. Pressure was returning to my head.
“Oh!” I said placidly. I leaned forward, nearly falling into the bread and broth gone cold. “Sorry. Ah. How much longer do you think you can keep this up?” I waved at the gem as it passed. “My head feels so clear. Empty, a bit. But so clear.”
Redheart looked at me levelly.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I cannot.”
“You have more nurses, don’t you?”
“Miss Helios, the only thing I can do for you is let you work out your problems. I’m sorry. We’ll take care of you.”
Redheart released her aura. The gem spun to a halt.
And the air around me slammed into my head like a thunderclap in my ears.
“It’s a bad infection, yes…” Redheart sighed, “But have patience. It should heal.”