Lienna.
The healer began his treatment, checking my body and asking questions concerning how I felt. When my answers were satisfactory for him, he prepared some herbs, making a potion out of it and urged me to drink it. I scrunched up my nose at the foul scent but did it anyway, the bitter taste clinging to my mouth as I gulped the liquid down. Shuddering slightly, I returned the bowl back to him and he began to clear his things.
“You’re getting better, but I would still prescribe several days of bed rest. After which, you’re free to return back to your duties,” he said as he placed his tools back into his bag.
“Thank you for everything,” I muttered, my voice filled with gratitude.
The healer nodded and once he was through, made his way out of the room, leaving me alone once more. Letting out a sigh, I ran my hands through my hair, feeling the weight of my exhaustion. I was tired of being stuck in this bed, tired of being weak. I wanted to get back to my normal self, to be able to defend myself and those I cared about.
Just as I was starting to drift off into my thoughts, a knock came on the door, interrupting me. When I opened it, Mara walked inside, a bright smile on her face.
“Mara!” I called out, excitement filling my voice. She beamed at me, hurrying to my side with a tray of food in her hands.
“How are you, dear?” she asked, settling the tray on the table beside the bed.
“I’m fine. I’ve missed you. Actually, I’ve missed everyone. How are they?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“They are just where you left them, Liennna. We should focus more on you. We have much to talk about. It’s a miracle the way you escaped being executed. I need to know, the powers you manifested that day, are they truly yours? Are you a supernatural being who has been hiding for such a long time?” Mara asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I smiled, not surprised at her questions. I’m sure that’s what everyone in this fortress must be thinking right now. “Well… You could say that,” I began slowly, trying to gather my thoughts.
“Tell me everything, Liennna,” Mara said, dragging a chair closer to the bed so she could sit close to me. “How did you escape your death sentence? What was that you did that day?” She asked, not stopping for a breath.
I took a deep breath, balling my hands into fists before speaking up. “It wasn’t me. It was the moon goddess who did that,” I muttered.
“The moon goddess?” Mara asked after a while, her eyes widened in disbelief.
I nodded, speaking further. “She… resides in me. I’m a vessel for her at the moment,” I said, watching as Mara’s expression changed from shock to curiosity.
“It was through her I was able to do what I did back then,” I continued, glancing at Mara as she processed this new information.
Mara’s face lit up with a bright smile. “Liennna, that’s amazing! You’re a vessel for the moon goddess? I’m so happy for you! I always knew there was something special about you.” She exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
I chuckled, feeling embarrassed. “It’s really nothing much. I’m just glad I wasn’t falsely executed for a crime I didn’t commit. That would have been tragic,” I said, and Mara nodded, reaching to squeeze my hands reassuringly.
With a shuddering breath, I continued. “Thank you for believing in my innocence back when I was still in the dungeons. You may not realize it, but it meant a lot to me,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
Mara’s eyes glistened with tears. “Don’t mention that. I already knew there was no way you could do something like that,” She said, and I chuckled, blinking back tears.
We gazed at each other affectionately until Mara cleared her throat, pulling her hands away from mine as her gaze hardened. “It seems that the real perpetrator has been apprehended, is that so?” She asked, her voice firm.
I nodded, my mood darkening as I remembered Veronica. “Yes, it was none other than Veronica,” I muttered.
Mara’s face twisted in disgust. “That vile woman. I’m so glad she was caught. She will no longer be able to torment us anymore. The fortress has been peaceful ever since she was thrown in the dungeons,” She said, her voice filled with satisfaction.
I nodded non-committally, my mood dropping as I remembered several other implications. Mara was quick to detect the change in my mood. “Is everything alright? Your mood changed just now,” She asked, concern etched on her face.
“Nothing… It’s just, I don’t think we’re out of the woods just yet,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mara’s expression turned serious. “Why is that?” she asked, leaning forward, concern etched on her face.
I hesitated, unsure of how to articulate my fears. “The shifter Kings mentioned something earlier. They said my life could be in danger now that people are aware that the moon goddess is back to the realm. The thought of it makes me scared,” I admitted, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
Mara’s face softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. “Don’t be scared, Liennna,” she said, her voice filled with conviction. “Now that the shifter Kings know about this, I’m sure they won’t let any harm come to you. Just make sure you’re careful as well and take life one day at a time.”
Her words reverberated through me, offering a sense of comfort and reassurance. “Thank you so much, Mara,” I said sincerely, my voice filled with gratitude.
Mara smiled back at me, her eyes warm with kindness. “Anytime, Liennna,” she said, smiling at me.
Soon, she clapped her hands, rising to her feet. “If that is all, it’s time for you to eat and get some rest. You need to recover quickly,” Mara said as she brought the tray of food closer to me, placing it on the bed.
My stomach growled in anticipation as the delectable scents of the fresh bread and soup wafted through my nose. I couldn’t wait to dig in. With a huge smile on my face, I immediately dug in, feeding myself morsels of the fresh bread dipped in the rich chicken soup.
Mara waited until I had finished eating and had begun to grow drowsy before she stood up to leave. “Get some rest, Liennna, I’ll see you later,” she said as she took the tray from me.
I nodded, letting out a small hum as I closed my eyes in sleep. I barely noticed when she left the room, as I had drifted off to sleep once more, my consciousness fading from me.