‘Come in, my dear.
Do close the door behind you, if you please,’ her mentor said.
Cornelia entered the basement turned field hospital and followed his instructions, while walking down the stairs into the poorly lit room.
There were two medical beds, but both were empty as their detachment hadn’t seen combat in weeks.
Fernand was standing in front of his desk holding a cup of tea, with a crow perched on his shoulder.
The old man looked rather unamused, stroking his long, grey beard with his hand full of age spots and looking at her through round, thick glasses that were much too large for his long, slender face.
‘You are Sascha van Huyzen, first and only daughter of the great van Huyzen, are you not?’
Sascha froze.
Fernand outstretched his hand, offering her the tea.
‘I’m not going to tell anyone, if that’s what you’re scared of.
But I will ask you to put greater effort into hiding your identity in the future.
No one learns the arts of healing that quickly, girl.
You should know our craft takes decades to master, at the very least.
A girl of import that possesses advanced knowledge of healing, but despite that lacks any and all spiritual enhancements?
You are very lucky I am not a spy.
Or rather, your family is.’
‘I did not realize I was being so careless,’ Sascha uncomfortably said as she accepted Fernand’s tea.
‘I had myself convinced I was doing a good job playing the novice.’ The old healer turned around while gesturing disagreeingly.
‘You were not, I’m afraid.
But no matter, your secret is safe with me for now.
But I did not call you here to lecture or to scold you, instead I wanted to give you the good news, and to pass on a warning.’ Fernand tried to sit down on one of the beds, but his age fought against him.
Sascha gently helped the venerable man sit down after he gestured to her to do so.
Feeling a bit awkward standing on her own, she decided to sit next to him as well.
‘So, what’s the good news then?
I’m eager to hear it,’ Sascha asked.
‘Well..’ her mentor started.
‘When I was working on you back when you had just arrived into my care I noticed something odd, and I have done my good and proper research since.
‘Kindly old Oswald seems to have tricked quite a few people, including you.
He disobeyed his task in destroying your gifts and permanently severing your spirituality, in fact, that mischievous man merely impaired them.’ Sascha raised an eyebrow.
‘Forgive me, but I am not able to see the difference.
Aren’t the results similar, regardless of the methods used?’ Fernand chuckled.
‘No child, they are not.
As you have experienced yourself, enhancing someone’s body takes months of regular and sometimes intense spiritual sessions, or depending on the types of enhancements, even years.’ Fernand put his hand on her leg and gazed at her triumphantly.
‘Reawakening enhancements that are already put in place takes mere minutes.
Sweet girl, with the right help you may once again become a true, proper healer.’
Sascha could not believe what she was hearing.
She tried to prevent the tears from welling up, but weeks, if not months of frustration had gotten the better of her.
‘How?’ was all she could muster.
‘Unfortunately, despite us healers sharing many similarities to priesters, we mainly deal with the physical while they deal with all matters spiritual.
I cannot help you recover what you have lost, but even a novice priest will do just fine, if they know where to look.
If I can find it, so can they.
And their kind are much like cockroaches, almost every village and town on this wonderful island is infested by them, regardless of which province you stand in.’
Sascha started sobbing, unashamed.
But they were happy tears, brought to her by the kindness of a man she still barely knew.
‘Thank you, truly.
This means the world to me.
I had felt so lost, knowing my calling would have always been out of reach for me.’ She could see Fernand smile proudly while wiping away a semblance of a tear himself.
‘Seeing you happy like this, I already consider the debt repaid.’
After letting her emotions run their course, Sascha wiped away the leftover tears.
‘You will find it very hard to ruin my mood now, after such good news.
So, what was the warning that you wanted to give me?’ Fernand’s smile dimmed a bit.
‘While researching your identity, I had a dear friend send a crow to one of our sources within the Needle for further inquiry.
It got intercepted by our command, and through them I have learned of your true identity.
And their plans for you.’
Sascha looked confused.
‘Should I be worried about those plans?’ ‘No, not at all.
In fact they are quite nice about it.
You’ll be placed well outside of danger’s way amongst loving peers, deep within the reconquered territory of our Nieuw Reiksstaat.
No girl, they only wish the best for you.
And above all, they wish for you to continue the great work of your father.’
‘So, what’s the issue then?’ Sascha asked.
Fernand coughed, getting visibly more nervous.
‘Well..the issue is Dieter.
You should have been sent on your way days ago, but for whatever reason, he is ignoring the demands from high command and keeping you here.
I say to you now, child.
That man is no less a monster than the creature that has been hunting us.
You have not seen how he enacts warfare, the terror he brings to others.
The sacrifices..’ The old man was clenching his teeth.
‘Man’s spiritual powers are a reflection of their souls, and his is one of dread and despair.
No decent man would ever dedicate his life to powers so foul.
He can not, should not, ever be trusted to have your best interest at heart.’
Sascha shifted uncomfortably, not really sure what to say in response.
‘I’m surprised he wants to keep me around.
He has not spoken to me even once after we met, and I had the feeling he considered me an inconvenience, to put it mildly.’ Now curious, Sascha decided to delve deeper.
‘What about Lukk?
He has been kind to me ever since we met, and he has a great respect for Dieter.
Surely that has to count for something.’
Fernand was visibly thinking for a bit, before he spoke again.
‘Lukk is a curious case, I’d have to admit.
But when one surrounds themselves with those that do great evil, chances are they are just as rotten, but merely more skilled at hiding their darker selves.
I suspect Lukk is trying to fill a hole that was ripped from his heart long ago, but maybe, hopefully, instead you might be the vessel through which he seeks his redemption.’
Fernand smiled.
‘At any rate, girl.
Take in the good weather and enjoy the serenity of this village while it lasts.
There’s already talk of that awful beast defiling the lands nearby.
We won’t stay here long, lest we pull these kindly men and women into our horrible conflict with the great beast.’