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The timid man didn’t hesitate for long, stepping forward, silently asking my permission with his eyes before laying his clean but weathered hands on me. Trying to reassure me, he sent me a kind smile and spoke in a calming tone as he gingerly prodded my head before his hands fell over my cheek, a small amount of his magic soothing away some of my pain. He worked diligently despite the noticeable tremble from the magic strain I could feel in his hands.
His modest clothing, too large for his thin frame, suggested he was a lower-level Earth User. The more powerful Earth Users owned estates and were community leaders. Only the weakest settled for a lowly position in the capital like this man, where they were mistreated regularly despite the good they often did. They always looked like they’d lived a hard life.
Earth affinities were considered the lowest form of power. They provided very little offensive magic. Their skills were in healing and growing crops. Some were used for defense, but mainly, they were only valuable in the capital if they were very powerful. As such, they suffered through the occupations no one else desired.
The man’s already limited power was weakening with use. I was hurting him, and still he continued feeding me the little magic he had left. While managing to remain kind and gentle. He worked slowly, focusing on the more severe injuries, barely healing the abrasions.
The pain was bearable for the first time in days, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was only offered the smallest amount of healing since I was detained— only once I was unconscious and on the verge of death. Prisoners were not usually healed after their abuse and were left to suffer their punishments.
Elijah's hand tightened almost painfully on my shoulder with every newly discovered mark. And unlike the Earth User’s careful touch, I felt Elijah’s hand entirely. It drew my entire focus. When the Earth User checked my torso, the older man allowed me to keep my modesty, barely lifting the fabric and kindly closing his eyes, unlike the brute behind me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Elijah’s head firmly fixed in our direction, never taking his eyes off me. Though I knew Elijah couldn’t see through my shift's thick, coarse fabric, it felt like he could see all of me.
I forced my eyes to follow the Earth User's hands move so I wouldn’t look. Between the fire racing through me from the heat of Elijah's hand and the lingering fervor from his attention, warmth rose to my face, painting it red. I took a long, deep breath, letting it out slowly.
When the older man finished his assessment, he looked at an impatient Elijah— who still had an iron grip on my shoulder.
“She will be okay,” he informed us. “Though, I cannot remove the brand. I apologize.” His face showed just how sorry he was for that fact.Yeah, me too.
Elijah somehow moved even closer, his torso touching my chair, completely invading my space while he growled, legit growled, “Fix it.”
Fury was leaking from his tone and every tight muscle I couldn’t help but feel against my back. The hand on my shoulder was curling, bunching the fabric of my shift right above the brand.
The Earth User shook his head, apologizing again.
“It's above my power level. I honestly don’t know anyone who could remove it,” the old man replied, his voice hardening. “It was magically applied.”
The man looked at me. “This may help the healing along. Take away some of the ache.” Reaching inside his pocket, he pulled out two vials. One glowed blue in the light, almost luminescent. The other appeared to be an opaque, thick, murky green-brown, and I hoped I wasn’t expected to ingest it. It looked like it smelled terrible.
He placed the former on the table beside my clasped hands and uncorked the other, showing me the inside.
It did smell bad. Really bad. The odor was so rancid I was tempted to hold my breath. I didn’t want that on or in my body. At least my new Keeper would stay far, far away.
“We can apply this salve. It’s non-magical, but it may have an effect.” Sealing the jar, he laid it on the table and retrieved the other. “But first, drink all this. It will accelerate the healing of the rest of your injuries that I could not heal. I have no strength left to continue. I am very sorry, miss.”
Grateful, I smiled and raised the vial to my lips, tipping the vial slightly and spilling the translucent blue liquid onto my tongue. The minty taste burned rather than cooled as I had expected, healing magic warming my insides.
“There you go. You’ll be okay,” the kind man soothed.
I forced a grateful smile. “Thank you for helping me,” I said, reaching for his hand and clasping it. “I can never repay you for your kindness.”
I instilled as much sincerity into those words as possible. I knew the man did more than he needed to, to his own detriment. It would take him time to grow his magic stores again.
The older man caught my gaze, giving me a small smile before returning his attention to the other bottle, reaching to help me apply that as well.
Before his hand could contact the bottle, the lock clicked, the door opened, and Liam pushed his way into the interrogation room.
Chapter4
Ash
From the moment I entered the room, I hadn’t been able take my eyes off Kaia.
I watched her, wanting to take away her pain. The Earth User hadn’t done a good enough job. For once, I wished for an element other than Fire so I could help heal her. That man was weak— I was not.
Kaia could probably feel my hand shaking on her shoulder— the only contact I would allow myself. It took effort to keep a relaxed grip on my fury. I’d never felt this much rage and loathing in my entire life, and I had many things to loathe.
I didn’t spare the Earth User a thought. I couldn’t even tell you what he looked like, but he understood the threat behind my presence, understood that he better do everything in his power to fix her. He’s lucky I believed he did.
