"How ya' feelin'?" Jeni opened the curtain to let some sunlight in.
"Huh? What?" Beth woke up with her hair on her face and her sleepwear twisted. Her pillow was drenched in drool, and one of her featureless breasts was hanging out. The truth is, she had been feeling a lot better and sleeping like a baby as if it weren't obvious.
"Oh, dear," Jeni chuckled, "I'm sorry—I thought you were awake. It sounded like you were talking a few minutes ago when I was washing up."
The door slowly crept open, "Knock, knock..." Harper said softly.
"Hey," Beth yawned for a good five seconds straight. "Come in, Harp."
"How is she doing, doc?"
"That was my last question to her, actually, but it appears I woke her up," Jeni responded.
"I'm feeling pretty good. A little sore, a little stiff, but very well rested and, dare I say it—relatively relaxed."
"The stiffness probably has something to do with you being bedridden for the past few days," Harper sat a cup of coffee down on the nightstand while Beth fixed her long hair and adjusted her pajamas.
"Precisely that," Jeni agreed, "Today is the day you start getting a little more strenuous with your daily activities." Her tone was firm, but only because a lot of her patients tend to milk the 'R&R' for as long as they can. After she realized the way she said it; her tone, she remembered what Beth had done—what she was capable of. "I didn't mean for that to come condescendingly..."
"No problem, doc. I'm sure you've dealt with your fair share of freeloaders in your profession," Beth got up out of bed and stretched. Her back cracked multiple times, only fortifying that she had spent too much time resting. But it was much needed.
"So, is she cured or what?" Arvid pushed the door open without so much as a knock.
"Arvid! I'm undressing here!" Beth scolded him jokingly. Instantly, Arvid covered his eyes. He planted the ball of his foot on the hardwood floor and twirled around in a hasty attempt to escape, but without his sight, he plowed face-first into the wall.
"Sorry! I—I—" Arvid stuttered, crawling about the floor, squeezing his eyes shut so hard that you could see his pale-yellow teeth gritting together.
"I'm kidding, you stooge, get up," Beth shook her head with half a smile on her face.
"Teach you to walk in a woman's bedroom without knocking," Harper scoffed, also wearing half a grin.
"Doc, I think I broke my nose," Arvid stood up, dazed.
"Yeah, I think you might be right about that," Jeni took one look at him and then grabbed her travel bag, which was sitting in the corner of the room.
"Aren't you gonna' do something?" Arvid asked. He took a dirty handkerchief out of his back pocket and used it to stop the little trickle of blood dripping from his nostrils.
"I'm not really that kind of doctor..." Jeni began.
"But?" Arvid asked, hopefully.
"But I suppose I can reset it for you."
"Reset? What do you mean—" Before Arvid could finish his question, Jeni magically drifted across the floor so fast that nobody saw her move. One moment, she was in the corner with her bag, and the next, she was standing over Arvid with his bulbous nose clenched between her fingers.
CRUNCH!
"Ow!" Arvid bellowed, "That hurt like a—like a—" he squinted through the pain, holding his face in the palms of his hands. A few seconds passed, and the pain slowly subsided. "Hey, I think you did it! Thanks, doc!"
"Don't mention it. I'll mail you the bill," Jeni walked back to her bag and picked it up off the floor. She put a few of her belongings that were spread out on the dresser inside.
"Ha! Good one," Arvid chuckled.
"Arvid Callum—White Moon Café, Crest Town, correct?" she asked, "Just making sure I got it right. I'd hate to send the bill to the wrong address."
Arvid looked at her with a surprised stare in his eyes. "Wait. You're serious?"
"Of course. You requested medical treatment, and I provided it. Is there something within those parameters that confuses you?"
"No. Well—I uh—I kind of just thought it would be on the house, that's all. You know, after all the breakfasts and coffees I brought you the past few days."
"Hey! I brought her the coffee and breakfast," Harper quickly commented.
"Well, I cooked it—" Arvid fired back.
"No, you didn't, Meat and Pax did most of the cooking. How hard did you hit your face just now?" Harper asked, "You seem a little loopy."
"Yeah, fine," Arvid grumbled, "Whatever. Guess I'll be picking up some overtime."
"Actually, Beth said you're pretty good with a hammer and nails. Perhaps you can swing by mine in a week or two and take care of some repairs for me."
Beth let out a hardy chuckle, "That'll probably be best. The money he makes, he usually ends up drinking—but Arvid always has some nails lying around."
"It's true," Arvid agreed. "I'd be more than happy to stop by and take care of any handyman tasks you need, Miss Genevieve."
"Cool. Call me Jeni."
"So, if our fearless leader is feeling better, I guess that means you're on your way out then, huh?" Harper inquired.
Jeni continued packing up her bag with a few smaller items. "That's right. I expect Beth to make a full recovery. I just need to talk to her alone, go over some things, and I should be out of your hair in no time."
"Oh, don't say it like that. We love having you around! It's a shame you have to take off," Harper said, puffing out her bottom lip.
"Why do you have to talk to Beth alone? Is she dying or something?" Arvid asked. The moment the words left his mouth, the trio of women in the room glared at him like he was out of place in a crowd of people.
"You really hit your head pretty hard, didn't you?" Harper slapped him in the back of his skull with the palm of her larger-than-normal hand.
"Ow! Hey! What the hell was that for?"
"It's called patient-doctor confidentiality, you nitwit. That's our cue to get lost so the doc can tell Beth what she has to do in order to stay on the straight and narrow health-wise," Harper explained. She scooped up the few stray dirty dishes from the room and made her way to the door.
Arvid followed right behind her, rubbing his head and grumbling. "You could have just said that. I don't see why you had to slap me."
"It's fun, and you kind of deserved it from barging into a woman's bedroom without knocking—your boss's bedroom, no less," Harper led him out of the room.
"I thought we were all aware that intelligence isn't my strongest quality..." Arvid's voice trailed off as he and Harper exited, closing the door behind them.
"Bad news, doc?" Beth asked, sipping at her coffee.
"No. Not necessarily. But tending to you these past few days just fortified a suspicion I had since I first arrived here at the café."
"Suspicion?"
"Yea. Mind if I share a personal story with you?" Jeni asked
"By all means. I really don't have anywhere to be right now." Beth sat down on the bed and waited for the doctor's tale.
"So, give or take eighty years ago, in a time when the world was still steeped in mystery and magic, I set on a trip to Japan. I was doing a lot in my life then, but primarily, I was focused on bettering my skillset and learning everything I could about witchcraft and the roots of the magic. What better place to start than Japan, I thought. However, what should have been an ordinary journey soon took a dark turn."
"Funny. That's how a lot of my journeys end up, too," Beth joked.
"I had only just arrived in the country. My first stop was a small fishing village called Gyoson, which I was told roughly translates to 'fishing village.' It was a tiny place, maybe a hundred and fifty people at most. Anyway, I started studying a rare lotus flower that the locales called the serpent's eye lotus, which contained various magical properties. The townsfolk used it for a myriad of things, but a super-charged energy supplement was among the favored. By brewing just one petal of this lotus in a cup of tea, the consumer would feel an energized rush and become instantly invigorated. The downside, however, was that when the lotus wore off, the user would become violently ill for a few days until returning to normal."
"I'll remember to steer clear of that beverage when I'm working on the spring menu," Beth jested.
"Maybe. You see, the more someone would use it, the less time they would experience the comedown. Most of the villagers used it regularly and only suffered from headaches or an upset stomach for a few hours after the positive effects wore off. The plant only grew once a year, and it was treasured by the elders—so not just anyone could get their hands on it. My goal was to spend weeks, months, or even years in Gyoson, all to figure out what made the serpent's eye lotus do what it does. But before I could conduct the needed studies, I felt an evil unlike anything I had ever felt. At first, I thought it was an adverse reaction to the lotus, but I soon realized that wasn't the case. I felt a dark magic, a demonic force, that sickened me to my core."
"I gotta' say, I think I know the feeling," Beth added.
"Yes. You most certainly do. That feeling I felt inside me all those years ago is very similar to the darkness I saw in you when I first arrived."
The weight of her narrowing eyes gives way to sincere implications.
"Oh," Beth felt goosebumps start popping up on her arms. For some reason, this felt like familiar territory.
"The malevolent force gripped me like a persistent dread clawing at my soul. It sent shivers down my spine and quickened my heartbeat, filling my mind with demonic imagery and visions of shattered futures. Determined to unveil the source of this ominous presence, I wasted no time in my pursuit despite feeling like Hell warmed over."
"I fear I know those visions all too well, unfortunately."
"I fear you do also. Determined to uncover the foulness of my affliction, I applied my knowledge of magic. With a whisper of incantations, I transformed into a falcon and propelled myself toward the epicenter of the disturbance. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a sense of duty to protect the village and quite possibly the entire realm. The problem was, no matter how fast or determined I was, the evil force always seemed to be one step ahead. I searched and searched, and the closer I got, the further the energy seemed to be. Finally, after an arduous while of scouring the coastlines of Japan, I reached the heart of it all. Not sure what I was expecting, I soon found myself staring at a scene of chaos. Two figures loomed over the lifeless bodies of two others; their countenances were grim and inscrutable. At the center of it stood a grotesque statue; its twisted features cast an eerie pall over an already disturbing scene."
"There were two evil beings?"
"Not quite. As I descended and resumed my human form, I was quickly confronted by the mysterious warriors. Before I could utter a word, the female warrior, Léan, spoke. Her voice resonated in my head with an unwavering authority. 'They were not innocent,' she declared, her gaze piercing my core. 'But they will be.' Confusion and questions swirled in my mind like a rogue typhoon with too much power, but before I could voice them, the unnamed male warrior offered a cryptic explanation. They had witnessed the aftermath of a great battle, he explained, one that had given rise to the eerie statue before us. In their hands are strange amulets, holding vast energy she can only feel with enough focus. It's a soothing feeling, unlike the god-awful forces that were lingering like an invisible, dense fog. 'What happened? What was the dread I felt?' I asked. The male warrior responded without even looking at me. 'We felt much of the same just before we arrived. Except, what we witnessed appeared to be the tail-end of a violent struggle. It's how that statue was created.' 'We can't tell you much, but we can each foster one of these weak zombies,' Léan added. As I struggled to comprehend the situation, Léan mentioned something about a 'Geminos Ring,' a relic I vaguely recalled encountering in my travels. But I never acquired them upon discovery. Little did I know, these rings harbored a key power beyond my understanding, a power that had drawn these warriors to this realm."
"I don't know why, but I can see your words vividly. Almost like I experienced it myself; it's uncanny," Beth said softly.
"Yes, well, with a sense of inevitability, I accepted my role in this strange saga, knowing that fate had woven its threads around me. As I stood there amidst the solemn scene of the perished cadavers and the mysterious artifacts, my mind wandered through a maze of thoughts. What connection did these rings have to the bodies? I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, yet I couldn't quite place why. My memory flickered back to that day when I stumbled upon those ancient rings while exploring the Skylands. They seemed significant, but their purpose eluded me then, just as it did now. Little did I know, those rings held within them the essence of a powerful fighter from ages past—the 'Pollux State,' a mutation of godlike power. It was rumored even back then that the alignment of fate had bestowed not just the Soulstones but also the rings upon two strange corpses. And now, as Léan placed the amulets around their necks, it became clear that destiny was weaving its intricate threads around us. 'The sun of your realm will soon rise. Meet us here again with the rings in hand before the dawn,' Léan's words echoed in the air. I rushed to retrieve the rings, knowing time was of the essence. When I returned, I handed them over to the elven warriors, their sky-blue hues a stark contrast against the frail bodies they adorned. 'Whatever happens, happens,' the male warrior cryptically remarked. I looked to Léan, who approved."
Beth sipped her coffee, enthralled in Jeni's story like she had lived it herself. All of this felt familiar, but in a strange way. It wasn't as if she could recall the faces or locations, but she knew the feeling. To her, it felt like they were both soldiers who fought in separate wars at different times in alternate parts of the world—but their experiences were shared.
Jeni continued, "As the storm raged on, I was left to contemplate the puzzling situation that lay before me. Before I knew it, they were holding the bodies in their arms."
Jeni paused for a moment.
"I know I shouldn't follow, but I can't help noticing they're headed toward the archipelago caves. The sky has been growing darker since I first sensed the dreadful atmosphere. By the time the strangers depart into the distance, thunder rolls overhead while I just stand and watch—feeling accomplished but confused. Ultimately, I felt strange to be included, but it had to mean something. Then, is fate playing my hand if I'm feeling out of place? Or have I taken an unexpected path? I couldn't really tell at the time, and frankly, I'm still not too sure."
"Thanks for sharing that with me," Beth smiled, feeling a great deal of emotional relief. "I don't know how or why, but your story resonates with me in a way I never felt before. It's amazing, honestly."
"Yes, well, I'm glad you were able to connect. The funny feeling you're experiencing may be the tail end of the painkillers I gave you last night for your back."
Jeni feels convinced that Beth holds incredible potential, both good and bad. The path for Beth will be unforgiving and relentless, a journey that she doesn't envy but somewhat understands. In the little time that she's known Beth, Jeni felt relatively confident in her ability to walk the fine line but stay the heroic course—or, at the very least, some form of chaotic good in the world.
"So, what do you say, doc? Can I get back on that proverbial horse today, or what?" Beth asked.
"I wouldn't see why not. You should take it easy for a few days just to make sure you don't overdo anything. Being bedridden for as long as you have could make it easy to strain something or pull your back out—so be mindful of your actions. A soul can't live in a body that disavows purity. But yeah—get back on that saddle, girl!"
"About time!"
Jeni finished packing her things and turned to Beth, who was already getting dressed in her outside clothes. "Whatever path you take should be your choice. Do not let fate decide," Jeni's leering yellow eyes fixate on Beth's very soul, and Beth feels it. It doesn't feel abrasive or malicious, but like when someone you trust tells you to do something, and you don't want to let them down. No sooner did Beth get a warm and fuzzy vibe from the doctor than it momentarily shifted. Vehement shivers danced down her spine, and Beth, for the first time, felt the true essence of a Blueleaf Witch—a Blueleaf Witch who had just branded her heart.
"I—I—" Beth was speechless as the mysterious yet friendly witch doctor exited her room.
"I don't know when, but I'm sure our paths will cross again. Take care. Oh, and consider us even—the death of my horrid sister for your health." Jeni's voice trailed away as she walked up the steps and into the café dining room. Before the door slowly crept shut, she heard her ask Pax for a coffee to-go.