As he finishes speaking, Daniel calls forth his Gift and sends it into her, easing his energy just a little bit into her body at a time. He pushes it slowly, letting it fill her body without attempting to guide it at all at first, the energy lighting up along the meridian pathways of her body starting from her head downwards. As his energy fills her, her breathing eases, and her heartbeat steadies under the passive influence of his Gift. When he is ready, finally, he begins to actively manipulate the energy, working to lower her over-heated

body before beginning the long, slow process of flushing her body of the toxins that permeate her blood and the infection that causes it.

The healing isn’t easy; each moment a sacrifice. He doesn’t speak of the cost of using his Gift to others, though his grandfather and a few others have guessed long ago. In Brad, the Gifted were believed to be blessed by Erlis herself, in others they were considered curses laid by Ba’al for the toll each Gift took upon their users. In truth, none knew where the Gift came from.

Like all Gifts, Daniel’s had a cost and his tore away knowledge and experience with each moment of use. Knowledge of past actions, past conversations, training and experience drawn from his body.

Hours later, Daniel opens his eyes and tries to stand, pushing against the bedframe. Legs locked in a single position for hours are unable to hold the weight placed on them, and Daniel stumbles forward, caught from crashing into his patient by a steadying hand.

“Thank you,” Daniel croaks out as he sways slightly. He is quickly guided to a seat by his unexpected helper, a matronly older lady.

“No, thank you. Peony would be dead without you.” The old lady guides him to a waiting seat before turning back to her task of wiping down the patient. It’s only then that he realises how much worse the room smells now.

All the toxins and infection from Peony’s body have leaked into the room, creating a truly horrendous stench that not even an open window can aid.

“I do hope all your work isn’t as smelly as this,” the old lady continues as she bathes the newly-healed young woman.

Daniel grins weakly before quenching his thirst with a glass of water. It’s been ages since he used so much power on a single individual, even Charles’s healing was simpler than eradicating the disease that had ravaged Peony’s body.

Still, he cannot help but smile as he watches the young woman rest easier,

Pierson curled up at the base of her bed asleep. As he contemplates his work, another figure strides in, one that causes his jaw to drop. An elf!

Never having seen an elf before in real life, Daniel stares at the elf with undisguised awe. The elf is tall, clad in a simple green frock that hugs her slim upper body on top of a buxom chest, waist-length blonde hair spilling out behind long pointed ears. The elf moves with a lithe grace over to Pierson’s mum, a delicate hand moving in arcane gestures as she checks on the condition of the patient. Satisfied, the blonde elf turns to Daniel who has managed to close his mouth at last and stand up.

“I’m Daniel. Would you be Kyra?” He offers his hand to shake which is promptly taken. Her skin is surprisingly soft and smooth, a sharp contrast to his own rough and calloused hands.

“Khy’ra,” she corrects his pronunciation off-handedly, not expecting him to get it right as she turns to point at Pierson’s mum. “Your Gift, it’s incredible. It’s at least the equivalent of a Tier 4 Healing Spell, maybe 5. Are you able to use it again today?”

“Kind of. That took a lot out of me…” as he speaks, he meets the enthusiastically nodding Khy’ra’s gaze. Sparkling green eyes meet his own, and Daniel’s excuses catch in his suddenly dry mouth. “Maybe a bit.”

“Good. I’m not much of a healer; I only know a single Tier 3 spell so there’s much that I cannot do for these people. There are a few others I’d love you to see if you are willing?” She casts an entreating look at Daniel who sighs, consoling himself that he will get to spend more time with the beautiful creature before him.

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Excellent!” Gripping his arm to her full chest, Khy’ra drags Daniel out of the room to visit her patients, already beginning to list the many issues that

they face. Behind them, the matronly old woman is left alone, smiling slightly at the departing smitten young man.