Chapter Six: Blue Eyes

After a long talk in the Mystic Garden, the twins decided to head back to their quarters. They strolled toward the lobby of the castle. "It is a great thing to have a brother who comforts me and gives me advice at times like this," said Zaya

"My little princess is so sweet," teased Yuil and he gently pinched her nose.

"Hey, stop it," she said, moving her head out of his reach.

Each was prepared for another conversation as they strolled together but before she could start, Zaya noticed a man was running towards them and she tugged on her brother's coat, pointing at the running man. Yuil paused and focused his sight on the object of excitement. It was his assistant.

"Master," said the man when he reached the twins, "we have an emergency." The man reached into his pocket and he pulled out a ring which he gave to Yuil.

Looking at the ring, the twins paused. Then Zaya commanded the man to lead the way and all three burst into a run. They entered the castle and, with the assistant leading the way, ran towards a door.

Pushing through the door, they rushed in to find a cloaked man who, upon hearing their hasty entrance, turned to face them.

"Master!" said Zaya, surprised.

"What brings you here?" said Yuil, "it has been a long time."

"Come," said the cloaked man, "this is no time for idle talk, we can do that later," he continued, indicating a figure lying on a bed in the room.

The twins approached the bed and saw a man lying prone upon it. Looking at the man, Zaya silently appraised him. "He is handsome," she thought and she bent to touch him but was instantly thrown back as an electric current zapped her fingers.

"What has happened to him?" Zaya asked.

"This is a rare case, Master," said Yuil, "my sister and I have not seen this before."

"He was struck by lightning whilst trying to find shelter from the rain when he visited the market," replied their Master. "The amazing thing is that he survived," he added.

Realizing that this would take quite a time, the twins prepared their things. Zaya opened their books of Advanced Magic and made a glyph around the man's body. Then the three of them, the twins and their Master, sat around the bed, forming a circle.

"This is Advanced Magic," said their Master, "I will need you to follow my mantra, word for word." He looked at both Zaya and Yuil before adding, "No deviations whatsoever." Both nodded agreement.

Their Master and Yuil saw that Zaya had prepared her runes and placed them on the man's body. Sensing their watching, she explained, "It will make the process much easier if I use the runes. It will also increase the amplify the magnitude of my magic."

"I am pleased to hear this," said their Master.

"I will use mine too," said Yuil, placing his runes on the body, "to increase, still further, the effect of the magic we use." Their Master smiled his appreciation before he started to recite the mantra, Zaya and Yuil following his lead without deviating from that which he recited.

The runes on the twin's body began to glow, dully at first but, as the mantra continued to be recited, more brightly until they were a burnished golden color. Over and over again, the mantra was repeated by the three of them with Zaya and Yuil carefully following their Master's lead. On and on it went and each was given a task to perform in the healing process; Zaya to cast out the electricity from the man's body, Yuil to strengthen the body in order that it could withstand the turmoil and their Master to watch and lead.

Time passed and still they worked feverishly on the healing process, the magic used taking the strength from them and, seemingly, transferring that strength to the man.

Then it was done with both Zaya and Yuil feeling the full weight of their exertions, they were exhausted.

Released from repeating the mantra, Yuil proclaimed, "Truly, that was a far longer process than I expected." Yuil was, indeed, breathing heavily.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Zaya agreed and added that the process had left her more tired than she had imagined she would be.

Their Master gave them some confectionery to help aid a speedy recovery and smiled. "Go," he said to them, "go and sleep. We will talk tomorrow. I will watch over him until the morning."

Yawning, the twins bade their Master goodnight and retired.

~~

The next day, waking came late to the twins and it was approaching midday when they roused themselves to perform their ablutions in preparation for the day ahead.

After finishing her morning routine, Zaya went to the room in which the man lay to see whether he had recovered.

She knocked on the door and, hearing no answer, opened the door to peek inside. "Hello," she said softly, "are you there, Master?"

There was no reply and she entered the room. The man was still lying on the bed and she moved closer to take a better look at him. He had soft, blackish-brown hair, perfectly defined cheekbones and thin, but sensual, lips. His handsome countenance drew her closer still and her face was very close to his when the door was flung open.

Startled out of her admiring thoughts, she adopted the pose of the pose of a caring, considerate nurse checking upon her patient and not that of a girl admiring his handsome face.

She turned to see Zion stride into the room. Her heart was pounding and she rose to greet Zion as he entered.

"I heard Magus' son is brought here," said Zion.

Zaya was aghast. "I beg your pardon," she said, shocked, "what did you just say?"

"I said I heard that Magus' son was sent here. Sebastian?" Zion replied.

She was speechless and pointed to the man on the bed. She had no knowledge of her Master being father to a son. Especially to one whose age must be similar to hers. Furthermore, she had never seen her Master with any woman wherever they had been together.

Recovering her wits, she said, "I suppose the man you are referring to is the man soundly on the bed."

"Come," said Zion, taking her hand and pulling her gently to the bed, "let me see him."

Zaya stood there speechless, not listening to what was Zion talking or asking about. She was simply unable to absorb what she Zion had told her. Deep in thought she was suddenly aware of Zion waving at her face.

"Hey," he said, "are you listening?"

"I'm sorry," she replied, "I was deep in thought."

He smiled at her. "No matter," he said, "I am sorry for what happened last night. I did not mean to hurt your feelings."

"No. It is okay. I was not hurt at all." She replied.

He took her hand. "I know you were hurt," he said, "and I am terribly sorry for what I have done."

He paused before adding, "I should have not done that. There are no reasons which validate my actions. All has been wrong."

Zaya was touched. She relaxed and, in her heart, felt the sincerity of Zion's words, felt their sincerity.

Her thoughts, however, were interrupted by movement and sound from the bed, Sebastian was stirring. He opened his eyes and tried to sit up but weakness prevented him from doing so. Looking suspiciously at Zaya and Zion, he spoke although his words came weakly.

"Who are you and where am I?" he asked. He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and, again, at the two figures before him.

"What has happened to me?" Sebastian asked.

Zion smiled at him. "Gently, calm yourself," he said.

Zaya looked at her patient and said, "I am Zaya. I and my brother were the ones who healed you. Do you remember anything? About what happened to you yesterday?"

"No,"said Sebastian,"I dont. He indicated Zion."This is your brother?"

Zion smiled at Sebastian again. "No, I am the prince," he said and, nodding at Zaya, continued, "And Zaya here is one of our healers. She and her brother, Yuil, who also attended you, are among the best ones we have."

Then he added,"Would you like a little late breakfast?"

Sebastian considered the matter for a moment but politely declined, not feeling at all hungry.

Turning to Zaya, Zion said, "Zaya, he is your patient now. I will return to my duties." She nodded agreement and Zion left the two of them.

Sebastian again asked about his surroundings, enquiring about his whereabouts.

"You are in the fortress of Beodora," replied Zaya facing him.

Two brightly blue eyes met hers. Their colour was, truly, cerulean and she was struck by their intensity. Her own eyes left his and she permitted them to glance down at his bare chest.

She was feeling slightly overcome by her attraction for him and her mouth went dry. She must control herself!

Clearing her throat and, stumbling over her words she quickly made her apologies offering a need to attend to other duties, make other checks on things in her care. "I hope you will forgive me for leaving you on your own for a while," she breathed.

Before Sebastian could reply, Zaya quickly went to the door, opened it and, without looking back, left the room.

~~

"What is wrong with that girl?" muttered Bastian to himself.

He raised himself on his left arm but quickly fell back as a spasm of pain shot through his body, like electricity. He groaned and inwardly bemoaned his misfortune.