Awakening and Doubt (8)

While my thoughts drift off to Hewie and her words, Merle supports me during the way back to Silvailia. He eyes my markings the whole time, but he doesn't say anything.

Meanwhile, Hewie rests on my shoulder whilst keeping her eyes closed. Now that I take a closer look at her, there is an Elaris letter on top of her head. The differently coloured feathers seem to form the letter... H? It probably stands for Hewie. What a cute little detail.

Throughout the whole way, we don't run into any trouble. Thank god... Once we arrive back at Silvailia, some elves and even a spirit immediately go to me and take me away from Merle.

'Why are they so immediate to help me? I'm not even that hurt...' I look at them confused, wondering why they're so quick to take action.

They take me over to a house built inside a tree and lie me down on a bed carefully. Merle simply stays by my side as he helps the healers to put me on the leaf bed.

I just try to cooperate with them to make it easier to put me on the bed. A small sigh escapes my mouth, although Merle mutters something to himself very quietly.

"What sort of marking is that? Life? Looks like it." He mutters to himself while eyeing most likely my face. 'Marking? As in the one he has?' I think and raise an eyebrow slightly.

Hewie sits on the edge of the leaf bed and looks at Merle before returning her gaze on me. "He's talking about your markings. That's why your face is burning." She explains, and I look at her with interest.

'But what kind? What powers do I have?' I question myself in my mind and lie still on the bed, whereas the healers work on my injuries.

"Where's the water healer?" One of the elves shouts and looks around before another elf steps out and listens to the elven lady, who seems to be the head medic. "Cool down the burns!" The head healer commands the water healer sternly.

'Burns? What burns?' I'm confused by what she means before I suddenly feel water touch my skin. I flinch subtly at the unexpected sensation, and I look at my arm. I have burns all over my arms... How did I not notice?! Well, probably because I can't feel them at all...

"Cool down his whole body in case he's burned elsewhere!" The head healer barks orders at the others as I feel cool water surrounding me. It actually feels kind of refreshing... I close my eyes and relax as I take in the sensation of the water hitting my skin.

The burns are oddly shaped, but it doesn't seem like they'll leave scars based on what I can hear from the medics. I bask in the cool water contently while the medics treat my burns.

After they're done with everything, I lie in bed, some bandages wrapped somewhat loosely around my stomach and arms.

"Thank you. I appreciate the treatment." I say with a small smile to the healers, and most of them return the smile with a subtle nod of acknowledgement.

I sigh and watch as they leave before my eyes land on Merle, still standing nearby. For a while, he only observes me without a single word. After a minute, he just leaves, looking slightly bothered by something. 'Now that's weird.'

Once I'm all alone, I reach into my pouch that's lying nearby, and I freeze when I feel something sharp prick my finger. 'No... I must be imagining things. It might be the pain from the wounds!'

I panic slightly while taking out the mirror. "No..." The mirror is shattered into shards. "How the hell am I supposed to return back home? What about grandma?!" I panic and collect all shards, holding them in my hands as I stare at them in panic and fear of might happen, and what might not.