I am a Healer

Prologue

I opened my eyes and stared up ahead. I was laying on my back, the night sky sprinkled with stars stretching above me. I tried to find constellations I knew, but... This sky was unfamiliar. Different. Wrong. I kept on staring with a growing feeling of unease, but I couldn't bring myself to get up. As if something was holding my body down. I felt heavy and tired. And then he spoke.

I've never heard my own name spoken in this way. Like it was a sweet to be savored, like he had all the power over it, like it belonged to him. It felt so foreign on his lips, like it wasn't my name at all. And then it really stopped being mine.

Starlight washed over me, taking the heaviness away. My body floated up, as if I weighted nothing at all, as light as a single flower petal. I sat up slowly, lazily.

A figure materialized in front of me, one of a man. I couldn't see his face, and I couldn't hear his voice, not like when he said my name. Now it was as if he wasn't really speaking, but whispering into my mind. Like what I heard wasn't his actual voice, but an echo of it instead.

I stared at him and realized that he wasn't actually human. His body was made of smoke and embers, fizzling into the air.

"What are you?" I asked.

"Why don't you guess?"

"You're not human."

"Indeed" He seemed amused.

"Are you a demon?"

He laughed about loud, a booming happy laugh that shook the air around us until it visibly vibrated, like when it is too hot. I noticed that I could see him a bit better. A sharp tooth flashed as he grinned.

"Not far from the truth and yet, how distant. I am not a demon. In fact I am the exact opposite. I am god."

I blinked at him in confusion.

"A god? A god of what?"

"Of the whole world."

"I've never heard of you."

"Of course you haven't. You don't belong to my world."

"There are more than one?"

"Obviously."

I fell silent and looked around, taking in our surroundings. We were on a grassy hill, but there was nothing else besides it. About a hundred meters away from us it faded into nothingness and gave way the the view of the starry sky. I didn't want to find what would happen if I walked over there. I looked back at the god. He seemed to be watching me, but I couldn't be sure. His face was still not clear enough.

"Why am I here?"

"I summoned you." I opened my mouth, but he raised his hand, silencing me. "I already know what you want to ask me, so I'll get straight to the point. I want... No. I need you to save my world."

I stared at him. No no no, please no.

"You see, I am not the only god here. Me and my twin brother created it together. For a few millions of years it was going well, but then... Ah, forget it, I won't bore you with this story. It all boils down to this: you have to save the world."

I would very much like to know the whole story, but for now there is something more important.

"How do I save the world?"

"You'll know what to do when the time comes."

I frown. This is neither what I meant, nor any valuable information.

"That doesn't really help" I said sarcastically, but he seemed to take it seriously.

"You're right, I can't expect you to fight demons as you are right now. Hmmm...."

"No, I don't want to fight demons." I get defensive, feeling the rising dread. Demons... Please not demons.

"No no, you'll do great, don't worry. I'll give you powers." He seems really excited, but I back away.

"No need for powers, really."

He doesn't listen. He doesn't listen! I grit my teeth in irritation, trying not to snap at him. He is, after all, a god. But then I forget about my anger when I look at him again. His eyes glint with happiness as he waves his hands around, golden strings forming between his fingers. He weaves them into an intricate pattern, but instead of that I focus on him. I can finally see him clearly. His hair is long and shiny, in a dark red color, braided into a single braid thrown over his shoulders. His eyes are black, but as I look they give me the feeling as if I was starring at the night sky. His face is beautiful, almost feminine. He is the fairest man I've ever seen.

He finally finishes weaving. The last golden string snaps from his finger as he looks up at me and smirks. I raise one brow at him. Without saying a word he throws the golden cape he just made over my shoulders and leans close. I inhale sharply.

"It's rude to stare."

I scoff and push him away. I take the cape in two fingers and gaze at it.

"What is this?"

"Your new cape. Don't ever take it off. It'll protect you from practically everything."

I nod my head. Since I am here anyway I would prefer to be safe.

"We don't have much time left" he continues and snaps his fingers.

"Remember our deal."

"What deal?"

"Save my world"

"I promised nothing!"

He smiled at me. There was something in this smile which made me feel uneasy, but before I could pinpoint what it was he snapped his fingers. The grassy hill around us started disintegrating at a rapid pace. Panic squeezed my throat.

"Ah, one more thing."

I looked to him with wide eyes. I mean I know he is a god, but can't he have a little bit more understanding for little humans like me?

"Enjoy your power."

I wanted to ask what he meant, but at this moment the last of the ground disappeared beneath my feet.

I fell into the darkness.