Falling Sins

Chapter 1

In the heart of every struggle, survival is not just a fight for breath, but a battle for the soul. Those are the words of the ones who have come before us. 

Nazarene carefully placed the jars of lunata leaves on the carved stone shelf, her long white hair falling over her shoulder as she worked. The cave that served as the healing house was cool and dimly lit, its walls lined with the glowing crystals that pulsed with a gentle, soothing light. Beside her, Sister Sorle hummed quietly, her fingers deftly arranging bundles of herbs and vials of liquid metal. They had been novices together, learning the ancient arts of healing, and now they stood side by side as full-fledged healers of the Quuara tribe.

Nazarene's dark black skin contrasted sharply with the white of her healer's cloak, the silver bracelets on her arms clinking softly with every movement. Her purple-grey eyes flickered with irritation as she spoke, her voice low and exasperated. "Mother's at it again, nagging me about how I don't take care of myself properly. You'd think after all these years, she'd understand that I'm not a child anymore."

Sorle chuckled softly, her eyes bright with amusement. "She's just worried, Nazarene. You know how mothers are. But you do look a bit worn out. Have you been skipping meals again?"

Nazarene huffed, her tiny fangs flashing as she frowned. "I'm fine, Sorle. There's just so much to do here, and not enough time. Besides, who has time to think about food when there are people to heal?"

She continued to move gracefully around the cave in the dim light of the healing house, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames of the lantern. Shadows danced on the walls, conjuring images from a time long past. Her fingers traced the scars on her face, memories etched into her skin—a reminder of the attack that had changed her life forever.

She was only eleven when the Quuara tribe was besieged. The enemy's assault had come swiftly and mercilessly, the sky darkened with the smoke of burning ash. She remembered the chaos—the cries of her people, the fierce heat that singed her skin, and the terror that gripped her young heart. She had been in the fields, gathering herbs, when the first wave of flames roared across the land. The scorching ash had blinded her, leaving her face a landscape of burns and pain.

The attack had left her traumatized, her once vibrant world now a blur of anguish and confusion. Her mother, desperate to help her daughter heal both physically and emotionally, made the difficult decision to send Nazarene away. Her father, a skilled tradesman, took her with him as he traveled to distant settlements. The journey was long and arduous, but it was during this time that Nazarene found solace in a new purpose. The gentle art of healing became her refuge, her way of mending not just her own wounds but those of others.

As she traveled with her father, she encountered healers from various tribes, each imparting their knowledge and skills. It was there that Nazarene discovered her passion for healing, a calling that transcended her earlier fears. The experience of healing others helped her to confront her own trauma, and she began to piece herself back together, finding strength in the process.

By the time she returned to Quuara at fourteen, she was a different person. She resumed her studies with her fellow novices, the once familiar faces now new and full of potential. Her skills in healing grew rapidly, and she soon earned an apprenticeship under one of the tribe's most esteemed healers. Her training was rigorous, but Nazarene's resilience and dedication saw her through.

Now, as one of the most skilled healers in Quuara, she had gained a reputation for her exceptional ability to mend both body and spirit. However, the wild spark of her youth lingered in her demeanor. Her healing techniques were innovative and bold, sometimes deviating from tradition in ways that both impressed and unsettled her peers. Yet, it was this very fierceness, a remnant of her early trauma and subsequent healing journey, that made her stand out as a healer.