Echoes of the Aether

Chapter 16: Echoes of the Past

Kaelin stirred first, a soft groan escaping her lips as she opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. The scent of herbs hung heavily in the air, and a fire crackled gently in a hearth nearby, casting warm shadows across the walls. She lay on a small cot, the rough yet clean blankets pulled up to her chest. Her whole body ached, but as she shifted, she realized that the pain was no longer sharp and searing; instead, it was a dull throb, a reminder of their last battle.

Kael lay on a cot across the room, his face pale but calm, his breathing steady as he slept. Lira was nearby, curled on her side, her brow creased in sleep but with none of the pain that had marred her expression before. Kaelin looked down at her own hands, noting the faint, white scars crisscrossing her knuckles and forearms. She felt strange-whole but not entirely healed, as though her body bore witness to the trials they had endured, yet had somehow found a way to endure the worst of the damage.

A faint rustling caught her attention, and she turned her head to see a woman sitting in a chair by the window. Her face was half-hidden in shadow, her dark hair touched with strands of silver that caught the firelight. She was calm, focused, her hands moving with practiced ease as she prepared a mixture of herbs in a small bowl. Her movements were precise, almost ritualistic, as she ground the leaves and roots with a stone pestle, releasing a fragrant, earthy scent into the room.

Noticing Kaelin was awake, the woman's gaze shifted to meet hers, and Kaelin saw a glimmer of something familiar in those eyes-a depth, a wisdom, and perhaps, a hint of sadness. There was something else there, too, something that reminded Kaelin of her grandmother, though she couldn't quite place why. Before Kaelin could speak, the woman rose and moved toward her, carrying a small bowl filled with the freshly mixed herbs.

"You're awake," the woman said, her voice soft but carrying a weight that demanded attention. "Lie still. This will help with the pain." She dipped her fingers into the mixture and gently applied it to Kaelin's wounds, a cool, soothing sensation spreading wherever the paste touched her skin.

"Thank you," Kaelin managed, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Where... where are we?"

"In a safe place, just outside the village," the woman replied simply. "You're still within Ironbark territory, though only in the outer reaches. You were brought here after we found you in the forest."

Kael stirred then, his eyes fluttering open, followed closely by Lira. They looked around, blinking as they adjusted to the dim light, their expressions gradually shifting from confusion to recognition as they took in their surroundings. The woman worked silently, moving between them, tending to their wounds with herbs and ointments they didn't recognize.

Kael finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Who... who are you?"

The woman paused, glancing at him before turning her attention back to her work. "You may call me Elyria," she said, her tone gentle yet firm, as though the name itself held a certain weight. She continued her work in silence, her focus never wavering as she applied a similar mixture to Kael's and Lira's wounds. The cooling balm brought relief, yet left a tingling reminder of the injuries they had sustained.

Kaelin exchanged a glance with Lira, who raised a brow, as if to say she, too, felt there was more to this half-elf healer than she was letting on. Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, studying Elyria, sensing a similar familiarity that he couldn't quite place. None of them mentioned it aloud, but there was an unspoken understanding between them, a shared curiosity about their mysterious benefactor.

As the evening wore on, Elyria stayed by their side, her quiet presence a steady reassurance as they recovered from their ordeal. She prepared a simple meal for them, a hearty stew with roots and herbs that restored some of their strength, though she spoke little as they ate. The trio, too, remained silent, content to let the warmth of the meal and the flicker of the fire settle over them as they processed all they had endured.