Wait, Sick?

Winterheart tore through the halls of the library like a mage on a mission. What that mission might be she had yet to decide, but she was sure she would figure it out once she found her quarry. Back to the furthest corners and there she found… nothing.

She froze, staring at the empty table in absolute shock. There were no books, no candles, and most importantly, there was no Mihangel. A hand passed over her eyes, thinking perhaps she was seeing things, but when she removed her hand the scene remained the same. This wasn’t how afternoon was supposed to go.

Turning around, she regarded the library at large. “Mihangel?” Winter called, her voice echoing off the shelves and irritating the librarian. Except for a hush from the librarian, there was no response. She hmm’ed to herself, beginning a slow search of the aisles.

The library was huge but somehow Winter managed to maintain her patience during the hunt for her fellow magic user. Up until she returned to the still empty table, and she slapped a hand against it. “Where could he be?” She mused aloud, earning another shh from the librarian, which she promptly ignored. Abandoning the library, she decided to take her search elsewhere.

If not occupying his favorite place within the Magical Society, Winter supposed she might find Mihangel in his room. True, she had never found him there before, but the bookworm wasn’t prone to wandering or adventuring. Convincing herself this had now become a rescue mission, she rapped sharply upon his door. “Mihangel? Are you in there? You better be in there or I am going to tear the Society upside down trying to find you.”

“Come in,” came a weak sounding voice from inside.

“A-hah!” Triumphantly, Winter burst into the room. “I figured I would find you here when I didn’t find you in the library. Are you so desperate to hide on me?” Her eyes traveled the room until they landed on her friend, looking back at her from beneath a pile of blankets. “Why are you still in bed?”

“I’m sick,” he said.

“Oh.” A pause. “Wait, sick?” A smile touched on Winter’s lips, her eyes brightening. “That’s perfect!”

“I am so happy you are finding my condition convenient to your needs,” Mihangel responded dryly, wiping at his nose.

“No. Hush. What I mean is that it’s a perfect chance for me to try some healing magic!”

At this Mihangel recoiled in horror, clutching the top blanket to his chest. “You will do no such thing. I’ve seen what happens when your magic goes wrong.”

Winter rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Nothing will go wrong. I’ll help you to feel better.” When Mihangel didn’t look convinced, she continued. “If you feel better, you can return to your books all the sooner, right?”

Her words worked like a charm as Mihangel’s hesitation ebbed. “I would go to one of the real healers but they are far too busy to help with a stomach bug.”

“I’m better than a real healer!” Winter brightly exclaimed. “Don’t you remember? I’m a prodigy.” She tugged on the blankets Mihangel had covered himself up with to see what she was working with. Beneath them Mihangel looked paler than usual and he immediately began to shiver. Winter knelt by the side of the bed, her hands coming to hover just above his stomach.

“What are you doing?” Mihangel asked.

“You said it’s a stomach bug so this seems the place to start. Let me work.” Winter closed her eyes, recalling what the healers of the Society had taught her. It wasn’t very much, or at least, there wasn’t very much that she had retained. However, she knew she had to concentrate on healing energies. Her brow furrowed as she allowed the magic to flow through her and then slowly trickled it down to Mihangel.

Minutes passed before Mihangel gave a cry. “Winter! Stop!”

Her eyes flew open, to find Mihangel’s skin awash in tiny red spots. Even as she watched more appeared and they began to get bigger. Startled, she withdrew her hands, cutting off the magic. The spots responded in kind, ceasing to grow. “Oh! I’m sorry! Mihangel, are you okay? Are you dying?”

There was a delay in response as Mihangel assessed himself. “I feel no better or worse than before. I think they’re just dots.”

“Maybe we should take you to the real healers? Just to be sure.”

“No, Mihangel said. “I’ve read about this. Sometimes when magic isn’t used correctly it results in unintended side effects. They will go away in time.” He pulled his covers back up. “I just need some more sleep.”

Winter remained where she was, feeling terrible. She normally didn’t mind when she messed up using her magic, but this was different. She had almost hurt her friend. He may be fine, if still sick, now, but what if she had made things worse? “Let me make it up to you.” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat to start again. “I know. If you can’t read, let me read to you.”

Mihangel’s mind was fixed on sleep, but after a pause he slowly nodded his head. “I would like that.”

Spirits restored, Winter grabbed a book from Mihangel’s nightstand and plopped herself in the nearest chair to begin reading.