Chapter 14

When wounds do not heal quickly

Chanyeol and Kris saw it when TOP and Sulli entered the Inn carrying Minho. Kris and Chanyeol were fast to help. They laid Minho to the bed.

The Hafic leaders and Sunny were led by Master Cha to the other room they rented.

“Kris, I need you to get me a messenger pigeon to the Palace.” said Master Cha

“I’ll look for one now.” Said Kris. Kris left the room immediately.

“Chanyeol, get the healer from the next room.” Said Master Cha

“But Master, if we get her help, she would think that we really need her in the group.” Said Chanyeol

Sulli closed her eyes and stood up.

“We do not know the extent of damage on Minho’s body. We need a healer as soon as possible. And she is the fastest one we could get now.” Said Sulli

“There is no time to waste. Go and get her Chanyeol.” Said Master Cha

Chanyeol left the room.

Minho is almost unconscious then. Sulli’s heart is being gripped….

Looking at Minho…the flesh in his back almost visible because of the deep burns…

Sulli closed her eyes tight…Please make him all right…

And then Yoona entered the room with Chanyeol.

Yoona saw Minho on the bed and was quick to go beside him…

“What happened?” asked Yoona

“Sorcerer fire hit him several times.” Said Sulli

“Sorcerer fire…” Yoona opened the box she asked Chanyeol to bring.

“I need boiling water now.” Commanded Yoona. Sulli ran out to get that.

“I also need Sunflower leaves.” Said Yoona

“I’ll get that.” Said Chanyeol

“I’ll go with you.” Said TOP

Yoona was left with Master Cha and Minho.

“Can you leave us for a while please?” asked Yoona

“Is there something we are not allowed to see?” asked Master Cha

“No…nothing…it’s just that I can’t concentrate when someone is watching.” Said Yoona.

Master Cha nodded and left the room.

“Now we have time alone together.” Said Yoona.

Yoona lifted Minho up to a sitting position. She took some oil and put some on her hands. She chanted something and then pour a green slimy thing on her hands. She then went to message the burnt skin on Minho’s back…arms….shoulder.

Minho opened his eyes…something felt cold on his back. Then he felt hands moving on it.

Minho grabbed the hand.

Human.

“I told you not to go near me.” Said Minho

“Why would I not? You’re wounded. And I’m a healer.”

The voice is different. Minho looked back…a sudden pain shot up his back.

“Careful.” Said Yoona

So the human is not Sulli…But the healer from earlier.

“You have deep burns….No wonder they all looked worried. You’ll be in bed for days…or weeks.” Said Yoona

“No…I can’t.” said Minho

“Your body will not give you a choice.” Said Yoona.

Yoona took dried roots from her box and started grinding them into powder.

“I heal fast.” Said Minho

“Sorcerer fire is tricky…it stops muscles and bones to regenerate for a long time. For humans it often stops regeneration completely. But of course…you are not human.” Said Yoona “That is not to say you will heal fast though.”

Yoona  sprinkled the powder all over the affected part of Minho’s back.

“Why are you healing me?” asked Minho “Aren’t you afraid of what I am?”

Yoona smiled “Since the time you rescued me…I felt no fear anymore…just interest…I just want to know more about you. I just want to be around you…there is no space for fear anymore.”

Minho looked at Yoona.

“You did not make sense at all.” Said Minho

“One day…you would also speak something that does not make sense to the ear…but will make sense to the heart.” Said Yoona “Let’s hope that once you get to say those words…it’s for a human like me, all right?”

Yoona helped Minho to lie down.

“The pain subsided right?” asked Yoona

Minho nodded.

“Good. Tomorrow morning we have to repeat the procedure until the wounds close.” Said Yoona.

Minho nodded again.

“I will stay around until you get well… I maybe human…but I’m a healer who can heal anything…even the most vicious of beasts…especially if the beast is someone who captured my heart.” Said Yoona

And then Sulli barged in the room carrying a pot of hot water.

“Here! boiling water!” said Sulli

Sulli placed the pot on the table. And then she looked at Yoona and Minho on the bed. Yoona’s face is just inches from Minho’s…they looked intimate…

Sulli gulped and looked back at the pot.

Why does it feel like a wound is aching in her chest? Did she get hit there too?

Yoona rolled her eyes. “This girl just killed our moment.” Said Yoona

Yoona stretched to stand straight.

“Get a cloth and use the water to cleanse the unaffected area.” Said Yoona

“Unaffected area…so this is not for the wounds?” asked Sulli

Yoona smiled. “Nope…I just wanted to have time alone with Minho.” Said Yoona

What?! Sulli’s hand closed to a fist. What is this crazy woman thinking!!! At a time like this?! She can still think of her flirtations?!

Yoona left the room chuckling.

Sulli took a  deep breath…Minho is lying down with his eyes closed.

Sulli took a cloth from her sackbag. She put the cloth on the water and then sat beside Minho.

“I’m…going to wash your arm.” Said Sulli

Sulli gently placed the cloth on Minho’s arm and them slowly cleaned him. Sulli tried not to go near the affected areas.

“Thank you.” Said Minho

Oh…he’s…Actually Thanking her?

“For healing me…You’re the first healer who has not been scared of me.” Said Minho

Sulli stopped.

The wound in her chest is spreading…it’s like the tip of the dagger was in her chest…but now..the dagger is penetrating deeper and deeper.

Sulli felt her eyes stinging…

Why am I like this?

Sulli shook her head. She continued scrubbing the dirt on Minho’s arm.

Sulli felt a sudden pain on her shoulder . The wound from the fireball that hit her earlier is too painful to ignore.

Sulli put the cloth on her other hand and continued.

Minho felt the difference in the way the healer is washing him. It suddenly became lighter. Minho tried to open his eyes…

When Sulli was done. She stood up.

“Su…lli?” asked Minho

Sulli turned back to Minho. Did he call her name?

“I thought you were Yoona.” Said Minho

How easy was it for him to call Yoona’s name…and yet it took him till now to speak her name.

“She went out earlier.” Said Sulli “Take a rest.”

Sulli went back to the pot and carried it…but her hurt shoulder gave way and the water splashed on the floor. The pot crashed.

Minho’s aching all over but he was able to lift himself up.

Oh man! Sulli tried to gather the pieces of the pot.

But her shoulder is killing her. Sulli touched her shoulder squeezing it…she began panting in pain.

Minho grabbed Sulli’s arm and lifted it so that he could see her shoulder. Her burnt clothe has red marks…blood…

Minho remembere