CH 101: Healing

Casseus walked beside Lilith, his body aching from the bruises. Every breath shot pain through his body, and every step irritated his body. Yet, Lilith kept up her pace. She was unbothered by the pain he was experiencing.

Her mind was elsewhere. She was focused on getting back as soon as possible. She needed to bring Casseus back in pristine condition. Not only because of their pampered guest’s fondness for the boy, but also her Lady’s.

Lilith rolled her eyes. She’d have to deal with Myrtle’s whining about touching her favorite boy. Well, favorite until he reaches maturity. Add to her whining about not getting to enjoy Toni, Lilith could feel her annoyance build up.

She glanced back at the boy, with all feeling of pity being replaced by annoyance. It was all his fault for pushing her. His fault for tempting their guest. His fault for getting Lilith in this mess. It was his fault for causing her to lash out.

She took a deep breath, making it to the residential healer’s back door. She needed to calm down. She could worry about that after getting the bastard fixed.

“Get in.” She commanded, yanking the door.

Inside, she heard a scramble, chairs pushed back, feet shuffling. Moments later, the healer and her assistant burst into view, weapons in hand, ready to confront an intruder. Their faces paled when they recognized the knight captain.

“Ah! We-we’re sorry!” The healer said, lowering her blade. “We th-thought that there was a thief!”

Her assistant followed her lead, and both raised their hands. “Please don-”

“I don’t care.” Lilith cut in. “Get this thing healed up.”

She shoved Casseus forward. He let out a sharp cry before stumbling into the two women. The two caught him and inspected the boy’s condition. The assistant looked horrified as she took in the boy’s condition, while the healer kept her face carefully composed. Lilith’s eye twitched upon seeing the assistant’s reaction.

The healer noticed Lilith’s growing anger and beckoned for her assistant to help the boy into the next room. The healer gulped before speaking. “We-we’ll get him healed… forgive her, she’s new…”

“Fine,” Lilith said, crossing her arms. Her eyes bore into the woman. “How long?”

“U-um, it looked like nothing was b-broken…” The healer stuttered out. “Maybe 20 minutes.”

Lilith exhaled, clearly displeased. She pinched her nose in thought. “Make it faster. I don’t care if it harms him.”

The healer opened her mouth before stopping herself. She nodded and rushed back to the examination room. Lilith let out another deep breath before sitting against the wall.

“Fuck. I swear if that little bastard gets fatigued…” She grumbled to herself. She could already hear her Lady’s shrill voice berating her, scolding her like a child for damaging one of her precious toys. Her nails dug into her palms as her fists clenched tightly. Casseus had proven time and time again that he was not worth the effort to keep him. Nor was it worth the scandal when they took him.

She thought back to that time. It had started with a rumor. Whispers of a boy in a remote farming village, far too pretty to belong to such a backwater place. Myrtle became obsessed. She talked about the boy constantly, spinning fantasies of what she’d do with him. Eventually, she ordered Lilith to retrieve him. “By force, if you must,” she had said. “Make something up. We’ll smooth it over later.”

Lilith did as she was told. They dragged him from that village. It was easy, really. Who’d stop Lady Lloyd’s guard? But Lilith knew better. She knew scandals like this festered. She saw it in the eyes of those villagers.

The fear. The hatred. The sorrow in his sister’s eyes. That is one person who would never forget.

Lady Lloyd had taken other boys before. Stripped them of their names, given them new ones to suit her whims. Made them ornaments, pets, and slaves. All beneath a veneer of nobility and privilege, while masking it all behind salvation.

Lilith cringed each time Myrtle explained the fake backstory. “Oh, these aren’t slaves! They were boys we rescued from poverty or banditry!” She had to be the moral savior in every story, even as she chained them in silk.

It was only a matter of time. Lilith wouldn’t be surprised if rebellion came within the year. Myrtle Lloyd had fucked over far too many people.

Meanwhile, the assistant was doing her best to get anything out of Casseus. What had happened to him? Who gave him the bruises? But both Casseus and her mentor were telling her to stop.

“Do you want to be arrested?” Her mentor, Dinah, hissed. “Do you want your sisters to be punished for your questions, Sarah?”

“No, but look at the state of hi-”

“Stop,” Casseus said, the last spell easing the bruises on his chest. He could breathe better now. “It’s not worth your life, madam.”

Sarah eyed the boy, pity deep in her eyes. She looked to her mentor, a woman she had always respected, but only saw resignation. The defeated look told her everything. This was a common occurrence.

“Really? We can’t do anything?” Sarah asked, a bit defeated.

“Not yet…” Dinah said. She slapped her hand over her mouth and turned to the boy in horror. “I-I didn-”

“It’s okay,” Casseus said, moving his shoulder. “I won’t say a thing to my master.”

“Thank you. So you know of the movement?” Dinah asked, exhaling. She readied another healing spell for the boy.

“No, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize it,” Casseus said, feeling the warmth of the spell overcome the pain. “I just don’t have high hopes for change.”

“I didn’t either…” Dinah whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of magic. For the first time during the session, she smiled. She had watched him grow up. Had mended his bruises, soothed his fevers. Had seen firsthand what their Lady did behind closed doors.

She’d seen enough to kill any hope for retribution against the noble class. Yet her hope was reignited. “They say this one has the backing of a Goddess…”

Dinah watched as the boy turned to her, his eyes wide with emotion. Something she rarely saw on him since joining the estate. No matter the pain, no matter the bruises, he never cried. But right now, he looked on the verge of tears.

“Is there a name?” He asked quietly.

“For the Goddess? No, they say she’s a new one.” Dinah spoke calmly. She glanced at her assistant. “Right, Sarah?”

Sarah nodded. She was about to speak when Casseus cut her off.

“No…. the leader… who is leading it?” He said, shakily.

“Um… I think the name was Claire.” Sarah said after taking a moment to think. “I think that’s what my friend’s mom said.”

Casseus leaned back on the table. That was the second time he’d heard that name recently. It felt like a dagger twisted in his chest when he remembered. All those memories caused his eyes to water. It couldn’t be her.

“Are you okay?” Dinah whispered to him.

Casseus felt the world spin around him, but those words kept him grounded. The healer’s calm, gentle, familiar voice calling out to him during his spiral. He focused on her voice, grounding himself. He was able to find his breath again. He took a deep, calming breath.

“Yes, I’ll be alright….” Casseus said, slipping back into his professional voice. He continued his deep breathing to calm himself. “Just… shocked that a Goddess is lending her support…”

“I know… we’ve waited so long…” Dinah whispered back. “I had given up hope for so long…”

Casseus just nodded. He didn’t even need to say anything; Dinah could see it. She saw it in all of the boys’ expressions. None of them had hope for salvation.

“Um, we should probably get you back…” Sarah said, glancing at the door. She was worried their intruder would get impatient and hear their conversation.

“True. Casseus. Look at me.” Dinah said, grabbing the boy’s cheeks. “You are strong of will. The boys will need that strength when the time comes... Just… don’t lose hope anymore. Someone is coming to save you…”

Casseus gulped, his throat tight. He stared into her brown eyes and he almost broke. He habitually reached for his handkerchief and dabbed at the woman’s face. “I’ll try, madam.”

Dinah gave him one last heartfelt smile, filled with pride, before helping him to his feet. She walked him out to meet their impatient captain. Thankfully, she was where Dinah had left her.

Lilith was still there, arms crossed, scowling. “Finally done?”

“Yes,” Dinah replied. “You may take him back.”