One More Step

"Anna, for the next couple of weeks you need to go back to town." Elder smiled at Kyra that was about to protest.

Anna's eyes filled with tears. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"

He shook his head. "Child. Why are you so sad. Kyra will join you soon as well. Both of you need to go and help with that epidemic again. You came back as you thought its over, right?"

Anna wished her eyes and nodded. "Healer Ling sent me back home for that reason. You think it will come back?"

Kyra as well became serious. "Elder, what is going on?"

His face became grave. "We found out that some off the traders went to Saut country. There was an epidemic case as well. We got the information that half of the cases died. The problem was that it came back three times and killed almost half of the country's population, including the king. We still don't know how to stop it. How did you stop the first wave not to be so extreme here?"

Anna turned her head to Kyra. "Is it the water, like you said?"

Kyra nodded. "It is highly possible. Let us rush first to the cave and get all our saved herbs and the fresh ones. We will need them. Elder, this time you need to officially help as well. Everyone needs to know you are here and why."

Elder Kai nodded. "As the prince will be here in couple moths it is reasonable that we make it big. Can we help you with something?"

Kyra looked at her guard. "You already know my ways of gardening. I'll be safe with Elder and after all, no one would dare to harm me openly when everyone is watching."

He was quite reluctant to let her go without him but saw the two guards coming out the shadows. His face became cold. "If she is missing even one hair, I will follow you and disintegrate your souls."

Even the Elder felt a sudden chill rising in his heart. To stop him he chuckled and just pushed him on the side. "You just protect those plants. I know why is she so overprotective towards them."

Kyra rose her eyebrows but didn't say anything. Her eyes glued themselves on Anna's face. "Go to sleep. I will make some power food for us, while they go and get everything from the cave."

Anna was tired indeed. She knew that she needs to rest so she just went to wash a bit and fell asleep as soon she laid her head in the pillow.

Elder Kai sighed as he saw her knocked out sleep and turned to Kyra. "Will she be fine? The way she fell asleep..."

Kyra slowly closed the door. "Actually, she is perfect to be a healer. She can sleep anywhere and anytime. But the moment you call her she is ready to go. She can handle Ling hours without sleep and gather energy quickly. If I let her sleep, she can do it the whole day long, without waking up even for meals. But last time when the hunger was, she was awake for days preparing the food with me and then making medicines as well."

Elder Kai was stunned by both girl's resilience. Indeed, in the future, they will be important figures.

Kyra started preparing. She took a clean white cloth and made masks. Then she took the prepared dried food and started writing a list of things she might need. Elder Kai was happy to help her, so in the end, she pointed out all she needed.

When the guards came back with all the things they said they needed from the cave she made the two go sleep as well. "I'll need your help there. So you need to rest." She turned her eyes to Elder but he shook his head.

"As a Protector I have more endurance than a normal person or even a Guard. Go sleep, you'll need it. " Hearing his casual words she knew that he didn't make that up. So she just washed as well and laid her head on the pillow. Unfortunately, her sleep didn't come fast, as usual, so she just turned here and there. Suddenly she felt a wave of dizziness and was knocked out.

Elder Kai looked at the Guard Ao Theo and pointed at his nose. "Did you have to make her sleep this way?"

The Guard's Ao Theo uneasiness could be seen on his whole face. "The child had nightmares now for days even before you came. I worry. .."

Elder Kai got worried as well. "What is she bothered with? Now this body is hers. That other child lives in the new body. Is there something else?"

"I don't know and we know her. Even if she is really bothered by something, she wouldn't talk about it." The only thing he could do is to ease her dreams and make them deeper.

Elder Kai looked at him. "I am sure that as you are her guard, you became more connected to her. That is the reason why you can feel her emotions. But be careful not to get too connected. Soon you will leave her side. She will live without your protection."

The Guard Ao Theo went silent for a while and then his eyes became shiny with resolve. "I know I can't stay by her side for a long time, but I can teach her how to protect herself even better. She seems to know how to fight, but she doesn't know how to use inner power to protect herself."

Elder Kai nodded. "The power shield that you invented is something everyone is now using. If they learn it, then the outside influence, like temperature or like now epidemic wouldn't be able to harm them. Good idea. Really good idea. We can explain to them the basic idea of the power shield. If they understand it, both of us would worry a bit less, don't you think?"

The day passed and when the night was about to fall Anna and Kyra almost simultaneously opened their eyes. They looked at each other with a smile. Anna was really happy.

"I missed the most waking up here. The peace in our home is really healing. It always felt as its to quiet, but now I know that the peace we have is very special." Anna stretched like a cat and again squirmed back into beddings.

Kyra chuckled looking at her antics. "You must be quite tired. Stay in bed, I'll go make some food. When its ready we can ear, together, everyone..."

Her words were of course for those men as well that waited for them to wake up.

Of course, every time Anna could, she slept longer. So she just cuddled into bed and fell asleep again, making Kyra smile brightly as she left the room.