Jessica and Gwen left the town through a small door. The college student looked at her companion, “Sorry to drag you out like that. That’s a poor payment for you rescuing me.” The young healer shook her head, wild dark strands of hair flying around her. “No worries, it’s nice to get a change of scenery.” The scholar then said seriously, “We’ll have to keep a brisk pace, this might hurt a bit.” Her companion gave her a half smile, an eyebrow raised in a silent challenge, “I walk quite a lot going from village to village as a healer, try me.” Jessica blushed, “Yes, of course, that was silly of me. You’re the more experienced traveller.”

  They walked for hours. The discussion kept flowing effortlessly, Jessica felt like she was back at the College, talking with her friends. As if Gwen could hear her thoughts, she asked, “How did you join the College of Magic?” For the first time that day, the young scholar didn’t answer immediately. Then she jumped into the memories, “When I was a child, I kept saying I heard voices in my head and saw light around people. My parents were anxious, thinking something was wrong with me.”

  The female gaze became haunted. The silence dragged on. She skipped some parts of her story, the most painful ones. “My parents brought me to the healers, but they didn’t find anything. Then, in despair, they sent me to the College of Magic.” A small smile flickered on her face. “It was awe-inspiring being there, but everyone was so nice. A scholar talked with me for a long time, listening, writing my answer, never saying I was crazy.” Her gaze was haunted as she said the last words, but then a smile bloomed on her face as she continued. “He asked me if I was hungry and what I wanted to eat. As the food arrived, he left, telling me someone else would soon come and be delighted to meet me.”

  She stopped walking and looked in the distance. Gwen froze, fearing that sudden movement would scare her, like a small bird fleeing into flight. “The Grandmaster entered, and it felt like a loving grandfather was welcoming me home. I was brought to a room with a big table. A hundred black cups lay upside down on it. The Grandmaster asked me where the magic was. I instantly pointed to the one that was glowing and humming. He pulled it up, and a small bright crystal was hidden underneath.”

  Jessica mechanically sat down on the side of the road. Eyes still dreamy, she continued. “I had to repeat the experiment several times. Each time, the magic was weaker, and the crystal smaller.” She sighed, “Then, on the last try, the magic was really, really faint, but I could still hear it call. When he took the cup I was pointing at, there was nothing under it. I looked at him, confused. He was frowning, then he beamed at me. He said: That’s the cup we used to hide the crystals for the whole experiment.”

  Jessica pulled a blade of grass and started shredding it. “He told me I had my place here at the College. Not only was there no tuition fee for me, but my parents received a hefty sum of money.” She stopped speaking without knowing why. She felt Gwen's soft hand dry a tear she didn’t notice escape. In a gentle voice, her companion said, “I’m so sorry.” Then she gently pulled the crying woman into her arms. Jessica welcomed the embrace. Something broke in her. Something healed.

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  They were getting close to the next village. The silence had stretched for a long time. Like a fragile bubble hovering between them. Jessica broke it. “How did you become a healer?” Gwen let out a breath that felt like a relief, “I was born one. We don’t choose our power, you know?” Jessica pouted, “Actually, authors disagree about it.” Then she glanced at Gwen, smiling, “But I see what you mean.” Gwen took an instant to reorganize her thoughts, “So I had the usual path, helped tend the wounds and prepare the medicine for years, then slowly learned to use the power. First on animals, then on humans.” She shrugged. “Everyone has a place in the world, or at least that’s what the old book says.” Jessica gave a wry smile, “I wonder what my place is then.”

  When they entered the village, Jessica walked slowly, sensing the magic around her. Sometimes, when the pain was too great, she held her hand out, and Gwen wrapped it in hers immediately. The touch would linger until the suffering receded. Then she would let go of the hand and walk further. The procedure was repeated several times. They didn’t find any information about Gareth. The sun was still high in the sky, so they left for the next settlement.

  They proceeded the same way, from village to village. Jessica felt her control grow. She still held her hand out, and when the touch broke, she felt like a part of her had been ripped away. Her fingers tingled with the memory of Gwen’s skin. They were walking in a dusty street when Jessica suddenly stopped. She cocked her head and held her hand out. Gwen wrapped it in hers. Then she looked at Jessica with a raised eyebrow. So you do know if I feel pain or not. The strawberry-blonde woman gave a sheepish smile and squeezed her friend’s hand softly. Gwen rolled her eyes, then she gave her a half smile and squeezed back.

  Three days later, they sat in a small park. A dirty pond, three ducks, half-dried vegetation. There was one of those silences again. Jessica noticed it but pretended it wasn’t there. Gwen finally broke it, “Jessica?” The young female sighed deeply. She tried playing the naive card, “Yes?” Gwen took her hand, forcing Jessica to make eye contact. The healer’s eyes were moist. “Since yesterday, you didn’t need me to soften the pain, not once.” And there it was, laid bare, the truth she ran away from. Jessica nodded slowly, “You have to go back.” The healer fell into her arms. The scholar almost lost her balance at the sudden embrace, “I don’t want to, but there are people who need my help back at the temple.” Jessica smiled, letting the tears fall freely. “I know, I was lucky to have you all for myself for a while.” She softly kissed her. It tasted of salt and bittersweet memories. Gwen lay her head on her friend’s shoulder. “Come visit me. When you can.” Jessica stroked her hair softly, “I’ll try,” she whispered.

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