"Charm is a product of the unexpected"

- Jose Marti -

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Soundtrack of the chapter: The End of Days (It fits the end of the chapter VERY WELL!)

Media: heortgryre flowers

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Chapter Fifteen: Ice and Fire

"Don't look so stressed, Cady," Eli said. "I'm sure the Gourda can track down whoever was the last person to borrow that book."

"If that someone can vandalize a book under the very nose of a fussy Feorh, I bet he or she is very skilled."

Eli grabbed Cady by the shoulders and spun her toward him. His green eyes glinted under the morning sun, the exact color of the grass undulating up and down the crests of the Hall garden. The sun was a pent up orb of flames in the skies with dazzling golden light bursting forth.

"Cady, stop worrying."

Cady hung her head. "I'm sorry. It's just...I wish I can find a way to answer my own questions, as well as the dreams, the nightmares. I wish everything would just stop and give me some peace."

"I wish the same thing," he said wistfully. "I survived the war. But the shadows of it never left. Meditation numbs the wounds, but they never really recover."

They walked down the graveled path, marveling at the infinite pink flowers dotting the sidewalks.

Eli bent down and plucked one of the flowers and handed it to Cady. She blinked at the flower.

"These are heortgryre flowers, masculine twin to Moonflowers. Do you know what does heortgryre mean in the Old Tongue?"

"Uhh...I don't really know," she replied, still staring at the nodding flower.

Eli pushed up one of Cady's falling locks and placed the flower behind her right ear. Cady froze as his fingers brushed against her face, uncertain how to react.

"It means, love flowers." Color crept up his pale cheeks, turning them a bright of pink.

Cady looked at her feet, suddenly finding the patterns at the hem of her robes interesting.

"Cady..." Eli was about to say something when a loud rustle from the pile of bushes ahead caught his attention. As quick as lightning, he directed the tip of his staff at the moving branches. Energy gathered at the tip of the gem, ready to burst forth. Cady sprang into a defensive pose while Zoroth snarled in her head.

Someone dark suddenly emerged from the bushes with a most triumphant look on his face. In his hands were a bunch of weird looking roots with a bluish flower attached at the bottom.

Cady's jaw dropped. "Jasper?"

Jasper stared at them at first with shock, but it quickly melted away to confidence.

"Well, hello there Cady! What brings you here on this fine day?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" she hissed. "These are private grounds!"

The other boy only grinned wider and waved the roots in her face. "The Hall of Spirits is open to Oracles no matter from where and when."

"Who are you?" Eli asked, flabbergasted. "Did-did you just pop up from the bushes?" He then turned to Cady. "You know this guy?"

Before she could utter a word, Jasper had already strolled toward them.

"Jasper Silverbird, Physician of the Darkling woods, at your service." He did an elaborate bow before Eli who took a few steps back. "And to answer your last question, yes. I did pop up from the bushes. I can show you how I did it again, if you like."

Cady seized Jasper by the arm and drew him aside.

"What the heck are you doing here? I thought you hated the Hall of Spirits?"

Jasper looked hurt. "Hey, hate is a strong word. I didn't say I hate the Hall of Spirits. I just don't like to meddle with their affairs. Plus, I needed Mugwort. They only grow around this area."

Cady rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."

Eli cleared his throat loudly. "Cady, you know this...guy?"

"Uh...yes, kinda," she said, scratching her head.

"I met Cady before. She was ill, so I treated her," said Jasper, giving Eli a good-natured grin.

"Wait...you're a Healer? I thought I knew all Healers in Esvanira."

"I am not a Healer," Jasper said, offended. "I am a Physician. There is a rather big difference between the two, I would say. Would you like a detailed explanation about it? I wrote an essay on it before, you know."

"I know the difference," Eli interrupted Jasper before he could continue his speech. "You said you were?"

"Are you guys all deaf?" Jasper whispered to Cady. "I did mention my name. Like really loud and clearly."

Cady shot him a murderous glare, but he didn't catch it.

"I am Jasper Silverbird. And you must be Elijah Sanguinis, the last grandson of Raphine Sanguinis, High Priest of the Hall of Spirits."

Eli looked uncomfortable. "I prefer Eli, minus all those rambling titles at the back."

Jasper bobbed his head. "I like just Eli. It's simple and nice."

"What brings you here to the Hall of Spirits? I've been living here all my life but I don't recall seeing your name ever on our lists."

"He's a self tutored Oracle," Cady spoke up for him.

"Yes and no." Jasper started to pace up and down the grass, looking at Eli with great interest. Several times his eyes fell onto the hem of his robes and Eli twitched with unease. "I had a wonderful tutor once, but she died a few years ago."

"I'm sorry," Eli said. "I didn't know that."

"Don't be," he said, his voice laced with a sudden sorrow. "It's not like you can do anything about it."

There was an awkward moment of silence between the two boys. Cady hurriedly threw in a random topic.

"Hey, great weather today, huh?"

Eli perked up at the mention of the weather. "Most definitely. And I'm certain the herbs are pleased with the weather."

"So the rumors are true. You do have an Affinity with plants," Jasper said in approval.

Eli looked confused. "Rumors? What rumors?"

Jasper drew a squiggle in the air with one of the roots. "Gossip, hearsay, innuendo, hoax. Do you want more examples?"

"Jesus, Jasper. Did you swallow a thesaurus or something?"

He frowned, his forehead creasing. "There you go again. You need to tell me who this Jesus guy is. Is he cool?"

"Never mind, Cady," Eli said. "Yes. My Affinities are with the spirits of the plants. I can hear their thoughts and speak to them."

"Interesting," Jasper said. "I have a gift or two with plants. But my Affinities lie with medicine."

"He's a really good Physician," Cady said offhand, thinking about how he treated her wounds and illness.

"You could join the Healers and Physicians in the Hall of Spirits. We could make do with another Physician."

"Thank you for the offer, Your Honor. But my place is with the Darkling Woods. I just happen to drop by today for this." He waggled the bunch of misshapen roots before Eli.

"Mugwort," they both said at once. Jasper's frown deepened while Eli stiffened.

"Yes, Mugwort-a herb known notoriously for its ability to repel negative energy. I need to make some sachets for a client. She claims to be troubled by some evil spirit."

Eli snorted. "Well, sounds like you're a busy man. Sorry to have kept you."

"No harm done," Jasper said. "Carry on with whatever you're doing. All this talking is going to bore Cady out of her wits."

"I'm not bored," she rebuked. "I was listening to your conversation."

Jasper clapped her on the back. "Whatever you say, Cady. I must be off."

He drew back, his lips brushing gently against her ear. "And I'll see you tonight."

With a cheery salute, Jasper vanished down the slopes with the mugwort roots bouncing in his hands.

Eli was still dumbfounded when Jasper had left the Hall gardens. "Are you sure he is a Physician?"

Cady shrugged. "He may act insane, but he is really a responsible Physician."

He opened his mouth to ask Cady a question, but decided against it. With a sigh, he wheeled back and started dragging his foot up the mounds of grass. His golden hair curled in the breeze, catching the sunlight like heated metal. Cady caught his sleeve.

"Hey, I think Jasper can help you."

Eli tightened his lips. "That's not what I was thinking."

"Don't lie, I can see it in your eyes."

He leaned against his staff, resigned.

"I've heard of freelance Physicians, unbound to the Hall of Spirits. They don't like rules and they choose their own clients. The poison in me is one of the rarest Decanate poisons known throughout Esvanira. What makes you think he will help me?"

Cady placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to give him some encouragement. Eli turned red at once.

"Jasper helped me when I was sick. I was a complete stranger back then."

"This is a different matter. Freelance Physicians hate rules and order that binds the Hall of Spirits. They never approve of the High Priest or the Priestesses."

She tightened her grip on Eli's shoulder and gave him the most determined stare she could make.

"Eli, stop that pessimism for just one minute, okay? I will talk to him. And he will help you. You will be cured."

The relief and hope in his eyes were blinding.

"If that is so, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Eli closed his eyes, his golden lashes were so fine, it seemed to have blended in with the sunlight. Cady was stunned by how beautiful he was-standing with the grace of an archangel, his young face weighed down by sadness, like Atlas shouldering the weight of the world.

His face suddenly contorted, and he crumpled to the ground. The staff fell from his hands and rolled down the slope where it hit a rock and stopped. His eyes flew wide open, his pupils dilating so much, the green was only a thin shimmer around the black. Cady caught him in her arms before he could fall backwards.

Alarm rose in Cady. "Are you okay?"

Eli flailed in her arms as a violent fit took over, a mighty spasm jerking through his entire body. He twisted and turned, his face torn with pain. Cady grabbed him by the wrists as his hands flew to his face, trying to claw away at his invisible torturer.

Cady seized the hem of his robes and pulled it aside, revealing his diseased toe. The black was boiling, frothing red which bled into the green grass like acid. Eli screamed. His screams were pure anguish. It pierced the air like an arrow, landing in Cady's heart. She fought with him, trying to stop him from injuring himself further. Tears flooded down his eyes as another wave of pain shuddered through his body.

The disease will pass, it must!

Eli released another strangled scream. Cady found herself screaming along with him.

"Help, somebody. HELP!"

Their screams sent Thomas and a couple other Starlets rushing toward them only to turn back to summon the Hall Healers. Eli was lifted away on a stretcher and rushed into the Healing chambers. Cady cogitated outside the chamber, praying that whatever was torturing Eli, it would pass.

She couldn't banish the sickly scene of Eli's rotting leg. The flesh was bubbling, as if it was set to burn on a grill. The pustular lesions oozed a sticky red liquid that she knew wasn't blood. Blood didn't smell like carcasses.

Raphine Sanguinis suddenly appeared from nowhere, sweeping into the chamber and slamming the door behind him. She flinched.

The flower Eli had tucked behind her ear came loose and fluttered onto her lap. She smoothened it with her fingers, touching the silky strands that bloomed from its pink core.

The door of the healing chamber was then thrown open with tremendous force where the High Priest stormed out, looking absolutely thunderous. The sharp gust of wind from his actions sent the flower soaring out of her fingers and landed silently at a corner.

Raphine Sanguinis turned his hard eyes on Cady. She shrank back at the worry and fury radiating from his powerful frame.

"You, you're Cadence Gates." The words came out in a rush. It wasn't a question, but rather an accusing statement.

Cady steeled herself. "Yes, I am."

He pointed a finger at her. "You were there when that...incident happened. Tell me, what did you see?"

"We were taking a walk and then he suddenly stumbled. I don't know-"

"I said," the High Priest cut off her words impatiently. "What did you see?"

"Um..." she trailed off. She tried to form the grotesque image of Eli's legs into words, but nothing could describe how she felt when she saw it hurting him.

Raphine turned his face toward the window, a faraway look residing in his eyes. "Ugly, isn't it? The disease?"

She remained silent as Raphine swung back, his dark cloak billowing in the sea breeze.

"You probably will never understand, the pain of a grandfather seeing his only family left suffering from the curse caused by imbeciles...you will never understand."

He didn't even seem to be talking to Cady now, but rather himself.

"He did not deserve this fate. This is all your fault!"

Cady ducked as he aimed a blow at the wall behind her. His hand missed her head by mere inches and it connected with hard stone. There was a loud crack followed by the sound of debris raining onto the ground. She blinked at the crater left in the wall. It would be her skull shattered if she hadn't dodged.

Raphine drew back, shocked.

"I'm sorry, Oracle. I didn't know what came over me. Eli's condition...it stresses me too much."

Cady tried to stop her voice from quaking. "It's okay, Your Honor. Don't worry about it."

The High Priest's gaze softened, but his mouth was still pulled into a tight line.

"Continue with whatever you were doing, I will take care of Eli."

She nodded, although she really wanted to stay behind and wait for any news from the Healers.

"Your Honor," she said before Raphine left. "Make sure he is okay, will you?"

A tired smile tugged at his pale lips. "I've been doing that for the past eighteen years, I think you can put your faith in this old man."

She bowed and left. It was when Raphine was out of sight when she allowed herself to sink to the ground and press her hands over her erratic heart.

That look in his eyes, it resembled that of a cruel and demonic beast with a hunger for revenge. She had never imagined such eyes to come from an Oracle who were the epitome of kindness and forgiveness.

Jasper's words came back to her.

Everyone gets killed and injured in war, Cady.

She buried her face in her hands. She could never understand the Great War and its mystery. Raphine was a broken man, and so was Eli. She had been wrenched away from the Great War when she was a child, and she grew up in oblivion of Esvanira and its inhabitants. But what she failed to understand was the connection between her and the war. Everywhere she went, every corner she turned, it all led back to the war.

I need evidence. I need living proof from someone willing.

The woman in the cell. Eli said had mentioned she was a war prisoner. Maybe she could help her piece the puzzle together.

Eli had warned her not to step foot down there again. But she knew she must, and very soon. But first, she must convince Jasper to treat Eli, no matter what.

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A/N

A weekly update seems like a long wait! But nevertheless, here is the chappie! I really had a fun time writing Eli meeting Jasper for the first time. Oh, I've read your theories on the last chapter. One of you was eeriely close to the answer, but still far! ;)

Any new theories on Raphine? 

Winter melon drink (I ran out of food preferences and I happen to be drinking this so...),

Stef