Two figures moved through the darkness. One carried a flickering lamp; the other bore a limp body on her back.
It was Shaman Zu and Mama Valentina returning from the council courtyard. The one Mama Valentina carried was Edwin.
The punishment had been brutal. Fifty-four lashes for striking a noble on academy grounds. He had fainted three times during the caning. His left leg was swollen and nearly broken. The entire length of his back and buttocks had been torn open; the skin hung in strips. He could not sit, could barely breathe without pain.
In the end, order had triumphed over chaos. The child of misfortune had been beaten bloody for daring to fight back against the child of social construct. Justice had been served.
Caterina ran out the moment they reached the farmhouse.
"Zara has already gone to fetch Healer Alma," she reported.
---
Inside the farmhouse, Edwin lay face-down on bedding spread across the living-room floor. Blood soaked the cloths beneath him. Mama Valentina had not dared remove his clothes; they were fused to the torn skin.
"We should wait for Alma," Shaman Zu said, voice heavy.
Jefferson was deep asleep in his room. He was tired. Earlier that morning he had lost a lamb. The whole burning sun had beat down on his head as he searched for the lost lamb in the hilly pastures not far from the Luba Settlements, a residential area opposite the marketplace across Third Igarape.
A few moments later, the back door opened. Zara entered, followed by Healer Alma, Lady Margarita, and young Barlelina. Two terrifying aberrants padded behind them, eagle-headed, tiger-bodied, carrying baskets on their backs.
No one flinched. They had seen these creatures many times at the medical post.
"Lady Margarita, Healer Alma," Shaman Zu greeted them with a bow.
Lady Margarita was Village Head Thaine's wife. She and Barlelina had come because village law forbade Edwin, the aggressor, from receiving medical care. Margarita had begged the council on his behalf, arguing that William had struck first.
Healer Alma knelt beside Edwin. The aberrants lowered their baskets. She placed both hands on his ruined back. The bleeding stopped instantly. With careful fingers she peeled away the blood-soaked cloth. Edwin cried out in pain even in his half-conscious state. A Mortal Kombat video gamer was caned to his half-conscious state.
"Barlelina, please wait in the kitchen," Zara's voice was gentle. Healer Alma was undressing Edwin. For a girl of Barlelina's age, it was considered uncultured to witness an adolescent or adult male naked.
Alma continued working. Blood clotted. Smaller wounds knit closed. The worst gashes remained open but no longer wept. She moved to his left leg; the swelling eased and the bone began to mend.
She stood and took three bottles from the baskets.
"Smear this on the wounds tomorrow after he wakes," she told Mama Valentina. She handed over a fourth bottle. "And have him drink this in one gulp when he wakes."
"I cannot thank you enough, Healer Alma, Lady Margarita," Shaman Zu bowed deeply.
"Shaman Zu, there is no need," Margarita raised her hand, stopping him. "We're already family. In two years it will be official."
Healer Alma was put in an awkward situation.
Shaman Zu was older than her, even though Alma was in her early sixties. Shaman Zu's own son would have been Alma's age. Yet Shaman Zu looked sixty.
"This boy has suffered long enough at the hands of that Holswell child," Alma said in her raspy voice. "This day was inevitable."
"If he was already a seeker, I could have used Awakened-level potions. He would have been healed in moments."
Everyone fell silent.
Lady Margarita called Barlelina and offered their well-wishes. Zara and Shaman Zu escorted the two of them back, along with Healer Alma.
After they left, Mama Valentina cleaned Edwin with warm cloths soaked in herbal water.
---
When the sun rose the next morning, Edwin had taken all the potions. Mama Valentina helped him bathe in the bathtub in his room. Though his buttocks wounds were almost healed, he still couldn't sit on hard surface, so he sat on her soft lap. For old Edwin, it could have been embarrassing. Mama Valentina had been the one raising him since his mother's death.
As for current Edwin, a transmigrator from Earth, he was just enjoying being bathed by the busty queen. His back rested on her chest. His lion was having a hard time; the lion was roaring the whole time.
But Mama Valentina didn't stop bathing him. "You have grown, young master. It's been a long time since I've bathed you. It has grown this big."
Even the current Edwin didn't have any proper words to say. "You have been taking good care of me, Mama Valentina. Both you and Caterina." If the old Edwin was here, he could have punched this guy.
"Young master, I don't remember raising such a manly man. Caterina could be giving you a good bath every morning if it's to your liking."
"Oh, no need," he tilted his head, staring at Mama Valentina. Their eyes met. Her unforgettable hand was washing his raging lion. "I'm just helping my young master relieve the heavy load. How can I, a humble servant, watch my master suffer this much?"
"Caterina should help you have a peaceful sleep tonight."
After good heavenly moments, Edwin was relieved of the heavy load.
Mama Valentina and her husband had once lived in Kona. They were sold into slavery after failing to repay a debt. Edwin's father, a merchant who transported goods between villages, had bought them. Mama Valentina already had a young daughter, Caterina, which made her perfect for raising newborn Edwin. Her husband became the family's caravan driver.
---
Later, in the living room, Edwin lay on his belly. His head turned toward Zara, who sat close by. The potions and Alma's healing were working fast; the worst wounds had already closed.
"I won't be able to attend the academy today," Edwin muttered. He was just pretending; his true thoughts were on the unforgettable bath, and of course, the coming night. His mind never left the bathtub.
"You fool," Zara retorted. "That's what you're worried about? You had Grandpa terrified. He's already eighty, you know?"
Edwin fell quiet. Shaman Zu was born eight years before the last ancestor, the Fourth Oracle of Mola, went to sleep. The Oracle lay beside the great and mighty land spirit, Venerable Mola, keeping his ears open to the whispers of Amala.
"Anyway, your one-eared friend's grandfather isn't letting this go. He came this morning, but the Village Head was already here. It was dramatic."
"Is that guy still alive?" Edwin asked.
"Hahaha! Fool, how would biting off an ear kill someone?" Zara laughed.
"You know I didn't eat it. I spat it out right away. The guards at the council courtyard kept saying he was dead."
"Those dogs were just trying to scare you." Zara shook his head. "Don't worry about the last class. You'll indeed miss the most important lesson." He sighed. "I'll teach you the rest myself."
"You'll still be able to go through the coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow." He paused. "As for the awakening… forget it. They never wanted you to awaken anyway. This has only made the nobles more aggressive."
The living room fell into heavy silence.
In the entire history of Amala, no devil child had ever been allowed to awaken. Edwin was the first to even attend the pre-awakening academy. The village believed such children carried curses. If they awakened, those curses would deepen and spread, bringing ruin to everyone.