Chapter 7: Eyes On Derek
Daisy still wasn’t finished getting ready when their mother, Martha, stepped in. "What’s the matter, honey? You’re still not done?"
"Almost, Mother. Just finishing up," Daisy replied, rushing through the last bits of preparation.
But Martha could tell from her daughter’s hurried movements and the nervous look on her face—she was worried.
Gently placing a hand on Daisy’s shoulder, Martha smiled. "Don’t worry, Daisy. This is just a simple test. You’re still very young, and Miss Elowen only wants to see if you truly have the gift of healing magic. She will only check how much internal energy you’ve accumulated so far, and whether it’s enough to begin learning. There’s nothing to stress about."
Hearing his mother’s words, Derek suddenly remembered. ’Ah, right... She’s going to Florence
"I know, but still... It’s natural to feel a little nervous. She doesn’t agree to teach just anyone," Daisy said softly.
"If you keep worrying so much before it even starts, how will you face the test? Come on now. You’ll do just fine, don’t worry," Martha reassured her gently.
’I hope so...’ Daisy thought.
At that moment, Martha scooped Derek up into her arms. She smiled down at him.
"Well, little one? Do you want to come along too? See what your sister can do?"
"Mm!" Derek let out a small eager hum, waving his tiny fists and kicking his legs as if to say he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Martha chuckled at his reaction and kissed his cheek. "Looks like he wants to cheer you on as well."
Hearing that, Daisy turned back. And even on her worried face, a small, sweet smile appeared.
Soon after, she was finished.
______
Since Rudeous had duties as the head of the Keepers, he couldn’t come along himself. And leaving the house completely empty didn’t feel right either, so Arthur stayed behind to look after it.
He was only seven, but it was fine for him to stay at home alone for a while.
Martha, with Derek in her arms, stepped outside together with Daisy. A horse-drawn wagon was already waiting near the gate. Martha helped Daisy climb in first, then settled herself inside with Derek on her lap.
The coachman gave a slight nod and flicked the reins.
Clop! Clop!
The wagon began to roll forward, wheels rattling softly against the dirt road.
As they passed through the village, Derek’s little eyes widened. He leaned against Martha’s arm, taking in everything. Farmers were busy in their fields, bending down to tend the crops. Some children were laughing and chasing each other through the grass. Birds flitted overhead, their chirps filling the air.
A calm breeze brushed past, carrying with it the scent of soil and fresh leaves. Derek quietly enjoyed it all, his tiny hands gripping the edge of the seat while his head turned left and right at every new sight.
Half an hour passed this way, the wagon rolling steadily down the path until finally, the village center came into view. Stalls lined the marketplace, filled with the voices of vendors calling out to customers. Just beyond the bustle stood a modest but well-kept building with a wooden sign shaped like a blooming herb.
’Florence Elowen’s healing chamber.’
The wagon came to a stop right in front of it.
As soon as Martha stepped down with Derek in her arms, she noticed several parents already waiting outside. Around seven or eight children stood with them—some a little older, some a little younger, but most roughly Daisy’s age. The soft chatter of worried mothers and fathers mixed with the restless fidgeting of their children.
Behind Martha, Daisy climbed down carefully, her steps nervous but steady. Martha paid the coachman with coins, then led both children forward toward the chamber doors.
The wooden doors opened with a faint creak. Inside was the main hall. Four rooms branched out from the corners. On the right, the front-most door bore a wooden plaque with ’Florence Elowen’ carefully carved into it. The two rooms on the left were easy to recognize—beds, cabinets of herbs, faint medicinal smells—those were clearly for patients’ treatment. And the right-side back room was arranged as a waiting area.
Martha guided Daisy and Derek into a corner seat. Already, many others were seated inside. These parents were waiting with their children for the test to begin, while others had stepped outside after their little ones had already finished. A quick glance showed about four children still left to be tested.
Every year, it was the same. A group of fifteen to twenty children would gather here, tested one after another. At the end of it all, Florence herself would announce which children she would accept as trainees, and which ones would have to return the next year and try again.
Daisy sat quietly, her fingers twisting the edge of her dress. Every time another child was called, her heartbeat quickened. She bit her lip, stealing glances at the door where children went in one by one.
Time passed slowly. One by one, the tests finished. The waiting room gradually emptied until only the three of them remained.... Martha, Daisy, and Derek.
Finally, an apprentice healer appeared and spoke politely. " Are you Daisy? It’s your turn now."
Martha rose, steadying Daisy with a hand on her back. Derek shifted in her arms, eyes bright with curiosity. Together, they followed the apprentice down the short hall. He pushed open the door slightly and gave a nod, signaling for them to enter.
________
Inside, a middle-aged woman sat gracefully on a wooden chair. She looked to be in her early forties, age showing lightly on her face, yet her posture and aura carried an elegance that time could not diminish. Her simple robes of pale green gave her the air of someone both humble and dignified, a presence that immediately calmed the room. This was Florence Elowen, the renowned village healer.
Martha stepped in with Daisy and Derek. But the moment she did...
Florence’s eyes twitched, her calm expression faltering ever so slightly. Her gaze swept past Daisy and Martha, only to pause and fix firmly on the small child in Martha’s arms.
Derek!
And Derek? He didn’t miss this subtle change either.