Day one of the waiting period began with careful normalcy. Aida woke at her usual time and trained with Marcus, though gentler exercises now, given his recovery. She opened the healing house right on schedule.
But nothing was truly normal.
Warriors she had known her whole life wandered past the healing house in civilian clothes. They browsed market stalls they had never shown interest in before. A traveling merchant set up shop across the square. Actually Captain Thorne in disguise, his warrior's build barely concealed under loose robes. Every person who entered the healing house was scanned by magical wards that felt like gentle warmth but were actually sophisticated detection spells.
Aria treated a child's fever, an elder's arthritis, a warrior's training bruise. All routine. All normal. While her hands glowed with healing silver, her awareness stayed sharp. Every shadow could hide a threat. Every stranger could be a Collector.
