After speaking a little with the healer, Catherine politely took her leave, explaining that she could hardly wait to bring joyful news to her son. She entrusted all matters concerning the elf's lodging and comfort to the blind uncle.
Now she only needed to prepare Grey for the procedure.
The life magic of the elves was renowned for its effectiveness in curing any ailment. Although Selin was still relatively young by the standards of elven society, she had already reached the Sky-Dweller realm and was a disciple of a saint.
Titles like those spoke for themselves. Her talent and abilities left no room for doubt.
Catherine placed very great hopes on the coming days, yet she understood that she needed to prepare herself properly. She realized that the stronger the hope, the more painful it would be if everything turned out to be in vain, but she could not control her emotions.
The illness of her beloved son was about to be cured. Could she possibly remain calm?
The fact that she was not dancing with joy already testified to her excellent self-control.
She constantly reminded herself of the Blind One's instructions and intended to follow them precisely.
Catherine entered the two-story house with a radiant smile and an uplifted mood.
They say that when a woman smiles sincerely, she reaches the very peak of her beauty. One could only imagine how dazzling the heavenly fairy shone at that moment. Even Aphrodite herself might have dimmed for an instant before such beauty.
"Grey, Grace, my dear little ones, come down. Mom has wonderful news for you. Fufufu," Catherine said, unable to contain her joy.
When the children came down from the second floor, they were stunned by their mother's appearance. She was so beautiful as she smiled at them with the most tender and joyful smile they could ever remember seeing.
The twins froze on the staircase like deer caught in headlights.
Cassia, who had just stepped out from the neighboring room, stood in similar shock. The only time she had ever seen such a smile on her mistress's face was the day after the twins were born.
In the servant's mind surfaced the radiant image of Catherine when she had first knocked on the door of the room with the newborns. The images slowly merged together, and Cassia swore that for a moment she felt a strange attraction toward her own mistress, so overwhelming was her charm at that very instant.
"Mommy, did something good happen? You look so happy," Grace asked, the first to recover from her daze.
"That's right, dear. Grandpa Joseph, whom you didn't have the chance to meet, brought the best healer we could possibly hope for to our village. I'm certain she will be able to heal Grey, and we won't have to worry about his condition anymore," Catherine replied.
"Really?! Ahahaha, that's amazing! Brother, brother, you'll finally be able to grow stronger like you've always dreamed. Ahahaha, how wonderful! Soon we'll be able to spar together and travel. You'll be able to use magic yourself! Brother, brother, wake up," Grace jumped with joy, shaking Grey by the shoulder to snap him out of it.
"Mom, is it true?" the boy asked with a trembling voice.
"Umu, of course it's true, brother! Mom would never lie to us about something related to your health," his sister answered first.
"Yes, dear, it's true. I personally made sure of the healer's professionalism," Catherine assured, calming either her son or herself.
"Really, truly?" the boy asked again.
"Yes," came the immediate and firm reply. She knew how important it was to show him her confidence.
"Ahahaha, little brother, isn't this amazing? Why do you look so lost?" Grace asked, her smile shining even brighter than her mother's.
"I... I can't believe it. Won't the God of Light notice my healing? And what if it doesn't work?" the boy stammered, looking more confused than joyful.
"To hell with that bastard Apollo and his concerns. If Selin can't help, I'll find the goddess of Life or Healing. I will become a god myself or turn into a devil, but no one will take you away from us," Catherine whispered, embracing her child.
Large tears rolled down her face. They were tears of weakness, determination, and hope from a strong woman and a caring mother.
"It will work... I will be healed..." Grey whispered with a trembling voice, burying his face in his mother's white, silvery hair.
Cassia and Grace joined the embrace.
The servant could not hold back her trembling either. Only the Beast God knew how deeply her heart had ached as she watched the young master struggle.
Grace could not understand why everyone was crying when the news was so good, but the shared emotion was contagious. She kept giggling with happiness as she hugged her family and did not notice when her own eyes filled with tears.
The next day, the whole family gathered together. Catherine conducted a briefing, and the children followed all of their mother's instructions precisely.
Grace's determination to memorize the healer's name bordered on madness. Although she did not like complicated things, the girl knew how to set her priorities correctly.
She had spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed. Now faint shadows could be seen beneath her eyes, but those shadows did not dull the radiance of her gaze, they only made it stand out more. It seemed her power was slightly slipping out of control, since a clear rainbow glow could be seen within her pupils.
If everyone's attention had not been focused on the figures of Grey and Selin, the elders and Catherine would have been sincerely astonished and puzzled by the changes in Grace.
The patient himself was calm and composed, though his mood was clearly elevated.
Grey clearly remembered the lessons of the villagers and, following them, tried not to show his emotions. At that moment he resembled a dignified aristocrat who had endured many hardships and was ready to receive his well-earned reward.
Approaching the elf, he gave a ceremonial bow and greeted her politely:
"Miss de'Lirel Celebrembor, I am Grey, the son of Catherine, and I express my sincere gratitude to you and to your teacher, Saint Dariel al'Tariel," he said, bowing with a refined courtesy more fitting for a highborn noble than a village boy. "I will never forget your kindness, regardless of the outcome of the treatment, and I humbly ask you to accept my gratitude in advance."
"Hee-hee-hee, what a charming conversationalist you are, little handsome. You don't need to address me so formally, just call me Aunt Selin. I will do everything in my power to help you. Believe me, even divine wounds can be healed, no matter how pompous that may sound coming from me," Selin replied, immediately taking a liking to the little flatterer.
"I would be honored, Aunt Selin."
To be honest, since yesterday Selin had been in a state of shock.
She could never have imagined that her patient would turn out to be the world-famous "Harbinger of Darkness."
Even the elves had heard the stories about the human prophecy, though it concerned them very little.
Elves were a proud race, and they did not consider the human race a threat, an ally, or a friend. Just another race, something like a slightly larger anthill. What difference would it make if they were wiped out?
That was how all elves thought.
Although they loved life in all its forms, they did not strive to interfere with the natural course of things. As long as the Tree of Life and life itself were not threatened, they could accept anything.
However, as social beings, they still disapproved of and condemned meaningless violence.
When Selin was told that she would have to treat the injury of the "child of darkness," to be honest, the elf had wanted to refuse. She imagined she would be treating some small, ferocious monster and had no desire to take on such a thankless task.
In the end, Selin gave in to the sweet words of the blind old man and could not refuse him. As it turned out, not without reason.
Treating such a cute, polite, and pleasant boy would be a genuine pleasure for her.
Who cared about the prophecy?
Although elves believed in fate, they had no reason to interfere in the affairs of another race.
If Selin wished, she could heal whomever she pleased, and even the God of Light could only spread his hands helplessly. Such was the power of the elven race.
The boy walked with confident steps toward the hospital building that had been constructed specifically for his procedures.
Inside, the small hut was filled with various herbs and glass vials.
The herbs had been carefully gathered by Grandma Cornelia, while the bottles of elixirs belonged to Grandma Albedo. By the wall stood a small table with Grandpa Jack's surgical instruments, which had been personally crafted by Grandpa Clark (the dwarf responsible for forging all artifacts as well as magical tools in the village).
Breathing in the familiar hospital air of the room where he had spent so much time, Grey felt a storm of emotions rise within him.
On one hand, he hated this building with every fiber of his soul because it reminded him of his helplessness and weakness. On the other hand, he valued and loved it, since the villagers had poured so much effort and care into it.
Glancing at the bracelet on his right wrist, which already held fifteen beads, the boy lay down on the bed.
Selin looked around. Although elves did not require such a large number of instruments and medicines, their presence could greatly assist her work.
She was sincerely impressed by the remarkable collection of various plants and concoctions gathered inside this small hut. As a professional in her craft, she valued people who were just as devoted to the art of healing as she was.
After carefully looking around and making sure she remembered where every item she might need was located, Selin was ready to begin.
The villagers had gathered outside and waited without making a single sound.
Catherine, who shifted nervously from one foot to the other, had been strictly forbidden to let her emotions reach inside the hut, out of fear that it might affect the healing process.
Grandpa Jack was the only person allowed to observe the entire operation. As a skilled assassin, he was confident that he would not disturb the healer's concentration. He was also an experienced surgeon and could assist her if necessary.
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Dear readers, I have to inform you that this work was rejected when applying for a contract without the possibility of revision. Therefore, I was forced to create a second version of the book, where I will publish the latest updates.
I will not give up on this version, but some chapters will be posted a little later than in the main one.
The book is called "The Mad Immortal"
https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-mad-immortal_34969618200258905###
Many thanks for your support, active comments and reviews.
This will help more readers to get acquainted with my book, which means my chances of getting a contract will increase and you will receive content more often. (The author also needs to eat and provide for his family)