Garima dreaded getting out of bed.
Her body felt heavy—like sleep had pressed the exhaustion deeper instead of easing it.
Last night was uneventful. It passed quietly without interruption. She returned. Ate the Harlen Laf and the Velune Berry. Kept the handkerchief with her other robes on the shelf. She didn't meet anyone. Just retired to her room and slept.
She hadn't called Cosmo. It's been a day.
She woke up. But lazed in the bed. Tired.
Do they even have novels here? She had wondered at some point. Amused.
A knock broke through the thought.
She knew it was Agatha.
Garima pushed herself upright, slower than she would have liked.
"The woman woke up," Agatha said as she entered the room.
Garima nodded once and disappeared into the bathhouse.
Cold water helped. A little.
The toothbrush still felt strange— a carved stick with stiff bristles that scratched more than clean. The texture of the bristles felt like hair from who knows where.Garima didn't dwell on it. And toothpowder tasted like charcoal and salt.
She missed mint.
She rinsed, spat and straightened.
When she stepped out, Priest Hill had joined them. They didn't waste time.
Conrad was already waiting outside.
He straightened the moment he saw her.
"Your Holiness"
Garima acknowledged him with a small nod and stepped inside.
His mother was awake.
Propped carefully, supported by a folded cloth. Her face, still pale. But better.
Her eyes followed movement now. Focussed. Alive.
Garima didn't speak immediately. She watched her condition. Steady breath. No tremors. No cold sweat.
She stepped closer
"How do you feel?" She asked.
The woman gave a faint smile. "Better" she said.
Garima sat beside her.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Matilda"
Garima nodded "Alright, Matilda."
She was beautiful. Garima reacted late. She was definitely getting used to beautiful people.
"Your son was terrified," Garima said, not unkindly.
Matilda's expression softened."I know."
Garima glanced briefly at Conrad, then back at her.
"Listen carefully," she said, her tone shifting—but not harsh. "Small meals. Frequently. No long gaps."
Matilda nodded.
"No starving. Not even by mistake"
Her gaze moved to Conrad. "Who stays with her?"
He hesitated. "It's just me"
"And you work?"
"I am apprenticed…with a carpenter"
Garima exhaled quietly.
She turned to Matilda.
"This is your responsibility," she said more gently now. "His too—but mostly yours"
Matilda lowered her gaze lightly. "I understand"
"Do you?" Garima asked softer, "Your son is still young. And he is working hard for you. So stay alive long enough to be there by his side"
Matilda nodded again—slower this time.
Garima continued.
"Reduce rice or baked loaves. Not removed. Balance it. Add green vegetables, leafy ones too—-Fish."
"No desserts. You can have berries"
"And walk," Conrad said quickly, as if trying to prove he understood.
Garima shook her head. "Small amounts of sweets if needed. Especially if she feels week"
She paused.
"This is not a restriction." she said quietly "It's balance"
Matilda held her gaze "I understand."
Garima studied her for another second—then nodded.
"Stay here for another day"
She looked at Agatha.
"Light food first. Liquids. Then solids"
Agatha nodded. Hill also inclined his head.
That was enough.
Garima stepped out. The corridor felt brighter.
Ava, Zihan and Riley were waiting—hovering.
Garima leaned against the window ledge. And looked at them.
"What happened ?" she asked.
Ava spoke first.
"We couldn't help."
Zihan didn't argue "We are healers, And we just ... .stood there."
"I am still learning." Riley blurted out defensively.
Garima's gaze softened.
Ava looked frustrated. "I tried. My healing didn't reach her," Ava said.
"Neither did mine." Zihan added "Not enough energy."
Ava let out a breath."Unstable output. Insufficient energy."
Zihan gave a short humourless laugh. "Just half-baked healers"
Garima tilted her head.
"That doesn't sound like Ava and Zihan I know." she said "They are not incompetent or incomplete. Isn't that right Riley?"
Riley straightened immediately"Yes, we have lots to learn."
"Yes," Garima said. "Lots to learn"
Riley leaned forward, eyes bright. "Holiness, then how did you do it? Without energy?"
"Knowledge," Garima said
They frowned
"Bodies follow patterns."she continued "So do illnesses. They have Symptoms and causes"
"What are those? " Zihan asked.
Garima looked at them
"Fever." She said "You all know it"
They nodded.
"Can you heal it?" She asked.
"Yes" Ava said "By moving energy"
"Redirecting heat," Zihan added.
Riley nodded eagerly. "I can do that too"
"How?" Garima asked.
"Circulating the energy in the head and dissipating it to other areas" Ava said.
"What about pressure points?" Garima asked.
"You mean energy nodes? We can identify it" Zihan added.
"And flow control too" Riley said smiling.
"With energy?" Garima asked
"Yes," they replied in unison.
"Then why are you calling yourself incomplete?" Garima asked.
"Fever requires the least bit of energy," Zihan said.
"So you are asking if you can't?" She asked
They paused.
Garima stepped away from the window. She stood in front of them.
"Let me ask you a simple question" Garima continued "Why and how does fever happen?"
"Dizziness, body heats up, change in taste," Ava said quickly.
"I know, I know" Riley jumped "When there is a wound, and when it's cold or if another person has fever"
Zihan frowned slightly "That's…basic"
"Yes, it's basic," Garima said.
"Heat rises. The body weakens. That's dehydration. Loss of strength" she tapped her temple lightly "They are not mysteries"
She looked at them
"Can you cool the body without energy?" she asked.
Riley blinked "Without energy?"
"Yes"
"With water?" Zihan guessed
Garima nodded.
"Soak a cloth in water," she added. "Wipe the body. Drink and pee. And repeat the process"
Riley scrunched up his face.
"Then we give light food like porridge."
"That's sounds" Ava hesitated "easy?"
"Yes" Garima said " So people tend to ignore it"
Silence. Garima softened.
"You rely on energy first" she said "You should also know what to do when you don't have it."
"So both" Zihan looked thoughtful now "Energy and ?"
"Jugaads," Garima said, smiling.
Definitely Indian jugaads. Home remedies Jindabaad.
"Jugaads?" Ava asked "Is that what it is called?"
"Yes" Garima nodded
Riley's eyes lit up again "Can you teach us?"
Garima didn't hesitate
"I can teach you the patterns" she said "Symptoms. What to look for?. What to do first?"
Zihan exhaled slowly "That would help"
Ava nodded with a smile.
Riley practically bounced.
Garima looked at the three of them. Ava with her careful attention. Zihan with his quiet steadiness. Riley practically vibrating.
She thought of Maria. And her grandfather. A med student. And a Kalari expert. She gained lots of knowledge from them. Now she can pass them on. She will make them complete. Doctors are an integral part of society. There is no harm in having more. Even quacks can heal people with proper methods.
"Good," she said quietly.
And suddenly. Priests and Priestesses were running.
Agatha hurried towards them
"Your Holiness" she looked panicked. "His majesty has arrived"
Everything stilled.
"The King?" Garima asked.
Agatha nodded.
Footsteps echoed along the corridor
And Garima turned back.
King Cirius Renaldin walked in the corridor. As if he owned the place.
Behind him stood a familiar face. The noble who opposed her during her speech.
"Your Holiness" the King said with a lazy grin.
"Your Majesty" Garima bowed.
"I brought your instructor," he smiled.