A Drop of Moonlight

Chapter 17: Feebleness

“I’m fine.” Denise said as she tried to dismiss Rufus’ fussing. “I am just a little weak on the knees, but I can certainly say that there is nothing wrong with me.”

“That guy used mental magic on you.”Says Rufus firmly. “Among all magics, these often do more internal damage than physical ones. It could have affected your nerves and left a lasting effect on you.”

Denise had no rebuttal in that and allowed the guy to examine her. She does not like magical means of examining a person's body. It made her nauseous and too vulnerable whenever her brother would heal her using magic.

While she understood that this is the best way to make sure that she is fine, the whole experience is something she does not like at all. If she can avoid it, she will. But mental magic, as far as she was told, was indeed devastating in terms of impact to a person’s well-being.

It can be said that a person being insane from the said magic is mercy. If you are not crazed after being hit by one of these magic, that certainly means that the magic will slowly wreck your insides until you are all hallowed. And when you are all drained out, then what remains of you will be nothing but a scrambling shell who will slow descent to insanity should they have the first time they were hit by a mental spell.

Well aware of the consequences, Denise was obedient to Rufus and stayed still as his magic began its treatment.

With sweat running on her face as she felt cold on her back. To not be so weak, she laid on the forest floor to not look too embarrassing. Though she feels embarrassed at the moment regardless of what she does at the moment.

Denise was not having a great time and she hoped that time would pass by early or have her die before she actually succumbed to the darker side of her personality. She could feel Harold poking and playing with her face as she lay paralyzed on the forest floor. Other than her body feeling too vulnerable with magic despite being able to use and wield it just fine, foreign magic makes her sluggish and almost as if she had taken some medicine that she should not be taking.

"I hate this." Denise said without any heat. Her tone was too low and almost lifeless.

"Bear with it." Rufus said as he ruffled her hair gently. "As expected, the mental magic did affect your nerves. Though not in a way it often does with their victims, it left traces that we need to clean up before it will take root in your body."

"How long would I be this feeble?" Denise could only close her eyes and feel the gentle patting on her head. "I'll be a burden if I stay like this out here."

"We'll have to temporarily settle somewhere here." Rufus replied. "For complete treatment, it will take at least 3 days before it will eliminate the traces of mental magic and repair its damages."

Denise groaned in frustration. She does not like this whole thing. Perhaps if she had been more careful and more attentive to her lessons back then, she could have done something to prevent such magic from messing with her. Though most of those magics are difficult to learn or master and not easy to use at all, it would have prevented her from being too feeble for at least 3 days.

"Cheer up." Said Harold almost as if he was warmer towards Denise. "Think that at least we don't need to move around more than expected. As much as I want to get back home early, I have to admit that I cannot go home if you cannot bring me back."

"Well at least you acknowledge that fact now." Denise said with almost a joking manner. "Still, I apologize for being a burden for now. I promise when I get better, this will not happen again."

"Never make promises you cannot keep." Rufus said with a frown. "I think you were already taught such lessons. Only promise when things are absolute. Never give an oath to something you cannot guarantee in the future."

"Right." Harold agreed to Rufus' statement. "You cannot guarantee that you would not be careless anymore."

"Well." Denise said as she felt her eyes heavy and her consciousness fading. "Then.....I'll do my best not to be careless anymore....this would....okay?"

"That is more than fine." Rufus said as he easily lifted her from the ground and gently held her in his arms. "Sleep well. Everything will be fine when you wake up."

"....I'll...do....so." Denise fell asleep after she said those words with difficulty. In the gentle hold of Rufus, she felt safe and there is this absolute trust that this person will not allow any harm to befall her. Defenselessly, she allowed herself not to think and that Rufus' words are the truth that she will wake up to.

"An elf." Harold said as he was certain that Denise would not be able to interfere with his talk with Rufus. "Creatures beloved by nature and of its good graces, it is no wonder why you can easily use and utilize magic as if they were part of you. But how did you end up here?"

"For a young child, you sure do know how to pick your words. " Rufus said as he adjusted his hold for Denise to have a more comfortable position. "I don't know how other elves were, but for a long time my friend has always been away from the rest. "

"Aren't you guys a tight race who cares and protects each of their people?" Harold is curious. As an heir, he was taught many things that may aid him in the future. And considering that Elves are almost elevated to a status of a god, he had to learn about them.

A chuckle sounded out from Rufus hearing Harold's curiosity. The child was puzzled by the elf's reaction. It was simply something that the child cannot understand given that all he knew was what he was all ever taught.

"There is truth in that child." Rufus said, yet he did not want to tell more than he already had. "Always remember to never judge something or someone until you actually interact to see them. You'll be surprised in more ways than one."

Despite being a precocious child, Harold cannot fully understand what Rufus means at this point of time. But in the future, there is really a truth in the elf's worth. And he wished to have listened more in that time in the future, but that was a story for a later time.

"Cease the questions for now." Rufus said as he managed his pace for the child to follow him. "We need to find shelter to settle with for the next three days."