Snow In Gracehaven
1264 Words
20th December 1440. It had been exactly 30 days when Samuel had suddenly announced that winter would be coming and winter came as exactly as he had announced.
Snowflakes began to fall in the day throughout and slowly turned into light snow intermittently which in turn became mush when it landed and settled on the ground.
It was snow alright... Something that England had not experienced for such a long time already. The barren trees were slowly slightly covered with light snow and it made the whole place looked like a winter wonderland.
The orchard that was behind the domain had become barren too due to fall and by coming spring it would bear fruits to supply our brewery with all kinds of Fruity flavours.
Not only that, but our log cakes would also be filled with more variety of fruits. A 3-year long wait for the fruits to bear fruit would just take a short 3 months for it to be accomplished.
It was white all over and frankly speaking, the white was too glaring if we spend too much time outdoors. The only grounds that was not touched by snow was a small area near the privies on the residential lots.
Each privvy had a piece of pebble imbued with a steady generated heat so that it would warm the water within the vat attached to the groundwater for showers or washing up.
A simple thing, on a simple contraption, meant a lot for everyone in Gracehaven. Those who never dreamt of showering each day could now enjoy a warm 95°F during their showers even in winter...!
The only thing now left is hair and body wash. But that, my dear readers, would come as a spoiler and also made up as a trade and commerce for Marcel to handle in the near future.
It had been more than a month's and a half since Firestone had been bedridden in the infirmary. Right now, the pioneers, the Priests and Priestesses and well as both Heather and me were all gathered around Firestone bed and were definitely making him feel mightily in a very tight corner.
Literally.
How in the world could a small 12 bedder infirmary contain so many visitors at the same time and of course our poor patient was squeezed right into the tiny space of the nurses' station. Hahaha...! Poor Firestone...!
Even since Firestone was placed in the infirmary some one and a half month ago, he had been constantly treated by Isabela who imbued her special abilities of healing and regeneration of cells, bone, flesh and muscles and worked tirelessly 3 or sometimes 4 times daily on Firestone's amputated leg.
During the first week there seems to be little to no progress, or maybe the progress was too small to be seen by the naked eyes but after each time Isabela treats Firestone, the cells began to regenerate.
It was I emphasise again, too small to be seen by the naked eye but within 2 weeks, the bone began to set in first underneath the thick swathes of bandage. By the 3rd week, Isabela's abilities became slightly enhanced or improved and she could feel her strength in her abilities to be two or three-fold after constant usage.
The same goes to Imelda who was making the freezer and chiller compartments of the Standing Icebox. Not only she does not feel tired after handling numerous Standing Iceboxes but her speed in completing one was also much quicker.
The same thing happened to Michael and Penelope as well and when they discussed this, they had come to a simple conclusion — the more they use their abilities, the more proficient they could get and who knows they might be able to unlock a secondary ability in the near future...
Just like Earl that would be able to manipulate the Earth around him, making the impossible, possible...
The only few Priest and Priestess that had utilised the least of their special abilities were, Walter, Wendy and Hendry. Maybe not for Wendy as her special abilities would be used to haul the lumber from the cleared forest behind the domain.
According to some of the engineers, they had plans to clear the forest behind the domain for about 500 feet and 300 feet across. The engineers that marked the ground reported that at least 3,000 to 5,000 non-fruit bearing or rare trees could be fell during the winter period and another 5,000 or so fruit or nut trees could be planted within a distance of about 15 feet apart.
I pondered at the suggestion of then Engineering division of the Shadow members and gave the green light after they explained that the whole process of the removal and repainting of the new fruit or nut tenderlings would take about a month.
No more, no less as their target was to clear as much as 50 trees a day which would only come to about 1500 trees a month.
Besides, this was an estimation and the work would be underway soon.
So back to Firestone once more... When the blanket was flipped over, there was a bandaged part where the amputated leg was once been and Firestone was looking down on it at in wonder.
"You know child, I could almost feel I had toes and I could wiggle it under those thick bandages. Furthermore, I have a great feeling that there's a leg where my amputated leg was once there before, is that true?"
Firestone was unable to relate to those around him on what he actually felt but Isabela and Old Kayla assured Firestone to believe in his faith and also to date and destiny.
"Don't be disheartened if the end result does not meet your desired requirements or hope," Isabela said as she slowly began to unwrap the bandages from the knee onwards.
Marcel, after hearing those words from Isabela, rushed out from the infirmary because he really doesn't want to witness a man with a chicken leg replacement on the stump...! Huaaaaaa....
He went to sit on one of the swings next to the classroom and was almost huddled close to the ground as it was a child's swing set. Besides, coupled with the light snow that fell incessantly, he huddled much closer than before due to the chilly winter evening.
*drumroll*
"Oh my God...! Thank you, everyone... Thank you heavens... I can't believe my eyes...! I've got a perfect pair of legs and it looks and feels normal... Golly... Thank you... THANK YOU...!!!"
Firestone was hollering aloud in the infirmary and luckily he was the only patient there. He was so ecstatic that he was doing a jig with his new leg that looked almost identical. With just a slight graft where his stump was, there's no differentiating whether he had ever had an amputation before...!
Everyone was cheering and congratulating Isabela on her first successful human test subject and due to that, Farah was tearing up and hugging and was at the same time jumping about with Isabela.
Firestone then fell to one knee and he said in witness of everyone, "From today onwards, Isabela, you are my benefactor... You had given me a new life. Gracehaven and Your Majesty too had given me a new life...! I will dedicate my whole life to Gracehaven and its ruler till the day I die."
Hearing that pledge, I was feeling somewhat proud since we had somehow turned someone into a solid believer and follower and this news will definitely rock the whole of Gracehaven tomorrow morning...!
- Writer
