The first light of dawn had barely touched the horizon when Elaine heard the approach of footsteps—not the casual step of a villager, but the purposeful stride of someone trying to maintain composure despite inner turmoil. The footfalls paused outside her door, followed by a moment of silence before three sharp knocks broke the morning quiet.

  "Enter, Captain," Elaine called, continuing to sort dried herbs on her worktable.

  The door swung open with controlled force. Captain Riona Blackwood stepped inside, her hand already resting on her sword hilt—not a conscious decision but an instinctive reaction. The morning light caught the silver clasps of her royal purple uniform as she closed the door behind her, never turning her back to Elaine.

  "No guards today?" Elaine asked, noting the captain had come alone.

  "This conversation requires privacy," Riona replied, her voice tight with tension. Dark circles beneath her eyes suggested a sleepless night. She maintained her position near the door, as if ensuring a quick escape route remained available.

  Elaine set aside her herbs, giving the captain her full attention. "You've come to a conclusion."

  "I've come with questions," Riona corrected, the strain evident in her voice. "Questions I can't answer myself."

  "Ask them, then."

  Riona's posture remained rigid, her hand never straying far from her sword. "I've never met anyone like you before."

  "I've been told my healing abilities are unusual," Elaine acknowledged.

  "It's not that." Riona's gaze was direct despite the unease visible in her eyes. "Or not just that. It's something else entirely."

  Elaine remained silent, allowing the captain to continue.

  "I've always had a... sense about people," Riona said after a moment. "An instinct about their strength compared to mine. Whether I could best them in combat or needed to be cautious." Her jaw tightened. "It's kept me alive through fifteen years of service."

  "A useful gift," Elaine observed.

  "It's never been wrong." Riona took a deliberate breath. "Until now."

  "How so?"

  "Because it's not telling me anything useful about you. It's just..." Riona struggled for words, frustration evident in her expression. "It's just screaming at me to run. To get as far away as possible."

  The admission hung in the air between them. For the first time, Riona's professional composure cracked, revealing something raw beneath.

  "I haven't slept," she continued. "I keep trying to understand what it means—why a village healer would trigger this kind of response. Why my instincts are treating you like the most dangerous threat I've ever encountered."

  Elaine studied her carefully. "And what conclusions have you reached?"

  "None that make sense." Riona's fingers tapped against her sword hilt in an unconscious gesture. "The greatest warriors I've faced never triggered this response. The most dangerous criminals I've apprehended never made me feel this... small." Her voice lowered. "What are you?"

  The directness of the question seemed to surprise even Riona herself. Elaine rose slowly from her worktable, noting how the captain's entire body tensed in response.

  "I'm a healer," Elaine said simply.

  "No." Riona shook her head sharply. "That's what you do, not what you are. No healer would make me feel like prey standing before a predator."

  Elaine picked up a small knife from her worktable—the same one she'd used to cut herbs for months. "Your instincts aren't wrong, Captain. You simply have no reference for what I am."

  Riona's eyes tracked the knife in Elaine's hand. "Meaning?"

  "Meaning I am indeed a healer. That wasn't a lie." Elaine set the knife down deliberately. "But your instincts are correctly sensing that I'm also something more."

  "Something more," Riona repeated, the words hollow. "That doesn't explain anything."

  "What would you have me say? That I'm dangerous? That your fear is justified?" Elaine moved toward the hearth, maintaining a respectful distance from the captain. "You already know both of those things, whether I confirm them or not."

  Riona's gaze never left Elaine. "What I know is that Master Thaddeus is the greatest healer in the kingdom. He's spent his entire life perfecting his gift. And yet you healed Edmund in moments, accomplishing what Thaddeus couldn't achieve in decades." Her voice grew firmer. "What I know is that my instincts—instincts that never failed me all my years of combat and service—are telling me you're more dangerous than anything I've ever faced."

  "Both statements are accurate," Elaine acknowledged.

  "How?" Riona demanded, frustration breaking through. "How can someone be both? No one masters two such disparate paths in one lifetime."

  "Perhaps I've had more time to practice than most," Elaine replied, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.

  The answer clearly unsettled Riona. She studied Elaine's youthful features with renewed intensity. "You can't be more than twenty-five."

  "Appearances can be deceiving, Captain."

  Silence fell between them as Riona processed this implication. Her gaze shifted, taking in Elaine's entire presence with new understanding.

  "Whatever the truth," Elaine continued, "I came to Riverside to heal. To help people. That much is genuine."

  "I should be reporting this conversation to Master Thaddeus. Warning him. And yet..." Riona said after a moment

  "And yet you won't," Elaine finished for her.

  Riona didn't deny it. "Master Thaddeus plans to compel you to return to the capital with us."

  "I know."

  "You won't go willingly."

  "No."

  A muscle worked in Riona's jaw. "There is to be a formal meeting in the village square at midday. The village council has been summoned to witness your official invitation to the Royal College."

  "You mean my official conscription," Elaine corrected.

  "As you say." Riona hesitated before asking, "If challenged, what would you do?"

  Elaine considered the question carefully. "I came to Riverside to heal, Captain. To connect with people again after a very long time alone. I have no desire to demonstrate what else I can do."

  "That sounds like a threat."

  "It's a warning," Elaine replied softly. "One I hope you'll consider carefully."

  The tension in the room shifted subtly. Despite her fear, Riona was clearly calculating, weighing options with the precision of someone accustomed to difficult decisions.

  "These people," Riona said finally, gesturing toward the village beyond the cottage walls. "They have no idea what you are, do they? What you're capable of?"

  "They know I can heal," Elaine replied. "That's all they need to know."

  "And if they knew the rest?"

  "What do you imagine 'the rest' to be, Captain?" Elaine asked gently. "You've sensed something your instincts can't categorize. You've drawn conclusions based on that feeling. But you still don't know what I am."

  "I know enough to be afraid," Riona said, her honesty startling in its simplicity. "More afraid than I've ever been, facing opponents who were actively trying to kill me."

  The admission hung between them, stripping away pretense.

  "Why are you telling me this?" Elaine asked. "You could have kept your suspicions to yourself, reported to Master Thaddeus that I was uncooperative."

  Riona straightened, trying to process everything with the calculation of a career soldier. "I believe it would be in everyone's best interest if a peaceful resolution could be found."

  "On that, we agree completely."

  "The College has laws, traditions. They can't simply allow a healer of your... capability... to be wasted out here."

  "I am not wasted here captain and I won't allow myself to be controlled," Elaine countered. "I will attend the meeting, I hope Master Thaddeus is open to compromise."

  "And if he isn't?" The question was quiet but direct.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Then difficult choices will need to be made," Elaine replied. "By all of us."

  Riona nodded once, sharply, and moved toward the door. She paused with her hand on the latch. "One last question."

  "Yes?"

  "Are you a danger to this village?"

  "No," Elaine answered with simple certainty. "I would give my life to protect these people."

  Riona studied her face for a long moment. "Oddly enough, I believe you," she said finally. "Which is what makes this situation so... complicated." She hesitated, then added, "Whatever you truly are, Healer Elaine, I hope for everyone's sake that Master Thaddeus listens better than I did initially."

  Without waiting for a response, the captain departed, her footsteps noticeably quicker than when she'd arrived. Elaine remained still, feeling the weight of the confrontation settle around her. For months, she'd maintained the appearance of an unusual but exceptionally talented healer. Now, she had revealed a partial truth—not the full reality of her millennium of combat on an endless island, but enough for Riona to recognize that something beyond her understanding stood before her.

  The delegation would make their formal demand at midday. Elaine would need to find a solution that protected both her freedom and the village that had become her home. She had tried to warn Riona without revealing the full extent of her power. Whether that warning would be heeded remained to be seen.

  She returned to sorting her herbs, the simple task grounding her in the present. After a thousand years of honing her skills, patience had become second nature. She would wait, observe, and hope that the centuries-old institutions of this world were flexible enough to bend rather than break against something they couldn't possibly comprehend.

  Outside, Riona paused, taking deep breaths of the morning air as if to clear her mind. Her hand still rested on her sword hilt, though she now recognized the futility of the gesture.

  For the first time in her career, Captain Riona Blackwood found herself hoping diplomacy would prevail. Because she couldn't shake the certainty that if it didn't, she would witness something she wasn't prepared to face.

  * * *

  Midday sun bathed the village square in golden light as villagers gathered in their finest clothes. The hastily constructed wooden platform at the center stood as the focal point, adorned with purple and silver banners bearing the royal crest. Children peered curiously between adults' legs, while whispered conversations created a nervous undercurrent beneath the forced festivity.

  Elaine stood at the edge of the gathering, observing the meticulous staging of what was meant to appear as an honor but felt unmistakably like a trap. James approached, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by tense formality.

  "The entire village is here," he said quietly. "Word spread faster than autumn wildfire."

  "Good," Elaine replied. "Whatever happens, it should happen transparently."

  James studied her face. "You seem remarkably calm for someone about to defy royal authority."

  "I've faced worse," she said simply.

  Before James could inquire further, trumpets sounded—a surprisingly elaborate touch for a village ceremony. The royal delegation emerged from the inn where they'd been preparing, Thaddeus leading in formal blue robes embroidered with silver. Edmund and Garrett followed in matching but less ornate attire. Captain Riona and her guards flanked them in polished armor that gleamed in the sunlight.

  Villagers parted to create a path to the platform. As the delegation passed, Riona's gaze briefly met Elaine's, something unspoken passing between them before the captain's eyes swept forward again.

  Thaddeus ascended the platform with practiced dignity, his assistants taking positions slightly behind him. From this elevated position, he surveyed the gathered villagers with benevolent authority before his gaze settled on Elaine.

  "Healer Elaine," he called, his voice carrying across the square. "Please join us."

  All eyes turned to Elaine as she moved through the crowd. She felt the weight of their attention—some hopeful, others concerned. Sarah offered an encouraging smile as Elaine passed, while Mary squeezed her hand briefly.

  As Elaine climbed the steps to the platform, Riona positioned herself to maintain clear sight lines to both Elaine and her charges, her posture suggesting a readiness that hadn't been present during previous interactions.

  "People of Riverside," Thaddeus began once Elaine stood before him. "Today marks a momentous occasion for your village and for the kingdom of Aldoria. It is rare indeed for the Royal College of Healing Arts to discover such exceptional talent in remote communities."

  He turned slightly, addressing the crowd more directly. "For centuries, the College has served as the guardian of healing knowledge, ensuring that gifted individuals receive proper training and that their abilities benefit all citizens of the realm."

  Edmund nodded along, his eyes occasionally drifting to his own chest as he took another deep, appreciative breath. Garrett maintained a more skeptical expression, watching the villagers' reactions with calculating interest.

  "Healer Elaine," Thaddeus continued, turning back to her. "Your remarkable gifts have come to our attention through multiple reports. Yesterday, I witnessed firsthand healing of a caliber rarely seen in our kingdom."

  He gestured to Edmund, who stepped forward. "My colleague here suffered from a condition deemed irreversible by our most skilled practitioners including myself. And yet.. you restored him to full health in moments."

  Edmund smiled genuinely. "A miracle for which I remain profoundly grateful."

  Thaddeus produced a scroll bearing the royal seal. "It is therefore my great honor and privilege to formally invite you to join the Royal College of Healing Arts as a Master Healer—a position normally requiring decades to attain."

  Murmurs spread through the crowd. Such an appointment was indeed unprecedented.

  "At the College," Thaddeus continued, "you will have access to ancient texts, rare ingredients, and collaboration with fellow healers. Your techniques will be documented for posterity, ensuring your contributions benefit generations to come."

  He unrolled the scroll with ceremonial deliberation. "Furthermore, you will receive quarters in the royal district, a generous stipend, and the personal gratitude of King Harren himself."

  The scroll's gilded edges caught the sunlight as Thaddeus held it forward. "This is not merely an invitation, Healer Elaine. This is the recognition of extraordinary talent and the opportunity to serve at the highest levels of our kingdom."

  The square fell silent as all eyes turned to Elaine. Even the children seemed to understand the gravity of the moment.

  Elaine studied the scroll without reaching for it. When she finally spoke, her voice was clear and carried easily across the hushed gathering.

  "Master Thaddeus, I am honored by the College's recognition," she began. "However, I must respectfully decline."

  The silence deepened, broken only by Garrett's barely audible scoff.

  "Perhaps I haven't made the significance of this invitation clear," Thaddeus said, his tone still cordial though a new edge had entered his voice. "This appointment comes directly from the Crown. It represents the highest honor a healer can receive."

  "I understand its significance," Elaine replied calmly. "And I am truly grateful for the recognition. But my place is here, in Riverside."

  James stepped forward from the crowd. "Healer Elaine has become essential to our community, Master Thaddeus. Surely arrangements could be made for her to remain here while sharing her knowledge through correspondence or periodic visits to the capital."

  Thaddeus's expression cooled slightly. "While I appreciate the village's attachment to Healer Elaine, I must remind everyone that the Royal Decree on Exceptional Healing Gifts is quite specific. Healers of extraordinary ability must serve at the College for the benefit of the entire kingdom."

  Garrett stepped forward. "The decree serves all citizens by ensuring the most gifted healers reach their full potential under proper guidance. Village sentimentality doesn't supersede royal law."

  Elaine's gaze remained fixed on Thaddeus. "I have made my choice."

  "I'm afraid you misunderstand," Thaddeus replied, setting the scroll aside. "This isn't a choice, Healer Elaine. The decree requires your service."

  The friendly veneer had vanished from his tone. Around the platform, the royal guards subtly shifted positions, creating a loose perimeter. Villagers noticed, and the atmosphere tensed further.

  "Am I to be taken by force, then?" Elaine asked, her voice perfectly controlled.

  "We prefer to call it 'royal escort,'" Garrett interjected with a thin smile.

  Captain Riona stepped forward, her expression troubled. "Master Thaddeus, perhaps—"

  "Captain," Thaddeus cut her off without looking in her direction. "Prepare to escort Healer Elaine to our carriage."

  The guards moved with practiced efficiency, hands resting on sword hilts as they tightened their formation. Villagers began to press closer, their murmurs growing louder.

  "This isn't right," Clarence called out, pushing his way to the front. "You can't just take her!"

  Other voices joined his, the individual protests merging into a wave of dissent. Several men moved protectively toward the platform.

  "Stand down," Riona ordered her guards, who had begun to draw their weapons. Her eyes darted between the increasingly agitated villagers and Elaine's still-calm figure.

  "Master Thaddeus," Edmund said quietly, touching the older man's sleeve. "Perhaps forcing the issue in this manner isn't wise."

  But Thaddeus had committed to his course. "The law is clear. Captain, prepare to—"

  The rest of his command was lost as the village bell began to ring—not the measured toll that marked the hours, but the rapid, insistent pealing that signaled danger.

  All heads turned toward the sound. A young boy came running into the square, his face flushed with exertion and fear.

  "Armed men!" he gasped, pointing toward the northern road. "At least fifty! They've got weapons and torches!"

  In an instant, the ceremony's tension transformed into a different kind of urgency. Villagers began calling for their families, some running to secure livestock or gather possessions.

  "Guards to me!" Riona commanded, her training instantly asserting itself. "Form a defensive position!"

  James turned to the gathered villagers. "Men with hunting experience, gather what weapons you have! Everyone else, move toward the southern field!"

  Amid the chaos, Elaine remained perfectly still, her gaze fixed on the northern road where dust could now be seen rising above the trees. As the royal guards formed around their charges and village men scrambled for improvised weapons, she simply walked down from the platform with measured steps.

  Riona noticed her movement and approached quickly. "You should take shelter with the others," she said, though her tone suggested she already knew the futility of the advice.

  "No," Elaine replied simply. "I shouldn't."

  Their eyes met for a brief moment. Riona's hand hovered near her sword hilt, but something in Elaine's gaze made her hesitate.

  "What are you going to do?" she asked quietly.

  Elaine looked toward the approaching threat, then back to the village where people were running in panicked confusion. "Whatever is necessary."

  Riona studied her face, concern evident in her expression. "We don't know who's coming or what they want."

  "It makes no difference," Elaine said.

  A moment of silence stretched between them, filled with the clamor of preparation around them.

  "We'll make our stand at the gate," Riona decided.

  As they walked together against the flow of villagers seeking safety, Thaddeus called after them.

  "Healer Elaine! This situation requires professional soldiers. You must come with us to safety!"

  She didn't break stride or look back. The formal ceremony, the royal decree, the threat of forced removal—all had been superseded by a more immediate concern. As she walked, her movements shifted subtly, her usual gentle healer's gait replaced by something more purposeful, more dangerous.

  Behind her, Riona watched with a mixture of apprehension and something approaching awe. Then the captain turned sharply, pushing aside her foreboding to focus on organizing the defense with the limited resources at hand.

  "Master Thaddeus," she said firmly, "I need you and your assistants to move to safety. My guards will establish a perimeter here while the village men—"

  "What about Healer Elaine?" Garrett demanded, gesturing toward her retreating figure. "She's heading directly toward the danger!"

  Riona's expression revealed nothing of her internal conflict. "We have more immediate concerns. Please move to safety now."

  As Thaddeus and his assistants were escorted toward the village hall, Riona quickly organized her six guards and the dozen or so village men who had managed to arm themselves with hunting bows, axes, and farming implements.

  "To the north gate," she commanded. "It's the most defensible position. We'll hold them there."

  The makeshift militia moved quickly, taking positions behind the wooden barricade at the village entrance. Riona positioned archers on nearby rooftops and stationed her guards at the weakest points of the barrier.

  Elaine stood slightly back from the defensive line, observing calmly as the cloud of dust on the road grew closer. Riona moved between positions, giving final instructions before joining Elaine.

  "They're well-organized," Riona observed, noting the disciplined formation becoming visible through the dust. "Not common bandits."

  Elaine nodded. "And they're here with purpose."

  The village defenders gripped their weapons nervously, some hands shaking as the approaching force grew closer. Whatever was about to happen, Riona suspected it would change everything.