Her deformity? Is that how she viewed herself? Deformed? He couldn't tell if she meant it in a neutral, negative, or positive way. He could see how it might have been a blessing, but also a curse.
He could imagine a beating from an ill-informed owner after purchasing her with the desire to take advantage of her meekness but also how it staved them off from such actions if they did already know. A blessing and a curse, but one only she could decide between.
She didn't give him any reason to think she disliked how she looked, or saw herself as disgusting or unsightly but still. "Silf, I don't want you talking negatively about yourself, understand? Don't make me make that a command." His voice was stern though he wasn't trying to be.
Silf nodded. "Yes, master."
He noticed a strange note to her voice. Looking into her bright eyes he could see now what it was. She felt disappointed. Like a child being scolded for misbehaving. He wasn't sure how to help improve her self esteem but knew he couldn't let her keep putting herself down, even passively.
Lifting her legs one at a time, he inspected the bruise on her right leg, and looked for any more hidden behind on the back of her thighs then to her feet. A thick callus padded the sole of both feet. It was cracked and dried out.
He could begin treating that tonight. Soaking her feet in warm water to soften the callus first then scrap off as much of the dead skin as possible. He'd take a couple of days to treat it properly to minimize any complications.
With the legs finished, no further bruises or cuts to see he wasn't already aware of, he moved onto her arms. He'd already noticed a previously broken finger that hadn't healed properly. She couldn't set it level with the rest. It had hampered her at breakfast.
"Lean forward." Beyond a small collection of fresh injuries, scars covered her body which he could tell weren't from natural causes. Her back, shoulders, and thighs were the worst. Being covered in long-lashing scars.
She'd been wiped, a lot. He couldn't help but run a finger down the length of the longest. She shivered and arched slightly at his touch. "Sorry." Magnius apologized.
"It's fine, master. Your hand was a little cold is all." She lied. His gentle touch had elicited a response she hadn't expected. She didn't want to admit, not even to herself, that she secretly craved such a gentle hand.
The scar ran from her right shoulder, down her back, over her buttocks, and down to her left thigh. Cutting a thin line through the branding scar that had been burned into the flesh of her buttocks. "What happened to you?" He was unable to withhold his morbid curiosity any longer.
"I don't remember, master." She replied looking over her shoulder and down to him. "I was wiped a lot. I can't recall what scar came from what anymore."
A level of disgust boiled up in the pit of his stomach. Starved, beaten, and wiped. This poor creature had surely suffered enough for the remainder of her life. He wanted to make her life worth living from here on out.
He'd do what he could to ease her sufferings. "We'll see about having these scars removed." He'd contract a Flesh Stitcher to mend what they could. It would take time but he was confident most, if not all the scars and poorly mended bones could be fixed.
Silf sat back in the chair. "Remove my scars?" She sounded confused. Like a child learning something they weren't sure was believable or factual.
Opening the box once more Magnius pulled out a polished black stone with a single string of Runes carved into its smooth surface. It sparkled like Opel but shined like Marble. Setting it aside he looked up.
"Yes, if you're willing of course." He couldn't rightly force her to submit to having her body altered, well he could, but he wouldn't. It wasn't his choice to make. scars
Taking hold of her hand he tried to force the disfigured finger straight. It refused. "They should also be able to mend your finger." He then noticed a scar that ran horizontal to her wrist.
Turning her hand over he ran a finger across the scar. Shackles had cut into her flesh here at some point. The scar was faint but would still be hard to hide without gloves. Similar such scars circled her ankles.
"When you're free, you deserve to feel free. Scars such as these can only serve one purpose. To remind you of all the pain you've gone through. So if you'll allow it, we'll remove them." Magnius said, setting her hand back down.
"Alright, master." She hadn't even given her scars much thought. What could she do about them? They'd been a part of who she'd become. A reminder of her failures. With the promise of freedom, she couldn't say she wouldn't want them gone. "I'd like that." She smiled.
"Ok, lets help elevate some of that pain." The sooner he got this over with the better he thought. He didn't want to drag out having her sat nude in front of him any longer.
Pressing the stone against her hip first he focused his mana into and through it. Pulling her tainted mana from around the injury and allowing his own mana to replace it. This would help speed up the natural healing process.
Silf whimpered slightly as the pain intensified before easing away. A few deep breaths to recover herself and she spoke. "I wasn't aware you were a Physician master."
"I'm not, not exactly anyway. But I was taught a variety of skills. Basic first aid was one I learned early on." He answered, moving the stone from the hip to her forehead. Repeating for each of her injuries.
When all was said and done, and Silf was redressed Magnius knelt in front of her. He was certain she hadn't revealed all her tender points. She might feel embarrassed or so used to concealing her pain she might not even realize she was in pain.
"Silf, I order you to tell me if and when you're in pain until you've regained your strength. No exceptions." Magnius commanded. "You're prohibited from walking, cleaning, any sort of manual labor at all, I haven't given you express permission or asked of you."
Silf nodded feeling the command take hold. "Yes master, as you wish." She gave a shallow smile. Thankful for the command but also a little resentful of it but she wasn't sure why.
Reopening the windows and doors they quickly found Zyom sat in the living room. A large collection of boxes and assorted oddities scattered about.
"About time, you never told me what to do with all this junk?" The elven man barked annoyance mudding his otherwise melodic voice.
"Just leave it. I'll deal with it later." Magnius replied, scratching the back of his head embarrassed. So much had taken place he'd not thought about where he'd move everything. A problem for later.
"Fine by me." Zyom answered, pushing up to his feet and stretching. "At any rate, the room's cleaned out."
~~~
A small space on the first floor under the stairs that led to the second floor was to be Silf's personal room. "We'll get you a proper bed by tonight." Zyom promised. "And I'm sure I can scrounge up some more clothes too."
Silf stood by the doorway. Bracing herself against the wall. Magnius, helping to support her. "Umm m-master with e-everything t-that happened, I forgot t-to tell you." Fear was creeping at the edges of her voice. "I have N-Night Blindness. It's too d-dark to see i-in the room."