In an instant, the bones in Roth's legs start to grind in place and this causes immense pain. His feet are covered by the blanket, sparing him from witnessing the horrid mangling of his bones. The sharp *CRUNCH* and *SNAP* sounds fill the cabin room as Roth starts to thrash in pain. What kind of healing is this!?
"Its okay Roth. The pain shall cease in a moment."
Valeonna places a warm and tight grasp on his shoulder, holding him as still as possible. Roth yelps in agony as he looks at her through his watery eyes and clutches the bed sheets. He wonders what is actually going on? Is this happening due to her? Is this her 'healing'? Isn't healing magic supposed to be soothing according to the myths?
Suddenly the pain comes to a halt with a final and loud *SNAP*. The only sound which fill the room now are the ragged and quick gasps of Roth, as he come to terms with what actually happened. Valeonna gently removes her hand from his shoulder, allowing him to slowly sit. As Roth cautiously positions himself against the pillows, he notices the lack of searing pain which shadowed him earlier.
He slowly reaches for the blanket to uncover and examine the state of his legs, when suddenly he hears that dreadful *CRUNCH*. Roth flinches back and squeezes his eyes shut, bracing himself for another round of agony....but it never comes...not for him anyways.
He slowly opens his eyes to find his legs perfectly snuggled under the blanket but soon he hears those *CRUNCH* and *SNAP* sounds ring through out the room and looks to his side, where Valeonna is perfectly calm maintaining her pristine eye contact...but as he glances down at her legs, he is flabbergasted to see her legs starting to get crushed and seemingly implode from within, but there is nothing to trigger this awful torment...What is happening?
His eyes dart back to Valeonna who almost seems oblivious to the torment taking place on her legs. Its almost like the horrifying scene doesn't exist, her eyes show no hint of distress neither a spark of discomfort but a quick glance downward would make anyone's stomach churn. Roth tries to say something...ANYTHING! to make sure she is indeed okay but the sudden shift in events makes it hard for him to formulate complete thoughts, let alone sentences.
Finally the horrible wrangling of bones subside granting a moment of peace....but its short lived as the gut wrenching process starts up again. Roth's lower lip quivers as he watches the whole ordeal, but something seems off to him this time, a certain detail which he can't pinpoint. He steels himself as he watches her long legs start to make those snapping noises but he finally notices that everything is....reversed? The legs which seem to have been destroyed, are shifting back to place with each ominous *SNAP* and *CRUNCH*. He can't make any heads and tails of the situation as any theory he comes up with, leaves him with more questions. There is a wave of shock that washes over him...but there is also a whiplash of awe which sparkles in his eyes, even through all this ordeal.
He looks up at Valeonna and sees her unbothered eyes, staring straight back at him. Roth finally swallows the lump in his throat but he still can't speak, instead he gently lays his hand on her slender wrist and slowly takes it his lap. Valeonna looks a bit puzzled at his actions but doesn't resist one bit, she is acting like nothing is happening to her legs which makes the scene more bizarre. Roth gently slides his fingers across her slightly larger palm and interlocks them with her own fingers. He then cradles the back of her hand with his other hand and brings it close to his chest, nursing her hand with warmth that could rival any bird nesting her eggs. This catches Valeonna off-guard.
"What...What are you doing Roth?"
"Miss Valeonna, I do not know you and I don't understand the current circumstances, but I think you might be in pain. Even if you can't show it."
He caresses the back of her in a gentle motion as he slowly looks up from her hand to her eyes, which are attentively searching for his motive. He lets out a warm smile and continues:
"And if someone is in pain, it means they need someone else to care for them, right?"
The genuine warmth in his words come crashing towards her like an avalanche and for some reason, the tone of his words make Valeonna feel like she's had this conversation before....maybe she has...but the ghosts of her past are bit lost in a haze of memories. She calmly relaxes her hand into his lap, the bones grinding below her still don't phase her.
Finally the onslaught of mind numbing sounds cease with a loud *CRUNCH* and she glances down before slowly standing up. Roth gently lets go of her hand and she starts stretching her damaged....No...her leg is....okay? He blinks at her legs which he thought would be a mangled mess. She continues stretching for a minute and then finally extends her hand to him saying:
"Do you wish to walk a bit?"
The question snaps him out of his focused gaze and he remembers his own legs, which seem to feel normal but he still hasn't uncovered them. He glances back at the blanket and a feeling of trepidation flows around him....Is he really okay? He pauses only for a few seconds and gulps down his doubts, ready to uncover the GRUSOME reality under the blanket...at least that is what he braces for. With a sharp yank, he pulls up the blanket, his eyes still squeezed shut. In those few seconds all sorts of theories fill his mind, but a small voice inside his heart hoped for his legs to be fine....even he knows how illogical his inner thoughts can be.
He slowly parts his eye lids and then he sees it....His legs are all healed up, not a sign of scratch let alone any hints of bone breakage. He is left dumb...the small voice in his heart, had its wish granted. He stares at his own leg like its a foreign furniture as he slowly reaches out to touch, almost like it could shatter like glass if he isn't careful. When his fingers make contact, he feels his legs respond and he flinches back, the thought of his legs working normally, shocks him. He is left in a cloud of awe as he looks up to Valeonna, who is still waiting, her hand outstretched to him.
He has a hundred different questions, a thousand different theories and millions of thoughts of gratitude surging through him, but all he can muster up as he reaches for her hand is:
"H-How...?"
For the first time in their mind boggling exchange, Valeonna lets out a smile. A genuine smile. She gently grasps his hand, helping him stand up and then she says in a hush and warm tone.
"I just helped you a bit. That's all."