Saga realized she'd forgotten to return Soul's Fume: The Secret Ingredient of Magic, the book Genevieve had graciously lent her. With her eidetic memory, reading a book once was enough to recall every word. So, she slipped back inside to return it.
Quiet by nature, Saga had learned to walk silently from years of hunting, and Genevieve didn't hear a thing as Saga arrived at her backyard. She was absorbed in her task, coaxing life back into an old, rotting tree.
Saga froze at the sight. Genevieve's hands glowed with a pure white light, encased in a faint, mist-like fume. As she stroked the tree's bark and chanted softly, the rot on its trunk reversed, and fresh green leaves grew on its branches. In minutes, the tree was healed. Only then did Genevieve notice Saga standing behind her, and she let out a startled scream.
The pure white fume. According to Soul's Fume, this was the rarest and most difficult fume to master, a key ingredient in high-level healing spells, famously wielded by legendary paladins. And here was her old teacher, using it to revive a tree.
"My lady, I'm terribly sorry," Saga blurted out. "I didn't mean to spy on you. I promise I won't breathe a word of this—"
Genevieve laughed, though her brow creased slightly. "What are you talking about, child? There's nothing suspicious here." She placed a reassuring hand on Saga's shoulder. "I wasn't trying to hide what I was doing. You just startled me, that's all."
Saga sighed, relieved. Genevieve then took her arm, guiding her to the garden bench.
"My lady, would you please explain what you did back there?" Saga gestured toward Genevieve's hands, where the last wisps of fume were dissipating. "If you don't mind?"
Genevieve's laughter rang out, light and musical. "Of course not! I've never told you much about my life, have I?" She smiled warmly. "You're my best student; you ought to know your teacher's story, don't you think? Listen close, bird." She looked up at the overcast sky, her gaze distant. "Long ago, I was a member of the Guild of Paladins. Our party was known as the Oathbound Hunters—"
"What?" Saga gasped, louder than intended, her eyes wide. "But…the Hunters are legendary! My lady, you mean you were a member?"
Genevieve chuckled. "Yes, I thought everyone knew." She pointed to a small banner hanging by the back door, a cross of swords set on a white field. "Have you never noticed my Hunter banner? Why do you think it's there?"
Saga flushed, feeling awkward. "I thought…you were just a fan. I mean, everyone seems to have a Hunter banner these days."
Genevieve blinked, surprised. Shaking her head, she resumed her story. "Well, as I was saying, the Hunters were born with a natural talent for magic, each of us wielding a powerful fume from a young age. Idealistic and hotheaded, we believed we could change the world. When we received the Guild's badge and formed our party, we set out immediately. Inspired by Francis Wayland, the last hero, we adopted his motto: 'Banish the Darkness.' Wayland and his heroes defeated the Hellbringer and prevented the apocalypse. We wanted to carry on his legacy, fighting sinister forces and protecting the innocent from monsters."
Genevieve paused, releasing a long, heavy sigh as she shifted her gaze from Saga to the gloomy sky. "But young people are fools. We didn't realize how many enemies we were making. When the fire in our blood cooled and the strength of our youth faded, we disbanded and went our separate ways to settle down with our families." Her voice grew quiet. "Then, one day, one of those enemies darkened my door while I was away. I returned to find my husband and my two little boys lying dead on the floor. Everything I cared about, gone in an instant."
"I'm so sorry, my lady," Saga said softly, and she meant it. She'd never imagined Genevieve carrying such deep pain behind her kind smile.
Genevieve gave a slow nod.
"And the one who did it?" Saga asked cautiously. "What became of him?"
"I killed him," Genevieve replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "The strangest thing, Saga, he was already half-dead. The Hunters had destroyed his organization and left him for dead years before. Vengeance kept him going. He was a ghost from my past, coming back to haunt me."
Saga sat in silence, catching a glimpse of the grief behind Genevieve's calm facade. In those eyes, she saw only emptiness, a hole carved by loss. She wanted to say something comforting, but no words came to her. None would have mattered anyway.
"I faked my death and came here to live out the rest of my days," Genevieve continued, pointing to the tree she'd just revived. "My boys loved that tree. They used to argue over who got to swing from it. I brought it here with me, I couldn't let it die."
"I know," Saga murmured with a bittersweet smile.
The tree was to Genevieve what hunting was to her, each a way to stay close to those they'd lost. For Genevieve, it was her sons; for Saga, her parents.
Genevieve met Saga's eyes, understanding. She'd heard from Yrsa what had happened to Saga's parents. "It never gets any easier, does it?" she said quietly.
"No," Saga replied. She held out the book. "Thank you for lending this to me, my lady."
Genevieve patted her head gently. "No, thank you for listening. No one seems to have time for an old woman like me anymore."
"Oh, by the way, my lady," Saga ventured, "has anyone named Sill come to visit you recently? She's a blue elf, if that rings a bell."
Genevieve furrowed her brow. "A blue elf? Sill?"
"Yes, that's right," Saga said. "I know it sounds unusual."
Genevieve's eyes brightened as she thought it over. "Oh! Do you mean Sill Shaer Zwhb? How do you know her?"
Saga blinked at the name; it seemed odd even for an elf, but then again, she was blue. "I met her in the woods. She asked for your address, and said she'd traveled a long way to see you. So, I gave it to her. I hope that was alright?"
Genevieve's face softened. "No, no, you did the right thing! Sill… My goodness, how long has it been? I don't think I've seen her since I was in my twenties!"
"We met yesterday," Saga said. "I wonder why she hasn't come by yet."
"Well, I'll be waiting." Genevieve grinned, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "I hope she visits soon!" She gazed down, thoughtful, and muttered, "And I'd like to know how she figured out I was alive, and traced me here..."
"If you don't mind my asking, my lady, how do you know Miss Sill?"
"She and her brother saved my life," Genevieve replied. "Come to think of it, our entire party would have been wiped out if it hadn't been for them. We never got a chance to repay that debt."