silversnowfall | [6][voiced/action]

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[6][voiced/action]

[a lone, slow-moving figure makes her way toward the village. She doesn't know that's where she's going. Just walking is taking up all of her concentration and effort. When she finally does sink to the ground, gasping for breath, she forces herself to open the book she's carrying]

Is anyone...

[[ooc: A day late, but Nephry is back!]]

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Just the forest and the path.

A path... Is the river nearby?

I don't know. ...It's hard to see and hear.

That isn't good. It'll be hard to find you without a concrete location. ... Can you see the mountains, perhaps?

Yes. I think.

Hm... Then, I suppose I'll have no choice but to ask the animals for directions. Try not to move until I get there, alright?

I won't go anywhere.

[An hour or two later, Gelda's followed the directions of a polite squirrel and comes walking down the path. Her usually kind face has adopted a serious, not to mention worried expression. Nephry may be a mature, married woman now, but she'll always be Gelda's young student.]

Nephry.

[she's managed to get herself leaning against a tree, at least. She's back in the plain clothes the Malnosso love to leave New Feathers in, though the white is stained with blood, especially on her left side. She wouldn't have gotten much farther anyway]

Professor.

[Gelda slowly kneels down next to her, holding out a hand to start a healing spell. In the meantime, she'll be trying to assess the injuries the best she can. Those Malnosso really are careless with their guineapigs.]

Just relax.

[she nods, not really looking up. She's covered in small cuts, mostly from fighting her way through the forest. If Gelda looks under the worst of the blood, there's a long, deep incision with poorly-done stitches holding it closed]

How...l-long was I gone? [All her attempts at keeping control of herself are starting to fail.]

[Oh dear. Those stitches are probably going to need to be taken out and set by a professional. There's no point in healing it too much then. Instead, Gelda will focus on the other injuries.]

About four days.

[she brings up her left hand - the other looks broken in a couple different ways - to cover her face. She would rather not be, but breaking down is inevitable now]

It felt l-like much longer.

[Really, Gelda can't blame her for that. The Malnosso can be terrifying, especially if you aren't used to the cruelty of man. During her time in the Order of Lorelei, Gelda's already seen her share of that, but Nephry is likely a different case.

All the Professor can do now is continue healing, hoping it would soothe the girl somewhat.]

[then pardon her while she spends a few minutes totally out of control of herself. There hasn't been an ordeal like this in her entire life, and she can't stop reliving it. And it makes her think about what Jade used to do, as a child, and then the person in front of her...]

Jade. ...He...he said he was coming.

Oh? That's good.

[Considering the state Nephry's in, there's a good chance she'd have to be carried back to the village. Gelda won't be able to handle that by herself.]

I'm sorry, Professor.

[she's calming down, though. The energy she's getting back from healing helps]

[At that, Gelda gives a faint smile.]

I hardly see a reason to apologize.

I shouldn't be...

It's perfectly normal.

[Now, let's take a look at that broken hand. Gelda's going to touch it, which will probably hurt.]

[she makes a sound somewhere between a hiss and a cry at the touch. She wasn't expecting it, not really able to follow Gelda's actions with her eyes]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[She tries to hold the hand as gently as possible as she starts another healing spell. Those bones need to be held in their proper position, though.]

It's fine. [though it isn't. She's pale from the effort of not making a fuss about the pain]

[It's a good thing Gelda's had plenty of healing experience in the clinic by now. That spirit connected to Filial healing magic has become one of her best friends.]

[and because of that, the pain fades to a bearable ache, and Nephry opens her eyes again]

Thank you.

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