[Reminder: This story contains explicit sensual content, violence, mature themes, and references to trauma/abuse. Reader discretion is advised.]
Lulu told her not to be so silly, and in a matter of moments, they had dissolved their seriousness and resorted back to their irreverent jokes.
By now, the two other swimmers were close and laughing. It was two boys around their age. Maybe they were outlanders or refugees.
There was a time when she was eager to know about those who lived on the outskirts. But that incident caused so much bloodshed, and it was all her fault.
So even seeing them smiling and splashing was not enough to push her forth to greet them. They'd probably just end up frowning and sinking if she came near.
It had already been ten years since that time, and the barriers were so deeply enforced in this land that it should be impossible for that to happen again. But the same was said before, too.
"Salīa?"
Lulu saw her eyes and couldn't tell if they were wet from the water or tears. Yet Salīa's head hung low enough to show that something was wrong.
"Let's go back."
They swam back, but her eyes travelled over. One of the boys was the maghān she'd seen earlier with a pretty boy who had a red ponytail. Yet she swam on anyway.
By the time she reached home, she was ready to be scolded. But another event was taking place.
There was Nomusa with her husband, the chief, and multiple zazi, while a cuffed man lay writhing on the floor in front of the Queen.
Creases embedded in her face as she saw Salīa, with a question in her gaze, but her lips stayed pursed.
"So, this is the rogue healer?" asked Queen Saoa.
Salīa eyes instantly flashed over the dirtied man. His aura was indeed quite dark and sorrowful like a preta's. Even Magi Inio had already picked up as much.
But it wasn't him Queen Saoa was addressing. It wasn't even Nomusa whose head lay quite low for someone who always cheerfully held it up for as long as Salīa's known her.
It was to the woman who had been with Nomusa earlier. It was hard to notice before, but Salīa soon realized that she was one of the servants of these quarters.
Then did mother send her out to act as if…but why? She wouldn't trick her friend like that, would she?
"Yes."
Queen Saoa didn't tell Salīa to leave.
There had been suspicion of a rogue healer for a while, yet none could identify him, except for some details of where he may have resided. Nomusa was asked to do the cleansing ritual, yet thought she was following the servant to her home, but was actually passing her through where the rogue healer was said to live.
Tired of the dark energy, Nomusa almost suffocated. Yet the servant then brandished her own cleansing abilities to subdue this healer while whistling for nearby zazi.
This could only mean mother had known of this being kept secret. But what are the chances that it'd be revealed all in one night? Wasn't mother visiting aunt?
Salīa looked up and saw that her aunt, Lizaenhle, was standing way back, covered in a hood.
She usually wore hair-wraps, so such a choice clearly had some reason. It turned out her aunt, who chose to live a reserved life, was forced to observe rumors of a rogue healer when those around her were either taken ill or dead.
That's because her son, Thembi, was also showing signs of being ill.
While stepping away from politics, she still asked her sister to come over to share such revelations. And the servant with a strong magic bloodline was sent to pose as a client, but was just there to protect Nomusa as the rogue healer was found. Nomusa's reaction to him and his to her was enough to confirm.
Salīa couldn't ascertain if Chief Raino knew about this, as his face was kept solemn, only directed towards Queen Saoa as if waiting instruction.
"You know I didn't do anything wrong, right Nomu?" the rogue healer inched towards her, then spoke in their tongue.
While Salīa could only make out part of it, it was clear he was begging her to save him.
Nomusa was crying, unable to face him. He kept saying, "Please, face me," but she only glanced at her husband.
Then he went on to say how she understands all the suffering he's been through. He even went as far as to say that all those who have been hurt or died were evil and that he'd never hurt an innocent.
"Why am I being accused of being a preta?"
"Stop," Nomusa begged. "You think that's what this is? It is not a sin to be a preta, but you've far surpassed it. I understand your suffering, but I don't understand why you make others suffer for it. I have done all that I can for you."
Chief Raino stepped protectively between Nomusa and the rogue healer. This angered the rogue healer, and he called Nomusa "unfair" and other words, yet he couldn't see her eyes as Chief Raino blocked him.
So, he spun around, looking at everyone in view, spouting wicked words, exposing his nature.
Yet it was when he saw Salīa that he burst out into ceaseless laughter. He lifted his chained hands to point at her.
His stare was deeply unsettling yet familiar to Salīa.
It wasn't a look she got often, because not even those who disliked her from rumors were passionate enough to feel anything beyond displeasure or disgust. This look tread far beyond.
It was a look of all-consuming hatred.
"How is it fair that I'm judged as a preta when your own heir is a demon?!"
Before it could be stopped, he latched tightly onto Salīa's hand. And in a quick stir, she received flashes of his life. It was just as she had a few times before with others.
She saw it all through his eyes.
The endless nights of starvation, the family he'd been abandoned by, the gossamer-decorated huts he hid in.
How he was found by Nomusa and taken in by her father.
His overwhelming feeling of adoration and obsession that welled up for her while he learned the power of healing to be close to her.
Her rejection of him when she fell for her husband. And what he did to Nomusa, hoping that would be enough for her to surrender to him. How she left him, unable to forgive the pain he caused.
And how he lived in darkness, building up his practice and soon giving in to vices. Supporting it through his agreement to help others take vengeance or gain favors through the harm of others.
How justified he felt in this all, convincing himself that they were deserving. And how he looked at Nomusa now, still with a feeling of—
"How dare you touch her?!" Queen Saoa smacked him across the room, her claws having ripped open his cheek.
Everyone jolted as none had ever seen Queen Saoa so enraged.
"Ah, it's you," his eyes stayed on Salīa, despite the blood trickling down his face. "You're the one."
"Execute him!"
"Yes," Chief Raino said.
None refused, yet most were stunned at such an immediate demand.
"Now!" she boomed, and they took to it, bounding this struggling man who spat bitterly.
"I curse you!" he yelled to Salīa, keeping his eyes locked. "I—"
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