Healing Zen!

Nora:- You wait here with him. I will bring that lotus. (She somehow felt a little dutiful toward him since he also saved her despite his injury.)

They waited there while Nora dived in the pond and searched for the lotus. After a few minutes Nora returned with the lotus. 

Nora:- Here. I bringed the lotus.

Lucas:- Ohh.

Nora:- First, crush it. Then take the liquid and mix it with the medicine. The flower that will remain, apply it to the wound. Then it won't leave a scar behind. I hope that granny's words are useful. 

Lucas:- Okk.

Lucas started to mix the medicine while Nora went to change her wet clothes. After preparing the medicine Lucas brought it to Zen. 

Lucas:- Zen. Drink it.

Zen:- Emm. (Lucas helped Zen to drink the medicine. Lucas applied the remaining flower to his wound.)

Zen:- I'm Sleepy all of a sudden. Luca…. (Doze off. He fell asleep and fell in his arms.)

Lucas:- Ehh? Is it the side effect of the medicine?

Nora:- Maybe? But it looks like it was effective. 

Old Woman:- So you three really managed to get the lotus, hmm impressive. 

Being shocked, Nora and Lucas looked behind and saw that same granny before standing behind them.

Lucas:- Aren't you that granny back then? Thank you for your help. 

Old Woman:- It's ok, young man. Long journey awaits you three together. 

Nora:- What do you mean by that? And how the heck did you come here? 

Old Woman:- For achieving your own dreams you three should stick together. You will get it in the future why i said it. For now, good bye youngstars. Wish you good luck. 

Lucas:- Hey. wait. Ahhh!! (suddenly a strong wind started to blow so they couldn't open their eyes. And once they opened their eyes again, that woman was gone.)

Nora:- Where the heck does this strong wind come fro.. Wait, that old woman, where did she go? 

Lucas:- I don't know. 

Nora:- Anyways, I think we should camp here today.

Lucas:- That's right. Sun's gonna set soon. We need to do a lot of work before sunset.

Nora:- Let's start our work then. 

Then Nora and Lucas went to do their work. Lucas went to collect some dry branches for the campfire. Nora starts to set up the tents. After collecting enough branches, Lucas came back.

Lucas:- Emm. Why are there two tents? Shouldn't there be three tents? (He said while putting down the branches.)

Nora:- That boy is sick. Is he gonna sleep alone? What if something happens to him at night? So you are sharing the tent with Zen.

Lucas:- Ok . By the ocean, on the way back I collected these fruits. Let's eat. 

Nora:- Should we wake that boy up?

Lucas:- Let's see if he wakes up or not. 

Lucas:- Zen? Zen. Zennnnn. Wake up. (Lucas croached on one knee beside him and tried to wake him up.)

Zen:- Emm. Why? (Zen replied them in half awake state)

Lucas:- Don't you wanna eat dinner?

Zen:- No. (After replying them he tossed himself on the other side and again lost in sleep)

Lucas:- Ehh? (He knelt there with a dumbfounded reaction.)

Nora:- Let him sleep and take some fruit to your tent. If he wakes up then he will eat it.

Lucas:- ok then.

After eating, Lucas and Nora go to sleep. After lying down Nora was thinking about the whole day. 

Nora' pov:- Huhh. What a long day. I thought I would have to struggle for at least 3 days to cross the forest. But with those two we crossed the forest in just one night. I thought those two were peasants who can't even defend themselves. But they were pretty good at sword-fighting. If their destination is the same then I think we can go together. After all, the competition will be held within three months and there is also that strange old woman's word. I don't wanna do everything she says but my sixth-sense is telling me to do it. 

The next morning, after Zen woke up. 

Zen:- Emm. Huh where am i? In a tent? Who is it? Hmm. Lucas? Oh wait, I was stabbed right? (Check his belly). But where did the wound go? That means the medicine was affected. But it just disappears within a night? Amazing! (He was confused after waking up)

Lucas:- Hmm? Oh, Zen you woke up? Are you alright? Does the wound hurt? (He asked him while sitting up. He stretched his arms.)

Zen:- Wound? Hehh. There isn't even a scar there. 

Lucas:- Oh really? That's great.

Zen:- Let's go out and get freshed. I'm so hungryyy. 

Lucas:- Yeah you should be hungry after all you skipped your dinner last night.

They went to wash their mouth and face. After freshening up, they came near the tents and saw that Nora had already made their breakfast with some fresh fruits. 

Nora:- You two are awake? Did you two fresh-up? Come. I made the break-fast. 

Zen:- Hey Lucas. Don't you think she was behaving differently back then? (Zen whispered in Lucas's ear)

Lucas:- Well yeah! I also think so. (Lucas whispered in Zen's ear)

Nora:- You two!! Wanna eat or not? And what are you two whispering? 

Zen, Lucas:- No-Nothing. 

They were talking about this and that while eating. 

Nora:- Umm. Well since Zen is ok now. So where are we gonna separate our ways? (She asked while taking a bite of her fruit.)

Zen:- Well, My destination is Nocture city, The capital. So I'm going to Trodrand city from here. Where are you two going? 

Nora:- Nocture city? Are you perhaps gonna participate in the imperial knight choosing ceremony? (She looked up at him)

Zen:- Umm. Yeah. Why?

Nora:- Well. I'm also gonna participate.

Lucas:- I also. 

Sudden Silence!! 

Lucas:- So? Can't we go together then? It will be easy if we go together. And the granny also told us to stick together. 

Zen:- I have no problem. The more the people are, the easier.

To Be Continued

**Khadiza Jahan**