"Hmph. You're weak. Come at me again."

"Yes Eli..." Elisabeth's eyes blazed.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!" A boy, probably about 14 years old, flinched away from the 13 year old girl. Elisabeth glared down at him. This was the 4th time she had beat him that week for calling her Elisabeth.

"Sorry, Lis... I forgot... I'm so used to calling you Eli..."

"Whatever, Nate, just get up..." Lis moved away from Nate as he stood. He dusted himself off, looking annoyed.

"Can't you find some better person to spar with? Maybe someone who knows how to fight? Or someone who knows alchemy?" Lis gave him a petrifying look.

"And give up the fun of beating my childhood friend? Not in your life." Nate groaned.

"Fine. Just go easy on me..." Lis laughed.

"Fine, you know what Nate? I'm going to teach you how to fight."
"What?! Really!? But you said you wouldn't teach anybody how you fight!" Nate gaped at her. Lis rolled her eyes.

"Ya, well, I trust you." Nate blushed.

"You... Trust me?" Lis nodded, avoiding his eyes.

"LIS, COME QUICK! WE NEED YOU!" Lis and Nate turned to look at the girl.

"What is it, Mar?"

"My mom! She's hurt!" Mar looked wild.

"Alright, lead me to her. Nate, stay here, I'll be back!" Mar and Lis took off running in the direction of town. Mar led Lis through the town, to an old cave. In the entrance to the cave, there lay a black haired, dark skinned, brown eyed woman. She was breathing heavily, labored.

"What happened Lisa?"

"I was trying to collect herbs... I slipped from up there and fell to where I am now..." Lisa struggled to sit up, only to get pushed back down by Lis and Mar.

"Let me see what's wrong." Clapping her hands together, Lis rested them gently against Lisa's body, using alchemy to find out what the problem was, as there seemed to be no physical damage. "Shit..." Lisa gave Lis a sharp look. No cursing allowed for those under 18. Town rule. "I... I don't think I can fix it..." Lis looked away. "You're bleeding internally..." Mar and Lisa stared at Lis, looks of terror on their face.

"YOU MEAN I'M GOING TO DIE?!" Lisa barely got the words out before she started coughing violently. Lis stood, backing up a few steps for Mar and Lisa to be close. This wasn't the first time the 13 year old had seen death. As the towns only "doctor", Lis had to do it all. Unfortunately, a lack of supply meant alchemy was the only remedy, but once someone was dying, there was no way to fix it. Lis knew this well. Putting her hand on her left shoulder, she sighed. Another kid watching her mother die. Lis had hoped she'd be the only kid to ever watch their parents die again. That's why she had learned alchemy. A twig snapped behind her and she spun around, ready to fight off anything. Nate put his hands up.

"Easy there tiger! It's just me. I wanted to see what was happening." Lis blinked at him.

"Lisa fell. There's nothing I can do..." Nate's expression turned to horror and then sympathy for his friend.

"Don't worry, it's not your fault... Nobody can ask you to reverse fate." He stepped closer to her, but Lis stepped away.

"But I can't do ANYTHING! What good am I if I can't even help Lisa at all!? I'm supposed to be the doctor, but I can't do anything to help anyone!"

"what are you talking about? I wouldn't be able to walk right now if it weren't for you! Remember when my legs got smashed by the boulders the town was trying to move? That was when we were 8, and you saved my life! If you hadn't repaired the bone, I'd be stuck sitting still the rest of my life! And what about the Briggs men who have come to this town badly injured? You saved their lives too! You help people all the time, Eli. Don't focus on this one time, it's not your fault we can only do so much." Lis didn't look up at him, just continued to stare at the ground, expression unreadable. "Eli, trust me, everyone owes you something. You've helped everyone." Nate reached out and took her hand. Lis looked up at him.

"All that doesn't change the fact that I'm powerless now! All the power I have, and I can do nothing to help..." Nate just stood there, not knowing what else he could say. Lis pulled away from him. "I should go check on them..." Nate followed Lis as she walked back to where Lisa and Mar were. Mar was combing through her mothers hair, singing her a lullaby that Lisa had often sung to coax her into sleep. Lis saw Lisa was just about to leave. Lis crossed quickly and look Lisa's hand.

"I'm sorry, Lisa. I'll protect Mar for you." Lis whispered, Lisa smiled slightly before her whole body relaxed as she breathed her last, Nate lowered his head and said a silent word for Lisa, Mar noticed and wailed to the sky. Lis gently picked up Lisa's body and carried it back to town with a wailing Mar and Nate.