Chapter 3- Finnel's past

It was the second day of her travels that Amber first saw another caravan.

They were heading east, off the roads and into the hills. Amber was in pain as a result of her new, nightly, training sessions. And now, through her pain, she was inside the caravan, learning about the uses of plants from Tanaka, who had finally convinced Amber to call her Maki.

"That's foxglove. It's good for heart conditions, but is poisonous in large doses." Recited Amber, trying to piece together her memories enough so she wouldn't kill herself in the woods.

"CARAVAN!" Shouted Aria over head, causing Amber to jump in her chair. Maki's head shot up, and she looked out the window. "Chess Board. Their the only ones who's territory even comes closes to ours." She sighed, "They probably ran out of medicine for Aislinn. They always did rely too much on Leon's healing magic."

"Healing magic!"shouted Amber. "Isn't that a lost magic!"

"What did Finnel tell you yesterday about the lost magics not being so lost after all!? And besides, it's no the true healing magic! that's almost like regeneration! Instead, he just speeds up the body's healing, while keeping the body stable."

Amber was still confused though. "So why doesn't he just heal... Ashlin was it?"

"Aislinn Amber, and he can't. Her disease is degenerative. If he speeds up the process she'll just die faster. The medicine reverses the progress slightly and stops it's progress for about a month, but unless we find a True healer, she, along with a few others in the guild, will have to live with things like this forever."

"Who?" Asked Amber.

The blind medic smiled. "You don't think I was born blind, do you?"

Amber was about to reply when she thought of something. "Hey! If you can't see, how can you make medicine and pick herbs!"

Maki blushed. "All plants have a slight amount of magic in them that explains their use, medicine, for me, is seeing the magic change, depending on what I need."

Amber saw red. "So you never had to memorise any plants, like I am now?" Whispered the 12 year old.

Maki nodded, only to be slapped in the face by a giant fan made out of water.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Finnel was worried. She knew she had to offer help, as was the code of the guild, but...

She couldn't bring herself to face the caravan master.

Her father.

"Aria." She said, letting her wind magic carry her voice to the girl in the air.

"Yes Finnel?" Asked Aria. The other Mage was flying using her transformation magic to grow wings. Her voice carried a worried tone, knowing of Finnel's relationship with her father.

"Fly over and find out what they want." The caravan master replied, her green hair blowing as the message back to the girl.

Immediately, the woman-bird flew towards the distant caravan.

Finnel's father was named Samson Falsia, and was one of the highest placed members of the guild. He was a qualified s-class Mage, and had gold level in all caravan roots.

He had married Finnel's mother when he was 25, and Finnel was born a few years later. It was her birth that killed her mother. He had never really been the same. On his request, the Mistress of the guild had reluctantly placed him in the Chess Board caravan, only coming off it when some one was going for their mastery of the route, traveling all but two months of the year, not even acknowledging he had a daughter, let alone raising her.

"Finnel!" Sang Aria, shaking Finnel out of her thoughts.

The girl looked almost bored. "They'd just run out of Aislinn's medicine again." She sighed, landing next to the 19 year old. "I kind of hoped it was something more exciting, like a broken seal or..."

She was silenced by Finnel's slap. "Never wish for a broken seal Aria. Especially in front of a survivor."

Aria looked ashamed, and went around the back of the halted caravan to get the medicine.

XXXXX

"Maki! Do you have a supply of monks hood for making Aislinn's medicine?" Said Aria as she burst into the room.

She froze, seeing Amber brooding in the corner and Maki, sporting a large bump on the head, holding out a bundle to her. "This should do them until they reach lark meadow, so they can gather more. Oh stop pouting Amber! Even Aria knows the basic herbs, and she's a fighter!"

Aria was about to leave when Amber asked a simple, chilling question.

"What's a survivor?"

Both of the true members slowly looked at her to see a puddle of water reflecting the face of a melancholy Finnel. "You were watching." Whispered Aria breathlessly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Maki sharply, looking at the paling Aria.

"I accidentally mentioned that I wished we had more excitement, like a breakage or something."

Wind whipped around Maki. "You bought up the Icy Tears incident in front of her!" She demanded.

"Icy Tears?" Asked Amber.

Maki sighed. "Another caravan, remember."

"So what incident?"

Maki looked at the little water Mage. "It will take a while to explain. Aria, take the medicine so we can get back on the road. I don't want Finnel any closer than necessary to her father."

Behind her, Aria nodded and fled the cabin.
"What happened to Finnel?" Asked Amber

"You see Amber," said Maki, sitting on the floor next to the girl, "our guild doesn't keep the only records of the seals. They are part of folk law, myth and legend, and occasionally, someone believes them enough to search out the seal. Mostly dark guilds. The Icy Tears route use to have five seals. Now, it only has three. About fifty years ago, a caravan was completely wiped off the map when a dark guild released a beast named Crocus from it's seal. Among them was Roland Sparks' parents. He vowed revenge and fifteen years later. Defeated the monster in single combat over a three day period. By this stage he was s rank, and decided to specialise in the Icy Tears route." Maki sighed.

"Then, over six years ago, when Finnel was on her first caravan, another guild struck. They unleashed the demon Deliora onto the caravan. It ravaged the country for several years, until an ice Mage defeated it, but it devastated the caravan. The only reason Finnel is still alive is because Roland gave up his chance to defeat it there and then to save her. There have been a few other incidents, but she will remain the survivor." And with that the caravan started moving again...