Disclaimer: Of course I owe only my OC's. I guess you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't knew who the characters belonging to the incredible duo Réné Goscinny and Albert Uderzo were, so no point in elaborating.

P.S. Special thanks to you Crazy Beaver, for all the support. Not just in writing. Everything is going fine over here. This story will really be quite long, so I don't intend to finish soon, but I do intend to keep updating it on a regular basis. I'll keep you informed!

P.S.S I will edit this and the previous chapter before writing the next...just taking out some spelling and typing errors. So if you find them (no WHEN you find them :)) do not hesitate to point them out. And all other feedback is as welcome as ever of course.

* I'm editing this chapter today, 08/03/2017, and I feel the need to point out that the P.S.S. above is a terrible lie.*

With the setting sun and the swelling fire as her background, Manilla started her story. Getafix had formally introduced her as a friend he made during his travels. He had also acted like her visit was something he had expected, and that had been planned between the two of them. This had the desired result. Most of the villagers just turned to the opportunity for a party. Apart from Asterix and Getafix, only Obelix, Vitalstatistix and Impedimenta moved closer when the bright-eyed elder woman announced it was time to tell them more:

"Well, I did meet Getafix on one of his travels. Though not in one of those far away exotic countries he likes to visit. I met him in my home town, close to the borders of Belgica. It looks very much like this village, also near the coast, although it lies on a cliff. When the weather is clear, you can see the coast of Britain on the other side. We even communicate with a village on the other side of the coast on a regular basis."

Manilla paused for a moment, obviously distracted by the memory. However, she soon continued, her voice taking a more determinate tone.

"But I'm deviating. The forest behind our village was rich in herbs and berries. Many druids passed during their studies, to learn their names and their characteristics. Getafix was no exception. But most druids are secretive and do not like other people around when they gather ingredients. Since their potions can turn into poison when they are not brewed and used wisely, this is a general policy amongst druids. Somehow, Getafix convinced Methusix to take me along on some of their trips."

"It took little effort to do so," Getafix added, stroking his beard and smiling. "In fact, we were lingering at the village because it fascinated us. There was no druid, no one who seemed to have medical background, yet people who cut their finger had no scars on it a few days later. Their leader came down with a serious flue and we were preparing him a potion to reduce his fever. By the time it was ready, he was back on his feet and on his shield. It was truly magical, and a little frustrating, I might add. We tried to find the source of this power that cured virtually everything in the village, but it seemed to be a very heavily guarded secret. To invite one of the inhabitants that seemed like the most curious one to me, was just another attempt to discover it."

"Only there was no secret." Manilla said. "I have been blessed with a power to fasten any healing process since I was born, like most of my students are. At the time I did not understand how it worked, how I could focus or strengthen it. I could not explain it. Moreover, I believed that it was a power every druid naturally possessed, so my ultimate goal was to become one."

Getafix managed to nod while shaking his head at the same time, both expressing his agreement on the storytelling and his disbelief about so much naivety. Asterix could not help noticing the ease with which they took turns telling the story. They communicated on a regular basis, he was sure of it. He felt a little put off that he didn't know the first thing about this woman, who was obviously a friend to Getafix.

Getafix went on:

"Manilla was so convinced of this, that had we not had an accident involving a golden sickle and my unfortunate forearm, we would have left the village without being any wiser" Getafix unconsciously rubbed his right arm. "Maybe I was a little easier to distract back then," he added with a twinkle in his eye.

"Were you?" Manilla tucked a strand of hair back in its' place. Since her updo was flawless, it was a superfluous gesture. "It seemed to me you were so determined to find out 'the secret' that you just decided to find out the hard way. By cutting your arm half off and waiting for something to heal it."

"We will never know," Getafix replied solemnly, but the wrinkles around his eyes multiplied during his answer. Manilla shook her head:

"I had no idea what to do, but in my attempt to keep him from bleeding to death while Methusix prepared a bandage, I put both my hands on the wound, and it started to close before my eyes. Mind you, this was the very first time I healed someone directly. Usually, I thought about the person who was ill or injured, and it had a healing effect. Like wishing someone better."

"Only much more effective." Getafix offered.

Manilla continued:

"So I got quite a shock over what happened. In a way, I was more surprised than Getafix, who seemed to have wrapped his mind around the idea already."

Impedimenta's eyes bulged out in surprise. "Curing wounds with your hands. That's true magic! Well, not that the Magic Potion isn't," she added, with a worried glance towards Getafix. "But still, the difference it could make…" she fell silent, looking at her husband this time, who gave her a little squeeze.

Getafix understood her all too well. Usually a broody and difficult woman, he could not help but sympathize with Impedimenta now. The Magic Potion made them all feel so safe that the Roman Invasion often felt distant. But they knew. Deep down, they all knew, what their younger villagers had forgotten, Asterix being the only exception.

Getafix nodded: "Yes, Impedimenta, you and Vitalstatistix remember times in which this power was the most desired one in our world. As do I. But even miraculous things have their limits. I had the impression that curing could come from more than just potions for quite some time before I met Manilla. She displayed this 'more' on such a high level that it became blindingly obvious. However, there are few stories without a twist."

Manilla cut right back in, and Asterix got the distinct impression that it was not the first time she and Getafix told this story either.

"You might say miraculous, but healing powers are not that rare at all. In fact, every living being has the power to heal."

"Over time, and with good care, most things heal," Asterix said automatically. Everyone stared at him, and he was reminded of the time they had stood around a table and were lectured about the future by means of a fish. He had not meant to sound critical at all. He had just been thinking out loud. He fought the urge to defend himself.

Manilla looked at him too, before addressing him directly: "Yes, but just with those two things? Maybe, perhaps you can think of something else? Have you ever had to fight injured? Or lacked the time and opportunity to rely on Getafix' potions? Can you imagine a situation like that?"

Asterix had to think it over. Sure, he had been out cold a few times. Not that often, and in the cases were it happened, he had surely not recovered abnormally fast.

"Of course, you can often still walk, or even fight, when you're injured, if it's necessary, but that does not make you cured…." he pondered.

Manilla just nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"You can want yourself better. Sometimes."

Obelix' soft comment caught them all off guard. They all turned at him and he reddened immediately, not used to attention in situation like this. Reflecting the situation was Asterix' job. The red-haired Gaul looked at his best friend for support. Like the others, Asterix just waited for him to elaborate, although he did gave Obelix a reassuring smile.

"When I drank the magic potion again, and turned into a kid…"

Manilla raised an a demonstrative eyebrow in the general direction of Getafix at this, but said nothing.

"Nothing seemed to be able to cure me. But later we were at a ship and the Romans were going to throw Asterix overboard, and then I wanted to be strong again so much, and it just happened." Obelix threw his words out rather fast. He did not like talking in front of an audience much. Except when the subject was pounding romans.

Asterix had always doubted this explanation for Obelix returning to adulthood, but he would rather bite off his tongue than to voice this. After all, he was not conscious when it happened and voicing his doubt would somehow be like voicing his doubt over the power of their friendship. And he fully believed it was powerful. It was just that Getafix potions had a tendency to wear off in time. Luck could cover his survival too.

Obelix seemed to share his thoughts, because he continued: "Of course, I wanted to return to normal before. Like when I wanted to give Pan…Pan…" he looked nervously in the direction of Bonny and suddenly lost his speech.

"Yeah," Asterix said quickly, "Obelix delivers menhirs for a living, and he absolutely loves it. He needs his strength for it, so he had every reason for wanting to return to an adult." One grateful look at his best friend later Obelix continued:

"So maybe it was just a coincidence? Since the effects of the potion wear off… I also changed from stone into a child…"

Bonny's eyes widened considerably at hearing all the side effects of the magic potion: "Wow, I wanted to try this potion out so much, but I'm having seconds thoughts right now." she smiled at Obelix, which meant he was lost to the conversation for a while.

"I don't think it wore off," Getafix said thoughtfully. "And I can assure you, my young lady, that the effects of my potion, no matter how impressive, always wear off after some time, when it is consumed in reasonable quantities. An entire cauldron is just NOT a reasonable quantity. The other person who overdosed the magic potion is in fact still a statue standing in the middle of a circus arena."

"Obelix," Bonny's voice woke the menhir deliver out of his temporary daze "I'm sure these menhirs mean a lot to you, but how did it make you feel not being able to lift them anymore?"

Obelix seemed very uncomfortable with that question, and it didn't surprise Asterix he felt that way. It was quite a personal question and these people didn't know them for more than a few hours. In addition, he sensed that the next question was going to be even more personal.

But Obelix had always had more ease showing his feelings than his smaller friend, so he answered honestly: "Desperate, I mean, I can do other things than delivering menhirs, like going on adventures with Asterix, defend the village, but it all came down to the same thing, I really needed to be strong again, and I could not drink any potion to become strong, so it just seemed like it was all over." He looked miserable even recalling the feeling, and Asterix was surprised with the length of his answer. Bonny smiled warmly and put a comforting hand on Obelix' arm. Rather than sending him into another bliss, it seemed to calm Obelix down. It was the second time Asterix clearly felt the special power radiating from the young woman.

"And how did you feel at the ship, when they were going to throw Asterix off?" she asked.

Asterix saw his best friend flinch in distress and wanted to interfere, but one look from Getafix stopped him. He saw Bonny mastered her powers well, because Obelix was able to recollect himself and his answer came out sounding quite calm: "Like I would rather die myself. Cause it would be my fault if Asterix had died there. But even that wouldn't have mattered that much, because he's always been my best friend and I can just not even start to imagine life without him. I don't want to."

The difference between the two answers needed no further explanation, just some time to sink in. Asterix had to swallow a few times before whispering:

"Right back at you, pall".

It was lost to the others in the muttering of the other villagers around him. But Obelix' smile, that slowly returned, demonstrated that he had heard it well enough. Bonny released her grip on Obelix' arm. Her interference was no longer necessary.

Manilla cleared her throat: "Well, I could not really have found a better example to demonstrate how healing works. Of course there are things that help. Being of a forgiving and calm nature can help you focus. Some of us are genetically benefitted. Healer parents often stimulate the power in their children. And it can be trained, directed, focused, concentrated….I learned all these things and I'm transferring them to others now. But essentially it comes from the heart. And this makes it a power impossible to abuse. In contradiction to druids, who focus on potions and knowledge that can be used and abused, for good and evil, I have the liberty to welcome anyone who wants to learn. Which is why we have an entire school of students."

"Rather than selecting the student, you have preselected your study material," Getafix confirmed. And yet, Asterix felt that Getafix was actually contradicting her. Manilla had no need to be distrustful of her students, like Getafix needed to be of for example Dubbelosix. They could not be imposters. But her liberty was constricted in another way. Asterix nodded curtly to Getafix to indicate he understood.

Around them, the villagers were slowly retreating to their homes. It was getting quiet around them.

"Well, it has been a long day for us," Manilla said, nodding to Bonny, who was stifling a yawn behind her hand. "We'll tell you more about our school tomorrow, no worries." She added, addressing Asterix directly when he wanted to interrupt: "After the second wake-up call from the rooster at your place?"

Obelix tapped Asterix' shoulder "That means we can sleep in, it has a terrible cold."

"Not anymore," Bonny replied cheerfully, before wishing them good night.