May 22nd, 3030
The next morning, as if caught in a time loop, the day repeated itself. Itus found himself being roused from sleep by Cliff once again. With anticipation, he got dressed and made his way to the kitchen, where Anise was waiting with breakfast.
After the meal, Itus met Cliff outside. The older man led him to the garden, his weathered face creasing with a smile as he spoke.
"Today, you'll be weeding, watering, and harvesting anything that's ready," Cliff instructed.
"Yes, sir," Itus replied, eager to prove himself.
Cliff's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Wonderful. And remember, Lucas, be gentle with my vegetables. They're delicate creatures."
Cliff demonstrated the task, before allowing Itus to continue to work on his own. Hours passed as Itus worked through the rows of the garden, his back aching from being hunched over for so long. When suddenly, something caught his eye. His heart nearly stopped as he saw a snake, mere inches from his hand.
Don't panic, Itus told himself, trying to move his hand away slowly. But the snake, sensing the movement, struck swiftly. Pain shot through Itus's hand as the snake's fangs sank into his flesh. He let out a scream and fell backward, his mind racing with fear.
Cliff came running at the sound of Itus's cry. "What happened?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"A snake bit my hand!" Itus exclaimed, his voice shaking.
Cliff's expression shifted from concern to sheepish embarrassment. "Shit! It seems I forgot to warn you about our resident pest control."
As Cliff helped Itus to his feet, the young man's fear intensified. Pest control? They keep venomous snakes around on purpose?
"Don't worry, it's not venomous," Cliff assured him, then paused. "At least, I don't think so."
Panic gripped Itus. "It is or isn't!" he cried out, his heart pounding.
"Um... let's get Anise to take a look at that bite, just in case," Cliff said, leading Itus back to the house.
As they entered, Cliff called out, "Anise! Where are you?"
"In the living room," came the reply.
They found Anise, and Cliff quickly explained the situation. "Lucas got bit by George, and I thought it might be best if you have a look."
Anise's eyes widened. "Oh dear! Yes, of course. Lucas, come with me."
Itus followed Anise upstairs, his mind reeling. George? They named the snake? Once in her bedroom, Anise instructed him to sit on the bed while she retrieved her suitcase from the closet.
As Anise examined his hand, Itus couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She pulled out a strange tool and took his injured hand in hers.
"Don't worry. This will be fixed in no time," Anise reassured him. "It doesn't look like you were bit too hard, so it would probably heal on its own, but why wait?"
Still concerned, Itus asked, "So it's not venomous?"
Anise's eyebrows shot up. "No! Who said that?"
"Cliff said he wasn't sure," Itus replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
Anise muttered something under her breath that sounded like "Idiot," before speaking up. "No, you have nothing to worry about. It's a pretty superficial wound."
Itus watched in amazement as Anise raised her tool above his hand, mouthed a few words, and suddenly, the injury on his hand began to glow before disappearing completely.
"That is so cool," Itus breathed, unable to contain his awe.
Anise smiled warmly. "Thank you. I could teach you some things if you want."
Excitement bubbled up inside Itus. "Really?!"
"Yeah. My kids were never interested, so if I don't share my knowledge with someone, it'll just waste away."
"I'd be honored," Itus replied, feeling a surge of gratitude.
"Once you're done with Cliff, come and find me," Anise instructed.
Itus left the bedroom, his mind buzzing with the possibility of learning such incredible skills. He found Cliff outside in the garden, sitting in a lawn chair and eating lunch. Cliff gestured for him to join, and Itus noticed a sandwich waiting for him on the empty seat next to Cliff.
As they ate in silence, Itus couldn't help but reflect on the strange turn his day had taken. From snake bites to magical healing... What else is in store?
After lunch, Itus returned to his tasks in the vegetable field while Cliff went inside. When Itus finished, Cliff led him to the barn for their final task of the day.
"This old girl needs some TLC," Cliff explained. "We're going to replace some of the rotted boards and give her a fresh coat of paint."
As they worked side by side, chatting about nothing in particular, Itus found himself enjoying the simple labor and Cliff's company. When Anise called them in for dinner, the three sat around the table, talking and laughing as they ate.
After dinner, Anise called out to Itus, "Lucas, are you ready?"
Excitement coursed through him. "Definitely!" he replied eagerly.
Cliff looked between them, curiosity evident in his expression. "What is this about?"
Anise laughed. "Nothing that concerns you."
As Cliff rolled his eyes and left the room, Itus followed Anise to her office. She cleared off two chairs and retrieved a book from her shelf before sitting beside him.
"This is an essential training book for healers," Anise explained, opening the book. "It teaches the basics of healing, specifically how to heal with your hands and a few crystals, as well as basic body anatomy. However, you won't find things like what I did the first day you were here since they're too advanced."
For the rest of the evening, Itus listened intently as Anise taught him the first few basic healing techniques. His mind raced with new information, and he felt a sense of wonder at the possibilities opening up before him.
When Anise finally noticed the late hour, she sent Itus to bed. As he made his way to his bedroom, exhaustion suddenly hit him. The moment his head touched the pillow, Itus fell into a deep sleep, his dreams filled with glowing hands and magical remedies.
What a day, was his last conscious thought before sleep claimed him entirely.
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