Chapter 5


    The Off-Limits Healer


    “I’m fine,” I protest.


    “I know, I know, but I was ordered to let you get checked out first. Besides, you love Auntie,” Sarina protests as she pushes me through the right wing of the mansion.


    This is the completely opposite wing from the one I am used to going to. While I mentally understand the dimensions of this place, it is still disconcerting to see the equal but reversed side of the mansion splayed out.


    The only reason why I am following Sarina is that she has my wrist in a vice-like grip. While there is enough room for my hand to move around, barely. I still cannot get my hand to slide through her grip, maybe if I broke a thumb I could wiggle my way out of her hold, but that seems to be impossible now.


    Instead, all I can do is follow Sarina down the hallways. I want to protest that I don’t even know any Auntie, but arguing with Sarina is like arguing with a deaf bull. She won’t hear anything, and there is nothing my small frame can do to protest her actions. Curse this stupidly weak body.


    Finally, we make it to the end of the main hallway, somehow up ahead I see a grand room.


    Just staring at the room, I realized it is likely mother’s room. I have never seen inside that room.


    Well, I have on my first day here when Sarina casually offered to dispose of my body. Perhaps that is why I now have such an aversion to this side of the building. Before I could get too lost in my own fears of what that final room represented, my wrist was once again yanked, and we made a sharp left turn.


    That was when I saw a clean looking hospital room. At least, that is what I assumed was meant by the odd black and white checkerboard style flooring. The sterile smells that came from the room, and the way everything was seemingly kept in a pristine condition. Seeing the room, I instantly knew its purpose.


    Which was why I should have almost guessed the lone occupant of the room. There in a formal white coat that was unbuttoned, revealing form fitting black leotard like attire that accentuated every one of her muscles on her stomach. Added to this look was the fact that she wore knee-high white pleather boots, apparently trying to go for something like a slutty nurse look that was prevalent for Halloween on my old planet.


    I knew this wasn’t her costume, for this planet had no tradition of Halloween. Here, a planet filled with near constant breaches to other worlds would not be celebrated. If anything, it would be a day that all kids were forced to stay inside, while the adults went out to do whatever adulting thing they normally did to seal away such rifts.


    That does make me wonder about whether there are in fact days here where the veil between worlds is frayed, and if that had anything to do with how this planet changed so much. These were my thoughts, until I saw the bare thighs of the doctor move and dance as she moved to stand up. Seeing her, something changed within my tiny little body.


    Badump, badump.


    For the first time in the body, and likely the first time that I could remember I felt paralyzed in fear. Not from how scary she was, but from how beautiful she was.


    “Oh, is this our little war maiden?” The doctor cooed, as she got closer and saw me.


    “Yes, he has the cut on his face, along with lacerations on his hands,” Sarina declared.


    “Oh, poor little guy,” the doctor coos some more as she holds out her hand for me to grab.  I all but melt at her presence. Unfortunately, I can’t move and find my body not responding at all to my commands to grab her hand, to do anything.


    Something in my face must give me away that I am frightened by my body’s sudden inability to respond to my commands.


    “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t bite,” the doctor says as she reaches out her long slender fingers to wrap around my wrist.


    And suddenly like that, the fear that had been gripping my body and holding me in place lessened as I was suddenly able to move. I am okay with walking, but the doctor quickly scoops me up and carries me on her hip. Out of reflex alone, I almost fight her to get down.


    “No, wait, you should…” Sarina begins to warn the doctor.


    Fortunately, I can gain control over myself and not hit or strike out at the doctor. Instead, I just take in one deep scent and smell an odd mixture of vanilla and honey and feel my body all but melt as I collapse onto her shoulder.


    “Ohh, look at you, so tired. It must have been a big day, first day of school and got in a fight.” She says while moving me over to the sterile bed that even this world seems to have. For a moment I know she is going to put me down, which is why I hold just a little tighter. Feeling her heat, and her muscular body hold me in place. Perhaps not wanting to put me down herself, or seeing my reluctance to let go, she holds on for a bit longer.


    “You are a clingy one,” she purrs.


    Sarina for her part just looks shocked, as I never react like this to her.


    “Is he always this clingy?” The doctor asks Sarina.


    For a moment all Sarina can do is shake her head in amazement as she looks like I’ve changed completely.


    “No, normally he wants nothing to do with being affectionate in any way. I honestly thought he was broken, until you,” Sarina answers with far more honesty than was required. Broken? I was broken for not being masculine? Or at least what this world considers to be masculine? What a messed-up system.


    Chuckle.


    The doctor chuckles at that, “well we can rest assured that I think he is going to be just fine.”


    Then turning back to me she asks, “do you mind if I put you down so we can check out your injuries?”


    I just shake my head. For whatever reason I still can’t speak in her presence, but I don’t want to disappoint her by refusing to be put down.


    Plop.


    I land with the unmistakable sound of wax paper crackling under me. Then I feel a tingling wave of energy flow through me again.


    “My, you still have the muscular structure of a female,” the doctor states with a bit of surprise.


    I just sit there, still hating to be compared to females but I don’t mind her attention.


    As the scan goes on, I swear I can smell more of a slightly warmed scent of vanilla and honey coming from her.


    Sniff.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    “Are you okay?” The doctor asks perplexedly at me.


    Realizing I might have gotten a bit carried away, I pause and reel back at my own shock.


    “You just smell nice,” I reply.


    “I do?”


    “Yes, you smell like vanilla and honey,” I reply.


    “Right now?”


    “Always, but definitely more right now,” I answer truthfully.


    The doctor just stares at me for a moment, before turning to face Sarina.


    “Does he always have reactions to smells?”


    Sarina wants to deny the claim, but then pauses as she seems to recall a few moments from my past.


    “He does seem to claim he smells a few odd smells, he says I smell like ozone and sea salt,” Sarina replies.


    As she speaks, I remember why I always fought to get out of her grip, because she always smelled both clean and dirty at the same time. The difference in smells would often give me a headache. With that the doctor seemed to pause, before asking Sarina a follow-on question.


    “Your elements are Lightning, Ice, and a minor in elemental rain?” The doctor asks, seemingly already knowing the answer but just wanting to confirm.


    “Yes, why?” Sarina questions.


    “Oh, it is said that males who can awaken exceptional grade powers often note the smells of powers they can eventually unlock.” The doctor clarifies her comments as she begins to jot down a few more notes on her paper.


    “What does that mean?” Sarina always slow on the uptake asks.


    “Well, for starts it means that he will likely be able to awaken an exceptional variant of Lightning, and Water magics if he is that averse to being around you,” the doctor replied.


    Then turning back to me, she asks, “would you mind doing a few experiments for me?”


    “What would you want me to do?” I ask, curiosity taking me as I try to understand exactly where this is going to go.


    “Would you mind smelling me again to see if you notice any different smells?”


    Being close to her? Not a problem, she smelled wonderful.


    “Okay,” I reply.


    I don’t know what exactly I expected to happen next. Whether I expected to smell her hand or maybe her wrist.


    Instead, what happened was she once again scooped me up, placing her hands under me and held me close to her body.


    From this position, I instinctively felt myself collapsing forward and resting my head against her neck and shoulder. I just relaxed in the position for a moment, before realizing I was likely supposed to do something. For a moment I forgot what was requested of me and instead just inhaled her amazing aroma. Then I realized I was supposed to try to determine the different smells she had.


    “Vanilla, honey, and lilacs?” I finally manage after a bit of trying to determine what that last smell is.


    “Very good,” the doctor says as she ruins the embrace and once again places me on the bed.


    “Is that good?” Sarina asks.


    “Very good, while he is still too young to do the official elemental resonance testing. It is clear that he can determine a few very important elements by smell alone.” The doctor confirms.


    Hearing this, I pause, wondering if it means what I think it means. Then thankfully Sarina is here to hammer home the important questions, and make sure there is no ambiguity.


    “Wait, does this mean he will be able to awaken the talents in others?” Sarina asked, a note of excitement in her voice.


    “Yes, as far as I can tell he can determine Lightning, Water, Holy, Healing, and even my very minor affinity for Spirit magics.” The doctor explains.


    “You mean it?” Sarina continues to ask.


    “I mean, we will have to wait until he is officially a teenager to get his true rankings on these. Then we can see if these are in fact elements he can awaken in others, but so far as all the data I’ve seen indicates. If a male can smell the presence of these elements this early, then it is a sign that the level of power he can awaken in a female candidate is often the exceptional level or higher.”


    I still had no clue what any of this meant. That said, I hoped it meant what I think it meant.


    Sarina for her part just held her hands to her lips and began stomping her feet excitedly. Then after taking a second to regain her composure she continues, “this mean we won’t have to discard him for being useless?”


    Yeah, that was the concern I had. The looming sword of Damocles hanging over my neck. The warning I had as a child. One where I was told not to be useless.


    While this wasn’t a full get out of jail free card, it did give me a bit more time to build myself up before I inevitably left to make my own way in this world.


    “This is great, can I tell her?” Sarina exclaimed excitedly.


    “The Andry Matriarch? No, it is likely best that I broach this subject with her.” The Doctor explains.


    For a moment Sarina looks sad, but then realization sinks in and finally acceptance. “You are probably right.”


    With that the doctor nodded her head, then turning back to me she stated, “now then, let us see what we can do about your wounds.”


    What happened next was magic. Magic on more levels than just one. Reaching a hand up she gently dragged a finger over the cut on my mouth, causing my skin to tingle slightly. From there, she went and grabbed my hands and began rubbing her thumbs over the sore and battered knuckles.


    Wince.


    I hissed in pain involuntarily, at the sudden touch.


    “I know, you did a number on your hands here. You even had a hairline fracture,” the doctor stated as she rubbed my sorest knuckle a few times. With each stroke, a gentle tingling filled my body and slowly the pain ebbed away.


    “Not my fault that she had such a hard head,” I reply.


    “She?” The doctor asked, raising her eyebrow.


    “Yeah, an older girl wouldn’t let him go, until he paid a kissing tax. So he punched her, but only after she backhanded him.” Sarina replies, almost getting me into trouble by conveniently forgetting that I was the victim in this act.


    “You fought an older girl? I’m surprised there wasn’t more damage,” the doctor replied.


    “Oh, you should have seen her. She was a mess, two black eyes, a missing tooth, and a swollen cheek bone.” Sarina responds, almost proud of me?


    “Really? You did all that?” The doctor asks.


    Seeing her sudden attention, all while feeling her gentle fingers massaging my hands with healing energy, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. I look away and just shake my head.


    “Very good, as a male you need to learn to protect yourself. There are many dangerous women out there, and if your talents are as remarkable as they seem, then you will be a target.”


    “A target?” Sarina parrots.


    “Yes, he will be targeted by many would be suitors, particularly once his statuses are revealed. Until then, all we can do is help him train in self-defense.” At the talk of self-defense my ears perk up as I look at her and make sure she is not joking with me.


    “You really think he will be that valuable of a target?” Sarina, again always with the questions continues.


    “Oh yes, with his looks alone he would be a catch. Added to that, the fact that he likely has the ability to unlock at least five talents a few at an exceptional level,” the doctor begins and pauses as she tries to come up with a finish to this thought. Then finally she concludes, “heck if he didn’t have my own mitochondrial strain coursing in his blood, and I was not yet awakened, I too would have been drawn to him as an awakening candidate. Particularly if I could get him for free, when he was not able to defend himself.”


    Hearing that, something in her explanation stands out that I think I need to pay attention to.


    “Wait, we shouldn’t be together because we have the same mitochondrial strain?” I ask, trying to clarify.


    “Oh, yes, where are my manners. You see mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and are used to help prove family lineages. While you are a mitochondrial dead end, being as only females can pass on their mitochondrial to their offspring, it is still taboo to try to open powers between people having the same mitochondrial strains.” The doctor explains in a way that sort of makes sense.


    Realistically, this could be this world’s equivalent of genetic mutations caused by inbreeding and other acts that don’t allow for genetic diversification.


    If this was the case, then it made sense as to why families would focus on having one or two powerful male heirs around. This way, they could have that male impregnate other families, who were tracking their own mitochondrial lineages. There was still a chance for inbreeding, but a family devoted towards following the mitochondrial strain was an interesting way of building out a family tree.


    Silence.


    It takes me a moment to realize that something is off. Only after a second do I turn to see that Sarina is unusually quiet. I just stare at her in confusion for a moment.


    “What?” She asks, reading my confusion.


    “Nothing, I just found it odd that you weren’t asking any questions.”


    “Hey, what does that even mean?” Sarina demands indignantly.


    “Oh good, you are still there,” I respond realizing that her questioning nature had once again returned.


    “Hey,” Sarina exclaims.


    Chuckle.


    But her mini-tantrum is cut short by the melodic laughing of the doctor. Just hearing her laugh, causes my heart to flutter a bit more.


    Unfortunately, my body’s involuntary reaction does not go unnoticed.


    “My boy, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you had a thing for me.”


    I just look away, not wanting to respond, but it is clear she is reading me like a children’s book on bad love stories.


    “Unfortunately, it could never happen. First, we both share the same mitochondria. Secondly, I am 247 years old, and by the time you will be old enough to realize I was mistake, you would already be too old.”


    “247?” I parrot.


    At that, the doctor just smiles, “I know, I look good for my age, don’t I?”


    I just nod my head in agreement.


    This must be good genetics, great healing magic, and maybe the effects of holy magic as well? I don’t know.


    “Besides, I am your great-great-great aunt.”


    And there it is, my prepubescent body apparently fell for Auntie.


    Hearing that, I feel disgusted with myself.


    “There we go, that is the recognition that I need to see from you. Don’t worry though, I am flattered that I still have what it takes, even at my advanced age.” The doctor continues, making sure to end this childish infatuation at the root.


    “Can I call you auntie?”


    Chuckle.


    “You know, if your sisters, or any other female of this family asked, I would deny them on the spot.” She began but then seemed to mull over her response before answering. “That said, for you, if you must, then I will accept you calling me Auntie.”


    “Auntie?” Sarina again parroted; her mouth unable to hold back her impulse control over the thoughts seemingly pouring out of her mind.


    “Not from you, and not a word of this to anyone else,” Auntie declares seemingly staring straight through Sarina. For her part, Sarina looks visibly cowed but the stare.


    “I, I wouldn’t dream of it…” Sarina stammers out.


    Seeing Sarina’s reaction, Auntie, the doctor, nods to herself before turning back to me and patting me on the head. Ruffling my hair as she does so.


    “I have a feeling you are going to be a lot of trouble in the future,” the Auntie begins, but then seems to relax as she finishes her thought. “Probably for the best, we could use some excitement around here anyways.”


    And like that, my punishment for getting into a fight was over.


    I was healed and even managed to find out that my great great great aunt was a powerful healer. I could tell she was going easy on me, likely due to my small body.


    Clip-clop.


    We walked in silence. Well, I walked in silence, Sarina as usual walked with her odd clopping sound that seemed to echo in these large hallways. Finally, once we left the right wing and began heading down the left, towards my room. Only then did Sarina begin to speak again.


    “You got the Ice Queen to be wrapped around your little pinky,” Sarina finally exclaimed.


    “The what?”


    “Doctor Andry, she is the best doctor in the region and always known for being cold and heartless. Yet, you managed to melt her in your hands and she even let you call her Auntie?” Sarina was just shaking her head at this, apparently seeing that gorgeous woman be nice was an oddity?


    Though I had a hard time seeing why, she was perfectly nice.


    “She smelled nice,” I blurted out, even now I tried to recall her nice warm fragrance.


    Stop.


    At that, Sarina stopped and stared at me, “speaking of that, you must never tell anyone that you can smell powers. Do you understand me?”


    “Yeah,” I reply as I take a step back from the suddenly serious Sarina.


    “I mean it, swear that you will never tell anyone outside of the Matriarch, Dr. Andry, or myself. Swear that you will never tell anyone.”


    “I swear,” I reply shock evident on my face at her sudden switch in demeanor.


    She just stares at me for a moment, before finally nodding to herself.


    “Good, now then, she is right, we do need to get you some self-defense courses. Today was your first, but it likely won’t be your last fight that you will experience. You need to be prepared,” Sarina stated.


    And like that, I knew my life would become much more interesting.