'Everything happens for a reason'.
At least that's what Thonda's mother had told her for as long as she could remember, but she had never explained what the reason was.
What reason could possibly be enough to justify the misery that was Thonda's life?
What was the reason she had to go through constant shame, constant humiliation?
She had enough attention from simply being an heiress, but this? This was too much.
Sitting at the back of the hovercraft, Thonda looked out over the city. Bright lights, the buzzing of dartships, minicrafts and hoverbugs distracted her from her thoughts for a little bit.
Reeth truly was a beauty and its citizens were even more beautiful with their brightly colored clothes and hair. Too bad they had such a stupid tradition.
"We're almost there."
The sound of another person's voice snapped Thonda back to reality. She had completely forgotten that she wasn't alone on this voyage.
Wearing a simple orange dress that reached her sandaled feet, Muri Kareese looked painfully beautiful. There was an air of gentle authority around her, like she could kill you or bring you breakfast depending on her mood. It was hard to believe that not only was she related to Thonda, she was her mother too.
"Is it absolutely necessary to meet yet another healer, mother?"
Muri turned her head ever so slightly to look at her daughter.
"You are twenty and six moons and yet you are unpaired."
Then as if that was enough explanation, she returned her head to its original position and remained that way for the rest of the flight.
Thonda understood well enough. Her mother had a way of making her point without using too many words.
Twenty-six moons without a match.
At this point, all of Reeth had heard about the unfortunate heiress who had never found her soulmate. Of course she needed to see another healer. This was the eighteenth one so far, the first had been her mother.
The hovercraft finally touched ground and the doors flew open. Thonda scurried out but Muri, graceful as ever, was deliberate with every step. They were greeted by a young girl with short, purple hair.
"Thonda and Muri Kareese? This way please."
It was a mere formality to ask their names. Everyone knew who Muri Kareese was, and for the past six moons, everyone knew who Thonda Kareese was too. They followed the girl into the Healer's chamber in silence.
"Thonda Kareese, d'av." The girl announced as they entered the chamber.
The Healer was seated close-eyed and cross-legged on the floor with at least twelve scented candles burning in a small circle around him.
He wore a deep green tunic and smelled too strongly of incense. The light of the candles reflected off his bald head and seemed to be the only illumination in the dark chamber. He was meditating.
Thonda looked around in uncertainty. There were heaps of beads, amulets and crystals decorating the plain walls but there wasn't a single window to be seen.
She looked over at her mother and was pleased to see the corner of her mouth pulled downwards in disgust. Good to know she wasn't the only one uncomfortable with this arrangement.
"Welcome. Please be seated" the Healer said in a calm voice.
There was no chair, bench or even a plank of wood in sight. Where exactly were they supposed to sit? Then as if sensing her confusion, the Healer spoke again.
"In the circle. With me."
Thonda inched over to the circle of candles but remained on the outside.
Her mother didn't move from where she stood, Muri Kareese wasn't going to soil her dress for any reason. Sitting on the ground was for people of lesser stations.
The girl that escorted them was still standing by the entrance. She cleared her throat to get Muri's attention.
"You can wait outside, d'avi."
D'avi was a term used to refer to older, more respected women and d'av for men. Muri Kareese wasn't fond of the word, it made her feel 'ancient', but she didn't complain. She gave Thonda a small nod before following the assistant out of the chamber.
Thonda was alone now, except for the strange little man surrounded by candles.
She took a deep breath and entered the circle with him. Sitting on the cold floor, Thonda mimicked his posture – legs crossed, arms outstretched, thumb and middle finger touching.
The Healer uttered a single word.
"Breathe."
And she did. It reminded her of her first healing session with none other than her mother. That was shortly after the ceremony – when Muri believed there was still hope. She held healing sessions with Thonda everyday for many seasons. But then they became less frequent and one day, the sessions stopped altogether. Thonda never knew why, was it because her mother had given up on her daughter or had just lost faith in her own abilities? Thonda never asked and she probably never would. That was three moons ago, when she began seeing other Healers
"Your energy is blocked."
Thonda blinked a couple of times. She had completely forgotten where she was.
"What did you say?"
"Your energy is blocked." The Healer repeated.
That was bullshit and they both knew it.
Thonda had seen enough healers to know that they just made up one story after the other in an effort to please her mother. There was nothing wrong with her. Not her aura, not her emotions and definitely not her "energy", but they definitely couldn't tell that to Muri Kareese. It was bad for business.
Thonda pretended to nod in understanding. The Healer looked at her for a moment then placed a single pink crystal the size of a man's index finger in her outstretched palm.
"I want you to breathe."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was no point arguing this out. The sooner she could leave this chamber, the better.
"Good. Now repeat after me. Azteth b'gaf. In m'pica statoom." The Healer instructed in a breathy voice.
Thonda did as he said and they repeated the chant several more times, each time an octave higher till she was practically screaming the words.
"We were able to dispel some of the negative energy." The Healer said at last, but the only bad energy Thonda could feel was from her memories, and they hadn't gone anywhere. They were still safe and sound inside her head, casting unwanted iSages in her mind's eye. Still, she wasn't going to say a word.
Opening her eyes slowly, she looked at the Healer, silently asking if the session was over.
Without warning, the little man clapped his hands and jumped to his scrawny feet.
Apparently, it was over.
Thonda breathed a sigh of relief and got up slowly. She turned towards the entrance, eager for her mother to appear like a little child on their first day of tutoring. She was disappointed to see the assistant instead.
"Follow me please."
Thonda practically jumped out of the candle circle and ran out the chamber. The assistant led her outside to where her mother stood. They were at the highest level of the city and Muri stood looking down below.
"My grandfather used to live down there." She whispered so silently that Thonda wasn't sure if she was addressing her or not.
"I always found I was more focused after a walk with him through the streets and I learnt a great deal from him "
Thonda's head snapped sideways to look at her mother. Could she really be saying what Thonda thought she was saying? Muri tore her gaze from the lowercity and faced her daughter.
"What say we do it for old times sake ?"
With that simple statement, Muri walked into the hovercraft leaving Thonda barely enough time to process the situation before she was scurrying after her. One thing was sure however– they weren't 'walking' for Thonda's sake and it definitely wasn't a leisurely stroll.