As the day wore on, she wrestled with her decision. The thought of disappointing Andros filled her with dread, but the opportunity to follow in her mother's footsteps, to learn from the best and become a healer too, was too precious to ignore.
Finally, after a long and tumultuous internal debate, Celes made a choice.
The following day, Celes made her way to the Healer’s quarters, her heart both heavy and hopeful as she prepared to give her answer to Old Sage. The path seemed shorter than usual, her steps light with anticipation. When she arrived, Sage was already seated at his desk, surrounded by the familiar aroma of herbs and old parchment. The room, a sanctuary of wisdom and healing, felt like a second home to her.
Comfortable
Nostalgic.
“Good morning, Celes,” Sage greeted, looking up from his notes. His sharp eyes softened as he saw her.
“Good morning, Sage,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
"What brought you here? Have you decided now?"
Celes looked at him for a moment, before taking a deep breath.
“I have. I've been thinking about this for the past couple days, and..." she sighed, "I wanted to thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me. I will take your offer. I’m eager to learn and help in any way I can.”
Sage’s rare smile was a balm to her nerves. “I’m glad to hear that you and Andros have considered my invitation,” he said, his tone warm.
Celes felt a pang of guilt but did not correct him about the omission of her husband’s approval. She simply accepted his response and sat down to begin her studies.
"So, where do I start?"
Without wasting any time, Sage handed her a stack of books filled with medical knowledge and herbal remedies. The ancient texts were dense with information, but Celes dove into them with a fervor she hadn’t felt in years. Each page opened up new worlds of possibility, and she lost herself in the intricate details of healing arts and the lore of ancient wolf remedies. The hours slipped away unnoticed as she absorbed every piece of knowledge she could.
By the time she returned home, the evening had settled into darkness. The house was quiet, but Andros’s presence was palpable. He greeted her with a sharp edge in his voice, demanding to know where she had been and why there was no dinner prepared.