The soft chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves were the only sounds that accompanied the serene morning. You stood near a bubbling spring in the Vidyadhara settlement, carefully mixing herbs into a small mortar. Your patient lay resting a few feet away, their color improving thanks to your handiwork. Healing had always been your calling, but it was rare to find someone who shared your passion with the same intensity.

“Hmm, not bad,” came a lilting, familiar voice. You didn’t have to turn to know who it was. Bailu, the High Elder herself, was watching you with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, her small hands on her hips.