The Healers' Nest was the home of the healers in the capital. It was big enough to be called a manor, but nowhere near as fancy as one would be. Plus, most of the healers lived there. That was more than the number of people you would normally find in a manor. There always had to be a certain number of healers in the healers' nest just in case of emergencies. So, most times, they took shifts for those who had families of their own or didn't want to reside there permanently. Eventually, Aroha and Zhiyi would still have to stay there for some time, but it was better as a temporary situation than a permanent one. It was bearable at least.
Aroha didn't argue after Zhiyi brought that point to light. How could she not have seen that? What was she thinking? She knew Zhiyi was baiting her. The annoying tone she used when saying all that said that much. But it was a trap she would walk into with her eyes wide open. Crowds were just not for her.
In a few minutes, they were at the manor. It had been years since she last came there. Not much had changed since then. The dull paintings and solemn windows still looked the same. But there wasn't a single happy child running about like they used to when they lived here. Maybe they all grew up. Whatever it was, good riddance, Aroha thought to herself.
Aroha and Zhiyi were far too excited to wait till the next day to sign up to be healers, but the head of the manor who welcomed them advised them to refrain from such. The healers' nest wasn't so accessible at that time of night. While exceptions would have been made for the sisters because of their family, it was better to put it off till the next day.
Immediately they were done packing, Zhiyi ran straight to Aroha's room. Aroha was filled to the brim with frustration. Why was she bothering her already? But Zhiyi wanted to talk to her as quickly as possible regarding the incident that transpired on their journey to the capital.
Aroha recalled the incident like it were happening right in front of her eyes. At least the part that Zhiyi didn't already know. Zhiyi was shocked. Not only did a wyvern speak to Aroha, and she heard it, but also what it said. Welcome? Neither of the sisters knew what it meant. They hadn't even the slightest clue. So, they decided to put it off until they had written to their parents about it. If anyone had an idea about what was happening, it would be them.
***
The next morning seemed to take forever to arrive. Though exhaustion weighed heavily on them, Aroha and Zhiyi barely slept a wink. This was the day they had dreamed of for years — the day they would finally become healers.
At first light, they rushed to the Healers' Nest, skipping breakfast in their excitement — a decision they would soon regret.
To their surprise, the Nest was already crowded. A long, winding line stretched out before them, filled with men and women hoping to be admitted. Even after they presented their family stamps and explained who they were, they were told to wait in line. Apparently, impersonations had become common. Had they come with the head of the manor, as instructed, they would have been allowed through without question.
Then, as if to deepen their irritation, someone sauntered past the entire queue without so much as a glance. His bearing alone reeked of royalty. Aroha's jaw tightened — the Renoffs, heirs of old blood, were waiting in line, and yet this stranger simply walked through. Who did he think he was?
Aroha fumed as she watched him walk past them. Who the hell did he think he was that he could cut in line? He would have to be the king for her to let it slide. And why was no one else saying anything? Surely, she didn't skip breakfast for this. The rumble in her stomach was only getting worse. She moved to approach this stranger, but Zhiyi stopped her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? You don't even know who that is," Zhiyi whispered. They were still too new in the capital to already be causing problems.
"Well, they don't know who we are either," Aroha whispered right back. She didn't even know why she was whispering. Unlike Zhiyi, she didn't care whether she was heard or not. In fact, she wanted to be heard. It was ludicrous that someone would trample on them like that, and she would keep quiet about it.
"Aroha, we just got here. Besides, no one else is speaking against it. He must be someone important. And why don't we ask someone first before---"
"Say no to those who stay quiet when they are oppressed. If I were you, I wouldn't hold on to me, or else you'd get dragged into this as well," Aroha snapped as she ripped Zhiyi's hand from hers. Her mind was already made up. Zhiyi was only postponing the inevitable.
"But I'll be dragged into it anyway if you go off like that," Zhiyi whispered as loudly as she could. She watched hopelessly as Aroha walked briskly to confront a total stranger. She was awfully chatty for someone who hated interacting with people. Was it because she skipped her meditation that morning? But something about that stranger looked awfully familiar. She only caught a glimpse of him, so she couldn't discern his identity, but she felt it might be someone she knew. And if that was the case, maybe Aroha would know him, too. It might not be so bad after all if she approached him. Maybe he could even help confirm their identities, and they could be allowed to go in, too. If he wasn't pissed at Aroha first. But anyone who knew Aroha would at least expect that much. She was angry as she was unfriendly. A well-known fact.
"Um… miss, that's the prince. Prince Ara," A girl said timidly behind her. She looked about the same age as Zhiyi, but looked a whole lot more fragile.
"Wait? Did you say, Prince Ara!!!" Zhiyi exclaimed, but Aroha was already too far away to hear her. The people in the queue complained bitterly as to what looked like Aroha and Zhiyi trying to shunt, but Zhiyi paid no heed. She had to stop Aroha before she did something irrevocable. But she was a little too late. Aroha had already caught up to the prince.
"Hey, who do you think you are to just cut in line like that?" she questioned, but the prince paid no heed to her. That only infuriated Aroha even more. Zhiyi rushed towards her as she noticed the guards rush at Aroha, but they were quicker to apprehend Aroha than Zhiyi could get to her. Aroha struggled effortlessly to escape the tight grip of the guard who arrested her.
"Miss, it will do you no good to resist. You'll only make matters worse for yourself," one of the guards said. They all donned golden armour. A sign that they were a part of the royal guards. But Aroha was still too pissed to pay heed to any of that.
"You must think you own the place, yeah? What is it, you're too weak to face a woman on your own? If it weren't for your guards here---" Aroha goaded but was wise enough to keep shut when she noticed the guards unsheathing their swords. She was just teasing him. Why were they taking it so seriously?
Luckily, the prince gestured for them to sheath their swords. Zhiyi was completely blocked off from meeting with Aroha by the other guards. When she was making too much of a fuss, they arrested her and brought them to the prince. If they were going to take Aroha away, they might as well take them both.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I own the place," he goaded. The smirk he had on his face irked Aroha so much that she forced herself up regardless of all the guards that were holding her down. At least five of them tried to stop her from getting up after they had brought her to her knees, but Aroha resisted them all. Suddenly, she was a threat that shouldn't be taken lightly. If someone possessed that much strength and was that rude to the prince, they had to be taken as an enemy and taken down on the spot.
Zhiyi shivered. How did things get so bad so quickly, and more importantly, what was that brute strength that Aroha displayed? She knew her sister was strong, but to overpower the strength of five royal guards was ridiculous. But she knew she had to step in.