How did I get here? (Mdu_ntr)

[Anonymous]

Louhi's heart was jumping all over the place, leaving her feeling a little queasy and light headed. She took her stick and slowly rose to her feet. "No, sir" She managed to get out, heading for the indicated chair and trying not to shake. Being thrown across the room and feeling like you were lit on fire again was a scary experience, and she was trying to refuse to let herself cry, but wasn't entirely sure it would work.

"Go get Archimedes!" the head mage snapped at one of the underlings before asking very politely. "Sir, do you know how these wounds came about?" There was nothing inherently magical about the injury itself. Heat and force applied to a fragile body. Fairly simple and straight forward.

The underling mage took off quickly and returned before long with an older, much more experienced mage. He'd gotten the rather babbled story from his messenger, but entered the room cautiously and glanced around. He came to stand near Thanael with a salute. The mage had explained he forbade touching Louhi until they figured out the problem.

[Anonymous]

Thanael looked down at Louhi, who looked like she was about to break. He sighed and put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her nerves. She would be of no use if something this simple caused her to give way.

'An old ritual for killing mages. Her leg was burnt but I believe they would have healed by now if they had been normal wounds,' Thanael explained.

Thanael was unsure whether Archimedes was a mage or not but he did not appear to be so Thanael simply nooded to him. 'What is it you wish done to the girl?' he asked straight out. He didn't want anything else going wrong.

[Anonymous]

"Her leg was also broken" The mage with the electronic clipboard commented, and that was where her pain seemed to come from. The scaring just seemed to make her selfconscious.

"I simply wish to read her, see if there is magic on her" The older one explained. "It will cause her no harm and will not interact if there is magic."

Being thrown across the room was nothing for Louhi. It was simply the sensation of being burned again that sent her nearly into a panic. Broken bones were of couse unpleasant, but those she could deal with also. Fire in lamps did not bother her, fire on candles, did not bother her, burning her leg, that was what scared her. She drew a deep breath, trying to calm down and be a good servant. She feared she was trying his patience and didn't really want to be handed off to someone else. He seemed reasonable where the other man she had met had not.

[Anonymous]

Thanael nodded, 'yes. The mage who did the other scan said it was an unusual break.'

'I am sorry but that healing wasn't meant to harm her either,' he sighed. Without turning to look at her he said in a calm, almost reassuring voice, 'Louhi, I will leave the choice up to you. We don't need to do this today or at all.'

The mage had probably had enough for today but he would let her decide her fate. He didn't want to put her through any more undue stress when she looked so small and frightened. It was little wonder too; she'd been popped through time and space, captured and scanned.

[Anonymous]

Louhi looked at the older one. The prospect of having her leg healed was appealing.

"Just reading, like words on a page. I wont' even touch a thing." The older man said soothingly. "From there, maybe we can figure out what caused the sparks."

Louhi drew a deep breath and thought about it a moment. "If you're sure" She finally said.

Archimedes nodded. "Alright then, just sit still and breath slowly." He closed his eyes, gently reading over her in general before coming to her leg. His brow furrowed. "There's a...curse on it" He said, for lack of a better word. "Old, strong magic. Angry, vengeful." He opened his eyes.

"Sir, the leg cannot be healed without the magic being countered, and I don't know of anyone who can counter such a spell as this, so as it stands now, she can either have her leg stay the way it is, or the nerves leading into her leg can by physically deadened. That will stop the pain, but her leg will be completely without feeling."

Louhi tried to follow what was going on without moving and while breathing slowly. She was quite curious about some of the processes, though she thought she knew how the 'curse' had gotten on her leg.

[Anonymous]

Thanael was unsure what to do but did not want to show it. If they deadened the girl's leg then she certainly would be considered more of a hindrance. 'How about amputation?' he asked finally. 'Will the curse interact with amputation? We could give her a prosthetic instead.'

No, they wouldn't do that, he thought. She's too new and I've already had one failed mage. It was a pity they wouldn't trust him to do that. It would save both of them a lot of hassle.

'Very well. If you are totally sure it will not trigger the "curse" I will allow you to deaden only the over-reactive or inflamed nerves,' he decided.

There were two types of physical pain, one caused by pain receptors and one caused by over-firing of other receptors such as cold, heat, pressure and light. With the higher degree of technology that this age had, surely there would be some form of probe that would be able to kill individual neurons once they reached the lower back before they reached the spinal cord.

[Anonymous]

Louhi's eyes went wide and crystal blue. She definitely knew the word 'amputation' though she wasn't sure what 'deadening' nerves was about. It had the word 'dead' in it, so she was not overly optimistic.

Archimedes nodded "Alright, prep her for the procedure." He ordered the mages, who began scampering around and retrieving various bits of equipment along with one of the micro surgeons. "We'll be working on the nerves above the curse." he assured Thanael.

Louhi found herself being stripped down and put into a hospital gown--which was far too short for her liking. It barely reached her knees when she was sitting. She knew better than to fight at least, though she had to draw a deep breath and hold it a moment to keep herself appearing calm. She'd never seen an amputation done, but she'd heard the screams from the surgeon-barber's shop down the road.

"Alright, let's get down to business" The surgeon said briskly. "Can we sedate it? This is delicate work and could be ruined if she moves."

Archimedes looked up to Thanael. "Has she shown any adverse reactions to anything else you've given her so far?" From what he'd read on the chart, she'd only been given fluids and vitamins while at the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Thanael was surprised and impressed by how well she was handling it. So far she had been frightened by almost everything but she was very... resigned to her treatment. Perhaps he no longer needed to explain things to her, she understood that she wasn't going to be harmed - at least intentionally.

'She had not shown any adverse symptoms until she was put into the healing machine. And yes, of course I want her sedated,' he said.

He had heard of other Mordecai ordering procedures done without and pain killers but he found that heinous. The mage rarely deserved the treatment and it made them weaker in the long run, too scared to defend themselves or act without permission. Sometimes they just broke all together. It was a complete waste of resources.

'Louhi, are you well?' he asked, just making sure.

[Anonymous]

"I don't know what deadening means, but if you think it best, then very well sir." She was trying to buck up as best she could, but she was not convinced that deadening did not still include the loss of her leg and while having her leg broken had been painful, and having it burned even more so, she could not fathom what it might feel like to have someone saw her limbs off.

"I'm well enough" She managed in a mostly steady voice, self consciously trying to tug the little gown lower over her legs, though it did no good.

"Good then. Strap it down" The surgeon ordered, motioning mages around while he prepared the sedative and unceremoniously injected it.

Louhi was surprised and gave a soft yelp as the needle jabbed her. That was a strange sensation. Her head suddenly felt like it was floating and she could see the mages taking hold of her arms and legs and strapping her to a table. She couldn't move, and while that scared her to no end, she couldn't really react to it either, but she could still see Thanael for now and was trying to trust his judgement, or at least resign herself to his judgement since she had had no masters so far worthy of true trust.

A map of the nerves in her leg was drawn up. The majority of them were inflamed, rapidly firing or pinched it seemed, but then nearly her entire leg was involved with the problem. They set to work, finding and essentially turning off each busy nerve, leaving enough to let the leg continue to function, but with limited sensation.

"She'll be rather out of it for awhile, but if you'd like to take her home, you may, or we can arrange for her to stay here." They could bring her right out of it, but it was generally accepted that leaving her chemically paralyzed and allowing time for the chemical to wear off on its own yielded better results for the nerves.

[Anonymous]

Thanael nodded and tried to reassure the girl. 'I do think it best. If the mages oblige, it will not be painful,' he gave the doctor a meaningful look. He did not want her harmed. What he said next was partially for the doctor's benefit. 'They are only going to stop the feelings of pain that you already have, nothing more. Try to remain calm.'

Thanael stood off to the side to allow the mages and doctor to work, but not so far off that Louhi couldn't see him. They would be a constant presence in eachother's lives so she needed to know that he would watch over her as well as control her powers.

'There is no need to be so harsh, if you please,' he said as they strapped her down and injected her with the anaesthetic.

Thanael watched as they worked and came up to inspect Louhi once they'd finished. It appeared to have worked but he would not know for sure until the chemicals wore off.

'I will take her with me,' he said. 'After what she has been through here I would prefer her to be elsewhere.'

[Anonymous]

"Very good sir, I'll have the computers release her then." One of them said. "Do you require a gurney for her, or an escourt home?" Moving an unconscious mage wasn't nessicarily an easy thing, though she was small enough, he could probably just carry her if he wanted to. "She'll just need a little extra supervision until she's used to the way her leg feels now. She may have trouble walking the first day or two." He warned.

Louhi was limp in her little hospital gown, only the tiniest bit of awareness remaining with her.

[Anonymous]

'A gurney or an escort, whichever is easiest for you,' he answered. 'When can I expect the chemicals to wear off?'

Thanael nodded, 'that is fine. I did not expect her to learn so fast. I have other things I will need to teach her first.' He was of course referring to the use of her magic. She needed to learn to control it else she would continue to be a hazard to herself. Now that she was in the military, she would also be a hazard to the country if not controlled.

There was also her lack of knowledge to attend to. Many Mordecai thought that having an educated mage meant they were more likely to desert. Though this was true for more brutal Mordecai, Thanael found that small amounts of kindness worked far better and meant that the mage would be better adapted in the field. It was all a matter of balance. How much liberty did you give the mage verses how well they performed. A restricted mage only had limited usefulness.

[Anonymous]

"Of course Sir" He said, typing something into his little computer. It wasn't long before a gurney arrived, ready to transport the little mage at Thanael's command.

"It should wear off in a few hours unless she is particularly sensitive to it, then she may sleep through the night. He had seen mages who were so resistant to the compound that it held them under barely long enough to get most of the procedure finished.

Louhi could hear them talking vaguely, but couldn't focus enough to understand anything more than they were talking about her. She wasn't exactly scared yet, but if her mind woke up before her body did, she very well might be. Her leg didn't hurt though, that was kind of nice, but then again, she couldn't feel her body due to the chemicals.

"Alright you three, grab the corners of the sheet, careful now, we don't want to damage it." He chided before counting "One, two....three" The transfered her over to the gurney. "I can have someone pick it up another day, or it can simply be returned when you bring her in for her first series of injections." he explained, refering to the gurney. It was hospital property, they did need it back.

[Anonymous]

Thanael waited for them to prepare Louhi for the move then accepted the gurney. He picked up her clothes too and placed them over her legs. 'In this age we do not have qualms about showing our legs. I would appreciate it if you came to terms with them when you have recovered both physically and mentally,' he said to her.

'Thankyou for your care of the young mage. I shall return this when we come tomorrow,' he said before giving a polite nod and leaving.

'Try to get some sleep. If anything happens I will be nearby but I have a report to write,' he said. Thanael pushed her along, down the halls to his room. For the rest of the trip there he remained silent, taking as much notice of her as if she were a piece of electrical equipment.

Once he got to his room he commanded the door to open, then shut again as he moved Louhi against the wall. She would rise when she was able.

[Anonymous]

Louhi wasn't really aware of what he said and did indeed drift off to sleep before they'd gotten to his rooms. It was hours later when she finally opened her eyes groggily and then simply laid there, trying to make sense of what she felt. Her eyes opened a little more and she gazed around the room without moving, trying to locate Thanael. He seemed to be busy writing something. She knew better than to bother masters while they were writing. She shifted, feeling a little nausious from the after effects of the chemicals, but was surprised when she couldn't sit up. She made a soft noise, mostly to test and make sure her vocals still worked. Apparently, she wasn't fully out from under it yet. Trying not to yawn, she attempted to make sense of the place they were in, glad her clothes were piled on top of her legs. That made her feel more secure.

It was nearly an hour after that she finally had sensation in her good leg. She wasn't sure what to make of what she felt in her 'bad' leg. It didn't hurt, but it was definately different. She wasn't even sure it would move if she asked it to.

She considered speaking and opened her mouth to do so, only to find her mouth was too dry, which nearly threw her into a fit of coughing. She couldn't allow that, it would disturb him.

[Anonymous]

Thanael couldn't leave his room unless the girl woke and panicked so instead he typed up the report of his surveillance. He went through his files to look at all the data the doctors had collected. He wondered if he needed to book her in for physiotherapy. He'd need to do it after the headbanding so he could keep an eye on her while he did other work.

He started another report detailing all he had been able to glisten from Louhi. While he was doing so, he realised he still had a lot to learn about her. It would be good when he could go through her mind and find what he needed.

He finished both the reports, sent electronic copies to the relevant authorities and started pacing. The girl still seemed to be asleep, which was good. Hopefully she would last the night so she would be in a diurnal sleeping pattern.

He glanced over at Louhi for perhaps the third time in an hour and noticed that she was trying to move. 'Settle, you should not be straining yourself,' he said calmly. 'Can you speak? If you can, tell me how you are feeling.'

[Anonymous]

Louhi obediently stopped trying to move. "Thirsty" She admitted hoarsely, but did not ask for water. She tried to clear her throat and bring up a little siliva to moisten her mouth. "My leg doesn't hurt, but it feels strange" But then, considering it had had constant pain for an undetermined number of years, not having pain probably was a strange feeling. "It reminds me of when I would sit in one position too long, and then try to get up without letting all the feeling come back to my legs." It wasn't entirely numb, there was some sensation in it, but it was significantly dulled compared to her other leg.

She still felt rather drowsey and would probably still manage to sleep the night once she went back to sleep, but for now, she was awake and trying to make sense of everything.

[Anonymous]

'Stay here.'

Thanael went to get some water and any food that would be soft enough for her to swallow.

'I have never needed any mages healked like this so I am not sure what you should be feeling. It sounds like it's working though. When you feel strong enough, we will try getting you to walk,' he said. Thanael paused before putting a straw in the water and passing it to her. 'I apologise for being harsh with you while around the medical staff. It will get more comfortable as you acclimatise to your work.'

'Is there anything you wish to know kow that we are out of the main areas?' he asked. 'In here, you are safe to ask anything aloud. Once we are mindbound, we will be able to speak more dirrectly.'

[Anonymous]

Louhi gratefully accepted the water, but drank it carefully and at a reasonable pace. It wouldn't do to make herself choke on something as simple as water while in front of him.

"I am curious what my duties will be" SHe admitted "Though if you rather, I can simply learn as I am introduced to them." She was not willing, or perhaps even able to ask forcefully, instead willing to defer to her master every time, which was usually in her favor.

"As well as expected behavior. For example, my first mistress was a firm believer in servants being seen and not heard, only speak when spoke to and those sorts of things, my second master, he wanted to teach me things, but I never managed to really understand what was expected of me. It changed constantly with his mood." She admitted. After the second master, she'd had a friend who was not a master, but had instead taught her important things, like what lightbulbs were and not to be afraid of automobiles. "I'd like to know what you expect of me, so I may please you." She did want to be a good servant..or mage, as he put it.

[Anonymous]

Thanael pulled up a chair and sat near her - close enough so that he could catch her if she fell and far enough away so that she wouldn't feel intimidated. He waited patiently while she drank and watched her. He noted that she drank slowly: she was no fool who bowed into probable cravings for water.

'First, you will be fitted with a headband so we can hear eachother's thoughts, then comes the task of training you,' he rubbed his hand through his hair. From what he'd seen, she couldn't control herself yet, which meanmt he'd be out of action for even longer. You will have to do as I say and speak when I say. Edanith is a tough place to live for mages and many of the other Mordecai expect total obedience.'

'Another mage may be asked to help you with your magical training but I will be teaching you to read our language, customs and some history. The more you know about who I work for, the better you will be able to serve me.'

Come to think of it, he hadn't checked to see if she could read their language. It was surprising enough that she spoke it. Without speaking again, he rose and picked up his laptop. He placed it on her lap and opened her file. 'If you can focus, try reading this. I don't care if you don't understand the topic. I just want to know that you can read the words.'