Morning sunlight poured through the open window of Jinn's small rented house, casting a golden glow across the room. The scent of crushed herbs filled the air. Glass jars lined the wooden shelf, each filled with dried leaves, salt, mint, and strange powders. Jinn sat at the table, sleeves rolled up, fingers dusted with white powder.
"Salt, mint, and neem... hmm," she muttered, sprinkling each into a mortar. She stirred, checked the color, sniffed, then tapped her chin. "I need more mint. Maybe two bundles more."
A sudden knock made her pause.
The merchant? Or someone from the guild? she wondered.
She wiped her hands on a cloth. "Just a minute!"
Opening the door, she blinked in surprise. "Oh, Mrs. Kirn! How are you? Is your daughter okay now?"
Mrs. Kirn smiled faintly. "May I come in?"
"Of course. Please, have a seat."
As soon as she stepped inside, Mrs. Kirn broke down into tears and rushed into Jinn's arms.
"Mrs. Kirn?! What happened? Don't tell me..."
No... it can't be. Did they not make it in time? Did my healing not last? Was it just false hope?
"Mrs. Kirn, I'm sorry for your—"
"Ms. Jinn..." she looked up, eyes shining, tears of joy streaming. "Maria! She's recovered. Fully healed."
Jinn froze. "What? But how? I mean, I-I can't heal! That was the first time I even tried... I'm not a real healer."
"It doesn't matter if you're a healer or not. I saw my daughter alive and smiling. That's enough for me."
Mrs. Kirn pulled a basket forward and set it on the table. It was full of herbs—the same ones she used to sell.
"This is for you. It's all I have. Please, accept it."
"But Mrs. Kirn, these herbs... they're your livelihood. This is too much. How will you sell?"
"I can't run my stall anymore. Bandits have made herb prices skyrocket. I can't afford to buy stock. These are all I had left, but I have no regrets."
Jinn looked at the herbs, then at her own mixture of powders.
"Maybe..."
She stood up. "Mrs. Kirn, I have an idea. I'm starting a business. Tooth powder, deodorant powder... simple but useful things. Would you be willing to join me? I can pay you."
Mrs. Kirn looked shocked. "Ms. Jinn, I... Can you really pay us? I mean, I just don't want to disappoint you."
Jinn smiled. "I'm an officer. My salary can cover a few helpers. Business is a gamble, but without risk, there's no reward. I'm all in."
Tears returned to Mrs. Kirn's eyes. "You gave my daughter her life. Now you're giving us a reason to live. I don't know how to repay you."
"Help me with the business," Jinn said, eyes sparkling. "Let's build something real. Together."
Mrs. Kirn hugged her again tightly. Jinn didn't resist. She remembered her own mother, kind and warm.
She's just like her...
---
Two days later, the backyard of Jinn's house bustled with life. Mrs. Kirn and her daughter Maria sat beneath a tree, drying herbs and grinding powders.
"Mom, how does this powder clean teeth?" Maria asked.
"Well, it scrubs off dirt, kills mouth germs, and freshens breath using safe herbs," she answered.
"But how exactly?"
Mrs. Kirn paused. Flashbacks of Jinn's long explanation flooded her mind: salt as a mild abrasive, mint for freshness, neem as antibacterial...
She smiled. "Just remember: it scrubs, it cleans, and it keeps your breath nice. And don't ask for the recipe—it's secret."
Maria giggled. "Okay."
---
That afternoon, Jinn walked through town toward the guild. Her eyes scanned the streets, alert.
Why do things feel weird lately? Rumors of the heavens opening... Luminarchs roaming... Mayene said their presence means something big. But they never show themselves unless it's serious.
She turned a corner and froze.
A white carriage adorned in gold rolled past, escorted by armored paladins. On the door, the symbol of the Luminarchs glowed.
Why is that here?
Suddenly, she spotted a child playing in the middle of the road—right in the carriage's path.
"The kid!" she shouted. "Stand back!"
She sprinted forward and wrapped the child in her arms.
Too late to jump! The speed—I can't make it!
But just as she braced for impact, the lead paladin raised his hand. The horses stopped, hooves grinding against stone.
A voice shouted. "You? Are you tired of living? Do it elsewhere!"
The carriage door swung open. A figure stepped down.
Clad in deep white and gold, his voice cut like a blade. "What is happening here?"
"Your Holiness, the children blocked our path," a paladin explained.
"Insolence! How dare they stand in the way of the Godsworn?"
Another paladin stepped forward, trying to mediate. "Your Holiness, please. It was only an accident."
"Accident? Or negligence? No... stupidity! Bring her to me. I want to see the face of this imbecile."
Trembling but holding the child, Jinn stepped forward.
The Luminarch glared. "Listen well. We are the chosen hands of the gods. Any path we walk belongs to us. There is no second chance—not here, not in heaven."
He turned and signaled.
"Captain, clear the way. We proceed."
The paladin captain walked up to Jinn.
"Please don't mind their words. Politics make them bitter. Let them pass."
Jinn nodded stiffly and walked off.
As Jinn walked toward the guild, she noticed a child far ahead, maybe a meter or two, playing at the side of the road.
But then...
"Hey! Young woman! Back here!"
Then came the thundering hooves. A white carriage adorned with divine gold raced down the street, paladins front and back.
But something was off.
They weren't slowing down.
They weren't aiming for the child.
They were aiming straight at her.
Her breath caught.
"What the hell?"
She froze. Just a second. Then her instincts screamed.
"Shit!! ..MOVE!"
She turned and ran. The carriage didn't stop.
Paladins shouted. Hooves pounded. They were chasing her—not the kid.
Jinn spun around, panic rising. Are they going to punish me? Torture?
She bolted, sprinting faster than ever.
Running like a damn marathon champion!
>To be Continued ...