Chapter Thirty Eight

It was a speculation in my heart and all of a sudden it had taken root. I shook the thought away as I headed straight to the clinic. I was finally starting at the clinic and I was excited for everything I would learn and do, everything that I would be there. It felt like I finally somewhat had a purpose. I wasn’t just slaving myself away here.

I kept walking towards the clinic and when I arrived, I stared at the front, remembering the first two times I came by and for the first time, I was coming solely for myself. I easily found my way in. Masoma and her other clinic attendants were already working by the time I arrived and she immediately left them and came to me.

“You are late” she said and I winced.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be earlier” I replied and Masoma nodded.

“It’s not a big deal. You can inform me if your chores are a lot and you are going to be late” she replied and I nodded.

“Thank you” I said softly.

“So it’s your first day and I’ll ask someone to take you around later. You already showed that you know basic skills about medicine the last time so I won't bore you with the basics. The sterilization and the rest. So for this week and next week, what you will be doing is identifying each herb and each potion. You need to be able to know what herbs to use, the ones you're supposed to squeeze, the ones you are going to pound and the ones you are just going to use like that” Masoma explained and I nodded my head.

“This is basic that cannot be overlooked. You have to know these herbs like the back of your hand which means that you’ll have to learn and relearn, know the names like your name. I know I asked you to do this on a whim but you will need to put in work, your time and attention into it or else you can choose not to at all” she continued and I immediately shook my head.

“Whether you asked me intentionally or on a whim, I agreed which meant I know what it takes so I know what I’m doing and I also want to learn too” I replied and Masoma nodded, obviously satisfied with my answer.

“Give me a moment,” she said as she walked away.

I chuckled softly and remembered Masoma's words. The job of being a doctor wasn’t easy and I knew clearly enough because I saw a lot of things as well back home, I knew the amount of time and research and tests that went into it. Any mistake could cost a life, the wrong herb would worsen the situation, preparing the herb the wrong way could make it lose its potency. All of these I knew like the back of my hand so when I had agreed to start learning in the first place. I knew what I was doing. I knew what I was going to face.

I stared away softly trying to remember the few times I spent at the healer’s house back at home. Invirit was one of the kindest people to me. One of the people who didn’t think that my sister was just better than me just because she was an Omega and I was Beta. We weren't close but we had beautiful shared moments with each other.

I looked upwards seeing as Masoma approached me. I knew I was starting over but I didn;t know if I could call Masoma a friend. She was kind alright to me and everything but that was all.

“He apologised already” I said as Masoma got in front of me.

“Huh?” she questioned as I chuckled.

“He apologised to me and we are fine now” I replied and Masoma chuckled.

“That's great” she replied in a tone I didn’t understand but I didn't let that deter me. 

“So here I have a list with me that has herbs and leaves for basics and starters, everything you should and I have asked some of the other healers to join you to set up a table, the herbs would be mixed and you’ll have to find them and identify them” she informed me and I collected the paper staring at the list of drugs.

“Garlic, Valerian Roots, RoseMary, Comfrey” I listed out the herbs and stared at the rest of the herbs.

“I’m supposed to find the herbs in this list?” I asked and Masoma folded her arms, “You can’t?” she asked and I scoffed.

She was testing me and the moon goddess knew that I loved a challenge and challenges like this; I even loved them more.

“Did I say I can’t?” I replied, chuckling so widely that it made Masoma look taken aback.

“Where are the herbs?” I asked.

“Follow me” She said as we started walking across the hallway of the clinic, stopping in a room, the smell of the room filled my nose as we walked inside. Different herbs were placed on the table and I stared at them in anticipation and curiosity.

“Will you need help?” she asked with a smirk on her face and I pursed my lips.

“What you shouldn’t do very often is underestimate me, I promise you, you have no idea what I’m capable of” I replied and watched as the other healers exchanged subtle glances but I didn’t care.

“So I want to believe that when I come back, you will have them identified?” Masoma asked as I walked closer to the table.

“Come back?” I asked with a chuckle, “You can just stand there” I said as I started pointing.

“This is Garlic, that’s Thyme, that’s Comfrey and those are Valerian roots. Those are mugworts and those are yarrow stems” I reeled out with confidence and by the time I was done, Iturned to Masoma with a smile on my face.

“So what do you think?”