Raven Chapter 32 Auras and Amalgams 402 #2
“I am the only one here with magic similar to your own. Mine comes from Nyx, boosted by the shadows I’ve bonded to.”
“Bonded to?” I ask, but the sound of pages being frantically flipped cuts me off.
“Did you say a rainbow ?” Em’s voice is hard, serious.
“Uh, yeah?” I say, now wondering if I shouldn’t have.
“And you are positive?” This time, Anik moves toward him, looming to read over his shoulder.
“Can you not?” Em snaps, slamming the book shut. Not surprising. He hates when people read over his shoulder. He sees it as an interruption to his research—a sacred ritual, second only to tea. Both things make him extra stabby.
“Positive,” I tell him, hoping to divert his focus from Anik.
His head snaps toward me. Mission accomplished. “That is a complication.”
“Explain,” Anik demands, fists clenching. I quietly get up and slide between them, pressing a hand to Anik’s chest. As expected, his shadows curl around me in response as he visibly calms.
“All the auras listed were within expected parameters for their species and abilities,” Emerson states. “Selena’s is an outlier.”
“How so?” Forrest asks. “We need all the information to establish what we’re dealing with.”
I scoff, catching the flash of hurt in Selena’s eyes at being labeled a ‘problem.’ I’ve been on the receiving end of Forrest’s tactlessness too many times. I decide to be the balm to his emotional incompetence.
“We’re dealing with a badass, obviously,” I inform him, squinting to make my point. “We need the information to figure out the best way to help. The world isn’t just a list of problems to solve.”
Forrest opens his mouth to retort, then visibly swallows the words and gives a stiff nod. Huh. Is he… actually choosing to not be a dick right now? I’ll take it as a sign he’s actively changing for the better.
“According to this text,” Emerson continues, his tone grave, “a rainbow aura indicates she is an Amalgam.”
“There hasn’t been a confirmed Amalgam in over a century,” Dre says, his voice filled with awe.
“Not that we know of.” Kieran says, his eyes taking on a far away quality. “They’ve been hunted for what they are for generations. Makes sense we havenae seen any if they’ve all been keepin’ their heads down.”
Selena pales. Miriam steps closer, wrapping a protective arm around her daughter and whispering in her ear.
“What in the realms am I missing?” I ask.
I look to Em, but Forrest is the one who answers, his voice shifting into briefing-mode.
"An Amalgam is an extremely rare form of healer.
They don't manifest their powers in childhood—most don't gain their abilities until well into their first century or two, depending on their species.
Presumably once they're better equipped to protect themselves. "
Anik breaks away mid-explanation and begins pacing behind me like a caged bull.
“Correct,” Emerson confirms. “They are considered blessed by one of the gods, chosen for their capacity to bear the responsibility. The diluted colors of her aura suggest her abilities have not yet reached their full potential.”
“And what makes this type of healer so special? I thought The Mend was filled with healers,” I ask, still trying to stitch together the fragments I was able to pick up during my ghostly existence.
“Amalgams can heal any type of supe, and they can heal more than just the body. Both psychological and physical wounds can be healed by their power. There was talk that maybe they could even heal the connection that was broken during the Severance," Dre explains.
My confusion must be plastered all over my face, because Kieran’s eyes soften before he looks across me to Dre. Something passes between them, and I continue, trying to fill the silence.
“Okay, so,” I press, “the healers at The Mend can’t do psychological stuff? Isn’t that why The Athens exists? Wait, are those like the only two healing places in the country? Is that why this is such a big deal?”
Kieran leans forward, his usual humor directed into something focused and patient.
“Think of The Mend as a massive hospital, but wi' specialist wards.
A healer there can mend a shifter's broken bone or a witch's drained core—but only if their magic fits. A fire-aligned healer would burn a water sprite to a crisp. So aye, they keep a roster. Different types. Never a one-size-fits-all situation.”
Dre nods, his voice a warm, steady counterpoint. “The Athens is for long-term, severe cases—trauma that’s woven into the soul or magical core. It’s… intensive. And not all healers can even attempt that kind of work.”
“And a wee town,” Kieran picks up again, “might have a healer or two who can manage the locals. Most end up with a witch or fae that's adept at herbalism and earth magic.
“But Selena?” He whistles low. “She's no specialist. She's the universal donor. Her magic—or whatever divine juice makes her an Amalgam—doesnae care if you're made of scales, shadow, or stardust. She can stitch any of us back together, body and mind.
“That's why the old texts call it a ‘blessing.’ And that's exactly why greedy bastards and frightened mobs have spent centuries tryin' to cage or kill anyone like her.
“Ye cannae just let a walkin', talkin' miracle-hospital wander about unguarded.”
The final piece clicks into place with a cold, sickening dread. Hunted . Not for being dangerous, but for being priceless.
My eyes land on Dre, wondering how he fits into this.
He told me about his abilities with his venom, or blood, or was it both?
Whatever it was, he could heal people from the inside out.
I don’t even realize I’m thinking all of this at him until I feel what can only be described as a polite knock on the door to my brain.
And, because self preservation has never been a strong suit, I open the door without hesitation.
“It is why I hide my abilities, kjaere.” His mental voice is a warm rumble in my skull. He leans back, looking away, keeping our conversation covert. I pick my jaw up off the floor and do the same. “I cannot heal to the extent an Amalgam can, but the danger is still there for me as well.”
I give a tiny nod, then have to fight a smile. Is Selena in grave danger? Yes. Am I cool with it? Not at all.
Doesn’t mean I can’t use this to everyone’s advantage.
“So Izzy and her team need to stay here, then?” I say, laying out the only obvious solution.
Izzy shakes her head. “We were found to guard the book. Now that you’re back, our duty has shifted to guarding you.”
“I have all of these guys, plus an internal nuke for emergencies.” I wave her off.
“I’m fine. But Selena is not. She needs people watching her back, and in a way, that’s watching mine, too.
If someone finds out what she is and takes her, both Anik and I are compromised.
” I look over at Forrest and see actual heat in his eyes—and I swear it’s not the angry kind.
“I agree wholeheartedly with Raven’s reasoning,” he says, his heated gaze not leaving me.
“It is the most efficient allocation of resources. A clear division of labor—protection for the most vulnerable asset, and consolidation of our own defensive capabilities. It minimizes future points of failure.”
Izzy’s team exchanges a look before nodding in unison.
“Though,” Enra, the most reserved member of the group, steps into the conversation for the first time.
“We need to assess your combat skills before we can feel confident leaving you to guard another.” She dips her chin toward the journal.
“I’m assuming you’ve made no progress there, so shall we try making progress somewhere else? ”
I nod because hitting something seems like a great way to beat back the tears threatening at the fact that she’s right—I’ve made zero progress. I slide the book down to Emerson. If anyone is going to keep track of a mysterious, unreadable tome, it’s him.
“We need to go over the auras that were described and what they mean,” Em says, visibly confused that I’m leaving mid-study session. “It’s vital she learns to use this ability.”
I give him a patient smile. “Not every brain is equipped for this level of study, Em. How about we tackle this again after I’ve hit something?”
A snort comes from Kieran. Emerson nods, not looking up. “Fine. Go hit something. We’ll continue after.” Before I can even answer, his focus is back onto his books.
Both Forrest and Anik move to follow the ladies and me, and I start to chew at my lip, already imagining all the ways this could be worse than my brain turning to mush.