A lot has changed.

There were so many things to ponder about - the ambush that took place not so long ago, her grandfather's part in it, Ayu losing control, the reasoning behind the change that occurred to both her body and Ki... Yet the most important thing was - that it was decided that she was going to stay on the Lookout for the time being. It sounded like the safest option. Her state was stabilizing and she was learning how to grasp the control of her energy, yet her current condition wasn't a given. Dende was right. She only began to harmonize and use her potential to manage her own might... What if something would happen and her emotions will get the best of her again? It was only the beginning of a path, and although Ayu never wished to get more involved in Ki-related matters, she didn't have a choice. She has already... Killed people, didn't she? It was still sweeping sleep away from her eyes at night, the memory of her power slipping out of control and claiming others' lives. Ayu was full of regrets but the only thing she could do was to work diligently to not let anything like that happen again. She'd hate to cause any more harm...

That's why she started her training under the watchful eye of the Guardian of Earth. Dende was looking like any other, albeit old, Namekian - as tall as seven feet, with dark green skin that wrinkled with age - betraying that he spend more years on this duty than anyone would dare to guess. And only his gaze, composure, and wise tone were showing how many things he has experienced. Ayu started to understand what Mr. Popo meant when he told her months ago that Guardian was looking for help. Any being, no matter how powerful and wise, can get exhausted in the face of unending responsibility. Maybe... Just maybe, if she'd sought out his guidance earlier, things would have been different now - but there was no point in dwelling on that now. Aside from working on her Ki control, there were many things that she was learning... About the blue planet and Earthlings, about the ongoing events happening all around the place... And there was one more thing that Dende wanted to teach her.

Healing. As simple as it sounded, Ayu was both thrilled and fearful about this task. Since she remembered she was studying herbs, creating medicines, and helping out others... She was patching wounds and preparing brews for colds or cases of flu - that was all. There was a limit to her abilities, but she did her best to aid those in need. Now it would be possible to have the ability to heal anyone, no matter their state, as long as they were still alive. It would be a miraculous skill... But at the same time, that kind of power was downright scary.

It was a bright and cloudless morning. Here they were, sitting on the tiles that were making up the floor of the Lookout, while Mr. Popo was watering the plants growing next to the temple. In the meditation pose, they were kind of stuck in the same spot for hours now, while Dende was explaining to Ayu all the details and requirements needed for learning the healing technique. As much as she understood, it wasn't that hard - but it was a matter of dedication and resolve to pour out one's energy for the sake of another person. Not everyone could do that... There was also a slight chance that she was better suited to learning this, mostly because of her genes. Hearing again that she had some connection to the Namekian race was making her uneasy. Ayu didn't resent or like the idea - looking back it was kinda silly that she hasn't spotted the similarities before - but it all was still too new to her. The world decided to drop on her so many things and doubts, and the best thing she could do was to push them aside while trying to learn something useful. And yet she was reminded about it all again - as her power was a mix of mana and Ki that quite recently were unified into one type of energy. Like uneven strings that finally were weaved into one... She couldn't help but wonder if she was even capable of learning more than she already had.

"Would I..." Ayu's voice was full of doubt, yet there was hope in her tone. "Would I be able to heal others this way?" She joined her fingers, running her thumb against the palm of her hand. With a bit of energy, the marks on her skin resurfaced, staying there as she intended. A lot has changed since her outburst, but for now, she needed to be careful. The last thing that she would want, was to lose the bit of the control she gained lately and show that she wasn't worth the Guardian's teaching. Baby steps. Baby steps...

"Not everyone can possess an affinity for healing, but I'm certain that you have what's needed to master this ability," Dende placed his hand on Ayu's back in a reassuring manner. All this time she tried her best to tune her energy to his every time he was trying to heal her. Ayu was a perfectly healthy individual now, but the building up energy was still putting pressure on her body and even if nothing hurt, from time to time she could feel the headaches approaching... So while Dende was slowly healing the tension inside her head, Ayu tested her abilities, trying to match the resonance of her Ki to this sensation. So far it wasn't easy. The older Namekian opend his hand. "Now, let's try again," he encouraged her calmly. "Synchronize your energy with mine."

Ayu looked down at her hands, slowly curling them into fists. When she started to use the energy months ago the tips of her fingers would light up with a warm gleam... And with time the glow was growing stronger than ever. Perhaps it was a sign. Now the light was soft and welcoming, but in the same way, it was also becoming more intense. Was her Ki maturing? Was she developing the control she lacked before? Ayu was aware of what danger her unpolished and untamed energy was, but that was still an enigma that needed to be solved. Learning how to heal, how to finally be able to use that Ki swirling inside her for good - that was all she has ever wanted. With a deep breath, she straightened her posture, making sure that she was sitting comfortably and Ayu reached her hand to place it on Dende's open palm. Now, to completely focus on the current of energy and its mission.

It sounded only easy in theory... But truth was that even before reaching Lookout Ayu was able to change the properties of her energy to achieve a certain effect. Be it for cleansing something that was in contact with poison or making someone sleepy, she knew how the algorithm worked. It sounded similar, isn't it? The whole procedure here didn't feel that different, yet at the same time, she felt a knot in her stomach. Healing was important.

Pouring her energy into another living organism to mend the wounds, to ease the pain, to fix the trauma that was running deep inside one's body... It sounded amazing, but the responsibility that was laying here was heavy. Is that how doctors feel when they are fighting for the lives of their patients? Ayu's breathing was slow and shallow when the energy around her started to create golden, gleaming particles, not bigger than dust. Adjusting her Ki to flow freely in someone's else body wasn't simple or quick. At first, that is, she needed to get a hand of it before anything else. Maybe her power was great, but she still lacked in many things... Because even if Ayu would master this ability, what if she won't be good enough? Her control wasn't great, she was getting often too nervous and skittish - and if practice makes perfect... Maybe with time, it would get easier, but who knows? If someone's life would lay in her hands, there be no time for dilemmas and uncertainty. That's why above everything else, she needed to polish that skill - after mastering it of course. There are so many people Ayu could help... Time won't take her back to let her save those she couldn't have a chance of aiding before - but it was reassuring to know there was one more thing she could do for others. She could stop being so... Helpless.

The tips of Ayu's fingers became hot while she was trying to tune her energy to Dende's to make sure that it would be able to heal. It was a curious sensation reminding her of listening to the gentle whisper of plants but instead of flora, she was feeling the energy itself. The hue, the sensation, and the intensity, all played a role. The whole process of changing the properties of her Ki was complicated. Energy in its purest form was often shot out in the simplest form of a blast with a meaning to harm. Just that. Ayu knew enough, she saw Liari's training or could tell sensing a conflict from afar, that Ki was almost always used in fights. Most warriors were able to do that... But to change the course of the Ki and actually have it heal? It wasn't as simple as patching a wound or sewing a cut or applying an ointment on the bruise. Ayu's energy had to seep into the body, mending the broken and damaged cells. Rebuild the missing parts of bone and muscles, stopping the bleeding... It's what she was doing before with herbs, using them as medicine to aid others. But now it would be possible to skip the weeks of recovery, simply by adjusting her Ki...

That was both fascinating and scary at the same time. As Ayu was meditating, her eyes closed and the gentle flow of energy created the breeze that tickled her hair, it felt like she finally reached the required point. Her hand, resting on Dende's dark green palm began to heat up when the Ki started to rise slowly and steadily. The sensation was similar to sending a wave made of energy, one after another, matching the beating heart.

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Power Level - 227,040
[ST1] Heal - Week 1/2
Word Count - 1,747