Chapter 15:  Healing Maru
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"She's hurt," Hao said to the nearest of the townspeople, who were still
staring at them in something akin to fright.  "Where's your town healer?"

"He was killed by the Light of Judgement from Kefka's tower," one of the
older ladies said.  "My daughter, Circe is training to take his place,
but since magic is gone...."

"Magic is gone?" Maru asked suddenly.  "What do you mean?"

"With the destruction of Kefka and the Statues, all magic has ceased to
exist on this planet," the old lady replied.  "In my opinion that's how
it should be.  People have just gotten too greedy when magic was around."

"Where is your daughter?" Hao asked, bringing them back onto the subject.

"Oh, yes," the old woman replied.  "Follow me."

With Hao helping Maru they headed for the old woman's home.  In the back
yard, they found a young lady, girl really, tending to some herbs.

"Circe," the old woman said.  "This lady needs your help."

"Yes, mother," Circe replied as she stood and came towards them.  As Maru
extended her arm Circe took it and examined the burns on her wrist.
"Hmm, these are mighty nasty burns.  Come into the house and I'll see
what I can do for you."

Once in the house, Circe began rummaging through many diferent vials.
Finally, she picked up one containing a yellowish liquid.  "Now this may
sting a little," she warned as she pulled off the stopper.  Grabbing
Maru's arm she began to pour it into the palm of Maru's hand.

As soon as the solution had hit her hand, Maru winced in pain and
instinctively tried to pull her hand away, only to find that Circe had a
firm grip on it and wasn't intending on letting go.  In just a few
seconds the pain had subsided and Maru was amazed to see that even the
blisters had began to go down.

"Wow!" Hao gasped.  "That stuff works fast, what is it?"

"It's a secret of Tzen," Circe replied.  Then she turned to Maru, "You'll
find that that will be all healed up by tomorrow."

"Thank you," Maru replied.  "Is there an inn in the town where we can
spend the night?"

"Why not stay the night here?" the old lady suggested.  "I've not had
visitors from the outside in a long time."

"We wouldn't want to impose," Hao began.

"It's no bother," the old woman assured him.  "In fact, I'm quite sure
it'll cheer me up to have more young people around here, even if it's
only for one night."

"Okay," Maru said.  "We accept."