---

Work at a hospital is a very busy thing, and today was no different. Nurses and doctors ran to and fro, bringing medicine to infected patients, and life saving surgeries to those who were injured. While Monica couldn't perform major surgeries, she did have minor experience with a scalpel, and has seen many surgeries preformed by her superiors.

What Monica could do, however, was deliver and administer medicine. Everything from antibiotics and blood thinners, to antivenom and hanging up IV's full of blood and chemical cocktails. And that's what she was doing today. Pushing carts full of supplies around the various floors and helping out patients who needed water, or had questions. Or sometimes, with the older patients, just a little bit of talking.

Monica was doing what she did best, walking to her own quick beat, when she ran into Dr.Edwards, and asked him if he needed anything. Things had somewhat calmed down over the past few hours, but she knew she should never say the "Q" word out loud. It's bad juju in hospitals, and she found that out the hard way.

"Ah, Dr. Edwards! I just finished up with the patient in room 3. You need anything else while I'm around?" "Actually, yes. You remember John, the patient in room 6 who arrived just a couple hours ago? His saline bag needs replaced. I'd appreciate it if you could get him a new one." "Yes doctor."

Monica gave him a quick nod, and began walking towards the storage area to grab a bag of saline. John was a patient that had been suffering dehydration after getting lost in the woods. The doctors said he just needed some rest and water, and he'd be good to go. Monica entered the storage room, and grabbed a bag of the salt infused water.

Monica White

---

...

Monica have him a quick nod, and began walking towards the storage area to grab a bag of saline. John was a patient that had been suffering dehydration after getting lost in the woods. The doctors said he just needed some rest and water, and he'd be good to go. Monica entered the storage room, and grabbed a bag of the salt infused water.

John was a frail old man who wore very simple clothing and a short, but full, white beard. When Monica entered his room, his eyes were closed and he was terribly still. At first glance, one would think he was dead. But looking more carefully, she could see the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Quietly, Monica went about her business, changing his bag.

As she finished, as her hands lowered from the new IV, John's eyes opened. "Thank you child." Something was off about the way he said even those few words. His voice didn't sound tired at all. In fact, if she wasn't looking at the old man, he could have easily passed for thirty years younger. "Can I ask you a question? ... What do you like most about your job?"

---

That was odd. John didn't quite sound right. Maybe it was just the dehydration talking at that point. She'd had patients talk funny before, so she paid him little mind. But she did catch his question.

"What do I like most about my job huh?" Monica put her hand to her chin and thought deeply. "Hm... Well, if I had to say, it's probably because I like helping people. That and I've always liked medicine. It's a strange thing, medicine, just a simple chemical can completely reverse disease and death. I suppose that really, deep down, I like to see people get better."

And that was true. Monica took in sheer delight at the premise of fixing others. Maybe she should get into surgery? No, no, her hands weren't nearly steady enough. Medicine would do for now. But then she thought about her future. Was this what she really wanted? She felt like she could do more. She loves what she does, but she always felt like there was... more she could do. But what?

Monica White

---

...

And that was true. Monica took in sheer delight at the premise of fixing others. Maybe she should get into surgery? No, no, her hands weren't nearly steady enough. Medicine would do for now. But then she thought about her future. Was this what she really wanted? She felt like she could do more. She loves what she does, but she always felt like there was... more she could do. But what?

The old man nodded along as Monica answered his question. He could tell she was being honest, but this he knew already. He thought back to when he first saw her, not far from the hospital, a couple days prior. The two had simply passed each other on the street, and in that brief passing, he felt her hidden talents.

That was when he made his little plan. He placed a magic tracer on the girl to see where she worked and when she would work next. Then all he needed was a spell to make himself appear older and dehydrated. This second part was easier to accomplish than the first, because as a water wizard, all he had to do was will the water to leave his body.

Now, laying in bed before this young woman, the time had come to reveal himself. "That is wonderful to hear." He said, as he sat up in his bed. "What if I told you there were more ways than you know to help others, to heal them?" Such a cryptic question was hard to answer right away. Plus the old man probably shouldn't be sitting up in bed, one would think.

While Monica was deciding how to proceed, 'John' looked over to his IV bag. As he did, the bag started draining, much quicker than it should be. It was as if his arm was sucking up the water, and as this was happening, the man's face began to loose its wrinkles. He was becoming younger, right before her eyes. As the bag was sucked of its last drop, he let out an exaggerated sigh, like someone who had just taken a large gulp of water.

He then removed the IV quicker than she could stop him and smiled. "If you want to know more. All you have to do is find me." With those final words, something inexplicable happened. In a puff of smoke, 'John' disappeared. Actually, it was more like mist or steam, but in any case, he was gone now. His clothes were left behind, and Monica was left aghast.

---

Eden stood in the courtyard of her small little shrine. She had just arrived back today and felt like a fish back in water; sure, studying physics was fun and all but this was where she really belonged. In the place she grew up in, accompanied only by herself and her gods. A smile graced her face, lighting up her features as she spotted the old well she had thrown so many coins into.

Though they were already short on cash her grandmother never complained, unlike her parents who dug into her for everything she did. Luckily, they wouldn’t be able to reach her here. They only had to hire someone to put a couple thousand in her account a week and could forget all about her. If she was being honest, Eden thought the amount was insanely high, but it would make her parents poorer and help her renovate the Shrine so it felt like a win-win for her.

She took in the familiar view as the nostalgia hit her, the little red shrine was the exact same as it always had been. Well, more or less. It was a lot dirtier and parts of it looked like they were about to fall down.... Well, she can fix it later. Eden stubbornly ignored the damage, not wanting to face the reality that this place was not the same as it always had been. She made a mental note to spend the first payment on fixing it up and getting WiFi installed as began walking, her suitcase crunching over fallen leaves behind her. She opened the door with a nostalgic smile, speaking quietly as she took in the familiar sight, “I’m back, grandma.”

Eden Tal

---

...

... She made a mental note to spend the first payment on fixing it up and getting WiFi installed as began walking, her suitcase crunching over fallen leaves behind her. She opened the door with a nostalgic smile, speaking quietly as she took in the familiar sight, “I’m back, grandma.”

If the shrine were larger and not made of wood, Eden surely would have heard an echo. As it was however, she was greeted by nothing more than silence. And so, after an appropriate moment of silence, she continued her way into the shrine to get her things settled.

It was a dull and lonely first night, as Eden had nothing else to do than wipe dust off old furniture and sweep up. She was getting ready for bed when the distant sound of thunder began to rumble the small shack. Would the shrine hold up if it rained hard? She had to wonder.

But strangely enough, the rain never came. Even as the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning become more frequent and intense, not a single drop fell from the sky. Then, with one final crash and blinding flash, it all stopped. Naturally, Eden went out to the front door of the shrine to look, to make sure everything outside was okay. Luckily, all seemed well. Besides a few small tree limbs that had fallen in the wind, there wasn't much damage to be seen, not in the dark of night at least. Most importantly, there were no wildfires due to lightning strikes and no rain.

As Eden walked back into the shrine, a soft glow caught her eye, a glow that wasn't there before she stepped outside. It was her grandmother. She stood in the corner of the main sitting area. A pale-gold light emanated from her body, as she wore the same robes that Eden had last remembered her in. She wasn't see through like some sort of ghost; she was solid, unmistakably there.

"Welcome back, little one." 'Little one', that was something Eden hadn't heard in a while. It was what her grandmother had always called her, even after she'd outgrown the small woman.

<Snipped quote by Suneli>

If the shrine were larger and not made of wood, Eden surely would have heard an echo. As it was however, she was greeted by nothing more than silence. And so, after an appropriate moment of silence, she continued her way into the shrine to get her things settled.

It was a dull and lonely first night, as Eden had nothing else to do than wipe dust off old furniture and sweep up. She was getting ready for bed when the distant sound of thunder began to rumble the small shack. Would the shrine hold up if it rained hard? She had to wonder.

But strangely enough, the rain never came. Even as the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning become more frequent and intense, not a single drop fell from the sky. Then, with one final crash and blinding flash, it all stopped. Naturally, Eden went out to the front door of the shrine to look, to make sure everything outside was okay. Luckily, all seemed well. Besides a few small tree limbs that had fallen in the wind, there wasn't much damage to be seen, not in the dark of night at least. Most importantly, there were no wildfires due to lightning strikes and no rain.

As Eden walked back into the shrine, a soft glow caught her eye, a glow that wasn't there before she stepped outside. It was her grandmother. She stood in the corner of the main sitting area. A pale-gold light emanated from her body, as she wore the same robes that Eden had last remembered her in. She wasn't see through like some sort of ghost; she was solid, unmistakably there.

"Welcome back, little one." 'Little one', that was something Eden hadn't heard in a while. It was what her grandmother had always called her, even after she'd outgrown the small woman.

---

As Eden looked around outside she looked a bit confused, she had rarely ever seen thunder without storms here and it would most always end in something nearby burning. She didn't put much thought into it though, it was best not to question gods gifts. She looked up at the sky for a few moments more, seeing nothing out of the ordinary she turned and hurried back inside.

She was about to return to cleaning up the shrine, when she noticed the strange glow out of the corner of her eyes. She was never one to be scared of unnatural things, she was a shrine maiden for christ sake. Her lack of fear for the supernatural and the calmness in her that could never seem to be disturbed brought her towards the light, hoping to figure out what was going on.

The figure became clear as soon as those words exited her mouth, the towel she had been holding fell to the floor as she stared in disbelief at the woman she recognized to be her grandmother. Trembling fingers reached towards the old woman, Eden couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Ma? Is... Is that you?" Her breath hitched in her throat as she began speaking, then, the first tear rolled down her cheek, all the others came flooding out like a tsunami. She knew she didn't look pretty right now, but she couldn't care for her appearance in such a moment. She rubbed her nose with her sleeve to try to stop the snot that was beginning to leak and forced herself to smile at her, this might be the last chance to see her, and Eden most certainly didn't want to leave her the image of a sniveling mess with snot running down her face.

Eden Tal

---

...

"Ma? Is... Is that you?" Her breath hitched in her throat as she began speaking, then, the first tear rolled down her cheek, all the others came flooding out like a tsunami. She knew she didn't look pretty right now, but she couldn't care for her appearance in such a moment. She rubbed her nose with her sleeve to try to stop the snot that was beginning to leak and forced herself to smile at her, this might be the last chance to see her, and Eden most certainly didn't want to leave her the image of a sniveling mess with snot running down her face.

The little old lady smiled, in that way Eden remembered. "Yes, it is me. I'm so happy to see you. Please, have a seat." She pointed at a small pillow on the floor, one of four surrounding a short wooden table. She then had a seat on the pillow opposite of the one she motioned toward.

As if reading Eden's thoughts, she smiled and laughed a little. "I don't need to sit, but you should. We have a lot to talk about. And it would be weird if you were then the only one sitting wouldn't it?"

Over the next hour or so, Eden's grandmother explained this precarious situation. She explained, that after her death, she remained at the shrine, protecting it with what magic she had left. Sure, she couldn't keep it clean or tend to the general maintenance of it, but she could still fend off evil spirits and other malicious forces.

This, of course, begged a different line of questioning. Magic... was real!?!? Sure, when Eden was little, she believed all the stories that her grandmother told her, stories of fairies living in the woods, angels in the skies, and a great deal more. But as Eden grew older, she came to realize this stories for what they were, metaphors and wise tales, meant to teach her valuable life lessons. But seeing her grandmother here now, in all her shining glory, Eden couldn't help but rethink her entire understanding of life. Of course, there was always the possibility that this was only a dream.

"I'm sorry if this comes as an unwelcome shock. You see, I wanted you to have a choice. I wanted you to experience the world outside this place. If you would have decided not to return, I would have understood. But now that you are here, I want to ask you..." Her eyes closed, as if considering whether or not she should speak her next words. Then they opened, and she continued. "Do you truly wish to be a shrine maiden? It is more than keeping a tidy place for people to come worship. It's much more than that, much more magical, but if can also be... much more dangerous."

---

"What in the Goddamn..."
Did... did that just happen? Monica stared at the now empty bed. "I... I think I need to take a tox screen..."

Find him? Where would she even begin to look? Running back the the front desk, looked up John's information. No ID, no adress, no family, no phone number, nothing. All she knew was that he was found out in the forest about a mile from here. Guess that's where she was headed.

About an hour after work, after she had gotten home she changed into her normal clothes, which consisted of some blue jeans and a brown button up jacket over a white collared shirt. Her friends always teased that she looked like belonged in an Indiana Jones movie.

After a quick drive to the edge of the forest, she exited her shiny silver car, and began walking out towards the forest's heart. The birds were quiet, but the insects were as loud as ever. And just as annoying. Having no bug spray, she was forced to march on. The walk seemed to last for ages, but her watch said only 20 minutes had passed. What was she even looking for anyways? A tent? A cabin? A... cave? Well, probably not that last one.

The air began to grow more and more humid as she progressed onwards, and the insects became less common. Her hair was beginning to stand on end. "Uh... John? Are you out here? Or am I in a fever dream and I need to see a doctor?"

Monica White

---

...

The air began to grow more and more humid as she progressed onwards, and the insects became less common. Her hair was beginning to stand on end. "Uh... John? Are you out here? Or am I in a fever dream and I need to see a doctor?"

It was getting late. The sun had just set. The forest's red glow, gave way to a deep blue sky. If she stayed out much longer, Monica would be walking in total darkness.

She was seriously considering turning around and heading home. That's when she noticed a feint glow, only noticeable because of the darkness. Following the light, she wound up at the edge of a large lake. On the other side the lake, she could see a small cabin. The lights from within the cabin were the lights she was seeing. On the front porch of that cabin, a bearded man sat in a rocking chair. His beard was full and dark, not white like the old man's from the hospital.

Still, he seemed to recognize her. He stood, from his rocking chair and shouted across the lake with surprising clarity. "You came! I thought you would at least be another day or two! Please, get over here! Have some dinner!"

Then, something truly astounding happened. The lake between them started bubbling, in a straight line from where she stood and where he stood. Then, from where the bubbles rose, wooden poles connected by rope soon followed. Finally, out of the water, the rest of the bridge emerged. It was just wide enough to that she could walk across with both hands outstretched to hold onto rope railings. "Watch your step! It's slippery!"