16 End of Chapter Four || The New Earth (1/2)

”Ahh,” Essairyn breathed in understanding. ”So it's not unusual then.”

”No, but—” Chona started and then stopped when she saw her husband sitting up and fully conscious. She patted his thigh, asking, ”Banran, how're you feeling?”

Banran nodded his head in assurance. ”Very well actually. I feel like new right here.” He thumped his chest and smiled at the two of them.

Then he bowed gratefully at Essairyn and addressed her directly. ”Thank you so much, Essairyn. I couldn't have made it without you.”

”Actually, it was my first time healing someone, so I'm glad it worked out,” she replied sheepishly with a smile.

The couple was taken aback by her words.

”Your first time?” Banran exclaimed, and Essairyn nodded.

”I initially thought you were from Neu'arth because of your clothes, but have you not been in Sol'h'meyr long?” Chona asked.

”I haven't even heard of—” Essairyn paused and then continued questioningly, ”New-eh-arthe?”

”Neu'arth. It's the name of a region in As'pyze where humans predominately live. It got its name after Earth, the world you came from,” Chona explained and then added with a light chuckle, ”It was supposed to be called 'New Earth', but not all of the humans agreed upon an English name, and the natives wanted something in their language. In the end, they came to a compromise with Neu'arth.”

”English?” Essairyn echoed. She suddenly realized that she had been conversing with people without thinking about which language she was speaking. She hadn't perceived it until now, but she had spoken some words in English, her first language, while the rest, she had naturally spoken in the native language.

Essairyn gasped and covered her mouth, and then dropped her hands and exclaimed, ”Oh my goshhh!! I've been speaking the native language this entire time without even realizing it! How did that even happen? Is there some sort of magic that automatically translates speech here?”

The couple laughed heartily at Essairyn's excited outburst.

”Yes and no,” Banran clarified, ”Travelers can naturally speak and understand the native language when they arrive, so it makes sense you didn't realize it until now. Since I'm not a traveler; I don't know what it's like, but I suppose it must be like an automatic translator. Those who are born here, however, learn the languages in the typical way.”

”Wow, that's amazing,” remarked Essairyn.

”It definitely makes it easier for both sides to communicate,” agreed Banran.

Chona nodded and added, ”If you focus carefully, you can speak completely in either language. We actually both spoke the words 'English' and 'Earth' in your English language.”

Essairyn opened her mouth in a silent gasp. This world didn't cease to both amaze and daunt her. Despite all the danger she had faced since her arrival, she loved all the new discoveries and experiences.

As that notion passed her mind, she heard the scurries of small feet in the grass. She turned around and saw Jerry and Akari running up to them.

”Mom!! Dad!! I was so scared!” Jerry cried as he flung himself into the arms of his parents.

Chona rubbed the boy's back comfortingly, and Banran patted his head. Akari seated herself by Essairyn and looked up at her.

”You did a crazy thing trying to heal someone else for the first time. You could've died you know,” Akari admonished.

Essairyn chuckled. ”Is healing another person dangerous?”

”Not unless you're a healer which you clearly aren't.”

”But I healed him!” Essairyn protested.

”In the most unconventional way!” Akari countered. ”You mended his tissue and bone by creating new tissue and bone! You're supposed to amplify his magic with your own magic so he heals himself!”