13.Jan.19, 04:49 AM
Verec hadn’t realized this interview was going to be a therapy session, but that seemed to be the case as Madiquel started talking about her suicidal father. He knew what she was talking about; the Healer Hall had admitted a fair number of those left behind by their dragons due to the plague. Mental healing was far from Verec’s specialty, but he’d ended up being drawn into the care of a lot of the dragonless because of his own mentor’s obsession with the dragon plague as well as the fact he got called in far to many times to provide emergency aid to those who tried to rejoin their dragons. It was hard enough to deal with as an adult, but as a child? With your own father? Couldn’t be easy on Madiquel.
Not that he would go easy on her because her life had been difficult. That did no one any favors in the long run, least of all her, but it did clarify how she was approaching Healing. It also showed that Madiquel had a fairly broad understanding of Healing — some students Verec knew had come to the Hall thinking they only healed illness and set broken bones. They had quickly been set straight. Verec was sure some of the Weyrfolk would be the same, but it was promising that at least one of them had a wider view of things.
“I am sorry about your father,” Verec said finally, “I have known dragonless riders, and I know some of what you have dealt with, though not as intimately. I imagine you have an understanding, then, that Healing does not always go well, and it is rarely easy. You are willing to put in the work, time, and effort to learn, knowing that you will not always succeed, that sometimes no matter how much you have trained there are things beyond your abilities? You understand this and still want to Apprentice here at the Hall?” No point being coy, this girl didn’t need it. She had a good idea of what she was getting into, though she would still have to adjust to the scale — many patients, as opposed to just one.
He waited quietly for her answers, watching her intently. Considering the girl’s determined look and the way she talked, Verec could guess the gist of them, but it was important that she confirm it aloud. Speaking it made it more real and strengthened convictions.
Not that he would go easy on her because her life had been difficult. That did no one any favors in the long run, least of all her, but it did clarify how she was approaching Healing. It also showed that Madiquel had a fairly broad understanding of Healing — some students Verec knew had come to the Hall thinking they only healed illness and set broken bones. They had quickly been set straight. Verec was sure some of the Weyrfolk would be the same, but it was promising that at least one of them had a wider view of things.
“I am sorry about your father,” Verec said finally, “I have known dragonless riders, and I know some of what you have dealt with, though not as intimately. I imagine you have an understanding, then, that Healing does not always go well, and it is rarely easy. You are willing to put in the work, time, and effort to learn, knowing that you will not always succeed, that sometimes no matter how much you have trained there are things beyond your abilities? You understand this and still want to Apprentice here at the Hall?” No point being coy, this girl didn’t need it. She had a good idea of what she was getting into, though she would still have to adjust to the scale — many patients, as opposed to just one.
He waited quietly for her answers, watching her intently. Considering the girl’s determined look and the way she talked, Verec could guess the gist of them, but it was important that she confirm it aloud. Speaking it made it more real and strengthened convictions.