MAGICIAL ITEM: Resting Stones

There is no greater healing power than love.

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Among those with skills for healing, time can be a double-edged sword. Few, even among the mägo, can control the ebb and flow of time, often affecting the chances of survival and recovery.

 During the War of Shadow, several among the royal healers of the Evolu sought to alter that ebb and flow. To find a way to save their people, who were being captured, tortured and slaughtered by the enemy. They needed a way to capsulate both the body and mind, to allow for natural healing to occur.

…of to provide critical time for healers to perform their own magic.

Though forms of Necromancy provided means to tamper with life and death, only forms of light were considered. 

The Evolu Find A Way

Unlike other races, the Evolu discovered great value in applying their knowledge of magic with other professions among their race. In the City of Waters, many of the greatest healers have been trained initially in the University of Magic. Some of these, in turn, dedicated their lives to the application of their magic to the healing arts.

Known as the Order Of The Hand, some learned to stretch the bounds of recuperation, regeneration, and recovery. Employed by the Omethiä, Omäthä, and Omä-es, the practicing ‘Hand’ are rumored to do the impossible.

Truth Was The Only Way

Natural law does not allow for consequences to be ignored. Healers did discover that as a citizen who committed a crime could avoid judgement for a time, illnesses and wounds could also be held at bay. A way to redirect pain and damage.

As one citizen could pay a debt for another, or accept a judgement for one they loved, so could healers take upon themselves the pain and suffering of another. Those of focus and dedication could suffer by proxy, allowing a patient time for their body to rest, repair, and rebuild.

This is accomplished through a Vähentää, or mitigation / reduction stone, often referred to as a ‘resting stone’.

How A Stone Is Created

A resting stone is created by utilizing a placid gem. Round and nearly flat, this white gem has the ability to hold a magical charge. This makes the gem perfect for enchanting, requiring specific etchings across its surface.

The stone is then ‘assigned’ to a member of the Order as a steward of healing. This is not taken lightly. Only those of the greatest health, clarity of mind, and focused spirit are considered. A single drop of pure blood, from the steward is required for the enchantment. This must be given of their own free will, and not taken from them. This offering and sacrifice seals the connection to the gem.

The blood is inserted by a magic convocation. 

The exact number of mägo required is not spoken of, and it is unlawful to utter the ceremony outside of the healing shrine.

What we do know is that each steward possesses a single stone. Upon it is written their individual ‘prayer’, which connects the resting stone to whomever they administer to. 

How A Stone Is Used

There are no common uses for a Vähentää or resting stone.

Given to the greatest of healers, the power of a resting stone lays with the Steward. For when a stone is used on one who suffers, that suffering is shared.

Tear for tear, pain for pain, blood for blood.

When the secret prayer is uttered and the Steward places the resting stone over the I AM, they who suffer are never alone. The pain and suffering is then mitigated to the healer, taking stress off both the body and mind of the patient. How is this done?

It is done through love.

Only love has the power to sustain, endure, encourage, protect, nourish, and heal when all else fails. 

That is why only those who can love a soul, without judgement, without hesitation, without limit, without being loved in return can be a Steward of a Vähentää.

Leave a comment or ask a question. I love talking worldbuilding!

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Paid subscribers can comment, access the archive of this site, along with other stories, art, and any article I’ve ever written. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial OR earn a paid membership by joining the referral program! Contact me if you need our ‘hardship scholarships’ — used for military, first responders, homeschoolers and those in countries with horrible exchange rates — we have a deeeep discount for you.