When I came down for breakfast the following day, I had two surprises waiting for me in the on room. The first was Domenid Aurustiing breakfast in the inn, with the baby in a basket on a chair beside them. The innkeeper served them breakfast in the gssware I sold, and for some reason, it made me feel very pleased.

  The sed surprise was that the on room acked—I didn’t think the town had that many people—and the innkeeper told me they were all waiting for me. I felt a bit intimidated, but I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and said, “Please arrange yourselves by order of severity. Take into at that it takes … [do they have minutes here?] … ahm, it takes some time to heal a person. So if you are ter in line, leave aurn ter. Also, I’m not sure I’ll have enough mana for everybody today, so some will have to return in two days. I will start after breakfast.”

  While I ate my breakfast, they figured out the order in which I should receive them, and did it in a good-natured manner without arguments, which was nice. I finished eating and started seeing them one by one.

  The first man had a broken arm—Heal Bone, and he was fine. He gave me 5 coppers, we thanked each other, and he left.

  “!”

  A dy with a burnt hand—Healing Touch, and she was fine. She gave me a duck with a strange wide beak as payment. I held it in my hands, feeling its warm, feathery body wriggle slightly. It looked at me with those beady eyes, opes beak, a out a loud, indignant quack. I stared at it, pletely at a loss.

  “What am I supposed to do with a duck?” I muttered under my breath, half expeg the duck to answer. It quacked again, louder this time, as if to say, “Figure it out yourself!”

  The people in the room chuckled, and I felt my face heat. I looked around, hoping someone would give me a clue. The duck, oblivious to my distress, fpped its wings a bit, nearly slipping out of my grasp.

  “Uh, does anyone need a duck?” I called out, feeling more and more ridiculous by the sed. The duck quacked again, and I could swear it was mog me now. “Anyone? Fresh duck here, very lively!”

  The ughter in the room grew, and even the dy who gave me the duck had a smile tugging at her lips. I could see her trying not to ugh at my predit. The innkeeper, bless his soul, finally came to my rescue.

  “I’ll keep it for you,” he said, stepping forward and taking the duck from my hands. The duck quacked o time, almost as if it was saying goodbye, aled into the innkeeper’s arms.

  “Thank you,” I said, relieved to be rid of the bird. “!”

  A man with a herniated disc—I cast Healing Touch, but it did nothing. Hmm. I didn’t think Heal Muscle or Bone would help here; the disc is her. I used Diago get a better uanding of his dition.

  I closed my eyes and focused on the spell, feeling the mana flow through me and into the man’s body. The image of his spine appeared in my mind, highlighting the problem area. The herniated disc ressing against a nerve, causing infmmation and pain. The disc protrusion straihe surrounding muscles and slightly misalighe nearby vertebrae.

  Armed with this information, I got an idea: I split my mind into three and parallel cast Healing Touch, Heal Bone, and Heal Muscle. The three-lit was still hard for me, and I felt my mind “shaking” from the strain, but I persisted.

  There was an improvement. The pressure on the nerve reduced slightly, and I could see the infmmation subsiding. His grimace of pain softened, araightened up a bit, gingerly testing his movement. I watched him closely, noting the subtle ges. His posture improved, and the tightness around his eyes and mouth eased. It wasn’t a plete transformation, but it was a start.

  Enced, I performed another round of the triple spell. This time, he sighed in relief, flexing his back more fidently. The muscles around the affected area rexed, and the vertebrae began to realign. He bent forward slowly, then side to side, eaent more fluid tha. He looked at me, eyes wide with astonishment.

  “It’s gettier,” he said, a mixture of disbelief and hope in his voice.

  I nodded, focused oask. One more round of the spells, and this time, he stood up straight, took a deep breath, and twisted his torso without apparent disfort. The diso longer pressed against the nerve, and the surrounding tissue had healed signifitly.

  “How does it feel now?” I asked, watg his face closely for any signs of lingering pain.

  He moved his ba various dires, testing the full range of motion. “It feels…normal. No pain.” He sounded almost shocked, as if he couldn’t believe it was real. “Thank you.”

  He handed me a silver , looking apologetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d use so much mana. This is all I have.”

  I smiled, shaking my head. “It’s fine. You don’t o give me more mohank you.”

  As he walked away, I pondered his ent. So people sense how much mana I’m using? That’s iing. I filed the information for ter, ready to move on to the patient.

  “!”

  An elderly dy with paicer and cer metastases in several locations in her body—I cast Diagnosis a sed time to get a clear picture of the extent of her illness. The spell revealed tumors scattered throughout her pancreas, liver, and lymph nodes. Each was a dark, malignant mass, leeg life from her body.

  I cast Healing Tou oasis, but it didn’t work. The cer was too aggressive for a simple healing spell. I o be more strategic. I bined my spells: One part Healing Touch, one Purify, and one Fortify Life Force.

  Immediately, I saw an improvement. The malignant cells iargeted metastasis broke apart, and the healthy cells around it rejuvenated and pushed out the cerous ones. Enced, I moved to the metastasis, repeating the process. The tumors shrank uhe bined assault of the three spells, healthy tissue regeing in their pce.

  I worked oastases one by one, meticulously eradig each malignant growth. Her breathing became steadier, and her skin, which had been pale and sallow, took on a healthier hue. The most challenging part was the primary tumor in her pancreas. It was deeply embedded and more resistant.

  I focused all my energy, splitting my mind into three distinct els: Healing Touend the damaged tissues, Purify to se the malignant cells, and Fortify Life Force to bolster her body’s natural defenses. Gradually, the tumor shrank, ahy paic cells regeed.

  During the entire healing process, tears streamed down my cheeks. I could feel the strain on my mana reserves, but more profoundly, I felt the emotional weight of my as. Memories of Sophie flooded my mind, and the tears flowed freely.

  When I was done, I cast repeated Fortify Life Fortil her cells looked healthy and vibrant. I wasn’t sure if I had healed the cer food, but for now, I had healed her. I wiped my tears and told her softly, “You’re healed.”

  She looked at me with wide, watery eyes. “Why are y, dear?”

  I took a shaky breath. “My wife died from the disease I healed in you. It happened before I got my healing ability, so I couldn’t help her. I am happy I could help you, but it’s sad to heal somebody else from the disease that killed her.”

  She hugged me gently, her frail arms surprisingly strong. “I lost my husband five years ago,” she whispered. “It does get better and easier with time, I promise.”

  She gave me a gold , her hand lingering on mine momentarily. “Thank you,” she said, her voice full of gratitude.

  I nodded, uo speak, and watched as she left, her steps lighter than when she arrived. I took a mio recover, drank some water, and dried my face.

  “!” I called, ready to tinue.

  A toddler with a stomach bug was . The little boy ale, ging to his mother’s skirt, his eyes dull and tired. His mother, looking equally worried, approached me.

  “ you heal him?” she asked, desperation in her voice.

  I crouched down to the toddler’s level, giving him a reassuring smile before looking up at his mother. “I could heal him,” I said gently, “but it would be much better for his immune system if he rode it out.”

  She frowned, clearly fused. “What do you mean?”

  I stood up and looked around. Everyone nearby had the same puzzled expression. I realized I o expin in simpler terms. Clearing my throat, I addressed the mother and the crowd.

  “Think of a virus like a tiny invader,” I began, miming a little creature with my fingers. “When it gets into the body, the body has soldiers called the immune system. These soldiers fight the invader and learn how to defeat it.”

  The mother still looked unsure, so I tinued, “If I heal him now, his body won’t learn how to fight this invader on its own. It’s like if someone else always fights your battles for you. Your soldiers never get stronger or smarter.”

  The mother’s eyes widened in uanding. Some onlookers nodded, looking thoughtful.

  “But if you let his body fight the virus,” I said, “his immune system – those soldiers – will learn aronger. ime a simir invader es, his body will know how to beat it faster aer.”

  She looked down at her son, then back at me. “So it’s good for him to be sick?”

  I smiled softly. “In a way, yes. It’s hard to see him like this, but letting his body fight the virus will help him bee stronger.”

  The mother nodded slowly, uanding dawning in her eyes. She thanked me, and with a final grateful look, left with her son. The surrounding crowd seemed impressed, some murmuring amongst themselves, clearly having learned something new.

  “!” I called out, ready for the patient.

  A man with crutches hobbled up to me . His leg was clearly in terrible shape and moved with difficulty.

  I frowned in , casting Diago get a clearer picture. “Y,” I began, “it broke in five pces and healed wrong.”

  He nodded, grimag. “Yeah, it’s been like this for a while.”

  I took a deep breath, preparing to expin. “I fix it, but I’ll o operate on it. This means I’ll have to re-break the bone a properly.”

  His eyes widened in arm. “Re-break it? That sounds… painful.”

  I nodded sympathetically. “It will be, but I have a spell for that. I will make you fall asleep to ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Ohe bone is set correctly, I’ll use healing spells to speed up the recovery.”

  He looked thoughtful, then nodded. “Okay, I uand.”

  I tinued, “I’ll do the operation in two days. Until then, I need you to eat and drink as much as possible. Your body needs a good reserve of nutrients to help with the healing process.”

  He gave a small, determined smile. “Got it. I’ll do that.”

  I cpped him on the shoulder, giving him an encing look. “You’re doing the right thing. We’ll get you fixed up soon.”

  He thanked me and moved aside, his hope renewed. I turned back to the crowd.

  “!” I called out, ready for the patient.

  A man with a bad liver—two Healing Touch, and he was okay. I told him, “You are healed for now, but if you tinue drinking, the problem will return.”

  His wife spped the back of his head and said, “I told you not to drink so much.”

  “But I o check the mead before I sell it!”

  “You check with one cup, not one barrel.”

  He paid me with a small barrel of mead—no surprises there—a grumpy.

  “!”

  It tinued like this for a few hours until my mana was 260/4200. I had to tell seven people to return the day and reschedule three people for operations. The man with the crushed leg. A woman with a lot of scar tissues iestines after a knife wound I’d o remove to heal her. And a boy with a Deviated Nasal Septum. Despite my tiredness, I was feeling good. I enjoyed helping people, and it felt like I bahe karmic scale for the bandit I killed. I didn’t feel torn about it. He was a killer. But I was still from Earth—the justice system and all that.

  In this healing session, I made 9 gold, 4 silver, three coppers, a duck, two birds very simir to chis, a bag of some unfamiliar grain, a small barrel of mead, two sheets of tanned leather, a hammer, and a bucket of milk. The dy said the milk was the payment, but I o return the bucket. Stretch id cim to the milk, and I told him to enjoy. The red light started blinking during the day, but I ig until I was done. Now I had time to check.

  Level up+3 intelligence, +3 wisdom, +2 vitality, +3 free pointsCss: Healer Level 8Stat points: 3

  Level up+3 intelligence, +3 wisdom, +2 vitality, +3 free pointsCss: Healer Level 9Stat points: 6

  I did not know what to do with the spare stat points, so I bahem for now.

  That evening, Aurustine invited me to join them for dinner. We sat at a rge wooden table, the warm glow of the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. We ate and chatted, enjoying the hearty meal. As we finished our main course, Aurustine looked at me curiously.

  “How does a healer decide to bee a mert?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  I paused, a fork halfway to my mouth. “How did you know I’m also a mert?”

  He gave me a strange look and said, “You have the Iory Blessing.”

  I blinked in surprise. That’s why nobody reacted! Good to know.

  I quickly recovered and bluffed, setting my fork down. “ht! You saw me take things out of my iory; I fot about that.”

  Aurustine nodded, satisfied. “So, how did you decide to bee a mert?”

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to keep my story straight. “I’m from a mert family from the isnds in the south and got the css as a family tradition. After my wife died, I decided to go traveling to overy grief. In my travels, I met people who were hurt and tried to help them as much as I could. At some point, the Blessed Spirits also blessed me with the healer css. So I’m a mert that became a healer, not vice versa.” I hoped it sounded logical.

  “Yes, that makes sense,” Aurustine said, nodding thoughtfully. “It is the only way to get the healer css, to heal people with pure iion without expectations. That is why this css is so rare.”

  Phew! I’m nailing this “hide you are a Traveler” business!

  Aurustine leaned forward, intrigued. “Did y your family’s wares to sell?”

  “Yes,” I replied, taking a sip of my drink.

  “ you show us?” Domenica asked, her eyes sparkling with i.

  I summoned a couple of ornate vases, a beautiful a tea set I found in a thrift store, and a few ese ceramic figurihey admired them one by oheir faces lighting up with delight. Domenica picked up a delicate figuriurning it over in her hands with awe.

  “These are exquisite,” she murmured.

  I smiled and tio show them the “high-end” products I had from gss and por. They admired all of them, exg about their beauty and artistry. When there was no more spa the table, they whispered between themselves for a moment.

  Aurustine looked up at me, apologetic. “We want to buy everything, but we have only 750 gold left and need some for our jourell us what we get for 700 gold, and e visit us in Mara to sell my wife’s family more beautiful creations, or visit us in Somer the season, and I will buy more for us.”

  I thought for a miapping my . I decided that I really liked them and didn’t want to fleece them too badly. “You have all this and one more thing for 500 gold.” I took out a delicate gold with a sapphire teardrop pendant and ha to Domenica. She looked at it with hearts in her eyes.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful,” she gasped, holding it to the light. I knew she would; whenever I saw her, she wore blue, so I chose it.

  They tried to refuse, but their hearts weren’t in it; they really wahe stuff. I was okay with this price; everything e about 200, and the pendant and were a “gift” from my mother-in-w.

  Looting for the win!

  Domenica looked up at me, a soft smile on her face. “What was your wife’s name?”

  “Sophia, but I called her Sophie,” I replied, my voice softening with the memory.

  “It’s a beautiful and unusual name,” she said, patting my haly.

  “Yes, she was a beautiful and unusual woman,” I said, feeling a lump in my throat.

  She patted my hand and said, “Time heals all pains.”

  I guessed some sayings are universal in the broad sense of the word—with slight local variations.

  We finished our dinner and said goodnight, and I took Stret a bike ride irailer. I was busy all day and didn’t spend time with him; he deserved my attention.

  Wheurned from the ride, the royal guards were waiting for me he inn. Stretch trotted alongside me, his tail wagging tentedly.

  “Excuse me, healer,” one guard said, stepping forward with a pained expression. He clutched his stomach, grimag. “I’ve got a terrible belly ache.”

  I nodded, motioning for him to sit on a nearby bench. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.” I cast Diagnose, watg the spell reveal the source of his disfort.

  “It looks like you have mild food poisoning,” I said, my brow furrowing in tration. “What did you eat today?”

  He wihinking back. “Just some jerky from my rations.”

  I cast Healing Touch, fog on his digestive system. He sighed in relief as the pain subsided. “You should throw out that jerky,” I advised. “It’s likely spoiled.”

  He nodded gratefully. “Thank you, healer.”

  As he stood up, the uards approached, and one of them said. “We heard you have some wares for sale. We want to buy some things for our wives and families.”

  I smiled, nodding. “Of course. What are you looking for?”

  “Nothing too fancy,” anuard said. “Just some good quality household goods and maybe a few pieces of jewelry.”

  I led them over to a table and began summoning various items from my iory. I id out a sele of household goods: finely crafted kit utensils, beautiful woven baskets, and a few sturdy, hand-carved wooden bowls. The guards ied the items, nodding appreciatively.

  , I dispyed an assortment of silver jewelry adorned with semi-precious stones. “These are lovely,” one guard said, pig up a neckd holding it to the light. “My wife will love this.”

  As they selected their purchases, I totaled up the cost, and my earnings from them were 183 gold and 2 silver.

  “Thank you,” one guard said, pocketing his purchases. “These are perfect.”

  I watched them leave, their faces filled with satisfa. Curious, I looked into my ste. Despite the sales, it still didn’t evehe amount of stuff I had. I chuckled, knowing I’d have plenty more opportuo sell my wares.

  The following day, at breakfast, I sat at a wooden table in the inn’s on room, sav a warm bowl of pe. Domenid Aurustine approached, their faces beaming with joy.

  “Good m,” I greeted them, smiling.

  “Good m,” Domenica replied, her voice filled with excitement. “We wao tell you something.”

  Aurustine nodded, pg a gentle hand on Domenica’s shoulder. “We decided to call our baby girl Sophia,” he said. “We loved the name, and wao thank you for saving both mother and child.”

  I felt a lump form in my throat, deeply moved by their gesture. “That’s an amazing honor,” I mao say, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  I took out a beautiful gold bracelet adorned with diamonds. “This beloo my wife, Sophie,” I expined, handing it to Domenica. “She called it her ‘lucky bracelet.’ I feel like our meeting was guided by Luck, so I want baby Sophia to have all the Lu the world.”

  Domenica’s eyes filled with tears as she accepted the bracelet. She hugged me tightly, whisperihanks. I returhe hug, feeling the warmth of her gratitude.

  After the embrace, I cast Fortify Life For Domenid the baby, ensuring their health. Then, I reached into my iory, remembering the items I had bought for kids and babies.

  “Wait, I have something else for you,” I said, pulling out a fluffy pink baby b with big yellow flowers. I ha to Domenica, who smiled as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric.

  , I took out a Pooh Bear plushie and ha to Aurustihis is for baby Sophia,” I said, watg as he squeezed the bear gently.

  I tinued, pulling out a few onesies and expining to Domenica how to put them on the baby. She listetentively, nodding as I demonstrated.

  Last, I took out a tinkling baby mobile with stars and clouds. “This is a mobile,” I expined, showing them how it worked. “It’s to hang above her crib.”

  I put everything in a lovely white wicker basket with a handle and prese to them. “This is my birthday gift to baby Sophia,” I said.

  Domenid Aurustine looked overwhelmed. “This is too much,” Domenica protested, trying to hand back the basket. “We ’t accept su expensive aravagant gift.”

  I shook my head, smiling. “Please, I want you to have it. It means a lot to me.”

  They finally capituted, thanking me profusely. After breakfast, they prepared to leave, tinuing their jouro Domenica’s parents. Before they left, they invited me to visit them in both kingdoms.

  I felt lighter, like I had e full circle and found some closure. Something in me felt like it unched, and a wave of relief passed over my body. It was a really Lucky enter.