“If the wound is not serious, it is best to allow the body to use its innate recuperative abilities.”
“Why is that so? C-Could problems arise…if one is frequently healed with magic?”
“Physically, no. It is the mind that is negatively affected. Once they believe that magic will heal them on demand, warriors tend to become reckless. They also lose their tolerance for pain and gradually become more dependent on the mages for relief. It is best to let them endure a bearable amount of pain. How else will they learn the price of getting hurt?”
Melric looked at her intently, his gaze shrewd.
“My lady, you must not heal people with magic whenever they ask. Magic is the blood of the soul. Using too much of it is bound to harm the user. You should cultivate the ability to gauge the severity of a wound, and only heal those who truly require your act of kindness. The moment a healer has it in their head that it is their duty to save everyone around them, their lives will be plagued with despair.”
Maxi found Melric’s words intriguing. Ruth had never offered her such advice. In fact, Ruth never hesitated to use magic, no matter the situation.
Melric, however, took a more cautious stance. Maxi was quick to realize that Melric’s method was a more efficient way for her to use her meager mana supply. Thus, she promptly instated him as her advisor and learned all sorts of things from him every day.
He taught her the effects of various herbs, how to treat different kinds of wounds, and conducted lessons on magic. He was not as well versed in complex runes as Ruth, but he was an expert in manipulating mana. With a new mentor, Maxi’s abilities improved rapidly. She succeeded in creating a sturdy barrier by harnessing the earth and managed to accelerate the speed of her mana circulation, thereby strengthening her spells.
As she markedly improved as a mage and a healer, Anatol also went through rapid changes.
The road construction was almost over, and suntanned merchants from the south came in droves. They inspected the remaining construction and promised generous support for the port expansion. It was an investment to open the fastest route to the Western Continent.
The estate grew from a rural village to a city, and it was so bustling with energy that it was almost hard to believe that a great battle against monsters raged in the northwest. If it were not for the messengers bringing news from Livadon, Maxi would have soon forgotten about the troll army.
However, every ten days or so, they received dire news of castles falling to monsters or of villages being razed to the ground. To make matters worse, they even received reports from the allied soldiers dispatched by Wedon that the monster army was much bigger than they had initially believed.
The war was going to be a long one.
—
News of the campaignwas all that the knights talked about whenever they had the chance. A myriad of speculations circulated. Why had Balto and Livadon failed to notice such a massive troll army gathering in their highlands? How had the monsters learned to work so well together?
Maxi listened to their discussions with a mix of interest and anxiety. The knights had been cautious with their words around her at first, but as she spent more time in the infirmary, they slowly lowered their guard.
Recently, they even informed her that Osiriya was likely to send more reinforcements and that Wedon might also do the same.
“Livadon sent soldiers to aid us during the Dragon Campaign. If Wedon does not repay the debt now, the rest of the Seven Kingdoms will refuse to send us military aid in the future no matter the adversity we might face.”
“But…have we not sent them enough s-soldiers already?”
“If the men we sent were enough, the situation should have been mitigated by now. But innocent people are still suffering in Livadon. This is a matter of a knight’s chivalry! Do you not think the rest of the Seven Kingdoms should do more to help?”
Maxi immediately realized that these men wanted to leave Anatol to join the brutal battle raging in Livadon. The young knights seemed eager for danger, claiming it was their duty to participate. Unable to agree or disagree, Maxi gave them a vague smile. Could it be that Riftan wanted to leave for Livadon as well? Whenever such a thought came to hermind, she felt as though the ground were crumbling beneath her feet.
Through the infirmary window, Maxi gazed at the expansive training grounds bathed in the red light of dusk. Shadows now shrouded the castle walls. The knights finishing up their training all wore looks of determination. Above them, a flock of blackbirds let out mournful cries as they soared across the crimson sky.
Maxi wondered if a carrier bird flew among them. The turtledoves had never brought good news since the campaign started. Perhaps this time they would finally receive word that the tide was turning for the better. The mere sight of any bird flapping its wings turned Maxi’s insides into a mush of hope and anxiety.
“My lady, you should return to the great hall now. The lord would not be pleased if he learned that you were here until nightfall,” said Melric as he poured boiled salve into small jars.
The two young knights next to her stopped applying ointment on their bruised arms and promptly rose to their feet.
“Allow us to escort you, my lady.”
“Th-That won’t be necessary.”
“No matter how strictly we check people before allowing them into the castle, thieves or ruffians could still sneak their way inside. We would not be able to rest easy unless we escorted you safely to your chambers, my lady.”
Their enthusiasm made Maxi smile. The knights had stopped treating her like a guest who could leave at any moment and were now comfortable in her presence. Some even actively expressed their goodwill. Each time they did so, shefelt as if she had managed to become part of the net of trust that linked Riftan and his knights.
Maxi bashfully accepted their offer. “Then…I shall not r-refuse.”
