Chapter 41
A Cure And Uninvited Guests
About mid-way through my creation of my Plasma Volume Expander Elixir, I received an urgent message. An urgent message that almost caused me to lose focus. The reason why I almost lost focus, was the fact that the alert seemed to bypass all of my filters. Aside from initial skill gains, and quest updates, I shouldn’t get any messages. Generally I only get quest completion notices when I either do something, make a discovery, or otherwise end at a stopping point. Nowhere in that, do I get updates to my quests, while in the middle of a critical portion of a quest. I also have a status called working mode where to help avoid distractions during missions, or times when I would otherwise be indisposed, I have that setting enabled, constantly. It is just good business to make sure I don’t get distracted while in the middle of an operation, or while I am making potions and elixirs that will save my friend’s life.
I don’t know why I feel such attachment to Zero. To be honest, I think it is just a matter of needing a friend. I always envision Zero as that floating equivalent of a dog that offers good, but sporadically available advise. Sort of like having a resident expert on a lot of technical issues who will either help direct you in profound ways or take a random nap at a most inconvenient time. Still, they were the closest thing I had to a true companion in the game, the fact that they were sentient was a bonus.
Finally, after a few hours of focused induced sweating, I was done with the potion and elixir. I had to say I felt a slight sigh of relief. There had been a lot of hiccups getting to this point, first the creation of a new recipe entirely, where I learned to create Spirit Purifying Distilling Water. Not a waste of resources, as I had ultimately made a successful potion, just not the potion I had wanted to begin with. The second time was a charm, as I managed to make it almost flawlessly. Well it had flaws, the darn thing was barely a success at being above 51% efficacy, but it still counted. It likely didn’t help that I sneezed during the final extraction point, causing a burst of purple spirit mana to burst from me. Yeah, it was not pretty. The third time was much better at 93% efficacy, this time I decided to lock my doors while wearing my Thieves’ Guild mask. The mask helped protect my apparently delicate nose from being accosted by different fumes.
Then just now, despite the near loss of focus from the random alert, I managed to do it.
Item: Plasma Volume Expander Elixir, weight: 1.2, efficacy: 78%. Effect: When consumed, this elixir will help alleviate problems caused by blood loss.
Looking at the way this elixir seemed to go against the Blood-Thinner potion, I couldn’t help but feel that there was something more nuanced to the delivery of this. Logically, I was thinking the order of delivery should be potion first, followed by applying the Bonemeal Paste, which I still have to complete, then finally this Elixir. Basically, the thinner would allow blood out of the cranial cavity, the paste would heal the bone, then finally the plasma volume expander would help reform blood that might be missing from the body, while magical healing spells are applied. The moment I come to this realization; I am hit with a new skill notification.
New Skill Gained: Medicine has reached level 1. Skill Medicine is a Perception and Intelligence based skill.
While there is no hard and fast rule for these skill notifications, I generally take them as a sign that my thought process is accurate, and that the system is letting me know this is the overall goal.
It is this last system update that distracts me, as I feel inspired by this new skill and immediately try to finish my relevant task at hand, I am so close to finishing this quest that I can all but feel it. Also, I have to say, I am having fun. I took some chemistry in college, but it was never like this. Of course, here I have the added problem of having to monitor mixing compounds for the impact and effect of magical properties that could completely destabilize a compound, but that only made this process so much cooler.
I mean, I literally created a random new recipe by adding spirit mana infused water. Of course, that did cause me to sneeze purple snot, but all in a day’s work I say. In fact, I plan on trying to create more potions like that in the future. I have that thought for a second, before I imagine the purple gas cloud as being a warning sort of, I got let off easy this time, next time it will be a death cloud? Maybe that is too much, I think if I dealt with my Shadow magic side, I could eventually get there, but not for Spirit Magic. Honestly, I think Spirit magic has gotten a bad rap. Granted this is primarily due to the way Necromancers and other Death Cultists have used Spirit Magic to rip the souls out of people, but there are a lot of good things that Spirit magic can do.
Honestly, I find that I am rather happy with my being forced to be a Spirit magic savant. I think all of this, as I slowly grind the lizard skull bone into dust, then add in the requisite components. Then I see a faint green glow fill the paste, letting me know that it can be used for healing.
Item: Refined Lizard Bonemeal Paste, weight 2.1, Efficacy: 97%. Effect: Applying this paste to an injured or broken bone will help provide nutrients, heal and set the bone, and provide sedative effects on the targeted area.
There, I was done. I go to wipe off a bead of sweat from my hand and realize I still have my Thieves Guild mask up. Realizing my mistake, I quickly take it down and scan the area. Fortunately I am still in my room and all of the other alchemists all appear to be in their own sections still. Not that I think I have much of a concern being found out as a Thieves Guild member, seeing as how prevalent the Thieves Guild seems to be in this area, but one can never tell.
Still, I put away my mask, then begin packing up my different potions and solutions. Especially making sure to put a stopper in my Spirit Purifying Distilling Water. I don’t know why, but I feel that that might be necessary. I am putting everything away, when I realize I didn’t even test the combined toxicity rating of the three items I made.
Since I have the paste, I apply a portion of that first, then I apply the elixir, then finally the potion. This is in not the order of how I will apply them to Zero, but I just want to see their overall toxicity rating together. As I apply the three items together, I watch as the rating rises and rises, until finally it stops at an exceptionally high toxicity rating.
107% Toxicity.
Seeing that, I collapse into my chair. That is ridiculous, I had been given a maximum threshold of 50%, but if I was judging by this readout, these items in this order would be enough to kill anyone by 107% damage.
I want to argue, the items I made were all high-end products. I could expect something like that from my sneeze potion, the one that ended at 51% efficacy, but I had used the 78% efficacy. Then I thought about something, realizing the strip might be an idiots guide to making sure you applied the quest items in the correct way. Realizing that, I pulled out a different strip and tried applying a portion of the items to this strip. Unlike last time, where I applied them in order of ease to grab. This time I applied them the correct way, the way I envisioned them working. So, starting with the blood-thinner, then going to the bonemeal paste, then the elixir. I watch as the toxicity rating climbs and climbs, before eventually stopping.
32% Toxicity.
At that I paused, as I realized that was exactly the combination of my three ingredients’ missing efficacy; 7 from the potion, 3 from the paste, and finally 22 from the elixir. Realizing this tidbit helped me realize these strips were a miracle of the system. Now I could use these strips to help make sure the way I thought about doing things was correct. While it agreed with my assumption this time, that didn’t mean that I would always be right. Seeing the result, and then realizing the true purpose for these Toxicity strips, I suddenly felt horrible for wasting so many in my accident earlier. Thinking back to the vapor cloud created, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a sign that I created a perfect gas cloud, as it had zero toxicity rating. Still, it was likely best that I cleaned everything up, but it did make me wonder about what would have happened to the items I created.
Thinking about it, I go over to the trash heap, and pull up one of the previously tainted toxicity test strips. Seeing that the strip is still relatively intact and still glowing purple, while showing a toxicity rating of 0%, I decide to try out this batch with my currently planned delivery of items. Once again, I apply all three in the correct format, and once again I am met with the same exact toxicity rating.
32% Toxicity.
Seeing that I definitely think there is something to trying out the new mist to help in the future, but not right now. Right now, I want to deal with tried and true methods of healing that are known to produce the desired results. With that, I pack up the rest of my gear, give one last cleaning to the lab, unlock the doors. Then I think about walking out, but ultimately I decide to just Teleport across the street to the changing closet I was in earlier.
Poof.
Once there, I make the transition from Sabrina, to regular old me. Immediately my doctor’s pants fall off, as I am suddenly too small for the regular human sized clothes I was wearing. But this is fine, as I quickly change back into my regular clothes, and black Mage’s Guild SWAG cloak. Then again pack all my belongings and head out to join Dr. Kiran.
“I have returned.” I say, holding up the bag with the three items I created.
“Oh, good. You are just in time.” Dr. Kiran says, “hurry. I don’t think the patient can wait much longer.”
This is of course all theatrics, as these types of quests move at the speed of plot. So long as I didn’t leave the floor entirely Zero would survive, only to be cast in an immediate state as soon as I arrived. I mentally realized this, but then soon found myself getting immersed in the scene playing out before me.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Quickly apprentice, tell me the order that I need to apply these?” Dr. Kiran says.
I know he will apply them however I state, which is why I take a breath and am about to begin, only to suddenly be interrupted.
BOOM!
The ground shakes, and I freeze. Dr. Kiran is there, just staring at me with the same look of determination, waiting for my response. Did he not hear the explosion? Did he not feel the ground shake just now.
“Come on. You need to focus; your friend’s life is at stake. If you want to be a medical examiner, then this is the time.”
“Right.” I say, shaking myself, chalking up the blast from outside as being a way to test my ability to focus. Probably a good test to have. “First, we will apply the blood thinner potion. Then once that is applied we will wait for the blood in the brain to drain out, at which point we will apply the bonemeal paste. Then finally once the bones have been set, elixir.”
At that Kiran nods.
“Very good. As my apprentice, it is about time you learned to do this. So, I will watch over you, while you apply the blood thinner potion.” Dr. Kiran says.
BOOOM!
Distant screaming.
I am beginning to think that what was outside is not just a scripted part of this training, but rather a full scale invasion. A group of seven people are casting high level spells and going toe to toe with the town guards and the citizens. Well toe to toe would imply that there is an equal exchange of force going on. That is actually not the case here, as the people are being obliterated.
Weak cough.
Zero coughs weakly, drawing my attention back to the present. Mentally I cut off the range of my Angel’s Sight to only show the inside of the guild hall. I know we are safe here as this is one of the few permanently safe places during a war. Now the people going to war could theoretically come in here and target me directly, but that would get the wrath of every high level Mage to go after them when they came in close proximity. No one wanted to deal with being blind sided by angry Mages, Mechanics, Apothecary members, or Adventurers. That was why even those who went about conquering cities often avoided the guild halls. First, they were impervious to damage and the place where citizens would go to, also it was just bad business. This was also a way the game avoided complete genocide, and wholesale slaughter of entire nations. Knowing that I was safe here, I decided to focus on the task at hand.
Going to Zero, I carefully opened their muzzle, then poured in the blood thinner potion. Instantly, I could see the weak pulse in the neck begin to pulse faster and faster.
“Good, now you need to cast a circulation spell on him.”
“Him?” I ask, suddenly confused.
“Yes, he will need you to circulate energy throughout his body.” The doctor said, pointing to Zero.
“Wait, I thought he was she?” I ask, suddenly confused.
“I can most assuredly tell you, that he is no female.” Dr. Kiran states.
At that, I try to be a bit immodest and do a double check, but there are no dangly bits. I apparently spoke this out loud, as Dr. Kiran just chuckled and answered my question.
“Hehehe. Oh my, of course there are no dangly bits as you say. He is an imperial style dragon, meaning all of their reproductive organs are internal and only come out when they transform.”
“Transform?”
“Yes, he is far too young to transform now, but will likely be able to do so when he becomes of age. At that point, he will be able to take on the form of a human and then reproduce naturally.”
“Naturally?”
“Have you not had the talk of the birds and the pollenators?”
“First, stop. Yes, I have, and stop, please.” I say.
“Very well, you just seemed to be a bit confused is all.”
“I am confused as to how shapeshifting dragons became a thing.” I respond.
“Haven’t you ever wondered about the dragonoid race? How they all appear to be different species and dragons?”
“I…” I trail off as that thought just makes me think of dragons as being the bards of breeding, but quickly stop that train of thought. “Don’t we have a dragon to save?” I ask, trying to get us back on task.
“Right, I do believe enough time has passed for you to begin casting the circulation spell.”
“What circulation spell, I don’t know what you mean?”
“Just follow my lead, and watch as I cycle mana through my body, and out through my right hand, the healing hand.” Dr. Kiran states.
Healing hand? I mentally think, but am already going through the motions. The minute my hand is up, I am met with a system prompt.
New Skill Gained: Magical Theory has increased to level 1. Skill Magical Theory is an Intelligence based skill.
Seeing that, I realize that this is likely part of my quest chain rewards. It did say that I would learn skill(s), meaning at least one or more. I so far have learned two, which is phenomenal, as these two skills seem to be higher end ones, or at least ones that are not commonly available. Also, these skills will hopefully open up further training opportunities, and future quest lines.
With the right hand being the healing hand, I assume the left hand is either the damaging hand, or the hand used to pull out impurities from the body.
I watch as the doctor cycles mana throughout their body, then they seem to focus the beam of energy into a spiraling beam that strikes Zero and gently flows into her, no wait, his body. Again, so odd this dragon physiology thing. The spirit energy flows and pulses along, the body going first to the heart, then up to the brain, where it spirals about a bit, then eventually pushes dead or dying cells out.
“Phew.” Dr. Kiran says, after doing the blood flow portion for a few minutes. “I am not as talented in Spirit magic as one like you is. Meaning I have to work twice as hard to achieve a fourth as much.” He says. Translation, I should be able to do this spell easily, so long as I am able to mirror the pattern and spiral delivery method.
“Does the spiral deliver make it easier to direct the energy in another body?” I ask.
“I am surprised you noticed that, but yes, yes it does.” Dr. Kiran states.
With that I nod, in understanding.
“Now you try.” Dr. Kiran says, needing to slump down in a chair to rest.
“Me?” I ask, though I am already moving over to stand next to Zero.
“Yes, I think we just need one more time to clear out his head. Then we can apply the paste. Assuming there are no complications, we should be able to then apply the elixir, constantly taking short rest breaks to make sure we help circulate his blood stream. After that, they should come about on their own.”
I did just as I saw, and just as instructed. Even going so far as to circulate the mana throughout my body in the same spiral pattern. With my maxed-out Mana Circulation this process was surprisingly easy. Then it was just a matter of learning to clumsily circulate my energy into Zero’s blood, then using that connection to the blood and control over spirit energy to circulate the blood through the body. As I did it, I could feel a greater understanding open in my mind, as my ability to control mana seemed to increase exponentially.
I circulated the blood once, then twice. Over time I found that I had at least partially infused my mana into all of Zero’s blood stream, making the complete circulation of blood easy to achieve.
Then before I knew it, I had missed the message letting me know I had learned a new spell.
New Spell Gained: Spirit Energy Circulation (A): The first step towards becoming a healer of Spirit Magic. You have learned to infuse your spirit energy into the blood of another being, allowing you to circulate the blood of that person. Warning: This is a spell that can be used for healing or attack. Using this spell as a means of attack will forever mark your spirit as a Karmic Betrayer.
That was odd, although not entirely unexpected. I got the warning, as every doctor gets, that their spells can be used for evil, but doing so will mean the permanent marking of my soul.
With that, I felt like a mantle of trust had been placed on me, and a burden to uphold it. No doubt people would scheme of ways to use this spell to hurt or kill others, even monsters. As for me, I had no plans of enacting any of those possibilities. Instead, I wanted to focus on becoming a traveling hero.
Honestly, I liked the fact that healing, at least in my case was not limited to the school of Life magic. I even thought I could find other ways to expand this simple concept of a spell to the other schools of magic. If it truly was something so simple as adding your magical aspect to a particular person and then manipulating that energy, then this could revolutionize healing, making it so anyone with any affinity could at least do this much.
“Good job. Now, I will ask that you apply the paste. Hopefully with your mana roaming through the patient’s body, you can see where the fractures are. Be gentle, but make sure you apply the paste there. If you want to make it so the patient will have the fastest recovery time possible, make sure to keep that circulation spell going as long as possible.”
Hearing that, I nodded, and immediately began focusing on applying the paste to all the different portions of the skull that were fractured. While the impact point was clearly on one side, there were cracks that seemed to go all over the skull.
The entire time, I applied the paste, I made sure to keep control over the spirit mana I released into his body. It still felt weird to think that, but I was becoming more and more used to it as time went on. I watched as the paste did its job, while I skillfully circulated the excess blood out of the area with minimal effort.
“Very good. Now just apply the elixir and your introduction as my Apprentice will be complete.” Dr. Kiran said.
Hearing that, I was both inwardly delighted that I was going to be a healing apprentice, while I was also sad that I would lose a bit of my agency for the next bit, while I was stuck for at least a week learning to be a healer. Still, this was an invaluable experience that I couldn’t turn down.
I poured in the elixir, all while circulating Zero’s blood.
By the time the last of the healing properties of the elixir took effect, all but helping to expand the platelets in the dragon, which helped them retain heat and other actions I was only beginning to slightly understand, I was met with a string of system messages.
Quest Complete: Saving a Friend: Managed to save and heal your familiar. Rewards: Experience, Skill (already learned), deeper bond with Zero.
Experience Gained: 500.
Ding.
Level up.
You have now reached level 19.
I felt the immediate satisfaction of leveling up right then and there, feeling the increase of my attributes, while also feeling a deep pulse and connection to the ball of life still lying on the operator’s table.
Quest Update: The Healer’s Apprentice: You have created three different elixirs needed to heal your friend. Reward: Experience, Healer’s Apprentice Badge. Requirements: You are now the apprentice to Dr. Kiran. In order to complete this task, you will need to follow Dr. Kiran and learn from him.
This was honestly one of the coolest rewards I could ask for. The reward would get me a Badge, meaning I would have a system verified check that I had in fact made it as a Healer’s Apprentice.
Still, all of this was exhausting. So, exhausting that I needed to sit down and rest. To my delight, and somewhat horror, I found that I could still manipulate the blood circulating in Zero’s body, even from the other end of the room.
“Wow, it seems I was not wrong in taking you on as my apprentice. Your Spirit Magic Potential alone, means we can try new things that I have only dreamed about.”
Hearing that, I felt a slight sense of pride. This likely meant I would get a chance to learn new and exotic spells. More spells that were only listed as possible, but had never been made into actual existence. This was after all the tower that was made from the ashes of Arcanarus University. It was supposed to be the place of magical knowledge. With my apprenticeship to this doctor, and my new class skill that would become available in… I checked how much longer I had to wait.
Class Skill Perk: Spirit Magic Spell Creation (3/10): With this skill you intend to set the class Void Walker as the premier spell creation class for spirit-based magic spells. You intend to have this skill be based on the following Attributes (Endurance, Personality, Sociability, Appearance, Perception, Intelligence, and Willpower) (7/10). Time remaining to make the skill permanently related to your class: 1 hours, 18 minutes…
Seeing that, I realized I had gone through a lot over the last day or so. Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I slept; everything was just a long thrill ride of gambling, brewing elixirs, and learning healing magic. I never felt closer to my wild college days than now.
“I think I am going to pass out.” I finally say, realizing everything is coming close to an end for me. Now that Zero seems to be doing better, and that my multiple quests are over or updated, I find myself needing sleep more than ever.
“That is fine. I think I am going to take a quick walk.” Dr. Kiran says.
I nod, taking the moment of rest when I can. My eyes are already closing on their own, before I realize darkness is taking me.
BOOM!
Then what feels like a second later, I am rocked back to life, as I feel the entire guild building shake.
“What was that?” I ask, but at that point I am hit with another system update.
Quest Cancelled: The Healer’s Apprentice: You were supposed to learn from the now deceased Dr. Kiran. This quest has been cancelled because your instructor is now dead…
At that, I could only collapse and look at the radius. There he was, well what remained of Dr. Kiran, just a silhouette of dirt and ash as the band of murder hobos continued to kill anyone who walked out doors.
“Freaking murder hobos!” I cursed, but then ultimately collapsed from exhaustion. It was all too much, and my mind and body both decided to finally call it a night.