I just stared at the abbot as I labored through breaths, and an occasional hiss of pain.

"Ahem, if you'll allow me, I can get that mended right up so that others may continue their training." he calmly stated and motioning towards my foot.

Now I wasn't aware of any personal experience with magic healing other than the headache I woke up here with, but this guy was saying he could take off at least 2 weeks of healing time? Someone tell me why I was doing physical training again?

"Please!" I said while nodding frantically. I tenderly extended my leg towards the abbot and tried to keep it as still as possible even though the foot itself was throbbing with immense pain.

"Certainly. Is this your first time receiving healing?"

Dude definitely had the bedside manners down more than some doctors I had visited back in my world. As he asked that he crouched down and ever so gently laid his hands on my ankle and closed his eyes.

"Yes sir, sorry sir!" I managed to squeeze out through gritted teeth. It seems its not an instant process because despite the hands my foot was still killing me.

Suddenly his hands lit up with a bright white glow. "Yes, you seemed rather unprepared for it so I had my hunch. No worries page, this will be but a moment." As if waiting for his cue, the light suddenly pulsed much brighter. I stared in fascination and lost all thoughts of the pain my foot may have been experiencing. I couldn't pull my eyes from the light and noticed that it wasn't quite pure white like I initially thought. It had a tint of green in it, kind of like a honeydew color I think it was called.

At this point I felt a million ants crawling just under my skin and noticed the swelling that was already present was going down noticeably. In about 10 seconds it was right back to normal and I was suitably impressed.

The abbot tilted his head a bit quizzically before saying "There, see? Honestly I've healed ankles before that took much more of my mana, so likely this one was not as bad as it looked, please do not fret." he finished wanly with a smile and stood up.

I sat there a bit stunned and checked my ankle over before determining it felt good as new. I hopped up and gently put some weight on it before going full throttle and bouncing on the toes of my feet. I was still shocked a bit at how quick the whole process was and just kind of in the moment before another gentle cough rang out.

"Ahem, would you be able to move back in line now so the others can continue?" he gently queried.

I jerked my head back to the rest of the class before blushing and turning back to the abbot "Yes sir, sorry sir!" I had taken a just few steps before I had to stop to remember my manners. Quickly turning back to the abbot I shot a quick bow "Thank you sir!" which he just waved away and then headed back to his post on the wall. I hastily went back to the line hoping I didn't take up too much time from the class.

No one seemed to mind, and I made it to the back to find Tom surprisingly deciding to comfort me.

"I saw the light, is everything okay? That fall shouldn't have been that bad for you." Tom started up and gently rubbed my back.

"Yeah," I began "just a poor landing that twisted my ankle is all. The abbot has it good as new!" Tom winced a bit as I said that, but I didn't have to wait long to figure out what for.

"A twisted ankle? That's odd, we didn't even hear you and that's the same as Tom yesterday! He howled like a babe, we heard it all the way back here!" Bea could not stop herself from chiming in and cackling. Tom had another slight wince there so I tried to save him some face.

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"Yeah, I must have had the breath knocked out from me as well Tom, otherwise I would've howled too!" It was the best attempt I could give him. He seemed to appreciate it and gave a small smile, but Bea just literally "humph'd" my comment off.

"Well whatever Will, just try landing on your face next time, surely it couldn't mess up much there at least." Bea finished with a flourish and turned back around.

Sigh, no good deed goes unpunished.....

—----

On my final attempt I did make it past the lunge obstacle and pulled myself up to the next one. It was essentially a checkerboard of suspended platforms and empty air that I had to cross. The spacing was still irregular, like the first obstacle, but I did make it about halfway before falling. Even though it was higher I did manage to brace my landing as I was prepared this time, though it did sting just a little.

When I jogged back Bea was shooting daggers at me but I got a high-five from Tom. Just another one of those things that are universal I guess.

Not too long after, the instructor called the top 25 again and sent the rest of us on our laps. Afterwards we did the usual bath and then met back up for food. After collecting our food and finding a table I couldn't help but to tease Bea a little.

"Soooo...." I drawled out "Looks like I was correct huh?" Bea shot a quick glance at me and scrunched up her face.

Tom was grinning but Bea wasn't taking bait. "You guys will let me know, right?" I had to grin at this one myself, she had to have a self-control limit.

"Let you know what Will?" Tom chimed in happily. Looks like even he wasn't immune to a good tease on Bea.

"You know, what my back looks like now that I've passed you guys!" I merrily finished, never dropping my grin.

Bea let out a sharp yell and then kicked me under the table. It stung just a bit but it was oh so worth it. She just glared at me and then began eating her food while still glaring! Scary!

Tom and I chuckled good naturedly but then dug into our food. Surprisingly before I knew it my tray was empty and I was kind of eyeing my friends' trays. Somehow I was extra famished today.

Sighing at the futility I sat back and looked around. I then noticed a couple of the top 25 kids heading back to the counter and picking up another tray with more food! Seconds were a thing here?

A quick glance around and no one seemed shocked by it like I was, but neither were they making a move on the extra food either. Slightly mollified by the non-reaction I decide to just go for it and stood up to go get seconds. On the way I notice one of the adults look at me and follow me for a bit. I powered on though and was rewarded with a second helping once I reached the trays. Didn't even have to ask! Spinning in triumph I noticed the one who was looking at me nod ever so slightly and then write something down on the paper before continuing on his circulation of the room!

I stumbled in my stride for just a step, but did my best not to look at him while I went back to my friends. I got back and just stood there for a bit before Bea startled me out of my thoughts. I quickly sat down and began mechanically stuffing my face. Trying to come up with whatever the seniors were writing on the paper was getting me nowhere and I had absolutely tuned out of the conversation. Tom and Bea quickly noticed again and asked me what was going on.

I shared what I had just went through with the knight watching me and writing something down on his paper.

"See I told you it was nothing major Will, he was likely just taking inventory!" Tom smugly proclaimed.

I just rolled my eyes before responding "You thought they were timing us earlier! You don't know anything about it Tom! And I can't place my finger on it but something feels off...."

Bea and Tom just brushed it off but it kept bugging me the rest of the evening. I decided I had to know what was being written, and I was going to find out tonight. I stealthily watched the knight who had watched me as everyone wound down.

Once it become clear everyone was done eating I volunteered to take the trays away. They were surprised but happily agreed. This was all to set them up in the mindset to go along with me in the next part of my plan.

I had paid attention to my knight and it seems he hadn't written anything else since nodding my way. As he made his round I predicted where we could just miss an intersection with him so I could get a glance at the paper. Surely once I read what was on the paper I would either be put at ease or vindicated! It quickly approached go time and I stood and motioned for the other two to get up also. They stood with no complaints and just kept talking away. Success!

We headed to the dorm and everything was going to plan. We approached the knight and he crossed just in front of us. I quickly glanced at the paper, taking note of some rather crazy looking symbols going around the entire border of the page, and committed the last line to memory. This was my moment!

....

But I couldn't read!