Lee scans the crowd for any other people who would want to answer. Seeing no others willing to respond, he waved his arm toward Nitis. “Go ahead.”
Nitis lowers his hand and speaks confidently. “I do not believe Dark Elves can have this disease. Our life spans, compared to Humans, are much longer. The average Human succumbs to old age after around eighty years. A very high level Human can live much longer, but not nearly as old as we do. I am over one-thousand years old, and I would not even be considered old by Dark Elf standards, and I have never once heard of these symptoms.”
Lee puts on a gigantic warm smile and nods once. “This is terrific news. Even on Earth, we didn’t know what caused it or how to stop it. I myself wouldn’t know where to begin to create a spell for Alzheimer’s.”
Looking over the crowd again, Lee realizes that his overflowing happiness wasn’t very professional. Giving a light cough to clear his throat, Lee resumed his lecture. “Let us move towards another topic. Let’s talk about illnesses. Like diseases, there are many different kinds of illnesses. Illnesses are mainly caused by outside factors. Eating bad food, drinking dirty water, and being in unclean spaces, are common ways of getting sick. Now, let us talk about why these cause you to get sick.”
In the corner of his eye, Lee spots Artus Maiven rapidly writing in his notebook. Artus was writing way too fast for it to be natural. Using the Darken spell, Artus’ finger was almost a blur of fluid motion. To and fro, his finger waggles across an empty page, using his other hand to flip to the next, and without pause, he continues to write. Lee wouldn't believe Artus if he said he did not have a skill or that he had low dexterity.
After this mild distraction, Lee takes a sip from the glass cup stationed on the podium and continues his lecture. “Just like how our cells are microscopic, so too are some creatures and organisms. Germs, mold, and bacteria are a constant presence in our world.” While waiting to see the crowd's reactions, Lee slips in a question.
“I’m sure you are all familiar with mold?” Lee asks questionably.
Many heads bob up and down, signifying that they are very aware of mold. “Breathing in mold can cause many different types of medical problems—shortness of breath, coughing, lightheadedness, and so on and so forth. Mold can release spores, which are microscopic particles in the air, just like fungi. These spores are the cause of the symptoms.”
“Germs and bacteria are microscopic organisms. They will attempt to infiltrate your body to grow and reproduce, travel to other locations using you as a means of transportation, or steal the nutrients from your cells.”
Lee uses the analogy of the city again, hoping that it helps the crowd learn more effectively. “Most bacteria are like monsters seeking to disrupt your city. They want to steal your food, kill your citizens, and reproduce. Your body has cells specifically for this purpose. They are just like the guards or army of a city. They are alerted by your citizens, and go out to fight the invading force. This is why most common illnesses don't cause death and slowly fade away with time. Your body naturally defends itself.”
Those from the clinic, Anya included, show jaw-dropping wondrous looks. Lee takes this as a sign that they are putting the pieces together. Absorbing the information provided. “Those that your body is unable to counteract fully may cause death. But, now that you are aware of this information, you may begin to create spells with the purpose of eradicating harmful bacteria and germs from your patients.”
Right as Lee is about to start his next topic, the doors to the lecture hall abruptly open, revealing Neia. Rips and tears cover the entirety of her armor, and dried blood hides the supple dark leather, giving it a sanguine appearance. Her long braided platinum hair is in tatters, barely holding on by a few strands and clearly showing the clean cuts she had narrowly avoided.
Heads turn as Neia rapidly strides down the center aisle, scanning the crowd.
Lee is flabbergasted at Neia's sudden and gorey appearance, and he immediately activates Medical Attention. He begins scanning her health for any injuries and trying for a diagnosis.
HP: 88%
Diagnosis: Curse of Corrupting Trails. - This insidious magical curse bestows a mark upon those who tread into the corruption, sapping strength and leaving an ethereal track for the caster to follow.
A curse?
Lee instantly forgoes his lecture and begins to leave the stage, all while shouting to notify Neia of her debuff. “Neia! You have a curse and are being tracked!”
Nitis, who is now standing and in the process of speed-walking toward his daughter, hears Lee's proclamation. Waving his hand casually, he cast a spell, enveloping Neia in a bright yellow hue for only a fraction of a second. The yellow hue quickly turned green and black, causing smokey trails to trail in Neia's wake.
By this point, the crowd has grown rambunctious, throwing out questions of ‘What happened?!’ ‘What caused this?’ and the like.
Lee knows Neia well enough to know that she would never willingly ruin his lecture for something unimportant. Making a call, Lee shouts. “The lecture is over! We have pressing matters to deal with. Those who want to use the spellbook, come and do so now!”
As Lee finished his speech, another loud bell rang. And another… and another…
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Suddenly, the crowd begins to panic, quickly rushing to leave the lecture hall.
Anya, the clinic staff, and some of the consortium scholars quickly but carefully move past the leaving crowd toward Lee in an attempt to learn the spells within the spellbook.
Having never used his spellbook yet, Lee wasn’t quite sure what to do. He grabs the spellbook from his Hidden Cache, holding it by the thick chain attached to the spine, and quickly opens the cover, revealing the golden gilded pages within. “There are two spells in the spellbook. One to heal wounds and restore HP, and one to cure illness. I want you all to attempt to create a cancer curing spell yourself! You should now have the knowledge to do it!” Lee shouts out to the small crowd arranging themselves in front of him.
With the outside bells still ringing, Anya was the first to make her move. With the spellbook dangling from its sturdy silver chain, she places her palm on the gilded pages within. As the silvery aura of Life mana envelopes her hand, traveling up her arm and tapering off, she closes her eyes. After around ten seconds, her eyes shoot open, and she gives Lee a grimace. “That was unpleasant, but not as unpleasant as these bells. They are the warning bells for an attack. When you’re finished here, go to the entrance to the city and see what you can do. We will need this healing.” She finishes while nodding her head towards the spellbook.
Giving Anya a determined nod, Lee motions for the rest to learn from his spellbook. “Quickly! Time is important now! Use these spells to help heal the others!” The rest of the group each take their turn, promptly using the spellbook, and then make their way out of the room. During this time, Lee keeps his eyes on the conversation Neia is having with the elders. From what he can tell from their facial expressions and animated gestures, the news is dire.
After letting everyone learn from the spellbook, he rushes down to the elders and Neia, catching the end of their conversation. “… will be long and drawn out.” Anix finishes as Lee arrives.
Approaching from behind Neia, Lee places his hand upon her shoulder, healing what injuries she had sustained. “I’m glad you’re safe, but what the fuck is happening?”
Neia speaks before anyone else. “A monster siege, a big one. It’s going to be rough, but many will gain their classes today if they have the courage and drive. We will need you when it starts. We probably have a few hours until they arrive.”
A monster siege? What the fuck is that?
Mildly confused and very much out of his element, Lee simply nods. “I’ll need more information about this kind of stuff when we have time. What do you need me to do?”
The elders and Neia give a small smile at his quick response. “What you’ve been doing, Healing.” Anix replied. “We will have those that want to gain their class join the fight, we will need them to be protected. There are Giants, Trolls, Hobgoblins, and Goblins, from what we could gather. Do you have any non-healing supportive spells yet?”
Lee quickly brings up his status.
Name: Lee Barnes
HP: 135/135
MP 215/215
Level: 6
XP 690/2400
Titles:
Genesis of Healing*
Miracle Worker*
Class: Miracle Worker.
Profession: Otherworldly Academic
In Magic's Favor.
STATS:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 10
Wisdom: 13
Intelligence: 17
Luck: 10
Unused Points: 3
Skills:
Spells:
Abilities:
Skills:
Identify, Mana Sense, Stealth, Mana Manipulation, Speed Reading, Mana Dispersion, Medical Attention, Miraculous Return, Healer’s Beacon, Hidden Miracle, Alter Status.
Spells:
Basic: Earthen Strike, Gale burst, Wall of Winds, Orb of Light, Darken, Conjure Water, Blind, Swiftness, Void Sphere,
Advanced: Mend Wounds, Icicle Spear, Touch of Remission, Purifying Light.
Expert: Glacial Cascade.
Master:
Synthesized:
Abilities:
Language Comprehension, Healer’s Touch, Hidden Cache, Arcane Synthesis.
After his quick review, Lee relays some of his spells. “I have healing, a blind effect, and a movement buff. The movement buff is difficult for those with low dexterity to use. It might be more of a hindrance….” Seeing the name of his newest spell, Void Sphere, Lee also says. “I also have a void spell that can control specific areas, but it’s untested.”
Anix looks thoughtful, then asks. “Do you have any shielding or barrier spells?”
Lee shakes his head. “No, I don’t have any yet. I’m sure i could create a wall of earth or something like that, but no barriers or shields themselves. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
Neia, who looks ragged from her long journey, jumps into the conversation. “He can create a wall spell. It will work just fine for what he needs to do….” Looking at Lee, Neia thinks for a moment, deciding whether or not to say her following words. “... He won't have mana issues for a basic wall spell.”
This was enough information to cause a large amount of surprise. All the elders looked at Lee with shock and bewilderment.
Lee, who is still holding onto Neia’s shoulder, gives her a sidelong glance.
Well, they know I have a high-tiered class now.
It’s not like Lee cares too much about them knowing about his class's rarity, but he would have liked to reveal that information himself. Slightly disgruntled, Lee simply nods. “I won’t have mana issues with basics. My healing spells are advanced though, so quick healing will be sparse…”
Still gazing at Neia, he adds. “If people need non life threatening healing, send them to me. I can heal everyone for as long as it takes. It just won’t be fast.”
Everyone in the conversation takes him at his word. Elder Equitis starts to depart from the lecture hall and speaks. “Let us get moving, we need to prepare. Lee, go and try to create a wall spell. They’re simple and effective. You shouldn’t have any problems… Also, thank you for the lecture. We learned a lot.”
Everyone begins to make their way toward the exit. At this point, Lee checks Neia’s HP.
HP: 100%
Taking his hand off Neia’s shoulder while walking towards the exit, Lee whispers in Neia’s ear. “What in the absolute fuck is a monster siege?”