Lorelai drifted in and out of consciousness, the world around her blurring into a tapestry of muted colors and muffled sounds. She could feel the gentle rocking motion, as if someone was carrying her, but the pain in her arm consumed her senses, sweat moistening her brow. Each breath felt like fire igniting beneath her skin.

As she opened her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time, she caught a glimpse of a vaulted ceiling made of intricately carved wood and stone. It took a moment for her to register that she was lying on a soft bed, the scent of herbs mingling with the air, and a faint glow illuminated the room from softly flickering candles. The pain in her arm, which was now completely healed, lingered in her memory.

“Easy now, lass,” a deep voice rumbled nearby. Braak was sitting beside her, his towering frame dwarfing the chair he occupied. “You’ve had quite the rough introduction to the academy.”

Lorelai attempted to move, but she grew dizzy, causing her to pause and gather herself. “What... happened?” she managed to croak out, her throat dry and scratchy.

“You put on a good show against Gortesh, but he got a bit carried away. It’s what he does,” Braak explained, his tone a mix of admiration and exasperation. “You showed real grit, but you’ll need to be more careful in the future. Combat isn’t just about bravery; it’s also about knowing when to hold back.”

“Did I... pass?” Lorelai asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Braak smiled, a wide grin that illuminated his rugged features. “Aye, you did. Gortesh is tough, but he has a keen eye for potential. He saw something in you, and so do I.”

Lorelai took a moment to process his words, relief flooding through her. “It's been my dream since I was a little boy, I can't believe this is happening,” she said, her relief visible relaxing the tension she didn't know she had.

“You will,” Braak assured her. “But first, we need to make sure you're alright, he banged you up pretty good.” He gestured to a table across the room, where various potions and bandages were laid out. 'Little boy? Must've been hit harder than I thought.'

The door creaked open, and a woman entered, her presence commanding yet warm. She had long, flowing hair the color of the night sky and piercing green eyes. “I heard our brave recruit has finally woken up,” she said, her voice smooth like honey.

“Is she going to be alright, Elyra?” Braak asked, concern etched across his face.

The elven woman, Elyra, knelt beside Lorelai, examining her arm with a practiced eye. “She’ll need a healing potion, though most of the damage has been repaired with my spell. I’ll have to set the bone properly again just to make sure it healed properly. It won’t be pleasant, it’s not worse.”

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“I can take it,” Lorelai asserted, her voice steadier now. “Just... tell me what to do.”

“Good spirit,” Elyra said with an approving nod. “Just breathe through it. I’ll administer the potion first.”

Braak handed her a small vial filled with a shimmering green liquid, and Elyra carefully brought it to Lorelai’s lips. “Drink up. This will dull the pain and speed up the healing process.”

Lorelai gulped it down, the taste surprisingly sweet, and within moments, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her. The dull ache of the healed bone began to fade “That’s incredible, I've never been healed by either magic or potion before. It is much better than the mundane way,” she said, gratefulness evident in her tone.

“Now for the real work,” Elyra said, gently but firmly grasping Lorelai’s arm. “This will hurt if there are any bones out of place.”

With that, she began to manipulate the arm, two small pieces of bone returning back to their normal place. Lorelai bit her lip, stifling her voice as the pain flared.

“There you go, lass. Just a bit longer,” Braak encouraged, acting as a cheerleader for her moral support. She could tell by his presence that he was a teacher that genuinely care about his students.

Elyra finished setting the bone and quickly wrapped it with bandages infused with healing herbs. “All done,” she said, sitting back on her heels. “Now you’ll need to rest. I recommend avoiding any more battles for about a day. Your wound wasn't bad enough to use higher tier healing magic on you, but too serious for low tier magic. Tis the reason we used healing magic and a potion.”

Lorelai nodded, grateful yet eager to jump back into the fray. “I understand. Thank you.”

Braak leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You’ve got fire, Lorelai. The academy will challenge you in ways you haven’t yet imagined, but you’ll grow stronger with each trial.”

“What about Gortesh?” Lorelai asked, recalling the intense battle. “What will happen to him?”

“He will be removed from testing new admissions, he should not have lost his composure like he did." Braak chuckled. “You landed a hit that surprised even him. It’s rare for someone to leave a mark on a berserker in the midst of battle frenzy.”

“I just—” Lorelai hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I wanted to prove I could handle it. I’m tired of feeling weak.”

Braak’s expression turned to an expression that said "I've said this too many times" and rested a very large arm on an even larger leg. “We all want to excel, but what happened if your refusal to accept defeat ended with your death? The academy you dreamed of would be out of reach. Even if you had failed to meet Gortesh's expectations you could try again for the following term, but death is permanent. Overcome your limits yes, but do so in the correct way, there's a time and place for everything.”

As Lorelai settled into the comfort of the bed, the culmination of her experiences washed over her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of belonging. The academy was not just a place for training themselves; it was a sanctuary for warriors, for those like her who yearned to harness their potential.

“Rest now,” Elyra said softly, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be here when you’re ready to begin your journey anew.”

With that, Lorelai closed her eyes, her mind buzzing with the promise of what lay ahead. The pain had faded, but the stress from her ordeals had yet to fully pass. The flames of her desire only began to grow. She would embrace her journey at the academy, and with each challenge, she would rise above her peers, her new goal was to compete for the top spot.