After lunch, mid-afternoon in the Chantry library…

Raindrops patter gently against the windows, creating a soothing rhythm that blends with the soft shuffling of Arcane Familiars on marble floors. They busy themselves stacking books, sorting scrolls, and tidying up while healers and paladins pore over librams and manuscripts.

Far from the bustling main reading hall and the front desk, Anna and I are tucked away in a cosy study room. A wide desk, perfectly sized for two, holds our notes and books as we sit side by side. We’d spent the sunny morning exploring the courtyard, but now the rain has driven us back to our sanctuary. Dry, safe… and wrapped in our own little world.

These rooms are meant for discussions – or so I like to think! They’re far enough from the Librarian’s desk that he never storms over to demand silence. Outta sight, outta mind! And considering his infamous temper… it’s a blessing.

The Librarian is an old Orc – grey-skinned, tough as weathered boots and grumpy as they come. But his age hasn’t dulled his intimidating aura. I may or may not have learned the hard way in the previous timeline when I foolishly thought I could get away with a bit of chatter. And uh… let’s say I don’t make that mistake anymore.

Oh! Now that it comes to mind… an Orc as a Librarian? Orcs usually stick to dungeons alongside their Goblin kin, and most adventurers wouldn’t hesitate to attack one on sight. His name’s a mystery too – it’s just ‘Librarian’ – and it’s what everyone in the Chantry and the Order of Selene calls him. I’ve thought about asking, but his curt responses to anything unrelated to books or library matters make it clear he’s not in the mood for chit-chat.

Hmm. He’s an enigma, that’s for sure! And Lady Iris likely knows his story. She’s the one who inducted him into his current duties, after all. But even I couldn’t coax it outta her in the previous timeline! I’m still curious about this, but for now… my focus is on Anna, and my promise to help her master her Heal spell.

“Hey, umm… Arisa?” Anna asks, her voice soft and hesitant as she rests her cheek on her hand while she looks at me with a sheepish smile. “Before we start… I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Well… you’re a proper Healer like Mom is, right? So, umm… what other spells do you know? Besides Heal, I mean!”

“You want a glimpse of the wonders I’m capable of?” I ask with a cheeky grin, wrapping myself in an air of playful mystique. “Hmm…”

“Umm… of course! I showed you my entire repertoire of spells, so it’s only fair you show me yours as well, right?” Anna asks enthusiastically, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Besides, if we’re going to work together… we must know each other’s strengths!”

“Well…”

I cup my chin, pretending to ponder as Anna watches me with eager eyes and a hopeful grin. I have a sneaking suspicion she’s stalling (just as I am right now!)… but it’s not a bad idea to give her a little demonstration! Within reason, of course.

Listing my spells would be easy, but where’s the fun in that? Hell, I’d say a live performance is much more exciting! And that’s what I’m gonna do!

“Umm… Arisa?”

“Sure, why not?” I reply with a warm smile. “But first…”

Standing up, I close my eyes and cast Clairvoyance, letting the world around me fade as I visualise the library. When I open my eyes again, it’s as though I’m soaring above it all, seeing everything from a bird’s-eye view. The sprawling shelves… the paladins and healers engrossed in their studies… the familiars darting about… it’s a magnificent sight!

But my attention is on the Librarian. I find him at his desk, slouched comfortably in a large armchair, idly flipping through a thick tome in his massive hands. Candied apples from the lunch service in the dining hall sit on a silver platter beside a steaming mug of coffee – he’s far away from us and on a well-earned break, it seems. Perfect.

“Oh my!” Anna exclaims as I return to the present, her astonished gaze fixed on me. “What was that? You were staring at the wall, but it looked like you were seeing something far beyond… umm… the wall! And your eyes were on fire, burning with Mana…”

“That’s Clairvoyance!” I explain with a big grin. “It lets me use Mana to see anything that’s anywhere, as long as there’s light nearby. Handy, isn’t it?”

Anna nods, her eyes wide with wonder. “That’s… incredible! And umm… I don’t think I’ve seen any healers use this spell before! Not even Mom…”

“Oh, that? Lady Iris and I developed Clairvoyance together in the previous timeline. It was our final entry to the Akashic Record before you and I left the Isle of Spirits.”

“I see. Oh, Arisa… you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

“Yup. I sure am!” I reply with a playful wink. “Anyway, we’re in the clear. The Librarian’s preoccupied, so as long as we don’t make a mess or burn anything down, we’re good.”

Anna’s expression shifts to mild alarm. “Burn something down? That sounds… awful! You don’t think that will happen… right?”

“C’mon now… you think so little of me?” I exclaim as I feign hurt, clutching my chest dramatically. “Why, I’m offended that you’d even worry about that being a possibility!”

“Hmph. I’m just making sure!” Anna retorts, crossing her arms and pouting her lips. “You can’t blame me for being cautious.”

“Fair enough,” I concede with a laugh. “But you have my word – no fires, no disasters.”

“Okay. I trust you, Arisa.”

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Anna settles into her chair as I step back, flexing my fingers with theatrical flair. “And now, for your viewing pleasure… let’s begin!”

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Memories of the Healer…

Hmm. How should I go about this? So many ways to show off what I’ve got… but I suppose the only way to demonstrate it is to just do it!

Oh, but I don’t have Elizabeth with me right now! I had to leave it in the lockers by the library entrance, like Anna with Ascalon. No weapons allowed in here, y’know? And the Librarian? An absolute stickler for rules – especially the ones about weapons! Sheathed claymores and staves knocking over display racks because some Paladin or Healer doesn’t watch their step? That’s a surefire way to ruin his day. No matter. I’ll just have to make do. And I shall!

I’ve got a solid repertoire of spells up here in this rather thick skull of mine. First up (and my favourite!) – Holy Fire! It’s one of the first spells every aspiring Healer learns – purely for self-defence, of course! These sacred flames don’t mend wounds. Instead, they’re a projectile missile streaking across the battlefield or a righteous stream of scorching fire.

The flames of my Holy Fire ignite in the palm of my hand, crackling with a vibrant glow of white and blue. They’re devastating against the undead, demons, or anything corrupted by foul magic. Lights them up brilliantly. Against the living or those pure of heart? Not so much. For that, you’d need a Mage’s Fireball! But still, Holy Fire burns hot.

“Oh my! That’s Holy Fire, isn’t it?” Anna gasps, her eyes wide with wonder as they fixate on the flickering flames in my hand. “It burns just as powerfully as Mom’s…”

“It sure is!” I say with a cheeky grin, casting a glance at our desk. “Her flames are white and gold, though. As is her Heal.”

“Mom says the colours in our spells mirror the essence of our souls!”

“Indeed! Anyway… I’d show you what my Holy Fire can do, but… heh! Plenty of opportunities for that later, I reckon. And I did promise not to set anything on fire…”

“Arisa…”

“Just kidding!” I exclaim, flashing a smile as warm as the flames in my palm while Anna sighs, clearly unimpressed by my antics. “Alright, on to the next spell – Mage Armour!”

I close my hand, snuffing out my Holy Fire, and snap my fingers. A flash of blue shimmers over my skin instantly, forming an invisible layer of Mage Armour that makes my body and bones as tough as stone.

Despite the name, Mage Armour isn’t a Mage-exclusive spell! It’s one of the few cross-class spells useable by all magic users, and it’s a lifesaver that greatly bolsters one’s resilience when the fighting gets rough. It’s great against arrows… the occasional bludgeoning or slashing… you get the idea!

Mine’s the non-Mage variation, though. Mages get the top-tier version of Mage Armour (how fitting, eh?), toughening their skin and bones to diamond-like resilience. As for conjurers and necromancers and healers like me? We settle for mere stone. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing when a blade or Monster claw comes your way. Personal experience in the previous timeline taught me that. Not that I recommend ever finding out… if you can help it!

“Go on – hit me if you like!” I offer, extending an arm with a confident smile. “I can take it.”

“No way!” Anna protests, crossing her arms and shaking her head. “I know what Mage Armour does, Arisa! It’s a defensive spell meant to protect you!”

“Good! Then let’s keep the defensive theme going…”

Taking a step back for space, I extend my hand, channelling Mana into a shimmering Spell Ward – a runic barrier glowing white and blue, shaped like a kite shield. It hums faintly, exuding an aura of power. My power!

Spell Ward converts Mana into a magical shield, nullifying incoming spells as long as I maintain my focus. With enough Mana, with unwavering concentration… it’s an impenetrable aegis against even the most devasting magical assaults.

“That’s a very powerful Spell Ward…” Anna wonders out loud as she circles around me, inspecting every detail. “ “How long can you hold yours? Mom says her record is two hours! And umm… she only stopped because everyone else ran out of Mana.”

“Hmm… good question…” I reply, tapping my chin thoughtfully while maintaining my Spell Ward. “Never timed myself. Guess I oughta give it a go someday.”

“I wish I could cast Sanctuary with such grace and finesse…” Anna murmurs, her tone wistful. “Compared to you, or Mom… I’m still a novice…”

“And you will, soon enough!” I declare confidently, letting my Spell Ward dissipate as I rest a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Sanctuary and Spell Ward are the two core spells needed to pass the Trial of the First Saint. Once you master Sanctuary… you’ll be a fully-fledged Paladin of the Order of Selene!”

“That’s… a lot of pressure.”

“Don’t worry! I’ve got your back,” I declare, meeting her gaze with a steadfast nod. “We’re a team, remember? And we’re gonna be the best!”

“We are! And umm… we will be if we do our best together!”

“Hell yeah! Now then, check out this nifty little spell!” I announce, my fingers glowing white and blue. “Any guesses?”

“That’s Dispel Magic!” Anna says immediately, her eyes lighting up with recognition. “It drains magical energy from a target, right?”

“Yup! Transfers it to me, unless…”

“Unless you’re using a staff to ground the spell, like Elizabeth,” Anna notes, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “Mom says this spell is very dangerous without the proper precautions!”

“Right again!” I declare with a grin, cupping my hand to extinguish the glow of Dispel Magic. “But since Elizabeth’s not with me... let's move on, shall we? For my next spell… I’ll need a volunteer!”

“Umm…”

Cheekily, I make a big show of looking around the room, my gaze eventually settling on Anna’s sheepish smile.

“Pretty please, Lady Silverlight?” I ask, layering my words with playful charm. “I swear, you won’t regret it!”

“Oh, Arisa! If you insist…” Anna replies nervously, her cheeks flushing red, both hands pressed on them. “But umm… I’m only agreeing because you promise it’ll be worth it!”

“Perfect!” I declare triumphantly. “You’re gonna love this one.”

With an outstretched hand aimed at Anna, I close my eyes and focus. My lips silently form the words of a prayer to Rinnah. A soft glow of white and blue envelops Anna, her eyes beginning to radiate Mana as the power of my Divine Blessing takes hold.

Found in the Libram of Discipline, this advanced spell uses Mana to empower the recipient with godly prowess. Be it enhancing clarity for better spellcasting or bolstering physical speed and strength… it’s a game-changer in battle.

“Feel any different?”

“Arisa!” Anna exclaims, the glow of her eyes blazing and bright. “I feel stronger… faster…”

“That’s the power of Divine Blessing – it turns you into a killing machine like no other!”

“Oh my! The only other Healer I know who can use this spell is Mom! For a moment, it felt like she was right here with me, her magic surrounding me…”

I nod, recalling Lady Iris’s final lesson in the previous timeline, just before Anna and I left for the mainland. The Libram of Discipline isn’t in the library’s catalogue – both then and now. By divine decree, it reveals its knowledge only to healers who bear eyes like the First Saint’s – golden, like a God. Like a Hero. For that reason, the Libram remains within the Ecclesiarch’s private collection.

“That’s how she taught me to cast Heal…” Anna recalls thoughtfully. “She used her Divine Blessing to guide me during my first attempts. Then, little by little… she let me rely on it less and less… until I could finally cast Heal on my own.”

“Woah, really? Damn! That was gonna be my plan to help you with learning Sanctuary!” I exclaim, scratching the back of my head with a modest smile. “Shit. I guess great minds think alike, huh? Honest to Rinnah… she really did teach me everything I know.”

A wistful smile tugs at my lips for a moment, but I shake off the nostalgia as my gaze settles on Anna. Because right now, there’s something far more pressing that demands my focus!

“Oh, and speaking of learning and mastering spells…”