In the dimly lit treatment room, Master Kali and the new mendicar locked eyes in a silent battle of wills. Before becoming a mendicar, Lily would have crumbled under Kali's intense stare. But now, she stood her ground, her new status giving her the confidence to not seek Kali's approval.

However, facing a more experienced mendicar was intimidating. If Kali saw through Lily's disguise and discovered her class, everything – her life, could be over. Such a discovery could lead to Lily being enslaved, even though it might be against the Empire's laws. In the face of such a rare find, who would bother with legalities?

Master Kali broke the silence. "You may sit," she said, her voice eerily calm.

"Thank you," Lily replied, moving to the chair with steps that echoed through the room.

"I'm here to—" Lily began, but Kali cut her off.

"I know," Kali said, nodding towards a wooden emblem with metal inlays. "To get your license."

Lily nodded, feeling as if Kali could see right through her.

"If it were up to me, you wouldn't get it without a more in-depth check. But His Excellency Augustus insists," Kali said, her eyes fixed on Lily, reading her every reaction.

"You're different," the Master mendicar remarked. "Some have a talent for sensing health changes, but you're on another level. Is it magic?"

Lily felt exposed, but Kali didn't seem to want an answer. She was studying Lily's face, looking for clues.

"Have you gone through awakening? Your registration says so, but I need to hear it from you," Kali pressed.

Lily tried to hide her surprise, but her reaction was enough for Kali.

"Ah," Kali noted, her expression changing. "It's rare for someone who awakened magic to become a mendicar. Most with a hint of talent choose to become a warrior. What's your element? Water? Earth?"

These mana types were linked to health, but not strongly enough to deter someone from pursuing a path as a mage or warrior. Only those with minimal mana capacity or a slight connection might opt for a different route. Indeed, nearly everyone had some mana affinity, though for most, it was too weak to be noteworthy.

Master Kali, noticing no shift in Lily's honest face at the mention of water or earth mana, furrowed her brow. The girl before her was an enigma, ranking highly among the peculiarities of their magical world.

"Could it be?" Master Kali voiced suddenly, her widened eyes reevaluating Lily, sparking a wave of near-panic in the young mendicar.

Lily's heart raced, bracing for the revelation that could upend her carefully laid plans. Despite the preparations and training, the risk of being seen through had always loomed. But even so, the thought of inaction while her brother's condition worsened was unthinkable.

"Are you... an irregular?" Master Kali inquired, then clamped her mouth shut, as if regretting her words. Lily, expecting a more catastrophic accusation, felt a rush of relief so strong she nearly sighed aloud. Pretending to be caught, she tried to make her best guilty expression, embracing the label of 'irregular,' uncertain of its implications but grateful for the diversion.

"Master Kali, I'm really pressed for time. Could I please have my license now?" Lily rushed, eager to escape further scrutiny.

Master Kali, still struggling with her suspicion, handed over the emblem almost reflexively. Lily reached for it quickly, her eagerness inadvertently reinforcing Kali's misjudgment. Yet, Kali didn't let go immediately, holding onto the emblem and the moment.

"Mendicar Lily, perhaps you could stay a bit longer? I could use your help... If you were to become my assistant, I..." The elder's offer was marked with desperation and hope.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master Kali, but I must leave now," Lily interrupted, cutting through the woman’s words. Her abrupt refusal bordered on rudeness, a breach of etiquette she couldn't afford to care about at the moment. The urgency to leave before Master Kali discerned more about her was pressing.

"Is this about your brother? His Excellency has briefed me. I would be more than willing to assist..." Master Kali persisted, her expression shifting from shock to a semblance of eagerness.

"I'm sorry, Master Kali. I really must go," Lily said firmly, finally pulling her license from Kali's grasp. She spun on her heel, bolting towards the door.

"Lily, I know what you did for the watchers!" Master Kali's voice rang out, halting Lily's escape. The desperation in the master mendicar's tone was uncharacteristic, revealing the depth of her interest. "A simple vitality infusion couldn't have revived them from the brink of death, nor expedited their recovery as you did. No mendicar in this town, myself included, has achieved such results."

Rooted in place, Lily's resolve wavered as panic set in. Her heart urged her to flee, but her feet refused to comply. "I'm sorry," she whispered and then dragged herself through the exit.

Behind her, Master Kali's gaze softened into sorrow, regret, and a hint of resentment. "I could have supported you, protected you. Others may not extend the same grace," she murmured to the now-empty room.

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Meanwhile, Lily dashed through the tower's corridors, only slowing upon reaching the guest room where her brother, Draven, lay weak. Gasping for breath, she quickly gathered their belongings and gently lifted her brother onto her back. His illness had whittled him down to a mere shadow of his former self, easing the burden of carrying him.

Used to hard labor, Lily maneuvered through the tower's exit, declining both sincere and perfunctory offers of assistance along the way.

"Please extend my gratitude for the hospitality, and my apologies for not doing so in person, to His Excellency. I'm already late," she told a watcher at the entrance, before making her way towards the inn.

Lily could have squeezed in a quick visit to Augustus, but she feared Master Kali or some unforeseen obstacle might delay her departure. With Draven and their bags in tow, she found the trek to the inn manageable, thanks in part to their minimal belongings: just some clothes, the books she had earned, and a few necessities.

At the stables, Mr. Valdis was overseeing the loading of carts. Lily noticed three carts in total: two filled with monster parts and one with small crafts. Behind these, two carriages were being prepared with supplies and checked for the journey ahead.

"Mendicar Lily, you're finally here!" Mr. Valdis exclaimed with a sigh of relief upon seeing her. "You can put your things in the first carriage," he added, eyeing the boy on her back with concern.

After expressing her gratitude, Lily proceeded to the indicated carriage. She had previously arranged with Mr. Valdis to share this carriage with three other passengers, who had paid a premium for their seats. The merchant had assured her that convincing them to accommodate two more passengers in exchange for the services of a mendicar during the trip would be no issue.

The others would be in the second carriage, a snug fit but manageable. Mr. Valdis and his staff would drive the carts and carriages, while the hunters would scout the surroundings in shifts.

Inside the first carriage, Lily found three comfortable seats arranged around a table, likely to be used as beds. An additional seat had been added near the storage area and coach access – an improvised solution but one that matched Valdis's promise. Though not as luxurious as the other seats, it sufficed for her and Draven, especially since she wasn't paying for the ride.

After settling Draven and their bags, Lily stepped outside, curious about the hunters Mr. Valdis had hired. Soon enough, a group entered the stables, among them a robed figure in light brown, unmistakably an earth mage, his status confirmed by the staff he carried.

The rest of the team was formed by an archer who seemed to be the leader, a swordswoman, a towering man wielding a hammer, a smaller man with an indifferent expression, and a young man bubbling with excitement. After a brief exchange with Mr. Valdis, the archer led the group to the other carriage. Lily realized she wouldn't have the chance to get to know them now, but the journey ahead promised ample time for introductions.

Just when Lily thought the other passengers might have backed out, they made their appearance. A middle-aged couple, accompanied by a servant, arrived in their own lavish carriage, their attire and accessories broadcasting their wealth. Their brief glance at Lily, filled with disbelief, hinted at their surprise, perhaps expecting someone a little more proper. Despite their doubts about her status as a mendicar, they refrained from questioning her directly, a courtesy for which Lily was grateful. She had preemptively shared her license with Mr. Valdis, avoiding potential confrontations.

The servant efficiently transferred a few bags into the carriage, while the bulk of their luggage was loaded onto one of the carts. Lily sensed the journey ahead would be challenging, not just in distance but in dynamics.

The preparations wrapped up swiftly, and with the arrival of the errand boy delivering a bag of healing supplies to Lily, the caravan was ready to depart. Lily had braced herself for a significant emotional upheaval as they left town, but the departure was anticlimactic. It was only when the walls of Dawnbrook became visible through the carriage window that she realized they had indeed left. She turned her gaze to Draven, who slept quietly beside her. So much remained unsaid – promises, hopes, fears, and memories of what they were leaving behind.

The initial hours of their journey whisked by, fueled by Lily's marvel at the world beyond Dawnbrook's confines. The vast nature – a painting of trees, wildlife, and an array of plants flaunting their many forms, hues, and blooms – was a feast for the eyes. To an ordinary observer, the wilderness was a spectacle of beauty. Through Lily's eyes, blessed with the ability to perceive life mana, it transformed into a vivid dance of vibrant energies, pulsating more vigorously than anything she had witnessed within the town's walls.

As the novelty of the passing scenery waned, Lily's focus shifted to the medical supplies procured for the journey. She hoped the use of these supplies would be minimal, allowing her to reserve most for practice upon their arrival.

The kit was basic: a pestle and mortar for preparing medicines, along with essential tools for wound care – a healing knife, a suture needle, and pliers. The quality was lacking, reflecting the merchant's preference for cost-effectiveness over craftsmanship, with none of the tools undergoing alchemical treatment. Despite this, Lily appreciated the savings of seven silver coins.

The only generosity shown was in the quantity of drapes provided, an item inexpensive enough to be stocked in abundance. The remainder of the supplies encompassed sutures, a concentrated disinfectant, empty vials, infusion liquids, tinctures, and a selection of herbs. The total cost amounted to 20 silver coins – a significant sum for Lily, though discounted due to Mr. Valdis's merchant status. According to Valdis's words, the investment spared him close to 50 silver in potential wages and additional fees for securing a mendicar's presence among the passengers.

Lily's exploration of the medical supplies was interrupted when the carriage halted suddenly, the sound of shouts outside signaling the encounter with the first monster of the journey. Despite monsters venturing everywhere outside the town walls, the weak ones wouldn’t dare to approach a caravan – suggesting a confrontation with at least tier 2 creatures.

Joining the other passengers in craning towards the window for a glimpse of the action, Lily caught sight of the mage among the hunters, his hands weaving through the air as he conjured a shield to repel sludge balls hurled by mud monsters that had emerged around the shore. The sight of the mage's magic in action was both fascinating and terrifying.

Lily observed the trajectory of the attacks with keen interest. A sludge ball that struck a bush proved the monsters' damage potential by solidifying the vegetation inside a clay-like prison. The thought of such an attack hitting a person sent a shiver down her spine. The mud monsters, though sluggish in their assault, launching only a few attacks every ten seconds, were numerous enough to pose a significant threat.

The hunters maintained their distance, indicating the danger, yet their demeanor revealed no panic – suggesting they had the situation under control. Or so it seemed until a moment of chaos ensued: a sludge ball breached the mage's shield, striking the swordswoman squarely in the face. Panic spread as the woman dropped, her screams abruptly silenced by the encasing clay.

To the onlookers, the scene was distressing, but through Lily's ‘health sense,’ it appeared even more severe, bordering on fatal.