Lily didn’t have to wait for long as the young man returned promptly with a bowl of boiling water in his hands. She took the bowl from him and instructed with a firm voice, "Please wait outside. I may need you shortly." Though he hesitated, mirroring the concern the other hunter had shown for their injured comrade, he obeyed without protest. No stern look was required to persuade him.

While Lily was already used to hiding her healing arts under the watchful eyes of others, she preferred solitude in these moments. It minimized the risk and the stress.

With meticulous care, she began to blend the hot water into her prepared concoction. The balance was delicate; too much heat could compromise the potion's air essence, yet steam was crucial to activating stronger effects. As the aromatic steam began to fill the air, Lily chastised herself for forgetting to cover her nose and mouth, quickly rectifying her oversight with a cloth.

As she continued her work, the patient's condition showed signs of further improvement. Her trained eye noted a slight steadiness returning to the woman's breathing. The mud that once caked the patient's skin was losing its grip, particularly around the crucial airways. Seizing the moment, Lily cast ‘clean’ focusing her magic into a precise stream no wider than a nostril. The spell, enhanced by the air-aligned concoction, expelled the obstructing mud with surprising ease.

Encouraged by this success, Lily no longer held back her mana. She funneled her magical energy into the spell, rapidly clearing the airway. The woman's improved breathing facilitated the medicine's absorption, accelerating the healing process in a virtuous cycle that swiftly removed the remaining obstruction on that channel.

Inspired, Lily dampened a cloth with the boiled water and infused it with a bit of the concoction. Gently, she began to cleanse the woman's face. The mud, already weakened by the potion's effects, began to dissolve into the cloth. Lily used her skill to ensure her actions were beneficial, growing bolder in her efforts to remove the stubborn mask of mud.

Starting with the area around the nose and mouth, she meticulously cleared each obstruction. The second nostril proved more resistant, but it eventually yielded to the combined might of her magic and the concoction's air-aligned properties. In this instance, patience was her ally; allowing the steam to gently permeate proved more effective than force. Within minutes, the swordswoman's breathing was unimpeded.

Moving on to the mouth, Lily proceeded even slower, allowing her mana to replenish. After roughly five minutes, she successfully cleared the obstruction, leaving the mouth free of mud. The throat remained a concern, clogged with residues, but this was a problem to be addressed later.

With the patient's face nearly cleared, only the eye region remained. Despite the absence of alarming symptoms, Lily feared the worst – the possibility of lasting damage due to the attack's aftereffects. She approached this delicate task with utmost care, gently wiping away the mud with a clean portion of the cloth. Once confident in her mana's recovery, she cast a strong ‘clean’ spell over the patient's eyes.

As the green mist dissolved, taking the remaining mud and potential harm with it, Lily anxiously awaited the outcome. The eyes that emerged were red and swollen, yet, to her immense relief, they retained the vital spark of vision.

The swordswoman's immediate reaction was a pained outcry, her eyes reflexively shutting against the light. "Ouch, ow, ow," she exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

"Keep them closed for now," Lily advised, already preparing a ‘minor healing’ salve to soothe the irritation.

After applying the salve, Lily finally allowed herself a moment of relief and inquired, "How are you feeling?"

The woman's response was a colorful stream of curses, culminating in a grudging acknowledgment, "But I’m alive, so thank you, mendicar."

Taken aback by the unexpected cursing, Lily coughed awkwardly, managing a response, "Well, you are far from healed. We still need to clean some mud and deal with the poisoning. But you’ll survive."

Their exchange was interrupted by the young man who had provided the water earlier. Curious, he peeked through the carriage door, eager for an update on his teammate's condition.

"You can enter now. She is stable," Lily announced, suppressing a chuckle at his youthful eagerness, which reminded her of Draven’s antics.

To her surprise, not only did the young man enter, but the rest of the team followed suit, having already dispatched the monsters. The group crowded in, each member reacting in their unique way, filling the space with sounds of concern and relief.

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The man who had initially brought in the patient stood quietly to one side, his gaze intense and thoughtful, obviously betraying his stoic demeanor. The archer scrutinized the patient's condition, her silence heavy with unspoken judgments. The mage, extending a hand of comfort towards the injured, whispered words of consolation. Meanwhile, the burly figure wielding a hammer displayed an unexpected softness, his emotions spilling over as he knelt by the swordswoman, murmuring intimate confessions that Lily found herself wishing to unhear.

"Valentina, you should know better," the archer finally broke her silence with a stern voice. Lily sensed that her harshness was tempered by concern; she doubted the archer would be so stringent if the circumstances were different.

"Elara, this isn't fair!" protested the hammer-wielding giant before the injured woman could respond. He seemed poised to continue his defense, but a gentle touch from Valentina stilled him.

"She’s right, Rolan. I made an amateur mistake," Valentina conceded with unexpected maturity for someone who had just gone through a lot.

"Rolan, it's important that everyone understands the gravity of the situation. Valentina could have died," Elara insisted, her tone unwavering in its seriousness.

"It was an accident…" Rolan began, only for Elara to interject.

"Accidents can still be mistakes. And it wasn’t only Valentina," Elara said, turning slightly to include another in her admonition.

"I’m sorry, Valentina. I should’ve focused on blocking the attacks instead of conserving mana for a counterattack," the mage confessed, acknowledging his own lapse in judgment upon Elara's implicit cue.

"It's okay, Jove. I should’ve been more vigilant," Valentina added.

Rolan's glare at Elara did not waver; he wanted someone to blame. Observing from the sidelines, Lily found herself disappointed by the drama. Her mother had been right; hunters were not so different from the rest. Childhood fantasies of their heroism were completely different from the reality unfolding before her.

"We should allow Valentina to rest and let the mendicar continue her work," Elara suggested, prompting the group to disperse, though Rolan remained.

Then, turning to Lily, Elara requested a private word outside. Lily offered a nod as she followed behind the archer. It was clear she wanted to afford the pair lingering inside a sliver of privacy.

"Thank you, mendicar. May I ask for your name?" The leader's tone struck a balance between respect and casual inquiry, devoid of excessive formality.

"It's just my duty," Lily responded before she volunteered her name.

"I'm Elara," the other woman introduced herself.

"So…" Elara hesitated, her gaze fixed on Lily shifting between curiosity and concern. "May we discuss her sight?"

Lily's brows furrowed in confusion, a silent question displayed across her face. She was at a loss, unsure of what Elara was hinting at. Sensing this, Elara hurried to clarify.

"I've heard of mudling attacks that landed on hunter’s head. Those who manage to... survive usually become blind." she shared with an expression filled with sorrow and guilt. It was evident – Elara was bearing the weight of her companions' fates. Seeking to dispel any misunderstandings, she added, "I’m not criticizing your abilities. Surviving this kind of situation is already rare."

"Oh," was all Lily managed, her mind racing. She hesitated to make promises, but ‘health sense’ suggested that the damage was limited to severe inflammation and irritation – intense, certainly, but not beyond her ability to mend. "I'm not sure about other lingering problems, but she will not be blind."

Elara's eyes widened in astonishment. The experienced archer had not expected such ability from a young mendicar. Despite having similar ages, Elara's experience far outstripped her teammates, and that’s why she was the leader. The moment she entrusted Valentina to Lily, she had braced for the worst.

"Thank you, mendicar Lily. We owe you a debt of gratitude." Elara said with a genuine smile and an excitement that the mendicar hadn’t seen until now.

This time, Lily accepted the gratitude without objection. In her current state, any offered support was precious.

As they re-entered the carriage, Elara managed to steer Rolan aside, granting Lily the space she needed to continue her healing work. Now, it was a matter of boosting Valentina's recovery and cleansing the remnants of the mudling's assault.

Clearing the residual sludge was a meticulous but straightforward task. The mendicar skillfully employed the counter alongside her 'clean' spell, masking the magical intervention with a variety of mundane actions. Such subtlety was necessary, given Valentina's regained consciousness and keen awareness of her surroundings.

Hours ticked by, and with the patient stabilized, the caravan stirred to life, resuming its journey towards Silverlight. With a promise to revisit Valentina for further checks, Lily retreated to her own carriage. Her demonstration of skill had not gone unnoticed; everyone, including Valdis, seemed to respect her more.

This improved esteem was most evident within her carriage, where the wealthy couple offered her a more comfortable seat – their servant's, of course. Lily, however, declined the gesture with the excuse that she needed to tend to Draven.

The afternoon waned as Lily devoted her time to reflecting on the day's treatments and planning for Valentina's continued recovery. She visited the woman once more, ensuring the patient's condition was progressing as expected. As dusk enveloped the caravan, they settled into a clearing. A fire crackled at the heart of their temporary encampment, around which Mr. Valdis's and the couple's servants, along with the hunter's aide, gathered to prepare the evening meal.

Lily sought out the merchant to inquire whether she needed to prepare her own meals. To her relief, he informed her that his servant would handle the task. Initially, the absence of helpers or students might have cast a shadow of doubt on her expertise and credibility. However, her demonstration of skill had effectively silenced any skepticism. Her competence in the field was now undeniable, affirming her place and respect within the group, especially in the eyes of the merchant and the hunters.