Fueled by the pain of humiliation and a burning determination, Lily redoubled her efforts in her studies. Her nights grew shorter as she sacrificed sleep for the pursuit of knowledge, but her progress was tangible and swift. The 'health sense' skill she had mastered now allowed her to identify common diseases and wounds before a patient even spoke, and she could effortlessly name the prevalent herbs and their uses in concoctions.

Her ambition crystallized further as another week passed. Lily set her sights on obtaining a novice mendicar license before the month's end. In the Empire, practicing as a mendicar required a license, obtainable through an examination overseen by a master mendicar and the city watch. The profession was categorized into three ranks: novice, professional, and master. A solo master could conduct exams for the novice rank, while ascending to a professional mendicar required passing an exam conducted by three masters. The highest accolade, the master license, was only granted following an examination at the Capital by the Mendicar Healing Association.

Master Orion, despite being referred to as 'master' by patients and locals, held only a professional license. However, Lily knew of an actual master mendicar in town who could administer the novice exam. The exam fee was a steep 30 silver, half of which was refundable upon passing. Lily lacked the funds, but she pinned her hopes on selling her house to cover the cost. Failure wasn't an option; failing the exam would jeopardize her entire plan to move to Silverlight. But even so, she was willing to take that risk.

Arriving at the mendicar store just after dawn, Lily had been relegated to using the study room only in the early mornings since her altercation with Alana. To maximize her study time, she started preparing Draven’s meals during the night, despite the challenges of limited lighting. Each morning, she would simply warm the food and perform basic cleaning before running to the store and conducting some basic reading until it was time to start preparing the mendicar’s breakfast. She decided to make the most of every precious moment available to her.

The 'clean' spell, though initially limited in scope, had become an indispensable part of Lily's routine. She used it to swiftly cleanse pots, clothes, and other smaller items, though cleaning the entire house with it remained beyond her current capabilities. The spell was growing stronger with each passing day, but her search for the mysterious 'clear' spell in the study's books had so far been fruitless.

In one of the dusty tomes, she stumbled upon a mention of a different tier 1 spell designed to invigorate its target, potentially extending their stamina. The description was frustratingly vague compared to her first spell, posing a greater challenge in mastering it. However, Lily was undeterred, resolved to unlock its secrets.

Her concentration was abruptly shattered by Alana's sneering voice. "Still haven't learned your place, stupid..." Alana began, her words dripping with contempt. Lily internally scolded herself for being so engrossed in her reading that she hadn't noticed Alana entering the room. Composing herself, she quickly placed the book back on the shelf.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I'll leave right away," Lily replied, her voice subdued, her head bowed in feigned submission.

"Just get on with your chores, servant!" Alana spat out.

Lily hurried out, heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She knew she had to avoid Alana as much as possible; there was too much at stake in these final days of study.

As she observed more treatments, Lily began to discern the abilities of each student. Alana's disdain for her became clearer – the girl lacked any real aptitude for healing. Her movements were abrupt, her hands clumsy, her understanding slow, and her attempts at concoctions often failed. It appeared that her family's wealth, rather than talent, secured her place in the mendicar's establishment.

It was nearing noon when the day's first patient arrived. From her vantage point in the storage room, Lily watched as a man carried in a young boy, writhing in agony, clutching his belly. Silently, she activated her 'health sense' filter, her eyes scanning the boy. The sight that met her was startling, and she barely suppressed a gasp of surprise.

Through the skill, she could see a tumultuous array of colors swirling around the young boy's life mana. She had developed a color-coding system to classify the severity of various health conditions: yellow for minor ailments, orange for intermediate issues requiring attention, and red for critical emergencies.

The predominant hue on the boy was a distressing red, especially concentrated in his abdomen where it churned in an ominous dance. Though her skill couldn't diagnose the specific ailment, it clearly indicated the gravity of his condition. Amongst the turmoil, Lily detected a pattern akin to earth mana poisoning, yet it appeared far more aggressive than any case she had seen before.

Master Orion entered the scene with a composed urgency, immediately orchestrating the treatment. Despite his flaws, Lily had to concede that Orion's expertise shone in moments of crisis. After administering a 'minor pain relief' concoction, the boy's screams subsided to pained moans, though his discomfort was still visible.

Orion took the lead in examining the boy, his brows knitting together with each touch. Lily continued watching with a knot of anxiety in her stomach. The boy's pained expression reminded her of Draven. She yearned to intervene, to share her insights about the aggressive earth mana poisoning, but how could she explain her knowledge without revealing her secret?

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Torn between the urge to assist and the need to maintain her cover, she watched helplessly, clutching the broom tightly. Time stretched on agonizingly until Orion finally requested the mana tincture box. A wave of relief washed over Lily as she relaxed her grip on the broom.

Carefully, the Orion tested all the mana vials, opening one by one for the boy to smell. However, the boy's scream upon the earth vial's approach and the visible disturbance in his abdomen seemed to only puzzle the mendicar further. Lily's mind become clouded with confusion, wondering why Master Orion hesitated. Wasn't this clearly a case of mana poisoning? What was he seeing that she couldn't?

The mendicar paused momentarily, as if lost in a distant memory, but the anguished cries of the young boy swiftly brought him back to the dire reality. Addressing the boy's father, he gravely noted that the case was one of severe mana poisoning, suggesting the need for a master mendicar's expertise.

The desperate father confessed his inability to afford such specialized care. Orion hesitated, his gaze lingering on the father's pitiful expression, before reluctantly agreeing to proceed with the treatment. He instructed his students to concoct a detoxifying solution infused with air-aligned herbs, even adding a few drops of air tincture himself before administering it to the boy.

For a fleeting moment, as the concoction passed the boy's lips, his moans ceased, and relief washed over his father's face. Orion, however, remained intensely focused on the child, his scrutiny mirrored by Lily from her hidden vantage point. She watched as the boy's internal turmoil briefly subsided, only to erupt anew with alarming intensity. The red hues of earth mana poisoning flared across his body, followed by his sudden, piercing screams and violent thrashing.

The father's cries of desperation echoed through the room, imploring Orion to save his son. In a flurry of action, the mendicar frantically mixed several concoctions and vials into a bowl, foregoing any precise measurements. Lily, observing this uncharacteristic panic in Orion, felt a growing sense of dread.

The boy's condition worsened rapidly, the alarming red and orange alerts spreading throughout his body. Orion, trembling with urgency, attempted to administer the hastily prepared remedy when a horrific sound shattered the room's tense silence. Blood sprayed in all directions as the old mendicar collapsed, a gaping wound in his abdomen.

Amidst the ensuing chaos, a grotesque worm-like creature emerged from Orion's body, latching onto the leg of the nearest student. The student's screams filled the air as they frantically tried to dislodge the writhing monster. The remaining students, gripped by terror, scrambled for safety. The creature, sensing their fear, leaped towards another student, its jaws clamping down on her side.

Amid the horror, Lily stood frozen, her mind racing to comprehend the nightmarish scene unfolding before her.

A monster, here, in the heart of the town? Such a thought seemed inconceivable. But as her mind raced, a chilling realization struck her – the creature had been inside the boy, consuming him from within.

Her stomach churned with revulsion, and she instinctively backed away, seeking refuge. She stumbled backward into the storage room, clumsily knocking over brooms and cleaning supplies. The chaos in the treatment room was briefly overshadowed by the clatter of falling objects. Panic surged through her. Would the creature be drawn to the noise? Would it pursue her next?

Trembling, Lily swiftly shut the door, pressing her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry of terror. Muffled screams of anguish and pleas for help seeped through the door, evoking painful memories of a past tragedy. She couldn't bear it – the despair, the helplessness. But, what could she do? And if she were to fall victim to the creature, who would be there for Draven?

Crouching down, Lily shifted her hands to cover her ears, desperately trying to block out the harrowing sounds from outside. She repeated to herself, a mantra for courage, "For Draven, for Draven."

Time seemed to stand still as she remained hidden, her breaths shallow and silent. Eventually, she cautiously uncovered her ears and wiped the tears from her face. The voices of men outside slowly became discernible.

"Is it dead?" asked a male voice apprehensively.

"Yeah. The boy's father... he kept stabbing it, even as it was eating his own arm," another voice replied in disbelief.

"That's insane," the first voice muttered.

"Yeah. The mendicar and the boy didn't make it. Only one girl got out."

"Lin's daughter?"

"Yeah, she was the one who ran for help. She was studying under the mendicar."

"So unfair... We're already short on healers, and now this..."

"How did it get in? Think a hunter brought it in unknowingly?"

"Doubt it. The girl said it was inside the boy."

"That's insane."

"I know."

"Let's lock this place up. Someone will come to clean up this mess later."

Lily sat motionless, trying to accept what just happened. The echoes of departing footsteps gradually faded, leaving behind a deafening silence. Death had claimed lives just beyond the door, casting a shadow over her thoughts. However, amid the chaos, an urgent thought struck her – Draven was alone at home. She needed to return to him.

With trepidation, she rose, steadying herself against the wall, and cautiously opened the door of the storage room. A glimpse of blood staining the treatment room floor made her heart lurch, and she quickly averted her gaze. Taking measured, trembling steps, she made her way toward the exit but paused.

With Master Orion gone, the fragile agreement that allowed her to observe and learn was shattered. Was she ready to face the mendicar exam? Her mind wrestled with guilt over her pragmatic thoughts amidst such tragedy, but the urgency of her situation, the necessity to secure a future for Draven, couldn't be ignored.

A thought crept into her mind – what would become of Master Orion's possessions? She knew he lived alone; his quarters had no trace of family. In the event of his demise, would distant relatives claim his belongings, or would they remain untouched, gathering dust?

Compelled by desperation, Lily ascended the stairs to the study room. The tranquility of the room stood in contrast to the horror below. She scanned the shelves, hastily selecting books she hadn't read, titles that promised valuable knowledge.

Four books found their way into her hands. Moral conflict made her hesitate. To take these books was to steal, but wasn't her cause just? She rationalized that she could return them once she had learned their knowledge – a temporary transgression for the greater good.

With the books securely packed in a bag, Lily hurried from the store, her steps quickening until she reached the safety of her home. Locking the door behind her, the events replayed in her mind.

It would be long before she could sleep soundly again.