Lily sat hunched by the flickering fire, her gaze lost in the dancing flames. The water on the hearth boiled, the gentle bubbling contrasting the turmoil in her mind. Every time she blinked, the horrific memories of the attack surged forward – the monster, the blood, the screams. It had been two days since, but the terror clung to her like a persistent shadow.

She had played with the idea of revisiting the mendicar's store, perhaps to see what became of Master Orion's tools and materials. But the very thought sent shivers down her spine. She hadn't even inquired about the surviving student. Deep down, she suspected it was Alana. Despite their bitter enmity, Lily couldn't wish for her death. She wanted to be a healer, to save people, not to let them die.

Unfortunately, logic offered little comfort. As a tier 1 healer, she knew her abilities were limited. The initial tiers were preparatory stages for any class – be it warrior, mage, or crafting. It wasn't until one ascended a tier or two that their skills truly flourished. Still, the gnawing guilt that she should have done more, intervened somehow, refused to subside.

Her introspection was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door, snapping her back to reality. Panic surged through her veins. Was it the City Watch? Had they come for her, knowing she fled the scene, or worse, about the books she took?

Her heart raced, her thoughts spiraling into chaos. Fearing she would be taken, apologies to her slumbering brother formed silently on her lips, berating herself for jeopardizing their future. But then, a familiar voice pierced through the fear: "Girl, are you there? I brought someone to look at the house."

Aunt Carol.

Relief washed over Lily. She was safe. They were safe. Taking a deep breath to steady her frayed nerves, she called out in response, "Just a moment, Aunt Carol."

Hastily, she straightened her disheveled attire, wiped her tear-streaked face with a wet cloth, and with a whispered incantation, cast 'clean' on her dress – a small act to erase the physical traces of her emotional turmoil. With a reassuring glance at Draven's peaceful form and a muttered mantra of hope, she moved to open the door.

As she ushered Aunt Carol and the prospective buyer into her modest home, Lily mustered a resemblance of hospitality, her voice streaked with forced cheerfulness. "Good morning, Aunt Carol, Sir. Please, come in. Excuse the delay, I had something cooking. Feel free to look around and let me know if you have any questions."

The man stepping over the threshold was a compact figure, his dark hair meticulously combed back, framing a sharply defined goatee. He exhibited a suit of rich fabric, the kind usually worn by the wealthy in town, accentuated with ornate buttons and a subtly embroidered vest. He acknowledged Lily with a cursory nod, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings with a discerning gaze.

Instinctively, Lily activated her ‘health sense’ skill, scrutinizing the visitor. His aura revealed a generally robust constitution, marred by a few minor ailments: a healing sprain on his left ankle, signs of overindulgence in fire-aligned foods, which should be causing some stomach discomfort, and a faint trace of erratic mana flow in his head, an indicative of a lingering headache. Her skill's accuracy was improving with each use, providing her with a clearer understanding of each person's health at a glance. Sadly, the absence of Master Orion unknowingly correcting or confirming her guesses had stalled the skill’s growth.

Aunt Carol's observant gaze didn't miss the subtle signs of distress on Lily's face. In a hushed tone, marked with genuine concern, she inquired, "Are you okay, Lily?" The use of her name, rather than the casual ‘girl’, revealed the seriousness of her worry.

Lily responded with a smile, strained and painted with sorrow. "Yes, Aunt Carol. It's just... I've been a bit anxious about everything."

Carol's expression softened, though skepticism lingered in her eyes. "Perhaps things will ease up once you find a buyer."

Nodding in agreement, Lily proceeded to guide the man through the remaining rooms. Engaging in conversation, she learned he was a merchant seeking to establish a warehouse. For him, the house's structural integrity and space held more significance than its aesthetic appeal. Upon encountering Draven in deep slumber, Mr. Loges showed a slight discomfort, but his courtesy in not mentioning it was not lost on her. Lily understood how strange the situation would appear to an outsider.

The visit ended with Mr. Loges expressing his interest in purchasing the property, offering 25 silver coins. Lily's heart sank at the amount. It wasn't that she believed this would be his highest offer, but the opening bid was significantly lower than what she had anticipated. She had set her expectations around a figure in the thirties, hoping it would be enough to cover her brother's potions and the exam fee.

"Mr., I can't accept that offer," Lily stated firmly. "You've seen my brother's condition. I'm selling our home to fund his treatment in Silverlight. The amount you're offering won't even cover his potions." She didn't like using her brother's illness as a bargaining chip; it was a genuine plea, born from the urgency of their situation.

Mr. Loges, unmoved by her plea, maintained his stance. "I sympathize with your situation, truly, but the best I can do is to add another 2 silver, considering your brother's situation."

Summoning her courage, Lily countered, "35, Mr. Loges. If you can offer 35, I'll agree to sell." Her expression was stern.

"I'm truly sorry, but I can’t pay that much. Honestly, no matter the size or condition of the house, I was only prepared to pay 30 silver," the merchant explained.

Lily opened her mouth to negotiate further, but Mr. Loges interjected, "I'm being completely honest with you. That's all I can afford. If it's not suitable for you, I'd be happy to recommend some friends who might be willing to offer more." His expression was earnest, though Lily couldn't help but wonder if he was offering it just to get her to accept.

Her eyes flitted towards Aunt Carol, seeking guidance. The older woman's nod was subtle but clear – this was as good as it was going to get. Lily's heart clenched at the thought of letting go of her home for such a price, but the urgency of the situation outweighed her feelings.

"Alright, Mr. Loges," she conceded in quiet resignation. "30 silver it is."

For a moment, Lily's mind wavered, contemplating the idea of abandoning her plans. Perhaps she could stay, work alongside Aunt Carol, and keep Draven alive with the potions. Maybe, she could gradually learn about healing, nurturing the hope that one day she might cure him without facing the dangers and uncertainties that lay beyond the town walls.

However, deep down, she knew such hopes were futile. In this small town, her potential to grow as a healer would be severely limited. She would likely remain stuck in tier 1, perhaps barely reaching tier 2. Healing was a guarded profession, not taught lightly, and the resources were scarce here. Staying would mean watching Draven's condition worsen, the potions becoming less effective until they failed entirely. It was a grim countdown to the inevitable.

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With a heavy heart, Lily accepted the harsh reality. She would make it work, somehow. They had to survive, whatever the cost.

She concluded the deal with Mr. Loges, who intended to take possession of the house within a week. Everything was happening too fast, but she recognized that haste was necessary. Their funds were dwindling, and soon even basic sustenance would become a challenge.

The sale, however, posed a new dilemma. The money would just cover her mendicar exam, and if she passed, she would recover 15 silver – hopefully enough to journey to Silverlight. But failure meant a total loss: no money, no healer's license, no home.

After the merchant and Aunt Carol departed, the latter casting a worried glance back at her, Lily found herself overwhelmed by the severity of the situation. The plans were advancing as she'd hoped, but she felt woefully unprepared for the mendicar exam. The trauma of recent events had left her mind in disarray, sleep evading her grasp. When she did manage to doze off, nightmares jolted her awake, robbing her of the restorative power of sleep.

During these troubling times, she had channeled her restless mind into cleaning, almost obsessively, frequently casting her 'clean' spell to aid her efforts. Her attempts to study were less successful; she poured over her notes – scribbles on used paper – but struggled to focus, her mind refusing to absorb the information. The recent horrific event was a catalyst, unearthing memories of another tragedy not too long ago. Grief and trauma were familiar to Lily, and she knew they would eventually subside, but not fast enough to leave her time to prepare for the upcoming exam.

Recognizing the limitations of sheer willpower in overcoming her mental barriers, she decided to give the 'clear' spell one final attempt – dedicating an entire day to its study and practice. Her decision was driven by two key factors. One, her preliminary research on the spell gave her an inkling of its potential effects, which, if her understanding was correct, could be exactly what she needed to navigate through her current challenges. And two, in the four books “borrowed” from Master Orion's collection, there were scattered references to the 'clear' spell that might provide the necessary insights to cast it successfully.

Aware that it was a gamble, Lily decided that devoting one day to this endeavor was a reasonable risk. If it proved unsuccessful, she would have no choice but to devise an alternative plan.

Surrounded by the books, she methodically annotated her findings on scraps of paper, each a precious resource. Ironically, Lily found that focusing her efforts on the spell designed to aid her mental state actually helped in regaining some of her lost concentration. She meticulously combed through the books, earmarking sections that referenced the 'clear' spell and its effects. With the few blank pages she had, she began to document her understanding of the spell.

Spellcasting comprised three primary steps: pulling mana consistently from her mana spring, drawing the spell pattern, and incantation. The first step had become instinctive for her, at least with tier 1 spells, and the last step was within reach, as she already knew the ancient magical word for 'clear'. The challenge, however, lay in the second step – crafting the spell pattern that embodied the essence of clarity.

Her research yielded some insights, with several passages describing the symbol, but frustratingly, not one provided an actual illustration. Her favorite text, 'Basic Healing', revealed that master healers often withheld patterns from apprentices. This secretive approach was meant to encourage self-discovery, crucial for advancement to higher tiers. Consequently, only the most fundamental healing spells had their patterns widely known, while the more exotic ones were left to mere descriptions. Lily felt stumped. How was she to devise the pattern herself, especially with her limited spell repertoire?

Nevertheless, she persisted. Starting with what she knew – the 'clean' spell – Lily attempted to draw parallels between the 'clear' spell and its pattern. Hours of deep contemplation and repeated spellcasting began to bear fruit. She noticed a distinct 'mental taste' associated with the spell, a subtle sensation that she could almost grasp, and started matching it with the purity pattern used in the spell.

Lily then embarked on doing the inverse for the ‘clear’ spell. She pondered deeply over the descriptions of the spell, attempting to conceptualize its unique ‘mental taste’. This abstract idea was then meshed with the vague descriptions of the spell pattern she had collected from her readings. Her initial attempt at sketching the pattern didn't resonate as she had hoped. She revisited her process, her actions now driven more by intuition than concrete knowledge. Ten iterations and eight exhaustive hours later, she crafted a pattern that, to her senses, felt aligned with her understanding of the spell. It was a shot in the dark, filled with educated guesses, and she tempered her expectations accordingly.

With no other options left, Lily decided to put her theoretical pattern to the test. She took a moment to meditate, steadying her nerves and clearing her mind. Then, drawing upon the mana from her spring, she channeled the green energy towards the pattern she had conceived. As anticipated, the first attempt didn't quite materialize as intended. However, it wasn't a complete failure – it provided her with valuable feedback on where the mana flow was disrupted or inconsistent.

Her journey with the spell became a painstaking cycle of trial, error, and adjustment. In between her efforts, she paused to tend to Draven and to eat. Sleep, however, remained a sore subject. Rather than spend hours in futile attempts to drift off, she reserved just over three hours for rest, a compromise that left her perpetually weary and struggling to maintain focus during the day.

Despite the slow progress, she decided to dedicate another half-day to the spell, encouraged by the small advancements she had made.

The next day, after attending to her morning responsibilities, Lily plunged back into her spellwork. She couldn't help but wonder whether having a proper healer mentor would have expedited her learning process. Though it might seem like she was making swift progress, the reality was that she had been struggling with this tier 1 spell for weeks.

As the day wore on, she sensed she was inching closer to a breakthrough. Yet, doubts lingered in her mind. Would a pattern based on guesswork function correctly? Information on spell pattern design wasn’t something that would appear in tavern discussions. She only knew that most casters relied on purchased spell scrolls, making this archaic method of learning perhaps outdated and less reliable.

Evening crept in as Lily finally felt the pattern solidifying into something coherent. Despite the mental exhaustion and the time invested, a grin spread across her face. She had not only made progress with the spell but had also managed to divert her thoughts from the haunting memories that plagued her. However, she now faced an important decision. With only four or five days left before the exam, she had to choose whether to spend another day or two perfecting the spell or to focus on consolidating her healing knowledge.

The safer path was undoubtedly focusing on her studies. However, the allure of completing the spell was too strong to ignore. She knew that her inability to regulate her sleep was a ticking time bomb, potentially jeopardizing her performance in the upcoming exam. Moreover, the thought of abandoning the spell, when she was so close to a breakthrough, was almost unbearable.

Driven by this resolve, she dove back into the spellwork. The night stretched on, with each passing hour marked by her growing exhaustion. It wasn't until the first hints of dawn painted the horizon that her body finally succumbed to fatigue, sending her collapsing into bed. Her sleep, however, was short-lived, as a nightmare jolted her awake, forcing her back into the routine of her daily chores.

By midday, her persistence finally bore fruit. As she drew life mana, meticulously traced the pattern, and uttered the incantation, something remarkable happened. A burst of green energy erupted, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed to freeze – her thoughts suspended in a state of perfect stillness. When time resumed its course, the persistent headache that had been her constant companion began to recede, her anxiety lessened, and her focus sharpened. It had worked.

Unable to contain her excitement, she let out a triumphant scream, indifferent to the thoughts of her neighbors. Without any further planning or exploration, she hurried to her bed, pulling deeply from her mana spring. She infused the mana into the spell pattern with an unbridled fervor, her incantation of 'clear' filled with intent and desperation.

As the soothing wave of the spell washed over her, carrying the full weight of her mana spring, she closed her eyes, surrendering to what she hoped would be a deep, restorative sleep.