Touch of Healing (2)

Joo-Hee continued her healing, her focus unwavering as she aimed to level up his [Healing Touch] to 5. At her current skill level, she can now heal small injuries in seconds that once took minutes, moving from one hunter to the next.

As she approached the next injured, Chae Nayun hurried over. "My mana's recovered, so I can take over now. Thank you for covering for me," she said with a warm smile. "Why don't you take a break and recover your mana first?"

She gave her a polite nod. "I can still keep going for a bit more, Ms. Chae," she replied, determined to push himself just a bit further.

Instead, she handed her three middle-grade mana recovery potions. "Here," she said with a concerned smile, "don't hesitate to take these if you're low on mana."

Her eyes widened in surprise at the gesture. 'Middle-grade mana potions??! and three at that...'

"Thank you!" she said, managing a genuine smile as she pocketed the potions. "I'll put them to good use."

As he turned back to her work, her resolve only grew. 'With these, I can hit that level-up sooner than I thought.'

Working alongside Nayun, Joo-Hee couldn't help but watch her technique intently. Closely watching as Nayun performed her spells, observing her technique, and taking mental notes.

She whispered what seemed like quiet prayers and incantations, and immediately, a soft greenish-yellow magic circle appeared beneath her patients, glowing with energy. A cross of radiant light emerged on her forehead, and Joo-Hee was mesmerized by the scene.

Her healing seemed almost holy. "Whoa... it's like a healing sanctuary. How beautiful," she thought to herself.

'Maybe, just maybe, I could recreate that…' Joo-Hee mused, intrigued by the concept. Although she didn't fully understand the mechanics of magic circles and incantations yet, she admired how it allowed her to heal multiple people simultaneously.

An idea began to form in her mind. 'Using [Verdant Growth], I might be able to connect the healing energy of [Healing Touch] through the roots and leaves of plants, spreading it like a field of restoration and creating a similar effect to Nayun's.'

She pictured a circle of grass and flowers, each blade and petal acting as a conductor for healing energy, directed by her mana. But as tempting as it was to experiment with this idea, Joo-Hee knew it could be risky here. 'It would be too obvious, and if anyone figures out I was behind Hyun-Woo's 'accident,' that would be trouble I don't need.'

'Better to practice this later in peace,' she decided, shaking off the thought for now.

Watching Nayun's wide-area healing spell cover multiple hunters, Joo-Hee felt a surge of pressure. She needed the injured hunters to keep leveling up her [Healing Touch], and Nayun's method, though slower, was reaching more people at once.

Determined, Joo-Hee focused on speed. She poured more mana into her skill, intensifying the regenerative energy for faster, more precise recovery. Each wound knitted together with precision as her mana honed in on cellular infusion and repair.

'I may not cover as many people, but what I lack in spread, I make up for in power,' she thought, doubling her pace.

Nayun glanced over and smiled knowingly, noticing Joo-Hee's drive. 'So, she's really here to sharpen her healing abilities,' she thought, recognizing her dedication. 'It's admirable, and it benefits everyone here. Experience truly is the foundation of mastery.'

"So, she's really here to sharpen her healing abilities," she murmured to herself, amused. Not a bad idea. Killing two birds with one stone, she thought, her chant never faltering as she focused on her spell.

As Joo-Hee and Chae Nayun worked, a tense crack filled the air.

The space near the reception area shattered like glass, and Han Ji-Hoon stepped through, visibly irritated as he came to a halt behind Kang Ho.

Kang Ho turned to him, slightly taken aback.

"So, did you finish your 'task' with the association? I told you no—."

Ji-Hoon's glare hardened.

"Don't ask. I'm already in a bad mood. I couldn't access any of her files—damn it! Not just hers, but all data about the six survivors!"

Kang Ho's face fell seriously, both shocked and confused.

"You're saying all their data was sealed? Only the president... has the authority to do that. But why?"

Their voices lowered, speaking in hushed, serious tones, but the weight of their conversation hung in the air.

Meanwhile, Joo-Hee focused entirely on her progress, and muttered to herself, "This is taking too long. I should find another method."

Her mind spun with ideas as she thought of an efficient way to heal multiple hunters.

'Another way without using [Verdant Growth]...'

Trying to clear her mind, Joo-Hee turned to Chae Nayun.

"Ms. Chae, I'm going to rest for a bit," she said, stepping aside.

She nodded, offering a gentle smile.

Joo-Hee took a deep breath and slipped into a meditative state.

After uncorking a bottle of mid-grade potion, she drank half of it deeply, letting the mana wash through her.

Gradually, she felt her reserves refill, and she pushed further, concentrating on compressing the mana tightly within her core.

Her mana was building, swirling into a potent reservoir she could access with even greater precision.

_______________________

[ You have completely recovered your mana. ]

...

[ Due to consumption... you have gained +1 Magic Power. ]

_______________________

Joo-Hee savored the last few drops of the potion, feeling the potency seep into her system.

He focused intensely, narrowing her mana pores to contain the surging energy from the potion, directing every bit of mana inward.

Even though it wasn't quite as potent as the high-grade potion, she could still feel the gradual increase in her mana reserves with each sip. 

_______________________

[You have gained +1 Magic Power.]

...

[You have gained +2 Magic Power.]

...

[You have gained +1 Magic Power.]

...

_______________________

[Quest Complete: Rebuilding the Fragment of the Former Power]

[Mana pores will now revert to their original state.]

_______________________

Joo-Hee's satisfaction was brief as she watched another notification appear.

'What luck. To think the bonus effects would fade now, but I did gain a lot,' she thought, slightly disappointed.

Tucking the remaining potions into her bag, she resolved to save them for emergencies.

With a deep breath, she pushed those thoughts aside.

The meditation earlier had sparked an idea—a method of healing that would allow her to distribute energy efficiently to multiple people at once.

'If I create a compressed orb of healing energy using [Healing Touch] and thread it to each hunter...'

'Sort of like a healing IV fluid that could drip-feed them with healing energy... This might actually be doable,' she thought, excitement bubbling within her as she eagerly anticipated the experiment.

Eager to test his theory, Joo-Hee settled on the ground, palms facing forward in a meditative posture.

With a deep breath, she activated [Basic Meditation] to sharpen her focus, and then she called upon [Healing Touch], envisioning the healing energy turning into a concentrated orb in her palm in a matter of seconds.

The sphere of greenish energy felt dense and potent, an encouraging sign.

'This is much easier than before,' Joo-Hee thought, drawing on her prior experience with mana compression.

She marveled at the weight of the condensed healing energy, which shimmered softly in the dim light.

Now came the tricky part: extending tiny tendrils from the orb toward the nearby injured hunters.

She visualized the condensed sphere transforming into malleable strands that could connect to the wounds.

Focusing on one individual first, she directed her energy inward, imagining the strands reaching out and binding to the hunter's injury.

The initial attempts were shaky, the threads quivering and almost collapsing under the pressure of her will.

'Stay steady,' she urged herself, breathing rhythmically.

With every heartbeat, she felt her control improve, the tendrils gaining strength and stability.

After what felt like hours, she succeeded as the green ethereal energy began to flow smoothly from the orb, enveloping the hunter's wound in a warm embrace of healing energy.

'Whew, that was nerve-wracking. To think it required more focus than I thought. I should practice more,' Joo-Hee muttered to herself, a mix of relief and determination washing over her. 

The moment she succeeded in stabilizing the flow, the system chimed in with a notification that filled her with exhilaration.

_______________________

[You have applied your knowledge effectively. Gained +4 Intelligence, +6 Wisdom.]

[You have gained enough proficiency. Healing Touch has reached Level 5.]

_______________________

Even after accomplishing her goal, Joo-Hee continued practicing with the healing orbs.

And in just a short time, she could now fully heal three to five people at the same time.

With a determined stance, she stood up and extended both hands forward, summoning her energy once more.

This time, she created two orbs of concentrated healing energy.

Strands connected to six hunters, with ethereal tendrils slowly wrapping around their injuries—all to test her limits.

It was successful.

She felt more confident and decided to speed things up.

With each passing moment, the varied injuries began to heal: cuts sealed, bruises faded, and abrasions smoothed over.

The relief on the hunters' faces assured Joo-Hee that this technique was effective.

'I should at least name this... uhm, what would be a good name?' she thought, pausing.

After a moment of consideration, she decided, 'Okay, I'll name it [Orb of Lifeweaving Threads].'

Suddenly, the system chimed in.

_______________________

[ 'Orb of Lifeweaving Threads' has been registered under the skill, Healing Touch ]

_______________________

Joo-Hee's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that a technique she'd created would become an official skill.

As she made her way toward Ms. Chae, she decided to confirm it by whispering, "Status."

_______________________

...

Healing Touch (Skill Level 5 - 21%)

➤ Orb of Lifeweaving Threads

...

_______________________

'Whoa... it's really registered. To think this nonchalant system has more uses than I thought,' she mused, covering her smile with her hand.

'Then I should be able to activate it just by saying its names, right?'

Stopping in her tracks, Joo-Hee decided to test it out.

[Orb of Lifeweaving Threads], she muttered silently.

Instantly, she felt the technique activate with ease as a green, glowing orb formed in her hands.

Her grin grew wider, pleased with her success.