Basic First Aid

"Thomas?" Ryan taps my shoulder. I did watch him pack up. "There's a class soon. Then dinner. Aren't you going?"

"Yeah." I stand up. I'm expected at all classes.

"I don't mind most of them." Ryan pauses. "I think I want a notebook for first aid."

That's a good idea. I've collected a few notebooks for various classes. I should have a special one for first aid, though. Will I be able to join the healing magic classes? I need to tackle basic first aid first. After acquiring a new notebook, I head for the classroom in question.

Ryan is at my side. "I'm glad we're getting more than just practical use. I know how to give basic first aid. It was something expected of my family."

"Because of the annual mission?"

"Yes. But also because we tend to be clumsy. I need to have access to bandages and understand how to use them." Ryan sighs rubbing his head. "It's not difficult. I'll bet most have basics known."

I nod. Clean a wound. Treat it as needed. Be aware of whether it needs further help. When to do or not do. "We can't push ourselves too hard either. I think the biggest piece is knowing when to not."

The knight offers a smile to us. She is young. Always nice to greet the trainer without a helmet on. Many make us work for basic looks and knowledge. "Patients need to know when to not do as well as the first aid giver needs to know when to say this is beyond me and I need help."

"I'm looking forward to class." Ryan smiles back. "Thank you for offering it, Knight Azalea."

I glance to see copper emblem. So a commoner. Three blue means she can leave without support if needed. "How do you know her?"

"She comes to the library often." Ryan sits down at one of the tables. I sit next to him. Based on the two students per table maximum, Jessica will need to sit elsewhere. Callie wouldn't show given she passed this class. She normally sits near us or Callie.

I watch as Daniel walks in and sits down at the table next to us. He's on Ryan's side. Maybe Jessica will pick my... Nope. Two random trainees I've seen around sit down instead. They're not nobles and based on the whispering, they picked next to me for the same reason I can never work in normal circumstances at the information booth. I want to sigh.

"You can take the test after class at any time. The test doesn't change." Daniel tells us.

"What is it?"

"You'll have an illusion wounded knight situation. You'll need to know exactly how to handle it. It's never a big deal. All first aid courses are similar. Illusion wounded knight situation. When taking the magic courses, it's the same. Use the right healing spell as needed."

"Just one wounded knight?" I ask.

Daniel shrugs. "Sometimes it's more. Depends on whether the trainer feels confident in your answers."

"Then we can take the test after class ends." Ryan pauses glancing to me. "Unless you learn something new during class."

"I would like to be certain my basics are good before moving on."

Ryan nudges me. "Most pass out after a maximum of three days."

"I came in without any knowledge in first aid." Daniel winces. Like how they tell me I shouldn't be alone, nor would Daniel and Ryan. There's a chance nobles have a weakness here. "This is class nine for me." He grunts. "They repeat after class three."

That makes sense. Three total classes for basic first aid. And really, I could always sit on the class again if I question. Might as well take basics. Then I can try for a more advanced lesson. Everyone needs basics.

Azalea tells us to stay after class if we want to pass. "It's not a difficult test." She doesn't explain further before going into a very basic lesson. To use clean hands, clean tools, clean supplies. To make sure the wound is properly tended. If there are signs to call in for assistance from advanced healers. If we handle basic wounds before they turn black or green, we can save people's lives.

It is really a basic lesson. I'll even suggest the classes are the exact same information while keying in on slightly different details.

We're not the only ones staying after to take the test. I don't rush to be first. We watch as several get an illusioned knight with a gash on its extremity. The gash is different for each test. One even had the signs of black surrounding the wound. The trainee told Azalea the wounded knight needed further assistance.

Ryan nods to us before we head for the front of the room. "Can we try?"

She looks at each of us. "Thomas, can you sit down again?" I do as request. Ryan and Daniel gain an illusioned knight each. It really is a simple task. I watch as they offer basic care.

I am called back to the knight once all other testers are done. Ryan and Daniel sit close to the door for me to finish. "Knight Azalea?"

"Thank you for waiting." She glances to my friends. "A moment." She presses a few buttons on her desk as the room flashes to have injured knights on every table.

I inhale sharply looking at everything. "I... I can't handle this many."

"Tell me, your order you're healing them in as well as if you need assistance."

I gulp scanning most. I tap three tables. "Need better healers." The illusions disappear. Azalea is giving me a harder test. Feels like everyone is the type to push me. I begin the basic healing duties. I blink.

No. This isn't just a test of my healing.

"Ryan, can you handle the right side. Don't rush through them. Just handle whatever you can. Daniel pick the left side at the back." I'm being asked to be a leader. That's been the case everywhere.

I'm being trained to lead not just to handle my own life. With my friends helping me, I finish healing as many as I could get to before they did.

"Isn't that cheating?" Daniel asks. He still helped me.

"Depends on the test in question." Azalea offers us a secretive smile. "Thank you. You can take basics two or work on healing magic now."

I grunt. I'm required to prove a lot more than many others. I'll be protected, but also expected to lead. "I should've picked run away." I whisper and get Ryan laughing.

"Where's Jessica?" Daniel asks me. "I saw her before."

"Austin told me to not track you. What happened? You left work."

Daniel scrubs his face. "I hate castle guards. I'm not giving them a tour ever again."

I laugh over that.

"He ended up trapped in the dungeons."

"Dungeons?" Ryan and I say together.

"Yeah. I can show you." Daniel nods forward. That sounds like a good direction. Why would someone end up in the dungeons? Although it makes sense why I wasn't supposed to track him. I can't track anyway. That class is too high level for me. Whether we're talking magic or technological or in general.