Chapter 22: The Student’s First Step

A sharp knock echoed against the wooden door.

Ghaz stirred, his face stuck to the open pages of Basic Magic Skills for Swordmages, a thin line of drool marking the parchment. He grumbled, blinking groggily as he sat up, rolling his stiff shoulders. The candle on his desk had long since burned out, leaving only the dim morning light filtering through the curtains.

Druth was already gone, probably off at the brothel, leaving the room eerily quiet. Ghaz ran a hand over his face before dragging himself to his feet.

Another knock—softer this time.

Ghaz opened the door to find a small figure standing timidly in the hallway.

A beastkin girl, no older than ten, her short, furry ears twitching as she fidgeted. Two small horns curved from her forehead, peeking out from her messy brown hair. Her thin tail flicked nervously behind her.

The girl he had promised to take as a student.

"Good morning," Ghaz mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

The girl flinched at first but then straightened, clasping her hands together. "G-Go…od afte-morning, mast-er." Her voice wavered, her nervousness making her tail swish rapidly.

"Drop the 'master' nonsense." He stepped back, grabbing his belt and tossing it over his shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

She nodded quickly and followed him down the creaky wooden stairs of the inn.

The main hall of the inn was still quiet at this hour, the air thick with the scent of charred wood and old ale. A few patrons sat scattered around, most nursing their drinks from the night before.

Ghaz dropped into a chair at a corner table, stretching out with a yawn.

"Varnok! Breakfast—grilled meat and boiled eggs!" he called toward the bar.

The dwarven innkeeper, polishing a wooden mug, shot him a glare but didn't argue. Ghaz had been a regular for long enough that the routine was well understood.

He turned to the girl, who was standing awkwardly beside the chair, her fingers twitching at the hem of her worn tunic.

"You eat yet?" Ghaz asked.

She hesitated before shaking her head. "No, but I am not hungry."

"Tch. You can't skip breakfast. Sit."

She hesitated again before carefully pulling out the chair across from him.

"Varnok! One more plate. And a glass of—" Ghaz glanced at the horns on her head, pausing mid-sentence. Milk might not be a good idea for a Bovidae-type beastkin.

"—fruit juice."

The dwarf grunted in acknowledgment.

Ghaz leaned back in his chair, studying the girl for a moment. He had taken her in on a whim, promising to train her, but he realized now that he didn't even know her name.

"What's your name?" he asked.

She flinched slightly but answered, "N-Nila."

"And your brother?"

"Neuman."

"How is he now?"

"No more fever," she said softly, her tail still twitching but slower now.

"Good, good." Ghaz nodded. At least that was one less thing to worry about.

Just as they were talking, Varnok stomped over, placing two plates in front of them—steaming grilled meat, boiled eggs, and a glass of fruit juice for Nila.

The girl glanced at the food but didn't touch it.

Ghaz sighed. "Eat."

Nila hesitated before picking up a piece of meat, nibbling at it carefully.

Ghaz tore off a piece of meat with his teeth, chewing lazily as he glanced at the girl sitting across from him. Nila was still nibbling at her food, hesitant, her small fingers carefully picking apart the grilled meat as if she wasn't sure she was allowed to eat it.

"You know how to read or write?" Ghaz asked between bites, washing his food down with a gulp of water.

Nila's ears twitched, and she shook her head. "No... but I will learn fast!" she added quickly, her voice carrying a hint of determination.

Ghaz smirked. "Good. No worries, I'll teach you."

She looked up at him, her amber eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. Magic ain't just swinging swords and throwing fireballs," Ghaz said, tapping his finger against the table. "Healing isn't some mystical force that just works because you want it to. It's about understanding how the body functions—how blood flows, how bones mend, how sickness spreads. If you don't know what's wrong with someone, you can't fix them, no matter how much mana you pour into them."

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and leaned forward slightly. "You'll need to study anatomy, herbs, and spell formations. And more importantly, you have to be precise. One wrong move, and you're not healing someone—you're shutting down their Lungs and heart or making their insides melt like candle wax."

Nila's tail twitched, and she quickly shook her head. "I won't mess up!"

Ghaz smirked. "We'll see."

He leaned back in his chair, watching her for a moment before asking, "Why do you want to be a healer anyway?"

Nila paused, her small hands gripping the edge of the table. "I wanted to help my brother."

Ghaz raised an eyebrow. "Your brother's already cured, isn't he?"

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to her plate. "...Yes. But what if he gets sick again? Or if someone else does? The medicine lady in the district said healing magic is expensive. People in the slums can't afford it."

Her fingers curled slightly, her tail swishing behind her. "I don't want to watch people suffer and not be able to do anything."

Ghaz exhaled, rubbing his chin. He hadn't expected such a serious answer. Most kids wanted to learn magic for power, fame, or coin. But this girl—she wanted it to help people.

"Hmph. Noble reason," he muttered. "But wanting it ain't enough. Healing magic's not just waving your hands and saying pretty words. It takes control, understanding, and a hell of a lot of patience. You sure you can handle that?"

Nila nodded without hesitation. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Ghaz studied her for a moment, then smirked. "Alright, then. First lesson—finish your food."

Nila blinked. "Eh?"

He gestured at her barely touched plate. "You want to be a healer? That means keeping your own body strong first. Can't help anyone if you're half-starved yourself."

She hesitated, then, with a determined nod, picked up a piece of meat and took a bigger bite.

"Good." Ghaz grinned and leaned back.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.