The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the manor's practice hall, casting long ribbons of light across the polished wooden floor. Baker knelt on a soft mat, palms hovering over a small, shallow bowl of water. The faint pulse of mana from his Magic God's Blessing and Chef God's Blessing still hummed through him, steady and warm.
Clarisse stood beside him, her own hands glowing with the soft green aura of healing magic. "Concentrate on guiding the energy, Baker. Not forcing it. Let the mana flow as if it's part of you." She gently taught.
He nodded, brow furrowed. "Like this?"
A faint shimmer appeared over the water. It rippled slightly, then steadied, holding a perfect, glowing sphere above the bowl. Baker's eyes widened. "I… I did it!"
Clarisse smiled, her emerald eyes glinting. "Good. Remember, magic is as much about patience as skill. Sometimes the body, or even a simple element, resists. That's normal."
From the doorway, Melody watched quietly, her jaw slightly dropped. Even after days of seeing Baker's cooking magic, seeing him channel healing energy left her awestruck. She had never seen anything like it in all her years serving the Cross household.
Baker's concentration broke slightly as he glanced at her. "Melody… look, it worked!"
Melody nodded eagerly, unable to contain a whisper of admiration. "It… it really did!"
Clarisse chuckled, giving Baker a playful nudge. "See? Even your maid recognizes your talent. That's a good sign — but don't let it distract you."
Baker giggled and refocused. Clarisse then demonstrated a more complex spell, guiding him through mending a torn cloth while subtly stabilizing its fibers with mana. "See how the energy flows along the rips and reconnects them? The same principle applies to flesh and bone — only more delicate."
She paused, brushing a loose strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. "When I was traveling, I healed all sorts of injuries — broken bones, burns, cuts, even magically inflicted wounds. Some required hours of delicate focus, while others… well, a steady flow of mana and experience often worked wonders."
Baker's eyes shone. "Tell me more! What kinds of injuries? And how did you know which spell to use?"
Clarisse leaned back slightly, her gaze softening as she recalled long journeys. "You learn by seeing patterns, by understanding both the human body and the energy within. A burn will react differently than a broken bone. And sometimes, you have to improvise — use herbs or potions alongside your spells. Once, I treated a villager who'd fallen onto a sharp, enchanted shard. I combined basic healing with carefully guided mana to neutralize the shard's lingering magic before repairing the wound."
Baker's mouth fell open slightly. "That… that's amazing. Did you… did you ever get tired?"
"Every day," Clarisse admitted, laughing softly. "Even with Healer's Endurance, my arms ached, my mana depleted, and my mind begged for rest. But when you see someone fully healed, when their smile returns… it's worth it."
Melody's eyes flicked between Baker and Clarisse, still wide with awe. "He's… he's really learning from her…"
Baker's gaze hardened slightly, determination shining in his chestnut eyes. "I want to get that good, Melody. I want to help people like Aunt Clarisse does… and maybe even better."
Clarisse reached over, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "And you will, Baker. But remember — balance. Even I needed rest. Even the strongest healer must respect their limits. Don't burn yourself out chasing perfection."
Baker nodded earnestly. "I understand, Aunt Clarisse. I'll pace myself… but I won't stop trying."
From the corner of the room, Melody smiled softly, feeling both pride and admiration. She had never seen Baker so focused, so alive — and with the guidance of Clarisse, his growth would only accelerate.
As the sun dipped lower, Clarisse continued to share her stories of healing, each tale rich with knowledge and experience. Baker practiced carefully alongside her, every spell, every correction, every soft glow of mana strengthening not only his skill but his understanding of what it meant to truly help someone.
The room filled with light, laughter, and quiet awe — a teacher, a student, and two devoted maids witnessing the blossoming of a young healers talent.