For the students of the academy who were in the category of non-combatants, the mid-term exams were conducted in a different way.
They would be tested in their specialty.
That was especially the case for the healers. Since they wouldn’t be able to solo explore the dungeon and lacked self-sustaining, their test was attending to the wounded students after they were teleported as a safety measure.
Sylvie Gracewind was going through the same procedure.
She stood among her fellow healer students, awaiting the arrival of the wounded students who would soon be teleported to the designated exam area.
The room was set up to resemble a makeshift triage center, and the atmosphere was one of focused intensity.
‘You can do it, Sylvie.’ She tried to calm herself down as she breathed in and out. It was very hard for her to look at the wounds and stay calm. Even though she had been in fights before, she had a hard time whenever she saw a wound.
And it was also her first time getting tested while she was healing others.
“Ah…..I am so nervous.”
“Me too.”
Some of the students were talking amongst themselves.
TOK!
At that second, the instructor appeared.
“Guys, come on, get ready. The test is started.”
The atmosphere was tense, as this was a critical part of their mid-term exams. The healers’ task was to diagnose and heal the injured students effectively and efficiently.
WROOM!
At that exact second, suddenly, portals appeared one by one as the students started appearing.
“Ahhh…My arm.”
“Arghk…”
As the first group of wounded students materialized in the exam area, the overseer instructor, a seasoned healer herself, addressed the group. “Remember, students, your ability to diagnose and heal these injuries will be closely observed. Speed is important, but accuracy is paramount. You must also communicate with each other and prioritize your treatment.”
The injured students, some with simulated wounds and others with makeup indicating their injuries, groaned in pain as they arrived. They had been briefed on their roles and what to expect during the exam.
Sylvie and her fellow healers moved quickly, assessing the wounded students. “This one has a fractured arm,” a fellow student noted, pointing to a student with a realistic-looking injury.
Sylvie nodded and replied, “I’ll take care of that. Someone check on the girl with the gash on her leg.”
The overseer instructor watched closely, evaluating the students’ diagnostic skills and their ability to apply healing techniques. “Remember, it’s not just about mending wounds. You need to consider the overall well-being of the patient. Are they in pain? Can they move comfortably? How are their mana circulated? Are there any mana disturbances in the core? These are things you must address.”
As the injured students arrived and the overseer instructor’s words echoed in Sylvie’s ears, she felt a surge of nervousness wash over her. She knew the importance of this exam and that the instructors were observing her every move.
‘I can’t make a mistake.’
The pressure was immense, and her hands trembled slightly as she assessed the first injured student. However, the gruesome scene of the student’s bone pointing out from his elbow wasn’t something that needed to be diagnosed.
First, with her mana, she diagnosed the student, scanning the part where the mana was gathered.
It wasn’t a widely known fact, but awakened who were subjected to the mana over countless years would have their body adapted to it. And because of that, when their body got injured, the mana would be supplied to that direction naturally and would increase the healing.
“His arm is fractured. The bone is broken from two different breakpoints.”
She quickly assessed the situation.
“Please put your arm this way.”
Her patient pointed out the fractured arm, and Sylvie knew she had to act quickly. But when she tried to channel her mana to begin the healing process, she found herself struggling.
The mana refused to flow as smoothly as she’d practiced. It was as if her nerves were interfering with her ability.
Sweat formed on her brow as she continued to attempt the healing. The injured student winced in pain, and another student voiced their discomfort. “Hey, could you be a bit quicker?”
‘I am trying.’
Sylvie felt a pang of frustration, but she tried not to let it show.
“Haaaaah….”
She took a deep breath and focused her thoughts.
At least she tried to. However, things weren’t working as she wished. She activated her trait, and her mana started moving as she directed.
‘First, blocking nerves.’
Her mana moved, blocking the nerves. The procedure was going to be painful, and the patient might not have the necessary willpower to resist it.
‘Then, move the bone.’
And then, she started moving the bone. Her mana covered the bone like a thread, and then she diligently started moving it.
From outside, one could see the miraculous scene as if the time was rewinding. The bone followed the trajectory of the thread as it entered the arm.
‘Now, connect the bone.’
As she concentrated, she had almost positioned the bone perfectly, and now the only thing that needed to be done was to make sure the bone was connected properly.
“Almost there,” she whispered to herself, her concentration unbroken.
She was on the verge of connecting the bone, restoring the patient’s arm to its previous state.
The pain, discomfort, and frustration from earlier seemed distant as she neared the completion of the healing process.
But just as she was about to make that final connection, a sudden and vivid flashback overwhelmed her. The scene before her shifted, and she was no longer in the examination room but in the dark.
There stood a fractured arm, with a little boy clutching it. Before him was a disgusting demon with its mouth wide open.
The trauma of that moment flooded back, triggering a visceral reaction. Sylvie’s hands trembled, and her mana wavered.
“AAAAAH!”
The connection she was about to make faltered, and the patient gasped in pain as the bone remained partially out of place.
“Sylvie, what are you doing?” The overseer instructor’s voice was filled with concern, but at the same time, there was a slight disappointment in her voice.
She snapped back to the present, her breath heavy and rapid.
“Haaaah…Haaaah…..
Her eyes met those of the injured student, who was clearly in distress from the sudden interruption.
“I… I’m so sorry,” Sylvie stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment and shame. She couldn’t look into the eyes of the patient.
lightsnοvεl.cοm Her trauma had momentarily paralyzed her, and it had real consequences on the patient she was meant to heal.
The overseer instructor stepped in, her touch steady and reassuring as she completed the healing process Sylvie had begun.
The overseer instructor observed Sylvie’s distress and she understood Sylvie wouldn’t be able to continue like that.
She gently placed a reassuring hand on Sylvie’s shoulder. “Sylvie, take a moment to compose yourself. You can try again after a second.”
Sylvie nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
Meanwhile, the patient who had experienced the interrupted healing process was less forgiving. His anger and frustration got the best of him. He clenched his recently healed arm and glared at Sylvie.
“You almost made it worse! Are you even qualified to be here?” he snapped, his voice laced with irritation. “We’re supposed to trust you to heal us during the actual exams?”
Sylvie’s face turned even redder, but this time, it was not because of the shame but because of anger.
‘What do you know about me, huh? Do you think it is easy?’
Sylvie took a step back, her anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. She was aware that the patient’s outburst had some basis, but she couldn’t help but feel the injustice of it all.
It wasn’t as if she wanted to be haunted by traumatic memories during an exam.
As she watched from the side, the other healers continued to tend to the wounded students with skill and precision.
And when the students were leaving the location, most of the time, they had refreshed smiles on their faces while talking with their friends.
Sylvie couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
‘Why can’t I be like them? Why does it have to be so difficult for me?’ she thought bitterly.
The healing trait she possessed had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. But instead of seeing it as a gift, she often viewed it as a burden.
Because people always assumed she would treat them without ever thinking about her. They never cared about how she felt, if she was scared or anything.
Just like that patient who poured his anger on her. It was always her fault whenever the treatment didn’t work, as she was obliged to succeed every time.
-THUD!
At that second, as Sylvie was resenting the world, suddenly she was startled by the sudden entrance of a woman.
She appeared rushed, but her position was indicated by the instructor’s sign on her uniform.
She was scanning the room as if she was looking for something. Soon, her gaze fell on Sylvie, who was currently not attending to any patients.
Before she could react, the instructor approached her with a sense of urgency. “You! Are you available right now?”
Sylvie blinked, her resentment momentarily replaced by surprise. “I… Yes, I’m available. But…”
The instructor didn’t allow her to finish her sentence. She quickly produced an order from the control room, her tone serious. “The control room has sent me to request your presence. We have a situation in dungeon B-3, and you’re needed immediately.”
Following that, the instructor immediately grabbed her in a princess carry.
“Kyaaaa-!”
Sylvie was surprised as her eyes widened in the sudden action.
“Sorry for the inconvenience, girl. But, bear with it for a while.”
SWOOSH!
And following that was the time of her life…