Though smiles were on the faces of the people around me, the air held a somber tone. "Artemis." my uncle called out. I turned to him and he said hesitantly "Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked. I understood his concern deeply, this was a dangerous job, military healers might be better paid, but they never live as long as knights, many times they are viewed as expendable and sacrificed without a second thought, this was a dark truth we all knew, but it wasn't going to like that for me. I was going to be a world class healer, I'll do my best to help everyone I can, "Yes… it is." I answered confidently, he smiled sadly and nodded. I mounted the horse pulling the cart with the supplies and waved with a smile. "Goodbye everyone I'll make sure to visit." I said cheerfully, and they waved back saying their own goodbyes.
A while later, I was trying to navigate my way using a map, though the compass my uncle gave me helped I was still stumped on finding my way, it seemed that I had to go north east to get to the next town Lumivale, north from there to get to Aragon, and north again from Aragon to the Capital, it was hard to wrap my head around but I knew that this trip was going to take a while, a really long while, luckily I left early for the exams so I should make it with time to spare , "I hope I meet someone going to the capital too, or else I'll be bored out of mind" I said pouting, the next few days were boring, it just consisted of riding and being surrounded by nothing but trees. After a few days, I came across a big wall… a really big wall. The wall was huge and seemed to be made of stone, I heard that major cities were often walled off to prevent attacks from beasts, and during wars. But this far exceeded her expectations, the wall was simply massive and somehow the one surrounding the capital was said to be bigger.
It was a long process of getting admitted into the city, security was honestly stricter than I thought it would be, the guards asked me a bunch of questions, about where I'm from and why I'm here. I think they warmed up to me when I said I was going for the knighting exams, it was going smoothly, all until some dude ran in like he was being chased by a swarm of dragonets, he had dark inky black hair and blazing red eyes, he wore a black jacket over a gray, shirt and pants, he ran up to the gate saying something frantically to the guards who let him through, and he walked through, honestly it annoyed me that I had to go through this much security checks and he was allowed to waltz on out with just a few words.
"Though he did seem panicky a bit, I hope he's all right." I thought audibly, waiting patiently and answering questions when needed. Eventually, I was allowed to go, I didn't stay long in the town though, I mainly went to buy new rations and supplies and take a break from my time on the road. It only lasted a few hours though, before I was on my way back to the gate, I was again checked to 'make sure I didn't steal anything' as a guard rudely put it though it took much less time than before and I was back to the road, I sat on the horse spurring it occasionally to keep it going. I saw something laying on the road in a red pool, I got closer and my stomach dropped.
I spurred the horse faster and arrived at the spot that made my blood run cold, it was a person. I panicked looking at the person, he wore a black jacket gray shirt and pants, and was laying in a small pool of blood, his face was pale, which told me he lost a significant amount of blood and that made me panic more, I checked his pulse waiting slightly and growing in fear until I felt it, it was weak barely noticeable but it was there. I struggled to pull him into the cart and laid him there spurring the horse to keep moving, I slipped into the cart checking him over and assessing his injuries, he seemed to have cuts and bruises everywhere but the main problem was seven deep gashes on his back, luckily they miraculously missed his spine, I removed his blood soaked shredded jacket and his shirt.
I focused my magic and chanted "Cure" as her hands started glowing with an emerald green hue that resonated with his back, it was a simple spell but it helped close his smaller wounds for the time being, the small cuts littered around his body disappeared mostly leaving only the rather deeper ones and the slash marks on his back, "Cure" I said again clearing the other smaller cuts littered about, the marks went leaving only the gashes on his back which I stared at defiantly, I was going to be a world class healer, spread my fame would spread to every corner of the world, if I can't save him I might as well turn around and go home right now. I racked my brain for any spells useful as I couldn't just keep spamming cure, I remembered a spell my master, the doctor of our village taught me.
"Your servant implores you, the benevolent one, heal this soul, with the light of Althea." I chanted hopefully, it was a spell that healed according to the mana reserves of the caster it would leave my mana reserves drained, it could stop halfway but, if it can help him even one then it's worth it. My hands glowed a blue glow and the same glow covered his body his wounds started healing including the ones on his back until the glow stopped. I blinked in shock, my mana reserves depleted already, I stared at him, the wounds on his back healed but not completely, though they looked far better. I hardened my resolve and brought out a roll of bandages, which I wrapped tightly around his chest and back and on his head as one of the gashes extended that far.
I stopped the horse and made camp, hoping he would wake soon. I stared at him for a while, until it clicked, I was so panicked I didn't recognize him, he was the one rushing out of the gate. I started to recognize his black hair and flame-colored eyes. I sat in silence listening to the sounds of the fire absorbed completely in my thoughts, until I noticed him move, he reached towards the bandages covering his eyes, "Uh wait, stop." I stopped him afraid the bandages would come undone "Let me help" I said bringing down his hands and raising the bandages a bit over his eyes carefully. He looked away blushing, I stared worrying about his condition, until I realized I was way too close to him. I backed off "Sorry" I apologized sporting a blush of my own. "Where am I?" he said in a dull voice, "We're a little bit near Aragon, I'm heading to the capital for the knighting exams" I said proudly. "You want to become a knight?" he asked in doubt.
I noticed the tone in his voice and pouted "No, I want to become a military healer." I said puffing my chest out in pride, "My name is Artemis and I will become a world class healer" I introduced excited at the thought of a new friend. "And you are?" I asked expectantly, eager to know the name of my new friend, he chuckled a bit "I am Cassius, and I am going to become the Grand-knight of Draconea" he said somewhat excited, which made me smile happily, knowing that I just found a new best friend.