Healing Skills

Chapter 5: Goddamn Year

Chapter 5: Goddamn Year

One fucking year.

Twelve moons, four seasons, a hundred and fifty-two tantrums from The System, and more sweat than a cursed gladiator's jockstrap. And yet, here he was: Kael, age nine, sitting behind a cracked desk in Emergency Room 3, staring into a mirror that knew him better than most priests knew sin.

He whispered the familiar invocation.

“Status.”

The interface unfolded like a holy tapestry woven from glass and lightning.

Name: Kael

Age: 9

Race: Human

Class: Healer [Common]

Level: 9 [9000/9000 EXP] (+)

Titles:

- Born Anew [Unique] [Temporary]

> Increases experience gain by 50% until level 10

Stats:

HP: 340/340 | Regen: 48 HP per hour

MP: 520/545 | Regen: 89 MP per hour

STR: 40

END: 48

AGI: 37

INT: 89

CHA: 6

Skills:

Hand-to-Hand Combat [Lv.5 | 0/2500 EXP] [Common] [Passive]

> +5% STR when unarmed

Discipline [Lv.7 | 250/3500 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

> 7% resistance to mental magic

Shooting Mastery [Lv.6 | 0/3000 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

> +6% projectile velocity

Heal [Lv.10 | MAX] [Common] [Active]

> Restore 150 HP

> MP Cost: 25

Focus Heal [Lv.10 | MAX] [Common] [Active]

> Restore 150 HP to a focused area

> MP Cost: 15

Kael leaned back, fingers steepled like a smug little archbishop of arcane healing. He’d earned this. Every stat point, every drop of mana, every aching muscle forged from dragging his gangly body through a thousand laps and twice as many squats.

His magic was maxed. His bones were steel. His fists were harder than some low-tier mercenaries’ swords.

“You finally hit Level 10. Now, click the damn button,” The System said, voice sweet as poison-tipped sugar.

Kael gave it a sidelong glance, then tapped the shimmering [+].

The heavens rang with a tone that felt like digital choirboys screaming.

Level Up! [9 → 10] EXP reset to 0/10000 HP/MP fully restored +5 Unassigned Stat Points Milestone Reached! +10 to All Stats HP/MP Ratio Adjusted: 1:5 → 1:6 New System Functions Unlocked

And then the world tilted again.

Random Healer Skill Generated: Purify [Lv.0 | 0/100] [Rare] [Active] > Purify the target, curing all diseases and illnesses > MP Cost: 100

Kael blinked. Does it cure all diseases?

That is right, it is overpowered, The System replied, smug as a cat in a fish market.

“...Wait. Do you hear what I am thinking now?”

“That's one of the new perks, brother.”

Kael flinched. His inner dialogue was no longer holy land. Nothing was secretive, including his sarcasm. He cringed as did a man who knew that the village gossip demon had read his diary.

And that is not the best new feature either, The System cooed. “Try [Skill Merging].”

Kael brightened.

Wait... is it possible to combine Hand-to-Hand Combat with Shooting Mastery? That would be hardcore.”

“No. They’re passive. Only active skills are valid. They must also be of the same rarity. And level max.”

“Of course. Why don t you fuck me sideways with a rusty wand, Kael growled.

Nevertheless, he opened the new menu. There were two of the skills that shone like twin stars in a sky of progress.

[Heal]

[Focus Heal]

He rapped them together. There was a large glittering button.

Confirm Merge?

Yes.

A deeper, older, sacred DING.

Skill Merged: Greater Heal [Lv.0 | 0/100] [Uncommon] [Active] > Restore 500 HP > MP Cost: 20

Kael was nearly knocked off his feet. “Five hundred HP?!”

That is more Rare-level. Technically Uncommon. But holy as fvck anyway.”

Kael did not even argue. He was too occupied with thoughts of breaking bones and clamping arteries with a mere flick of mana.

Oh, The System said, and I already allocated your stat points.

Kael hissed, Have you put them all in INT again?

“Yes. You’re welcome.”

I despise you.

No, you do not.

He sighed. “Status.”

Level: 10 HP: 448/448 | Regen: 58/hr MP: 724/724 | Regen: 104/hr STR: 50 END: 58 AGI: 47 INT: 104 CHA: 16 Skills: Hand-to-Hand Combat [Lv.5] Discipline [Lv.7] Shooting Mastery [Lv.6] Greater Heal [Lv.0] Purify [Lv.0]

He was stacked. Dangerous. A nine-year-old divine battery wrapped in flesh and sarcasm.

Time to train.

But as he stood to leave the Recovery Center, the world bent again. A woman with no name and no soul stepped into his path.

“Elira wishes to see you.”

No emotion. No blink. Just those words like ice cracked on stone.

“She’s brainwashed,” The System whispered.

Kael flinched so hard his spine nearly rebooted. “Couldn’t you warn me before she shows up?”

“My bad.”

“Your bad? You waited on purpose, didn’t you.”

The System went quiet. Guilty silence. Glorious bastard.

Kael headed to Elira’s office. As he approached, Maren — tight-lipped and always watching — opened the door and followed him inside.

“She’s also brainwashed,” The System said casually.

Kael did not scream. He merely clenched his jaw like a saint swallowing a fireball.

Inside, Elira stood behind a fortress made of paper. She moved a stack with her magic and gestured.

“Sit.”

Kael sat, carefully, as though the floor might vanish if he breathed wrong.

“Place your hand on this,” she said, revealing the Level Stone.

He did.

Name: Kael Age: 9 Class: Healer Level: 10

Elira blinked. Her mask slipped for a heartbeat. Then she smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“There’s been a situation,” she began. “A few monsters escaped a dungeon. Not dangerous. The government’s using them as target practice.”

Kael tilted his head. “So?”

“I want you to join the party. Get some real experience.”

Kael hesitated. He’d trained like a mad monk for a year, but he'd never fought. Not here in this body. Since the war. Not since the first life. Not since the blood and dust and screams.

The System said, You should go.

Kael froze. You are really promoting this?

You deserve it. You are much more powerful than you think. Most children wake up at ten. You are ahead of the game. Such will be thy probing ground.

Kael sighed slowly. He gazed into Elira's eyes. "I'll go."

Her fake smile faded away. "Wonderful. In a week I will come to get you. Oh, here you are."

She gave him a silver keycard.

Your new room. I would have handed it over to you on your birthday, but... I was occupied.

Kael gazed at it. It was a real room. No bunk beds. No other kids. Just space. Quiet. Relief.

He said: Thank you.

Elira sent him away, and said, send Maren to me.

Kael strode off and, with the key still in his hand, closed his heart with a curse of steel, a blessing.

Walking low and sharp round the desk, Maren spoke.

Why did you do that?

Elira made no reply. Was that all he could have done to see Drennov? It was said that if you were here, what would it mean?

Maren looked, frosty-eyed. What was the boy's level?

"Level 10. Within a year. He's terrifying."

Have you told him about the monsters?

"Yes."

Maren swung round with a cloak of shadow behind her. Never question authority.

Silently she slipped away into the dark.

Elira gazed at the wall and tightened her lips.

She thought, "Drennov. The jerk manipulates people as a means to an end.

He had also confessed publicly to brainwashing her, cocksure, and he did not mind that she remembered.

She was merely a chess piece.

And now he desired Kael.

He had plans. She could feel it. Whenever he smiled the world was colder.

But she would stop him.

She swore it.

It would burn down the gods to do it.