THE HEALING SANCTUM

I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, with intricate carvings of leaves and vines etched into the stone. My heart sank as I realized I had no idea where I was. A wave of panic washed over me as I thought the worst - I had died again. Transmigrated to a new world, only to meet my end once more.

But as I looked around, I saw that I was in a small, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and medicine, and the soft glow of luminescent orbs, known as "Moonstones", cast a gentle light over the room.

I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lie back down. My head spun, and I felt a strange, tingling sensation in my fingers. I looked down at my hand, and saw that it was wrapped in a soft, white bandage.

I was curious about the bandage, and I gently touched it with my other hand. It doesn't hurt, but I couldn't quite remember how it got there. I tried to think back to the events leading up to my current situation, but my memories were hazy.

I decided to focus on my Status Window instead, hoping that it would give me some answers.

"Status window," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

My Status Window flickered to life in front of me, displaying all of my current stats and abilities.

I scanned the window quickly, taking in the various numbers and symbols that danced across the screen.

My eyes landed on the Skill Tier: A ability that I had acquired. "Maelstrom's Edge" It was a fusion of two skills which deals 210 damage to all enemies within a 10-meter radius, with a 25% chance to make enemies bleed and a 20% chance to stun them for 2 seconds.

I whistled softly to myself, impressed by the sheer power of the spell. The cooldown was 4 hours, which was a bit long, but I was sure it would be worth it.

I thought back to the fight with Goblin chief, trying to relive the moments leading up to the final blow.

I remember Goblin chief attacked with some sort of fire magic but that seemed to have been drawn to my left hand, as if it had been attracted to something within me. Then I felt a surge of power and energy flow through my arm. 

The magic had somehow merged with my own, creating a potent fusion of energy.

Do this body have something that's absorbs monsters magic attacks? I don't remember writing something like this in my outline.

It seems that the pervious owner of this body has some secrets a big one at that.

Then I stared at my left hand, there was a strange mark on my palm. My eyes fixed on the strange mark on my palm. It was a symbol that I had never seen before, a symbol that seemed to pulse with a soft, blue light.

The symbol was blue and black, with intricate curved lines and shapes that seemed to dance across my palm. I looked at it in wonder, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. What did it mean? And what did it have to do with the magic that had flowed through me during the fight?

As I looked at the symbol, I felt a strange sensation in my hand. It was as if the symbol was alive, as if it was pulsing with a power that I couldn't quite understand. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a sense of excitement and anticipation.

The blue and black colors of the symbol seemed to be swirling together, creating a mesmerizing pattern that seemed to draw me in. I felt myself becoming hypnotized by the symbol, as if it was exerting some kind of control over me.

Suddenly, the symbol began to glow brighter, and I felt a surge of energy flow through my hand. I looked up, feeling a sense of wonder, and saw that the air around me was filled with a soft, blue light.

The light seemed to be coming from the symbol on my hand, and it was spreading outwards, filling the air with a gentle, pulsing glow. I felt a sense of peace, a sense of calm, as I looked at the light.

And then, I heard a voice in my head. It was a voice that I had never heard before, a voice that seemed to come from within me.

"The mark of the ancient ones," the voice said. "A symbol of power, a symbol of magic. To use it for good or for evil is for you to decide"

I felt a sense of shock, a sense of wonder, as I listened to the voice. What did it mean? 

I looked at the symbol again, feeling a sense of awe and reverence. I knew that I had to learn more about this symbol, about the power that it held. And I knew that I had to be careful, for I had a feeling that this power was not to be trifled with.

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination. I was going to learn more about this symbol, about the power that it held.

Just as I was starting to feel a sense of unease, a gentle voice spoke from the doorway. "Ah, you're awake. I'm surprised. You were in a pretty bad state when you were brought in."

I turned to see a young woman with long, curly brown hair and a kind smile. She was dressed in a simple white robe, with a silver pin on her lapel bearing the symbol of the Healing Order of Eldrador. She carried a small, leather-bound book and a wooden staff adorned with tiny, glowing gemstones. 

'She looks familiar' i thought .

"Where am I?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"You're in the Healing Sanctum of Eldrador," she replied, her eyes sparkling with warmth.

" You're currently in the East Wing, which is dedicated to treating patients with magical injuries."

I tried to process this information, but my mind was still foggy. "How long have I been here?" I asked.

The nurse mage smiled. "You've been with us a day. You were found passed out in a goblin-infested area by a group of travelling mages. 

I nodded, trying to take it all in. 

The nurse mage smiled again, and began to examine my bandages. "My name is Aethera, by the way. I'll be taking care of you while you're here. Don't worry, you're in good hands."

Then i remember who she was, she is Aethera Lyriquin one of the few female characters i had wrote in my outline . She is a skilled healer and mage, was born into a family of respected members of the Healing Sanctum of Eldrador. She was trained from a young age in the ancient art of magic and quickly proved herself to be a prodigy.

With years of dedication and hard work, Aethera became one of the most skilled healers in the Sanctum, known for her kindness, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her patients. And she is only one whom i didn't give much thought while preparing the outline

I wrote whatever came to my mind.

As she worked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the sheer scale of the Healing Sanctum. I had never seen anything like it before as i looked outside, looking at shining buildings. 

I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I was alive, and I was being taken care of. For now, that was all that mattered.

As Aethera continued to examine my wounds, I couldn't help but gaze out the window. The sky was a deep shade of indigo, with the first hints of dawn creeping over the horizon. The stars were still visible, twinkling like diamonds in the fading darkness. I watched as the sky slowly lightened, the colors deepening to a soft pink and orange.

' This is a good chance to build some connections and she currently must be 15 years old' i thought.

Meanwhile, Aethera's expression changed from one of gentle concern to surprise. "You're...you're healed," she stammered, her eyes wide with wonder. "I don't understand. Your wounds were severe, but...but it's as if they never existed."

I opened my eyes, curious about her reaction. "What do you mean?" I asked

but before she could respond, she simply smiled and handed me a small piece of parchment.

I took the parchment, expecting it to be some sort of medical report or diagnosis. But as I looked at it, my eyes widened in shock. It was a bill, detailing the cost of my medical expenses. And the amount was staggering: 1 gold coin.

I felt a surge of annoyance. I knew that 1 gold coin was a ridiculous amount for the treatment I had received, this was just extortion.

"Ah, come on, Aethera," I said, trying to reason with the healing mage. "You can't seriously expect me to pay 1 gold coin for a few bandages and some herbal tea."

Aethera's expression remained serene, but I could see a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm afraid it's standard procedure, sir," she said. "We have to cover the costs of our magical treatments and rare ingredients somehow."

I snorted. "Magical treatments? You mean like the spell of 'Instant Healing' that you cast on me? I'm pretty sure that's just a fancy way of saying 'I waved my hand and said some magic words'."

Aethera chuckled. "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, sir. But I assure you, our treatments are quite effective."

I raised an eyebrow. "Effective? I'd rather say 'expensive'. I've seen cheaper prices at the market in Eldrador."

Aethera's smile grew wider. "I'm afraid we can't compete with the market prices, sir. But we do offer a unique service. After all, where else can you get healed by a certified mage?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Certified mage? Is that like a degree from the University of Magic?"

Aethera chuckled. "Well, it's not exactly a degree, sir. But we do have a rigorous training program. We have to study for years to master the art of healing."

I snorted. "I'm sure it's a real challenge to learn how to wave your hand and say 'abracadabra'."

Aethera laughed. "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, sir. But I assure you, our mages are highly trained professionals."

I shook my head. "I'm sure they are. I'm just not sure if they're worth 1 gold coin."

Aethera's smile grew wider. "Well, I think we are, sir. After all, where else can you get a guarantee that you'll be healed in no time?"

I raised an eyebrow. "A guarantee? What kind of guarantee?"

Aethera thought for a moment. "Well, if you're not satisfied with our service, we'll give you a full refund."

I snorted. "A full refund? That's not exactly a guarantee, is it?"

Aethera chuckled. "Well, it's the best we can offer, sir. But I assure you, our mages are highly skilled and will do their best to heal you."

I shook my head. "I'm sure they will. I'm just not sure if I want to pay 1 gold coin for it."

Aethera's smile grew wider. "Well, I think it's worth it, sir. After all, you can't put a price on good health."

I raised an eyebrow. "I think I can. And the price is definitely not 1 gold coin."

Aethera laughed. "Well, I think we'll have to agree to disagree, sir. But I assure you, our service is worth every gold coin."

I forced a smile onto my face, trying to appear charming. "I'm sure it is, Aethera. You're a very convincing woman."