The journey to the mountains started... well, it was rather dull really. Aside from some questionable glances at me and my entourage from the adventurers, and a couple of traders, one of which was promptly smacked by his wife, it was a plain start of the journey. Preparations before the journey were dull as well, as no one actually bothered to start trouble with me or lamias, except maybe the tailor that was annoyed for the tight schedule, but considering that I paid triple the price of the items, she didn't make much of a fuss. All in all, I say the preparations were dull.

On the other hand, training in medicine was rather fun. After I failed to even understand how to guide mana through the body, I decided to just teleport back to the city at the first opportunity, abduct a few monks, steal some of their treasures, which included some sort of 'divine' sword, which turned out to be a sham, and quickly advance my healing magic. Well, more like life mana manipulation, the sub skill of mana manipulation, which got to level three after I abducted about... sixteen monks, I guess? Got to level four after I also abducted some high priest, and his butt buddy. Honestly, I only wanted to steal skills of high priest, and not of the shitty paladin, though I can't say no to increase in defensive skills and cheap [Healing Hands] spell. I also managed to steal some stuff with total worth of fifty thousand credits, and if I were to be honest, it was a generous sum.

On the next day, I started cutting myself, and trying to heal faster than my regeneration would kick in, which resulted in a couple of deformities, which had to be cut off, just like Amelia warned me. According to Soph, I used a bit too much strength when I was healing myself, which resulted in slightly deformed hand, which as mentioned before, was promptly cut off and grown back as it should've been, much to the dissatisfaction of Mia, who was splattered with my blood. Fortunately, we were soon enough attacked by bandits, which was both good, and bad, to a degree, as I was still low on mana after the night raid, and my testing of healing magic wasn't that mana efficient. So, I did what any reasonable summoner would do, sacrifice the recent low level summon for a surge of mana. Must say that having only 2280 mana from sacrificing is lame. Well, I still had about a thousand left, so I have a bit over three thousands.

“We're under attack?” Mia asked, I nodded and moved out of the carriage, only to get a stray arrow to the shoulder, which didn't even penetrate my armor.

“Yes. Bandits I reckon.” I smile and I get engulfed by flames. Elemental possession is great, I get 75% reduction in mana costs when I use it, but only with the corresponding element, while increasing costs of all other elements by about two times. Useful, occasionally. Good thing I read about different spells, and now I can test a few of my new ideas, like fire volley. I create a few balls of fire behind me and move into the fray. To be fair, I don't think I am needed here anyway, considering that the adventurers here are quite strong, comparing to the ones I saw in Academy anyway, not on par with instructors, but still. Ahem. “[Volley].” I cast my new experimental spell, which is just launching homing missiles on my enemies. All of the balls I prepared got multiplied by two, and launched at the enemy combatants. The result wasn't what I hoped it would be, as the explosions weren't that loud, however, judging by the reactions on the both sides, the temperature was actually way hotter than I would've expected it to be, and even allies were afflicted, to a degree, though no deaths from our side, I think.

“What was that?” I hear from the Mia as she pokes her head out of carriage, and following soon after with the spear and a bow behind her back.

“Spell I developed, and now tested.”

“That you lighting up on fire was a spell?”

“Oh, no, that's my ability. I can increase potency of certain spells by empowering specific element. Why?”

“You're a wizard?”

“Yes. I think I said that before.”

“Sorry, but you looked like a warrior. The plate armor, two handed hammer, and the way you act.”

“Ahem. Why are you being more friendly than before?”

“Why would I be hostile to you?”

“Well, you could try and escape after assaulting me.”

“And get back to slavery after a failed attempt, and have a chance of losing my sister forever?”

“Hm... fair point. Also it'll be easier for you to escape with your sister if I won't be wary of you.” I smile at her. “Don't worry, I don't care if you leave after we get to the mountains. I just need to learn healing magic before we get there.”

“So, we're free after Sophie teaches you how to heal people?”

“Sort of, you're not collared, didn't you notice that? But, yes, you will be free after that. Though if I were to require your help in anything, you will be obliged to help me with it. Deal?”

“We don't have a choice, do we?” I shrug, and move on to the still living bandits, with the hammer in my hands.

“Annoying criminal elements, you have disrupted my relaxing trip.” I look at the few copper rankers and a couple of silver ones, who seem to be slightly bewildered by what I had done. “Cease your resistance and die.” I spot a few bandits in the treeline and cast inferno underneath them, immolating both them and the tree hiding spots. “Or be burned alive.” And I get another arrow from somewhere, this time in the neck. I check the location and notice a few more people there, guess ambush started recently, and not all bandits were in the initial attack. “Good.” I prepare to cast the infectious flames, though as I prepare, I get a weird feeling that... can I check spell properties?

Infectious flames (Fire)

Create a fire spark that ignites target and unleashes even more sparks around it, igniting other targets. Can't produce sparks if target's mana is low, or the target resisted the spell.

I think the description changed. Whatever. I send the initial tiny spark at the enemy archer, and notice how multiple flame pillars appear in the forest, and then the forest starts burning as well.

“That was excessive.” I hear one of the adventurers say, as I come over to the blazing forest, and guide the flames towards me. I wonder if...

Fire element absorbed

+10% to fire damage for 30 minutes

+50 mana recovery per hour for 2 hours

+50 max mana for 2 hours

Cool? Though how can you even calculate damage? Also... I'm on fire? I deactivate elemental possession and the fire dies down, to a degree, but I still feel the warmth of flames.

“If you find any survivor amongst bandits, get the idiot to me. I'm learning healing, and need a test subject.”

“Why don't you use your slave-” and someone just hit the foolish adventurer on the back.

“Quiet you idiot, if he takes offence for it, we might not survive.”

“First of all, I'm not damaging my own property. If you want, you can become a testing dummy for healing spells.”

“No, I think I'll pass.” I nod.

“Fetch me a bandit that is still alive.” I throw a small golden coin towards the adventurer, who clumsily grabs it, and drops his spear. “What are you standing for? Go.” I look how the guy pockets the gold coin in his pouch, grabs a spear and moves to look for the survivors in the forest. After he runs away, I turn back and move to the carriage, where I see sleepy Soph, slightly skittish Mia and a sleazy merchant who somehow managed to get to my carriage.

“Master...”

“Raven.”

“Master Raven. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I heard that your slave is a healer, so if you perchance could-”

“Not for selling.”

“But I wasn't implying on that. I only wished to know if you would be so generous and lend her services-”

“You require healing?”

“Not me, but my wife-” I nod, and motion for Soph to come near.

“Congratulations, now it's not animals, or theory, but practice-”

“Master, I... I don't think you should heal people, yet.” I shrug.

“Yeah, sure, you'll going to show me how to heal people properly anyway.” I look at merchant. “Why can't you ask adventurers for healer?”

“They don't have one.” I look questionably at the merchant after Mia responds.

“Really? Are they fucking stupid? I understand that I don't need one, or team, in the first place, as I can heal myself just fine-”

“With complications.” Mia chimed in.

“Ahem. Mia, if you'd be so kind not to interrupt me... ah whatever. Soph, heals, I'm checking out how it's working.” merchant nodded, rather happily. Guess something bad happened to his wife.

“Follow me please.” I nod and move behind the trader. I wonder what do healers do?

A frigging common cold. A frigging cold! Yes, I totally understand that, but you don't need healer for this shit, just some chicken soup and some tea. At least now I know that I suck as healer. Totally. Just look at this, I can't defeat a cold, while Sophie can, and she has about half of my mana, and even less health, and she can heal, unlike me. ME! I have cheats, and some shitty NPC can actually outperform ME? Alright, rant is over. Now to the business at hand.

“Can you please hold still?” I ask the survived bandit who was trying his best to unbind himself.

“Go fuck-” I cut off his arm, and tighten the vines around him, including his mouth this time. Vines, not ropes, as the bastard managed to gnaw his way through... was it cotton or hemp rope?

“Alright, so, mister criminal scum, I am quite generous, and if you survive every step of my healing experiments, I will let you go. So, please, try to survive as I heal you, OK?” I give him the best smile I can as I flash with some sort of green light.