The rhythm of life in the village had become inextricably linked to the rise and fall of Rayna's energy. Mornings began with her rounds, a silent procession through the dimly lit homes, her hands radiating warmth against fevered brows and aching limbs. The villagers, their faces etched with a perpetual weariness, greeted her with a quiet reverence, their hope a fragile flame flickering in the pervasive darkness of their illness.
Rayna was learning to manage her power, the blue panel an invaluable, if cryptic, guide. She discovered that different ailments seemed to draw different amounts of energy. The persistent coughs required a steady, gentle flow, while the high fevers demanded more intense bursts of her Aura of Healing. The locked Minor Mend skill remained a tantalizing question mark, a potential tool she desperately wished she could access.
Days blurred into weeks, marked only by the changing intensity of the villagers' suffering and the slow depletion and gradual replenishment of her MP. The Divine Guidance remained a subtle presence, a fleeting warmth or a sudden intuitive understanding that occasionally nudged her actions. Once, while struggling to ease the labored breathing of a young boy, a sudden image of a specific herb, one she hadn't noticed growing nearby, flashed in her mind. Trusting the instinct, she brewed a tea from the leaves, and the boy's breathing eased significantly.
The experience shook her. Was this the "Divine Guidance"? These fleeting images, these sudden urges? If so, the whispers were growing clearer, more direct.
Despite her tireless efforts, the sickness claimed lives. Each loss was a heavy blow, a stark reminder of the limitations of her current abilities. The weight of their despair settled upon her shoulders, a burden almost as heavy as her own grief. Yet, the small victories, the moments of relief she could provide, spurred her onward. A child's laughter, a mother's grateful tears, an elder's peaceful slumber – these were the seeds of hope she desperately clung to.
One particularly harsh week saw the illness spread more aggressively. Even those who had seemed stable took a turn for the worse. Rayna found herself working almost constantly, her own energy reserves dwindling dangerously low. The blue panel flashed red warnings as her HP dipped, a stark reminder of her own vulnerability:
Rayna
Race: Sundrop Elf
Class: Sundrop Healer (Level 1)
HP: 28/100 (Critical!)
MP: 0/8
Status: Divine Infusion (Stable)
Skills: [Aura of Healing (Level 2)], [Minor Mend (Locked)], [Divine Guidance]
Warning: Critical HP level detected. Rest immediately.
Ignoring the warning, driven by the desperate pleas of the villagers, Rayna pushed herself further. She focused her depleted MP, the golden light emanating from her hands flickering weakly. The whispers of Divine Guidance were faint now, almost silent, as if her own exhaustion had muffled the connection.
Just as she felt her own strength about to give way, tending to a woman whose fever was dangerously high, a new sensation washed over her. It wasn't a whisper or an image, but a surge of raw energy, a potent warmth that seemed to flow from the very core of her being. The silvery lines on her skin pulsed with an intense light, and the blue panel flickered violently:
Rayna
Race: Sundrop Elf
Class: Sundrop Healer (Level 1)
HP: 35/100
MP: 1/8
Status: Divine Infusion (Surging!)
Skills: [Aura of Healing (Level 2)], [Minor Mend (Unlocked!)], [Divine Guidance]
Notification: Intense emotional distress detected. Latent healing potential unlocked.
The word "Unlocked!" next to Minor Mend sent a jolt of adrenaline through her weary body. Without conscious thought, she focused on the locked skill, a surge of intent flowing through her. The blue panel shifted, displaying a brief description: Minor Mend: Channel a focused burst of divine energy to rapidly heal minor wounds and alleviate acute symptoms.
An intuitive understanding flooded her mind. This wasn't the gentle, widespread aura of her other skill. This was a focused, direct application of her power.
The woman on the bed coughed violently, her body wracked with tremors. Ignoring her own pain and exhaustion, Rayna placed her hands directly on the woman's chest, focusing on the newly unlocked Minor Mend. A concentrated beam of golden light pulsed from her palms, sinking into the woman's body.
The effect was immediate. The violent tremors subsided, the ragged breathing evened out, and a faint flush returned to the woman's pale cheeks. Rayna felt a significant drain on her remaining MP, but the relief on the woman's face was a reward in itself.
Over the next few days, the Minor Mend skill proved invaluable. It allowed her to target specific ailments, to accelerate healing in critical cases, and to alleviate acute symptoms more effectively than the broader aura. It was a more potent tool, but also more demanding, requiring precise focus and a significant expenditure of her dwindling energy.
The unlocking of this new ability, born from a moment of intense emotional distress and the desperate need to heal, marked a turning point. Rayna was no longer just a light-bringer; she was becoming a true healer, wielding a power that was both a gift and a heavy responsibility.