The Last Dragon

Chapter 2 - Healing Magic

 Ilia muttered and passed her hand over her clothing. The dirt fell from her. Wrinkles disappeared from the cloth, leaving it smooth and dry, like they were newly laundered. Another quick spell and her skin and hair were clean. She'd need to change and shower before the feast. Magic could only do so much for hygiene, but it worked in a pinch.

She darted from the tent, dodging the knights in full metal armour at the entrance. Ilia crossed the training grounds and headed for the massive stone castle beyond them. The crowds had already gathered at the main ring for the awards ceremony, clearing her way to run for the main gate.

Guards on either side of the gate nodded to her as she tore through, heading for the open doors straight ahead of her. Once inside, she peeled off to the right and towards the archway to the Healing Wing. The banner hung over the entrance; gold embroidered potion bottles surrounded by the elemental symbols of each magic school. Healers came from all of them, though Water and Earth Mages were usually more gifted with healing.

She raced up the spiraling stone stairs to the second floor and down the hall to the far end. Her quarters were tidy and silent. Ilia glanced around. The potion station contained everything needed for brewing, already set up. Were they making potions this afternoon?

Master Silvan would be back soon enough. Ilia wandered to her bedroom. She took the advanced potions book from her desk and settled on her bed, reclining against the headboard. A Potion to Cure All Injury. Ilia read the recipe. Why hadn't anybody combined this with the previous recipe? She flipped back a page. The Potion for All Sickness. They shared so many ingredients already. If the two were combined, you'd have a magic cure-all for anything. Sure, it would need careful brewing and a new preservative, but the possibilities—

"Come, Child. Before you wander down and get distracted by the feast, we're going to do some work." Master Silvan leaned against her doorframe.

Ilia tucked the bookmark between the pages and set her book down. She stood and followed the older woman back into the main room.

Master Silvan walked to the large desk near the potions station. "It's time for you to make some charms on your own. I'll need a handful, and you're ready." She pulled a bag from over her shoulder and set it on the desk.

Ilia watched her pull materials from the bag, pieces of wood collected from the forest, thin twigs, horsehair from the stables, stones already shaped and polished, feathers from the rookery, and beads.

"I'll make one here while you watch. After that, you can make the rest."

Master Silvan sat in the chair and took a small circle of wood. She reached up and took a crystal from a ceramic box on the shelves above the desk, placing it in an earthenware holder. Ilia hadn't used fire crystals often, but she had a little experience.

"Burn this sigil into the wood." Her master gripped the earthenware holder like a quill, the crystal angled to the surface of the wood. "Press lightly, and let the crystal do the work."

Ilia wrinkled her nose at the burning smell. The wood blackened where the tip of the crystal had touched it, leaving a permanent mark on the light wood. Master Silvan worked with a steady hand and in moments, the symbol was complete.

"There are plenty more if you mess up and need to try again." Master Silvan gestured at the circles of wood, little cross-sections of a branch cut and shaped by Earth Magic. "Get it as close as possible, so it's effective."

Master Silvan stood and held the fire crystal out. Ilia slid into the chair and wrapped her fingers around the warm holder. The crystal glowed and pulsed with red light, sending warmth into the earthenware under her fingers.