Thaddeus decided to hold off learning any more magic until he was back at home. It wouldn't do to exhaust himself while traveling.
The remainder of the trip was as uneventful as ever and two more days found him arriving home just in time for a spring storm.
After settling himself back in he returned to his studies.
Great job! You've officially mastered your first spell.
Your second spell will be a basic healing spell, capable of healing minor cuts, bruises and abrasions, rashes, and blisters, lessen swelling and pain. The spell is also perfect for headaches and hangovers.
Healers, especially magical ones, are always in high demand Wherever you may find yourself. Even a beginner healing spell such as this can earn and you a tidy profit and provide you a decent living. Those who find themselves adapt with intermediate and advanced healing spells will no doubt earn an incredible Fortune as a healer. With this spell you will have the means to earn money for any products or supplies you may need henceforth. As your instructor, I must warn you that learning this spell might be slightly painful. This spell will be learned in a two-part process. First will be a lesson and an essay on basic anatomy.
Thaddeus groaned. He had hated having to write essays on his literature in primary school. At least now he was interested in the subject matter. He was nothing if not diligent though and set about studying immediately. He had a gut feeling that there would be a test in his future.
Several hours later, he was ready to try the spell. With a dagger in hand, he slice his finger open, gritting his teeth.
"Parva Cura"
Thaddeus wached his finger as his skin melded together without any sing of a blemish or a scar and the pain faded to nothingness. Eager to see his next assignment, he turned back to the book.
Any healer worth his or her salt needs to make sure there is no chance for an infection to set in before healing the wound. Your next spell is a wound cleansing spell. Always use this before closing a wound. You never want to trap an infection inside the body. This spell consists of two parts, the reading material and essay, and the spell casting.
With this assignment, Thaddeus learned about infections, viruses and bacteria. He absorbed the knowledge like a sponge. While this information was common knowledge to mages, healers, and the well educated nobility, the general population knew nothing about these things. If that is didn't have magic, he would have remained ignorant as well.
After the essay and mastering the spell, a new assignment was given. But this one was different.
Weekly assignment.
On the weekends, set 4 hours of your day to heal the people in your village. You will charge 10 coppers a healing. Normally this type of healing would cost a few silver, however, determined by the area you live in, most people can't afford that.
I recommend setting up a booth in your local town square.
This was going to be tricky. Everyone knew Thaddeus, but nobody knew he could do magic yet. He'd need to do something to advertise his services and start building a clientele.
Thaddeus grinned as a simple plan came to mind.
Morning found Thaddeus entering the local Inn and tavern.
"Good morning, Elias" Thaddeus nodded to the barkeep.
"And what brings ye to my fine establishment today young sir?" the barkeep grinned, displaying several missing teeth for a rather disconcerting effect. Elias was a staple of the village and a cheerful bloke though and everyone was used to his smile.
"I just felt like getting out it the house and mingling today"
"We've got plenty o' that around here. But the women don't work until nightfall." Elias winked saucily.
"I'm not looking for that kind of mingling just yet," Thaddeus giggled. "and it wouldn't be with women."
"Well don't you worry about that, we have some fine blokes too!"
"Thanks." Thaddeus grabbed a seat at the bar. To his amusement, he didn't have long to wait before some poor gentleman stumbled down the stairs groaning miserably, clearly suffering from a night of drinks aplenty.
"Whaddya have for a hangover barkeep" the man grumbled.
"I got a fine shot of whiskey and some hot tea for ya! You'll be right as rain after!"
"No," Thaddeus interrupted before the gentlemen could accept, "first let me try something I learned recently. Look at me sir, Thaddeus looked into the gentleman's eyes and placed his ring hand near the strangers head, before speaking the Incantation he had learned. A soft golden glowing light surrounded the man's head and his eyes shot open in wonder " I feel amazing! I don't feel sick at all anymore? You're a mage, my good lad? "
"In training, yes."
"Well, bless you! You've just saved me hours of suffering!" the man was exuberant. "I'm Quillius, las. What do I call you?"
"Thadeus, mage apprentice at your service."
Several hours later Thaddeus had cured the hangovers of several locals and travelers alike and word began to spread. Before getting up to leave, Arina, one of his neighbors came in with her seven year old daughter in her arms.
"Is it true you can do magic, Tad?" she called him the nickname his mother often called him, although her voice rang with urgency.
"I'm learning, but yes."
"Mayla fell, gathering berries in the woods the other day and cut her leg. It seems it has become infected. Can you help?"
"Let me check it out."
Arina sat Mayla down on a stool in Front of him while Thaddeus examined the wound, prodding it gently. "Does this hurt, Mayla?"
"Uhuh" Mayla nodded sniffling.
"It is infected but its not very bad yet. I can heal it but I'll have to reopen the wound. It's gonna hurt."
Arina nodded and Mayla muttered a glum "kay".
Mayla, can you do me a favor? In order to heal you I need you to look around and find me three things in here that are red."
Mayla's head began swiveling, as she began searching the room. "There's one. A apple!" she pointed to a fruitbowl on the bar. Moments later she found second object. "a Curt- oww!" she let out a small yelp as Thaddeus reopened the wound."
"Good girl. Turns out I don't need them after all."
Seconds later the cleansing and healing spells were cast, a golden light bather her sore and in a moment her leg was as good as new. Thaddeus smiled. He was tired, but not exhausted as he was the first time he'd cast a spell. Casting only one seems to hardly affect him anymore, and this time he cast two in a row. He expected to need a ten minutes to rest and was pleasantly surprised to find otherwise.
"I forgot my purse at home, I'll be ri-" Arina started
"Don't worry Arina. This one on the house. Future healings will be 10 coppers. I'll have a stall I'm the town square on the weekends."
Arina nodded gratefully, and ducked out of the tavern with Mayla skipping along behind her humming a quite little tune.
"I'll be off then Elias. If anyone needs healing, I'll be in the town square tomorrow and during the mornings on weekends. Spread the word. Thaddeus flipped him a silver.
"This is too much lad! I can't accept this!" Elias offered the coin back.
"Why not? Think of it as paid advertising. It'll be your compensation for telling people about me."
"Aye. I can do that easily 'nuff"
Returning home, Thaddeus buried himself in his studies. It quickly became his favorite thing to do.
Time passed quickly with him devoted to his studies and healing and soon nearly half a year had passed. Thaddeus had taken to doing everything he possibly could with magic and could now cast any number of basic spells with ease and without wearing himself out in the slightest. These last six months had focused solely on beginners magic, and classes. Not only were there spells, there were also basic classes, herbology, creature studies, enchantments, transfigurations, charms, history etc. Everything at academy would have. From his healings, he had a nice tidy sum saved away and finances were no longer a worry. After giving him a lengthy a test, the book announced him ready to start intermediate magic and potions. But now, the book opened up the complete intermediate magic and potion section to let him work at his own pace.