As Stefan regained his composure, he turned to assess the situation behind him.
"Host, are you okay? Any injuries?" Heli's concerned voice echoed in his mind. "Do you need a Healing Potion?"
"I'm alright, Heli," Stefan reassured him mentally. "That person pushed me out of harm's way, but it looks like he got injured in the process."
The injured individual let out a pained groan, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. Stefan approached him swiftly, offering a helping hand. With a focused mind, he directed healing energy from his hands to the person's back, intent on easing his pain and mending his wounds.
The person, now feeling a surge of relief from the healing magic, finally had the chance to get a good look at his savior.
"It's you!" he exclaimed, his surprise evident in his voice.
Before him stood a figure with short, tousled hair, framing a forehead of remarkable clarity, topped with straight eyebrows. His eyes, a light hue reminiscent of transparent amber, held a curious blend of innocence and wisdom that belied his youthful appearance. A small, adorable nose and delicately peaked lips completed his striking features, painted in a lovely shade of pink. There was an undeniable air of elegance and beauty that surrounded him.
Though their encounter had been brief before, the distinctive white cloak that draped around him now brought recognition flooding back.
"Do I... know you?" Stefan asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Heli, that's the guy with ties to the higher-ups, right? And he's got company," Stefan remarked, his thoughts racing as he recognized Ethan's presence.
"Ah, so it's him. Doesn't seem like a bad sort, but we can't afford to be naive," Stefan concluded in his mind, his caution evident.
"You're the one who was in that house just now, weren't you?" Ethan inquired, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Hello, I'm Ethan," he introduced himself warmly.
Stefan reciprocated the gesture, offering a handshake. "Hi, I'm Liam," he replied smoothly.
"Hold on, Host," Heli interjected, puzzled. "Why give him a fake name?"
Stefan's response was cryptic yet confident. "It suits the situation. I'll explain later."
Though Heli remained skeptical, he chose to table his questions for another time.
"Are you a healer?" Ethan inquired, eyeing Stefan's hand for any telltale signs of a magician's mark.
Quickly concealing his hand within his cloak, Stefan deflected Ethan's scrutiny with a concerned expression. "I only know a single healing spell, and it doesn't seem to be very effective on your injury," he admitted.
Unperturbed, Ethan reassured him, "No need to worry. My companion has a Healing Potion. Once I've taken it, this injury will heal in no time. But you, on the other hand, seem rather inexperienced."
Cursing his lapse in judgment, Stefan adjusted his approach. "Yes," he confessed, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I actually learned this spell recently. I saved someone a couple of days ago, and in return, they taught me the spell. We were both injured at the time, and they wanted to leave quickly. After I tended to their wounds with herbs, they decided to impart this spell to me, so I could better protect myself in the future."
Stefan's fabrications seemed to slip past Ethan's notice, much to his relief.
"Ah, I see. So that's why you were touching my back," Ethan remarked, his tone understanding. "Actually, you don't need direct contact with the wound to heal someone. Healing magic can be applied from a distance as well."
Stefan absorbed Ethan's explanation eagerly, recognizing the value of first-hand knowledge that surpassed Heli's theoretical teachings. It was a rare opportunity to learn from someone with practical experience in magic.
Just as their conversation delved deeper into the intricacies of healing magic, Ethan's sudden exclamation drew Stefan's attention to a figure approaching from behind him.