The chapter is partially passable. To expand the boundaries of the world, as well as show the environment in which Calder will (partially) spin.
*****
"That's right," I answered after a moment of waiting. - Calder Wilson, Healing School Apprentice. "Poppy Pomfrey's student," I said, bowing my head slightly in greeting. — My teacher asked me to say hello to you. In her words, you should "like it."
There was silence. I, frozen in one position, looked at this "titanium" in anticipation. Hippocrates, in turn, did not even raise an eyebrow at my words. Only his eyes continued to glow from under his thick eyebrows. They were filled with strength mixed with wisdom.
But suddenly his figure began to tremble. First your arms, then your shoulders, and then the rest of your body. Veins bulged out at his temples. It feels like he's going to kill me right there. The truth is that I can say this and be one hundred percent sure of this, one small detail prevents me. I didn't feel his emotions. At all. Solid wall.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha," the giant suddenly laughed, raising his head to the ceiling. Looking at August, I asked him with just one facial expression: "What does this mean?" He only shrugged his shoulders in response and also stared at the main healer in bewilderment.
Having finally laughed it off (he was even brought to tears! What a strange man...), Smethwick, brushing away the tears that had come out, looked at me again, only this time his gaze was much "warmer."
"Funny," he rumbled. "The last time they said hello to me, I killed the messenger and sent his head to the "well-wisher," Hippocrates said calmly, as if talking about the weather. - Yes, it was a fun time.
His words sent a herd of goosebumps the size of an elephant running down my spine. As calm and ordinary as it sounded, it was just as terrifying and frightening. You look at him and immediately understand that he could do this.
"Hmm, I started our acquaintance in the wrong way," the man muttered, scratching his beard. - My name is Hippocrates of Smethwick. I am a Grand Master of the School of Healing. It just so happened that your teacher asked me to provide you with FULL practice," his intonation on certain words was alarming, and his grin, which someone called a smile, scared the hell out of him. Why do I feel this? - Remember: Since I gave someone my word, I will keep it. So, you will soon have an unforgettable practice - and a "sweet" smile at the end, chilling to the bones.
I understood why I felt fear. It's August's emotions that have such an effect on me. But why is he so afraid of him? Unclear.
A deafening bang brought me out of my thoughts.
This giant appeared in front of me in a hundredth of a second and clapped his hands in front of my face. Incredible speed. It is quite possible that she surpasses the speed of a vampire! But he didn't even strain.
- You'll think about it later. "Now you have to listen," the "titanium" told me, patting me on the shoulder. - Follow me.
Leaving the office, we headed somewhere deep into this hospital.
August remained in the office, so at the moment I was following Hippocrates, who was confidently walking in a direction known only to him.
- Ask a question already. I feel your gaze, as well as your "flair".
No, of course, I assumed that magical sense could be tracked, but I did not imagine that it would be so simple.
— How will my practice progress? — the first, quite standard and expected question came from my side.
"Ha, that's what I told you about," this "eccentric" grinned. - Believe me, you will like it.
Hmm, but I don't really believe this.
— How long have you known my teacher? — I asked the second question for only one purpose, to find out how "old" Poppy is. Still, I never managed to find out in what year she created her group.
- And why do you need this? Although it doesn't matter to me," Hippocrates muttered as he walked, shrugging his shoulders. - Hmm, I met her about a hundred years ago. Maybe more.
Hmm, his answer didn't help me much. However, it's expected. It's not that simple, right?
The next ten minutes passed rather monotonously - I asked Smethwick questions, and he answered my questions quite comprehensively. Here, perhaps, it's worth telling in more detail about what I managed to find out.
First, Mungo's is not the only magical clinic, not only in England, but even in London. There were at least three more similar hospitals in the capital. Of course, Mungo is the most famous of them. This doesn't mean she's the best, no. It's just that she is the one who is heard by most of magical England.
The second is Mungo's structure. The hospital is headed by the Chief Healer. At this point I was a little stuck. It turns out that the head of the local health care organization will deal with me for an hour. Why such a part?
So, let's continue. At the head is the Chief Healer. He deals with the most difficult cases. And if I say heavy, then that's exactly what they are. At the limit of the Grand Master's capabilities.
Next come four deputies, they are also called Senior Healers. Each of them is responsible for one of four directions: body, soul, magic and mind. Pretty simple, right? Of course, they also have subsections, but more on that another time.
Below on the career ladder are ordinary healers. Like the Elders, they are divided into one of four directions, but this does not mean that they cannot "work" in other areas, no. They are quite qualified for this, but you must admit that it is more convenient when you are responsible for only one part of something larger.
There are about seventy of them in the hospital! Reasonable. Is this a lot or a little? From the point of view of an ordinary person - incredibly little. From a magician's point of view, it's just right. And why? The answer is simple - magic. Yes, it sounds at least banal, but it is true. Charms of stasis, support, disinfection and much more. All this helps patients at least survive until surgery. Magic is convenient, powerful and multifaceted.
Well, the lowest level in the hospital are interns. I was not able to find out the exact number, but on average there are from one to two trainees per healer. And you know what's most interesting? Some remain trainees for life. Some due to a lack of strength or rank, and others, like Augustus for example, of their own free will. It seems that this is the lowest standard for a medical worker, but many healers nodded to Augustus as a sign of respect. It turns out interesting, doesn't it?
Third is operating time. They work on a completely acceptable schedule of two to two (P.S. day, night, sleep, day off. By the way, the Author works in exactly the same way, only not as a doctor, but as an aviation technician). A total of four shifts. In total, the number is about four hundred reasonable (assuming one trainee per healer). Four shifts are enough to provide full medical care.
And I managed to find out all this in just ten minutes, when I couldn't get anything out of Poppy for two whole Saturdays. Either she's trolling me, or she was just counting on this outcome. Who knows.
Finally, when our journey began to come to an end, Hippocrates finally said what I would actually do:
"According to Poppy," he began after a few seconds of silence. "You have completely mastered all the knowledge and "techniques" for your rank," Smethwick said, slowing down a little and looking at me over his shoulder. — After looking at the memories of your last, and not only, operations, I agreed with her. True, I'm still interested in your sharp jump in skills this spring," it seemed his eyes were trying to dissect me right on the spot in order to find out all my secrets. - It doesn't matter though. Everyone has the right to secrets, - after all, he left me alone, otherwise his gaze made me feel creepy. "And since you are so close to the highest level of journeyman, then it's time for you to move on to more complex cases."
He didn't tell me anything else, but that was enough for me. What's next? Diseases, viruses, infections. Just what we, on the eve, began to study with the teacher. It looks like she was specially preparing me for this.
But enough idle thoughts, we have come to the end point of our journey.
Without stopping, Smethwick opened the door as he walked and entered the room. Having followed him, I found myself in a standard room, exactly the way ordinary people imagine: white ceilings and walls, gray floor, several beds covered with white linens.
A middle-aged man was currently lying on one of the beds. Now he was unconscious and, apparently, was tossing around in some kind of delirium: jerky movements in his sleep (throwing around on the couch), red skin covered with sweat. Temperature and something else.
- What about him? — the first thing I asked was my current "sensei."
"Flu," he answered with a shrug.
- Flu? — I asked in surprise. And there was something to be surprised about; magicians had long ago learned to fight this disease.
- Of course, this flu is not quite ordinary. You could say it's a magical flu," he said, grinning into his beard.
Hmm, this is more complicated. If you can get rid of the regular flu quite easily by simply drinking a potion, then with the magical variety things are much more complicated. As is clear from the name, this disease is directly related to mana. The fact is that this flu uses not only the carrier's nutrients, but also Mana to maintain its existence. And if the first one can somehow be dealt with, then the second one...
-What are you going to do, Calder? - Hippocrates asked me, turning to me and folding his hands on his chest.
"I'll turn to you for help," I shrugged at his question. In response to his questioning gesture, a raised eyebrow, I still supplemented my answer: "At the moment, I don't know how best to treat this disease." I have an idea, but...
"But the patient's life comes first, I understand," he nodded to his thoughts. - Okay, then take out your wand and do only what I tell you.
How to cure a person from a disease that is fueled by himself? Moreover, it draws "power" from mana. It turned out to be quite simple. All that was necessary was to temporarily "cut off" the body from the supply of mana. Due to the lack of much-needed energy, the virus began to weaken until it completely dropped to the level of a regular flu. Further actions were quite ordinary and practiced.
Having finished with the patient, I stared at the "sensei" in anticipation. This experience was quite educational. Perhaps other diseases can be solved with the help of...
"Not all magical diseases can be solved using this method," said Smethwick, as if reading my thoughts. — Some diseases without mana replenishment will begin to kill the carrier's body at an accelerated pace in order to restore lost energy.
Hmm, I see. We'll know. In general, the very method of "cutting off" the body from mana is quite interesting. I even got a couple of ideas about this, but more on that later.
"Well, since we've finished the first stage of training, then it's time to start the second," the giant suddenly said and began to warm up right here.
I admit honestly - this alarmed me quite a lot.
- Second phase? — I asked with caution in my voice, while at the same time taking another step towards the exit.
"Yes," he nodded with a grin as he watched my actions. "Don't worry, it won't hurt too much."
- Th...
A sharp bang stunned me, and then I felt a slight pain in my chest. Looking down, I saw some kind of syringe sticking out of my chest, as well as Smethwick's hand holding this syringe.
"The bacteria of this virus," he explained to me, tearing the syringe out of the body. - The same disease, but only twice as strong. Your job is to heal yourself. And to keep everything honest...
In the next moments, I felt a flashy bracelet snap onto my wrist. Flashing in magical vision and immediately calming down, it began to resemble an ordinary bracelet, but I had no time for that.
I felt like my metamorphic abilities were closed and my appearance was fixed.
"Poppy told me about your ability, so you won't be able to heal with it," Hippocrates smiled again. – Now practice this method on yourself. Good luck.
The next moment, my body began to tremble, and my vision darkened.