[Third Person's PoV]
"Gag Spit" The little boy's mouth opened wide, and a small rock shot out, bouncing along the ground with a wet trail behind it.
The boy gasped, taking deep breaths as Stephen lightly patted his back. His mother stood nearby, looking embarrassed as her eyes landed on the rock, the awkward silence hanging in the air.
Stephen broke the tension with a chuckle. "Feeling better?" he asked, clearly amused.
The boy nodded vigorously. "Much better! Thank you, Sir Magic Knight!"
Stephen ruffled the boy's hair with a warm smile. "Next time, just be careful about what you decide to eat."
The boy gave another nod and stood up, his mother pulling him gently by the hand. After exchanging farewells, the two turned to leave. The mother, still holding her son's hand, looked down at him curiously and asked, "George, what in the world made you eat a rock?"
"I saw a bird do it, so I thought it was safe to eat," George replied innocently.
As they left, Stephen glanced at the group around him, shaking his head with a small smile. "Well, that was eventful... Who's next?"
...
Stephen entered the next room, where a man lay on the bed, his body covered in severe burn wounds.
Stephen's expression became serious as he stepped closer, studying the damage. "I take it this is the result of fire magic?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.
Without waiting for confirmation, Stephen brought his fingers to his eyes, forming the opening-eye hand sign. A flash of Arcane energy rippled through the air as he examined the man for any hidden injuries.
Then, placing his hand on the patient's chest, Stephen lifted his hand upwards, using his illusion magic to break the man's body down layer by layer, visually displaying the damage for all to see.
Julius, still in disguise, leaned in with intrigue. "And what is this?" he asked, captivated by the detailed illusion.
Owen, Marx, and Aurelia were equally fascinated as they observed Stephen's technique.
"I'm using an illusion spell to physically display what I see within the body," Stephen explained calmly. "It helps me detect hidden injuries and gives me a clearer picture of the damage."
Owen nodded, clearly impressed. "Incredible… That's the entire human body broken down before us."
"As you can see," Stephen continued, gesturing toward the illusion, "besides the external burns, his muscles and nerves have suffered extensive damage."
With a devil-horn hand sign, Stephen's fingers began to glow with a soft green light.
[Arcane Magic: Terranotti Healing Spell]
The man's body was enveloped in a gentle, green glow, wisps of light dancing around his wounds. To everyone's amazement, the burns began to heal, starting with the nerves, then the muscles, and finally, the skin. The burnt skin flaked off, revealing fresh, unblemished skin beneath.
"What a powerful spell…" Marx muttered, feeling the strength of Stephen's magic as he watched the transformation.
The man stirred, slowly waking up with a content sigh. He examined his hands, now free of burns, before turning to Stephen with immense gratitude. "Thank you."
Stephen nodded with a reassuring smile. "Just make sure to stay hydrated. Your body lost a lot of moisture from the burns."
"Doctor's orders," the man said with a smile of his own.
Stephen chuckled at that, snapping his fingers to dispel the remaining illusions. "Operation successful!" he declared, pulling at his gloves with a smirk.
The others exchanged amused glances, shaking their heads as they moved to follow Stephen to the next patient.
….
Stephen moved on to the next patient, a young woman clutching her stomach, her face pale and twisted in pain. Her family surrounded her bed, their anxious expressions revealing the worry etched on their faces.
As Stephen approached, the young woman's father spoke up, his voice trembling with concern. "She's been in unbearable pain for days. We've tried everything, but nothing seems to help."
Stephen immediately performed his hand sign, causing the effects he had caused whenever he used it. He got a clear picture of what was causing her distress. The aura around his hand shifted, glowing brighter as he furrowed his brow in concentration. "There's a blockage... something lodged in her intestine. It's likely causing an infection."
The family exchanged panicked glances, but Stephen's voice remained calm and reassuring. "Don't worry. I'll handle this."
With precise control, Stephen activated a specialized healing spell. A swirling green energy formed at his fingertips, pulsating gently. He directed the energy toward the young woman, and slowly, the blockage dissolved under his magic. The infection was purged from her body, and the woman's breathing became steadier as the pain subsided.
"There," Stephen said softly, retracting his hand as the glow dimmed. "The worst is over. You'll feel better within a few hours."
The young woman opened her eyes slowly, blinking in surprise. A look of disbelief crossed her face as she realized the pain was gone. "I... I can't feel it anymore," she whispered, tears of relief brimming in her eyes.
…
Stephen continued moving from room to room, clearing them of patients with ease, showcasing just how powerful his magic truly was. He even discovered hidden injuries in some patients that could have led to serious complications later on.
Most of the patients had deep injuries, many due to magic being used against them—like poison magic and other forms of magic. Each time, Stephen approached with a calm confidence, using his skills to heal and provide comfort.
Once he finished with his last patient, Owen placed a hand on Stephen's shoulder. "Follow us…"
Curious, Stephen trailed after Owen and the others as they climbed the spiraling staircase leading to the top of the tower.
When they reached the summit, they found a single large door. As they entered, Stephen's eyes widened at the sight inside: shelves brimming with books and scrolls, a large desk in the center cluttered with various items.
Owen began sifting through the scrolls while Julius turned to Stephen, a broad smile on his face. "You've passed both tests with flying colors! You've proven to us all that you not only possess the knowledge but the skill and expertise of a healer… of a doctor."
Owen emerged from the stacks with a scroll in hand, which he handed to Julius. Julius opened it, and the scroll floated in front of him. With a flick of his wrist, a quill dipped in ink soared from the desk, hovering next to him.
Aurelia took the quill and began writing her name, followed by Owen's and then Julius's. As Julius finished signing, he said, "By the power vested in me as the Wizard King, and with the two healing mages as witnesses, I declare that you, Stephen, are to be acknowledged as a healer and doctor of the Clover Kingdom."
Julius then turned the scroll around, presenting it to Stephen. "One of the privileges of being recognized as a doctor of the Clover Kingdom is the honor of receiving a family name. You can either choose an appropriate one yourself or have one chosen for you. So, which will it be?"
Stephen looked down at Nero perched on his shoulder and smirked. "I will be choosing one for myself."
Julius nodded, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Then please sign it here."
With a smile on his face, Stephen took the quill and signed his name on the paper.
Julius turned the paper around, reading the name before looking up at Stephen with a raised brow. "Strange?"
Stephen smirked back at him, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Doctor Stephen Strange."
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