The interview continued, shifting from a personal history inquisition to a test of practical knowledge.
Dr. Hana began quizzing Aziel on the fundamentals of medicine. She posed questions about common ailments, herbal remedies, and basic anatomy.
Aziel, drawing upon the fragments of knowledge Blackie provided, answered correctly. He didn't elaborate, keeping his responses concise and to the point. He avoided flowery descriptions or unnecessary details.
His knowledge wasn't encyclopedic, but it was accurate.
He identified the uses of common medicinal herbs, described the symptoms of prevalent illnesses, and demonstrated a basic understanding of human anatomy.
Dr. Hana, while perhaps expecting a more detailed explanation, subtly seemed a bit impressed.
It was clear that his expertise didn't mirror that of a graduate from a fancy institution, but from a small village.
She nodded now and then, her brown eyes assessing his every answer and gesture.
"Alright," Dr. Hana finally said, leaning back in her chair, the movement causing a slight rustle among the dried mushrooms hanging above. "The job itself is straightforward. You'll be assisting me with patient care, preparing remedies, managing supplies, and keeping the clinic tidy. It's not that difficult, but it's important. I'll pay you modestly, enough to cover your room and board at my mom's inn, with some extra for personal expenses." She didn't smile, maintaining her professional detachment, but her tone was not unkind.
"Alright, thank you for accepting me to work here," Aziel replied.
She paused, tapping a slender finger against a stack of papers on her desk.
The silence stretched for a heartbeat, filled only by the soft creaking of the wooden building and the ever-present scent of mushrooms.
"You can start tomorrow," Dr. Hana finally said, her gaze fixed on Aziel, sharp and a little intense. "Be here before sunrise."
**********
Aziel stepped out of the Glenwood Clinic, the little bell above the door tinkling merrily as he exited.
He exhaled, a puff of visible breath in the cool air. Relief washed over him.
The interview had gone well, he'd secured a position.
Before entering the clinic, Aziel had spent considerable time with Blackie, meticulously crafting a believable backstory.
They had anticipated questions about his past, rehearsing vague answers that would satisfy curiosity without revealing the truth of his memory loss or his magic abilities.
However, Dr. Hana's specific inquiry about the name of his village had caught him off guard. He hadn't anticipated such a direct geographical question.
A flicker of panic had threatened to surface, but he'd managed to covered it up, vaguely mentioning a small, remote settlement, providing no particular detail.
The medical knowledge test had been less stressful, thanks to Blackie's constant, silent coaching. For each question Dr. Hana posed, Aziel had discreetly relayed it to the ring, receiving concise, accurate answers in return.
He'd been careful, though.
He deliberately avoided overly detailed explanations, preventing any suspicion that he was a candidate for a more serious medical role or even a scholar. He presented himself as possessing a practical, if somewhat limited, understanding of rural medicine; just enough knowledge to be useful, but not enough to be scholars or overly impressive.
After such a successful encounter with the village's doctor, Aziel wanted to unwind.
He decided that he wanted to know the place, and what better way than taking advantage of the daylight than to walk around the village and see the sights?
**********
The following morning, Aziel headed towards Glenwood Clinic, ready for his first day of work.
The clinic was scheduled to open at nine, but he was to present an hour early.
He arrived precisely on time, finding the clinic still and quiet in the early morning light.
Everything was neat, and the place was meticulously prepared.
Dr. Hana was already there, making some arrangements.
Besides Dr. Hana, two other nurses—who were twin brother and sister—bustled about, also preparing the clinic for the day's patients. Dr. Hana had already mentioned them to Aziel before.
"Good morning, Dr. Hana, Ren and Rina," Aziel greeted, offering a small, polite bow.
The twin siblings returned his greeting with warm smiles.
"Morning," Rina said, and Ren greeted him with a nod.
"You're here," Dr. Hana acknowledged with a curt nod, glancing up from a ledger. She extended a piece of parchment towards him. "Here's your list of tasks for today."
Aziel accepted the list, his eyes scanning the neat script.
Hmm… clean the clinic, gather herbs from the garden, and assist with minor tasks as needed. Simple enough.
He started with cleaning.
He grabbed a broom and began sweeping the wooden floor, the bristles making a rhythmic, scratching sound against the planks. Dust motes danced in the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows. He wiped down the wooden furniture. He kept cleaning until he was happy with how spotless the clinic was.
Next on the list was the herb garden.
Aziel stepped out the back door of the clinic into a small, enclosed garden. It burst with green, countless varieties of herbs and plants packed into neat rows. The morning air was thick with their combined fragrances, a heady mix of earthy, sweet, and pungent scents.
Dr. Hana joined him, a small wicker basket hanging from her arm. "We need a good supply of mentha, salvia, and matricaria today," she said, pointing to each plant in turn. "Mentha is straightforward, you use only the fresh leaves, and this one," she brushed her fingers against a plant with silvery-green leaves, "is salvia. Only harvest leaves that don't have brown edges. And finally," she indicated a plant with small, daisy-like flowers, "this is matricaria. We need the flowers."
She demonstrated the proper way to harvest each herb, snapping off stems with practiced ease.
Aziel followed Dr. Hana's instructions carefully.
He picked the herbs just the way she had shown him.
Once they had collected enough, they both headed back towards the clinic, the wicker basket now full of plants.
As they re-entered the clinic, the small bell above the door jingled, announcing a new arrival.
A woman rushed in, cradling a young boy in her arms. He was clutching his arm, face contorted in pain, tears streaking down his dusty cheeks.
"Dr. Hana, please! He fell from the tree, I think he might have broken his arm!" the woman pleaded, her voice thick with worry.
"Bring him here, quickly," Dr. Hana directed, her voice calm and steady, but with a new urgency.
She gestured towards a small examination table in the corner of the room.
The woman carefully placed the boy on the table.
Dr. Hana began her examination, her fingers moving with practiced gentleness over the boy's arm.
"Can you move your fingers?"
The boy whimpered, a soft, pained sound.
"Just a small cut, nothing to worry about," Dr. Hana said with a pat on the boy good arm.
Dr. Hana's hands began to glow with a soft, green light.
She applied ointment while focusing the subtle, aqua glow.
The small wound closed, the skin knitting back together seamlessly right before Aziel's eyes.
The boy's cries subsided, replaced by a soft hiccup.
He stared at his arm, flexing his fingers experimentally, a look of wonder spreading across his face.
"Mama, it doesn't hurt anymore!" he exclaimed, a wide, gap-toothed grin breaking out.
The woman sagged with relief, her hands flying to her chest. "Oh, thank the Mighty Katuka! Thank you, Dr. Hana, thank you."
"It was nothing major," Dr. Hana brushed off the praise with a flick of her wrist. "Just keep an eye on him, and don't let him climb any more trees for a while."
As the woman, still effusive in her gratitude, led her son from the clinic, Aziel asked Blackie, wondering about the situation.
"Hey, Blackie," he whispered, keeping his voice low so the others in the clinic wouldn't overhear. "Was that… Unique Magic that Dr. Hana just used?"
"Yes," Blackie replied, its voice echoing only in Aziel's head. "A healing magic."