Chapter 32: A Treatment Spell with Side Effects

“Watch out!” Anna cried out in alarm.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

Gavin, horse and all, struck something like a ripple on water and vanished directly into the small wooden cabin.

Anna pulled hard on her reins. The warhorse beneath her, in sudden pain, reared its legs high and let out a long neigh, bucking the unsuspecting girl straight off its back.

“Quiet!”

Gavin, who had just vanished, emerged from the cabin again. He reached out a large hand, caught the young priestess by her slender waist, and spun her around in a circle, completely neutralizing the momentum of her fall. Dazed and lightheaded, Anna’s feet touched the ground in a blur.

Gavin’s recent reprimand was also infused with mental power; the startled warhorse fell silent the next second, obediently allowing him to lead it into the cabin.

As they passed through the cabin, the young priestess felt distinct fluctuations of magical energy. Clearly, this was no mere hut, but a spell—one she had heard of but never seen in person: *Leomund's Tiny Hut*.

She hadn't expected this spell to be even more miraculous than the legends suggested.

Driven by curiosity, Anna couldn't help but peer east and west, even reaching out to touch the walls. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed no different from a real wooden cabin, yet when she focused intently, the entire structure became translucent.

The Gnolls and Hyenas that had closed in again hacked and bit at the cabin, but they only stirred up layers of ripples, unable to inflict even a shred of damage on the structure.

This hut was not composed of matter, but was a simulation of force and magic.

“Ignore them. With their abilities, they couldn't break this spell even if they gnawed at it for several hours. First, come help my companion,” Gavin called out after settling the two warhorses.

“A goblin? Your companion is a goblin?” the young priestess whispered in shock.

“What? Does the Priestess Lady hold a prejudice against other races? Are you unwilling to heal such a person?” This time, it was Gavin who felt a bit uncertain. After all, the Anna Karben he knew was a mature version with extensive adventuring experience, whose views were shaped by traveling the world; he had overlooked this aspect.

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I lost my composure...” The young priestess grew nervous, stammering, “I was just a bit surprised, I absolutely... absolutely didn't mean anything else... please forgive me.”

“I should be the one apologizing; I should have explained the situation beforehand,” Gavin said without much sincerity. “Since there is no problem, let’s begin!”

“Alright, alright, starting right away!” The young priestess ran over to Vic’s side, knelt on the ground, and began checking his condition. Her movements were practiced, clearly showing she had spent considerable effort on this.

“It’s not too serious. One leg bone is broken and four ribs are broken. Actually, if there were healing potions, we could just set his leg and have him drink a bottle. If we weren't in an emergency combat state, a *Cure Light Wounds* would suffice. Adventurers are attuned to nature; as long as they get sufficient rest, the omnipresent healing power will slowly help them recover,” Anna said as she straightened Vic’s leg and reached for the potions at her waist.

“Wait!” Gavin called out urgently. If she used a healing potion to fix Vic, the entire purpose of his efforts tonight would essentially be lost.

“What is it?” Anna turned her head in confusion.

“Since the Priestess Lady is here, why not cast a healing spell yourself? As far as I know, the more people a priest heals with spells, the more divine pets they receive, and the stronger they become,” Gavin steered the conversation toward his desired outcome. “Healing potions are better saved for critical moments, as an emergency when divine spells run out.”

“I... I... cast... a healing spell?” A strand of the young priestess's golden hair, which had been tucked into her leather hood, slipped onto her forehead, swaying playfully. Her smooth forehead was covered in dense beads of sweat—it was unclear if she was exhausted from the previous exertion or simply nervous. Her slender fingers were nearly twisted into knots.

Pretending not to see the problem, Gavin asked curiously, “Why? Has the Priestess Lady already used up her divine slots for today? Or are you not prepared to cast a healing spell? I recall your church enshrines the God of Suffering; healing should always be at the forefront of your faith.”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry...” Anna said with a dejected face, “I... I should have explained the situation to you sooner... The healing spells I cast are unstable; they often produce inexplicable side effects... The High Priest has forbidden me from using healing spells... I should have told you earlier... so you could have just brought healing potions with you.”

“Unstable side effects?” Gavin feigned surprise. “Success is success, and failure is failure. Why would a healing spell have side effects? Haven't you consulted anyone as to why?”

Anna’s face fell even further, looking as if she might cry. “I did. The High Priest once took me... took me... to consult her teacher, a powerful high-ranking priest... She examined my casting process in detail... and believed that when I cast spells, aside from being slightly nervous, there were no... no other problems. I also frequently check my prayers; I guarantee that not a single word of my incantations is wrong, and my attunement with the Weave is fine, yet problems occur every time.”

“Hmm...” Gavin struck a thoughtful pose. “If that is truly the case, I know someone who might be able to help you.”

“Really?” the young priestess asked in pleasant surprise. “Don't lie to me.”

“Why would I lie to you? There is no benefit in it for me. However, I cannot guarantee anything. Why don't you try casting a healing spell once, and I'll see the actual situation before deciding,” Gavin said, half-truthfully. He still needed to perform a final check to confirm if she was the person he was looking for.

Anna hesitated, but ultimately, the desire to solve her problem took precedence. She began to chant her prayers with intense concentration. Dense positive energy gathered around her, and following her incantations and hand signs, it began to entwine, weave, and twist, finally transforming into a healing spell beneficial to all living beings.

*Cure Light Wounds!*

Clearly, the young priestess, who did not have many opportunities to heal, was currently at a low professional level, likely stuck at level one or two. Then again, for someone her age to already possess professional levels was an impressive feat in itself.

Gavin watched the young priestess's casting process intently.

When Anna chanted her prayers, her overall rhythm was noticeably half a beat slow—a result of specific training to overcome her tendency to stutter when nervous. Tiny, pea-sized beads of sweat covered her forehead, revealing her extreme tension; she had developed a psychological shadow regarding spellcasting.

However, from beginning to end, her incantations were flawless. But as the *Cure Light Wounds* flowed into Vic, Gavin felt a sense of something missing—as if something was lacking within this specific spell.