Casting magic for the first time was interesting for Nathan. It was like using a part of his body for the first time. Even with his stats he felt the mental strain long before using half his mana.

“It’s like trying to pick up heavy items if you never used your legs your entire life.” Elderade explained. “As you cast magic more and more often, you will be able to get used to how it feels. Different spells have a different effect on you, so be careful and pay attention to how new spells act.”

Nathan absorbed everything El taught him. Even when he was forced to stand and be beaten by El and Peter with sticks. “If you want to be a tank, you need to learn how to deal with the pain. You already have double your Endurance, but that doesn't equal double the pain tolerance, in reality it’s far less. If you freak out because of pain and can’t heal those whose job is to kill the bad guys, then you will end up having to fight them yourself!”

She would wait for Nathan to adjust to the pain from hitting him right above his knee. He was doing everything in his power to resist calling it off. This doubled as training for his healing spells. When his health dropped to halfway, he would cast his [Healing Touch] spell. The cooldown between casts was a few seconds.

Something else Nathan learned is that the worse the wound, the more healing is needed to properly close it. A shallow cut from a dagger is easy to fix with a single casting of his magic. An arrow wound was still easy, but would require at least two, depending on where the arrow hits. Nathan was warned about deep gouges from monsters' claws or jagged weapons.

Healing magic also apparently helps make the bleeding stop. It slowly closes the wound with each cast. El said that as Healing Touch increases in rank, Nathan will be able to heal in larger chunks, or at least she assumes. “Take Ragnork for example, remember how he healed our wounds with a single spell when he touched us? I was missing over a hundred health myself, only a quarter at my maximum. The fact he could heal me all at once was telling. Plus I am sure he had some meta magic skills to boost its power, or a slew of other skills that are hidden secrets of the Church.”

Nathan made it a personal goal to every day check all his skill options so see if anything new was revealed to him. He also made plans to spend points in other skill trees, such as sight and magic knowledge. Those would come much later after he had the core skills he needed.

Nathan spent a little longer practicing than what was originally planned. He was nervous and the family was reluctant to let him go, especially Marcilio. During the time he increased [Healing Touch] to rank 2, along with [First Aid] shooting up to Rank 4 and [Field Medic] going to Rank 3.

El was just as shocked as Nathan, since that fast of an increase in skill could only be done by investing Skill Points directly into the skills. Peter on the other hand, had an inkling of an idea. “You already knew First Aid and how to treat wounds don’t ya? The Skills are a representation of your Experience, you have loads of it as a Doctor, makes sense the Skills caught up to match it.”

Nathan couldn’t agree more with his logic. He tried to find more skills related to his Doctorates degree, the only other two trees he could think of that had something hidden away was Alchemy and Biology. Alchemy for medicines and other caucations. Biology due to his high understanding how the human body works.

El commented that Biology was more than likely a skill tree for Assassins or Monsterologist. But Nathan already had plans on learning it as well over time. His goal was to understand how magic worked just as much as getting home. Double points if he could bring magic back home and spread it around for all to enjoy.

Nathan went to visit Ragnork twice during his training. The first time to tell him he was in fact joining the Adventurers Guild, and was going to uphold his promise. They made idle filler chatter, but Nathan left when a small group of Adventurers came in seeking help. Apparently they got finished clearing a Dungeon and one of their members was infected with some poison.

The second time, Nathan made sure Ragnork had time to talk. Nathan shared stories of his work methods and how to treat patients without using any magic at all. He started by going over how the human body naturally fixes itself. He talked about tiny cells that are called platelets. They will form a scab to cover the opening in the body. Over time the skin and muscle and whatever else will use the body's stored nutrients to repair itself.

Ragnork was further amazed by Nathan's understanding of bodies, with no skills to back it up.

Little did he know, his [First Aid] skill actually did help him remember a lot of smaller details of how basic aid worked. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know it in the first place, but recalling certain facts was easier.

That was until he remembered something he was talking about skills. You simply acquired the information instantly, as if it was always there. Sometimes it even provides answers to problems related to the skill.

Nathan asked in return on how Human bodies were similar, if at all, to the other races.

“Most humanoid bodies are the same. Heart, Brains, Lungs, all the important organs are all there for the most part. Dwarves have a thicker heart and it’s actually on our right side. Elves on the other hand, have larger lungs and their bones are slightly less dense. Hence why they are naturally agile. Goblins are a mix of Elves, Orcs, and Humans. One of the few monster races that rose out of their barbaric ways and became welcomed to society.”

“What about the Drake-Men? I am sure a reptilian body is much different right? Are they cold blooded?” Nathan asked.

“Once again I am impressed and shocked. Yes they are, but it’s not common knowledge. Some of them have a special organ from their ancestors that allows them to create body heat, but it’s rare and those who do have it end up becoming like their ancestors. Greedy, evil, and trouble.”

“People keep mentioning their ancestors, but never who are even what they were. Were they someone who broke rules in a guild or practiced Necromancy or something?” Nathan asked, more and more interested about the Drake-Men.

“You really are not from here, you don’t even know about Dragons? The flying beasts who bring nothing but death to not only those alive today, but those of tomorrow? They would burn down fields of crops, buildings with people inside, and then watch their destruction with a smile. Everyone knows about Dragons. Even the youngest of Dwarves who have never left the underground mountains know of them.”

Ragnork shook his head in disappointment. “I swear boy, one moment you seem extremely smart. Knowing all these medical treatments, and the next you don’t even know common knowledge on your own races’s history.”

“Like I said, where I am from, things are severely different. But that’s not why we talk is it?” Nathan asked with a smile.

“Nope, and that counts as your question. My turn again.” Ragnork said with a smile, enjoying the Quid Pro Quo way of asking questions.

The next day, Nathan loaded up the few things he owned ever since coming to this world. All of it given to him by Elderade or Peter. He didn’t even have his glasses or the original clothing he showed up in this world with. All of that destroyed by the wolves.

Nathan promised to come visit the farm often, and they are more than welcome to come bother him if they need help with anything. Including working the farm.

After traveling back to Twin Oaks, using his spear as a walking stick the guards stopped him a bit more seriously this time.

“Aye Nathan, I see you found a new walking stick.” Mack said with a smile. “Don’t think you ever came here with a weapon before or a fancy bag like that, what’s the big occasion?”

“I decided to join the Adventurer’s Guild. After my recent run in with the wolves, I had a change of how I want to live my life. Plus the money is good there I heard.” Nathan replied, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Ahh, well I have to go over some things since you are bringing in a weapon.”

“Really? It’s just a spear, half the people including all of you could take me down with just your looks. I can barely use it more than a walking stick.”

Mack sighed. “It’s just protocol Nathan. Sorry friend. I have to have you give your word you will never use your weapons or magic, if you have any, for harm against another. This is obviously thrown out the window if it’s for self defense. If you fail to uphold your word, the punishments are based upon the actions taken, at a minimum is prison.”

Nathan understood what was going on this time and instantly gave the promise. “I give my word I will never use my weapons, or magic, for any harm against another.”

Mack nodded. “Alright, in you go. Once you get your Guild Badge you can just show us that and you can skip this whole bit in the future.”

“Thanks Mack, I appreciate the tip.” Nathan headed into the city and turned the corner to walk to his new home.

The Adventurer’s Guild was the second largest building in the city. Dwarfed only by the Capitol building where the Nobles resided. It was composed of four sections. The front hall, that was public to everyone. It was here that the mission board was located, as well the lounge area for Adventurers to sit and relax. Food stalls were set up just outside trying to sell to the hungry men and women who came and went.

The other three sections were closed off to only members. The left wing held all personal rooms, meeting rooms, as well as a small codex collection. Adventurers could sell notes as well as other pieces of information from their missions to help others fight. Weaknesses of monsters, Maps of Dungeons as well as small tidbits of information that someone thought could be useful.

The right wing held all the larger rooms. A mess hall, workbenches for people to use to fix their gear, as well as the trading hall. A place for people to buy and sell gear.

Lastly was the training field out back. This was the area new skills were tested and old ones were refined. It doubled as an area if any squabbles or arguments needed to be settled. Select staff members were trained in Geomancy, and were able to repair anything out there or create different situations to train with.

Nathan walked into the front hall and headed to the receptionist desk. There Nathan found a Merman clerk. One of the aquatic races that grew the ability to breathe air. His hair looked wet, and his accent reminded Nathan of surfer dudes from the 70’s.

“Hey there sir. How can I help you today?”

“Hello, my name is Doc- ahem Nathan Shultz, I am here to register with the guild. I was told to give you this letter.” Nathan handed over the seal envelope he received from El.

“Ah a letter of recommendation. Please wait here while I go back and validate it. It should only be a few moments.”

Nathan wandered over to the mission board to get a feel of what to expect in his upcoming weeks. The board was broken up by your individual ranking. Going from the bottom at Iron working all the way up to Star Rank.

Not even bothering looking at any higher ranked missions, Nathan saw there were several for Iron ranks.

‘Kill Quest: Brown Bear. Reward: 50 Copper’

‘Escort Quest: Family of five. Reward: 20 Copper per person who lives’

‘Kill Quest: Slimes. Reward: 5 Copper each.’

‘Fetch Quest: Slime Goo. Reward: 8 Copper per vial.’

‘City Quest: Guard Duty. Fill in for the local Guard to help with keeping the law. 4 Copper per hour worked.’

The list went on and Nathan felt a little disappointed. A few seemed interesting, like the Escort Quest or the City Quest, but going out killing a bear? What did the bear do to deserve to die for no reason? If it was for meat, he could understand that. But just to kill? He would need to find more details.

The Merman called Nathan back over to the desk. “Mr Shultz, it is a pleasure to have someone with such a recommendation join the Guild. We are aware you are already Awakened through personal means, but we still have to scan you for registration. If you follow me to the back office, we can get you squared away immediately.”

Nathan followed him to a smaller and private room. On the table were two stacks of paper and a briefcase sized box. “There are two stacks of forums you need to sign. Depending on your choice depends on which stack. If you wish to join as a member, and that is it. You sign the first one. This gives you everything a member can have in the guild, with no strings attached. You can leave at any time.”

“The second stack is if you wish to join our Guild as a more...permanent member. You will be given access to tutors, the Codex Library, and your rank will carry to all guilds across the world. With your recommendation and mention of being a healer not part of a Church I highly suggest you sign the second stack. You are given certain...protections that someone of your status will more than likely need. As an added bonus, if you sign as a permanent member, we are willing to give you a signing bonus which is a month free of training.”

“The training will be customized to your role within a party and your class. As a healer, it will be harder to find a proper trainer, but we will manage. It just might take some time before you can start.”

Nathan was more interested in what that letter said, but didn’t see it anywhere. “El, I hope you didn’t spend more money or favors on me. You have done too much.”

“I’ll sign as a permanent member. May I read the contract before I sign though?” Nathan asked.

“Of course, if you have any questions I will be right outside. Once you sign, stick your head out and let me know and we can finish the registration process.”