Academy's New School Nurse (2)
I came to about thirty minutes later. After finishing the treatment, I'd blacked out completely. When I finally regained consciousness, a splitting headache was waiting for me—and sure enough, I'd cracked my head on the floor when I fainted.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, thanks to you, I'm still alive."
With help from the student named Lucille Eleanor, I sank into a chair. She seemed more familiar with the infirmary than I was; after asking my permission, she even brewed some coffee and brought me a cup. Sipping the steaming brew, I gingerly rubbed the throbbing spot on my head where I'd hit the floor.
"To think you'd slip and fall right after finishing the treatment..."
Lucille let out a short sigh as she glanced at the floor.
"I guess I should switch to shoes with lower heels."
"Yes, the infirmary floor is always kept so clean that it's quite slippery."
I'd explained to her that after completing the treatment, I'd slipped, hit my head, and passed out. Technically, it was my hemophobia that made me lose consciousness, but there was no upside to letting it slip that the school nurse had a blood phobia. The impact from the fall was more than enough to knock anyone out anyway, so it wasn't a lie.
"Still, that was impressive. To heal such a severe injury so perfectly."
Lucille gazed at the injured student as she spoke.
"If it's not too rude, could I ask how you did it? Even our family priest couldn't manage something like that."
She turned to me with evident curiosity.
"Come to think of it, you're from the Eleanor Dukedom, right, Lucille?"
"Yes, I'm the eldest daughter of the Eleanor family."
The first time I saw Lucille, she struck me as vaguely familiar, like I'd seen her somewhere before. If she was the eldest daughter of the Eleanor Dukedom, that explained it—noble houses on that level inevitably crossed paths with the temple at least once in their lives. I'd probably just glimpsed her face in passing back then. With all the nobles and even royals I encountered, it was impossible to remember every single one.
"Treating with Holy Power is like drawing a picture."
For starters, I decided to give her a simple explanation of how I'd treated the student.
"Like drawing a picture?"
"Yeah."
Just saying "I used Holy Power" wouldn't cut it—not with that unmistakable spark of curiosity in Lucille's eyes.
"It varies by the patient's condition, of course, but for something like external trauma, you basically treat it by drawing, layer by layer."
I pulled out a sheet of paper and grabbed a pen. First, I sketched a simple human figure, then added a slash wound like from a blade.
"For example, if the body is cut by something sharp, you focus Holy Power on the wound to regenerate it—like erasing the injury. You know this much, right?"
I painted over the wound with white ink, erasing it. Think of the white ink as Holy Power.
"Yes, the academy teaches the basics of Holy Power even if it's not the temple."
"Good, that makes this easier."
Next, I erased the arm from the figure.
"But if a limb is completely destroyed—not just severed—it's hard to treat like that."
The coffee cup in front of me was a perfect analogy. If the handle breaks off, you can glue it back with Holy Power as adhesive. But if it's shattered into pieces, you have to reassemble every fragment. That takes ages, and even if you succeed, it won't look right—ugly and deformed.
"Makes sense. It's practically creating something from nothing."
At that point, you'd be better off tossing the cup and buying a new one. It costs money, but it's far more efficient.
"Exactly. In those cases, you're basically creating a new arm based on the patient's body."
I gathered a small light on my palm using Holy Power, demonstrating the process for Lucille like a holographic projection.
"Priests handle Holy Power differently, but for me, it's like climbing stairs—step by step. First, regenerate the bone as the foundation. Then the blood vessels and muscles. Finally, cover it with skin to finish."
"Like sketching an underdrawing, then outlining, then coloring?"
Simple pictures can be done without an underdrawing, but for detailed work, you start with the base and build up layer by layer for higher quality. Especially for critical parts like arms or legs, perfection matters.
"Exactly. And since this wasn't too complex, it was straightforward."
Lucille watched in fascination, clearly impressed.
"Of course, I was just showing a simple demo with Holy Power. I didn't actually create an arm."
"But it's not as easy as it looks."
She glanced at the student on the bed.
She had that right.
"Nope. If an amateur tried it, the pain could put the patient at risk."
In fact, this healing method wasn't used by anyone at the temple except me and my sister. I'd taught her myself, while for me, it came instinctively. This world had no X-rays or CT scans, but I carried memories from a world that did. I'd studied anatomy and physiology in school there. Maybe that's why I treated people this way.
"Plus, if you're too slow, infection can set in. Not something for beginners."
Pain, bacteria, those could be handled with Holy Power, but in practice, it wasn't that simple. For me, it was easy. My sister, one of the temple's top priests, called it brutally hard—something only I could pull off so casually.
"It's different from the Holy Power healing I know. The other priests always just called it the power of faith."
"It is the power of faith—your total Holy Power and output depend on it."
Faith was like fuel to activate Holy Power. I set down my coffee cup and took a deep breath. Finally, I could breathe easy. Just moments ago, after the treatment, blood had splattered on my face, and I'd felt like dying. Thank goodness Lucille had wiped it off.
"Anyway, thanks for the help, Lucille."
I meant it from the bottom of my heart. Without her, the kid on the bed would've woken up before I did.
"Not at all. I only did what anyone should."
Lucille's purple eyes curved into a gentle smile. Nobles in this world were something else—barring a rare few, they were all stunningly attractive with distinctive features. I'd seen plenty at the temple. Rich, powerful families, and gorgeous faces? The gods really botched the balance. Us commoners could only weep.
"Um, if it's not too rude, could I ask two questions?"
"Go ahead."
I nodded and drained the last of my coffee. Surprisingly good stuff.
"First, may I have your name? Someone with skills like yours—I should know it."
"I'm... Erdel. Just call me Erdel."
"Understood. Then, Nurse Erdel it is."
"Nurse" would've been fine, but using my name wasn't bad. It'd help me get used to it too.
"What's the second question?"
"Well... is there something wrong with your eyes? Are they injured?"
Lucille hesitated a bit before asking.
Understandable—most people would wonder about someone who kept their eyes shut.
"Huh? No, my eyes are fine. Keeping them closed is part of a temple discipline."
"I see. Glad it's nothing serious."
The temple had plenty of priests who covered their eyes with blindfolds; I was used to it. The outside world, not so much.
"And it doesn't interfere with daily life."
I could adjust my clairvoyance viewpoint to myself, so seeing without opening my eyes was no issue. Temple priests with blindfolds did the same. Sure, using clairvoyance to peek negated the point of the discipline, but they claimed it was about mindset.
"Ah, I should get going."
Lucille checked the clock and stood.
Probably her next schedule.
"When that student wakes up, could you tell him to rest well today? I've already cleared it with the other teachers."
"Sure. Treatment's done, but rest is key for recovery."
"Thank you. I'll be off, then."
"Take care."
Lucille bowed politely and left the infirmary. I waved lightly, then slumped back into the chair.
"...Exhausted."
And I meant it. Who'd have thought on enrollment day—my first day on the job—I'd get a kid stumbling in with his arm chopped off? This was the infirmary, not the ER.
"Wanna clock out already..."
Unfortunately, quitting time was still hours away. Oh, right—the staff vending area. Word was, it sold booze like a convenience store, plus snacks. After work, I'd grab some beer and bar food. Days like this called for a drink to soothe the soul.
'Erdel...'
Even as she left the infirmary, Lucille repeated the new school nurse's name in her mind.
'Never heard it before.'
Familiar yet unfamiliar. The world was full of unknown names, sure. But from what she'd seen, Erdel was an exceptionally skilled priest—top-tier across the continent, probably. And yet, Lucille had never heard of her.
'Even the family hasn't heard of any priest named Erdel.'
The Eleanor Dukedom's vast intelligence network only had her listed as one anonymous priest among many at the temple.
'How could someone that skilled be a nobody?'
Nothing certain yet. Not enough info for wild guesses.
'For now, I should build a rapport with Nurse Erdel.'
One thing was clear: she was incredibly talented. Lucille headed back to class with that in mind.
"Ah, Lady Lucille!"
"Welcome back, Lady Lucille! Taking the injured student to the infirmary yourself—how considerate!"
Students swarmed her like they'd been waiting. Some twisted facts, others buttered her up. All because she was the Eleanor Dukedom's eldest daughter.
'And as a student and teacher, it's the perfect relationship for getting close.'
Lucille greeted them with a practiced smile, her thoughts still on Erdel. She quietly drew a ruby-encrusted pendant from her pocket. Inside was a family photo—all stone-faced. Next to young Lucille stood a young man with red hair and purple eyes just like hers.
"Tch..."
Lucille scowled at his familiar face.
That evening.
"Ah... if it's not on the shelf, it's all gone, right?"
The staff vending area I'd hit after work was picked clean by those who'd come before me. No beer, not even soda. Apparently, I wasn't the only one craving alcohol. Everyone must've felt the same.
"No, it's fine. No need to apologize. I'll come earlier next time. Goodbye."
In the end, I trudged home empty-handed, tears welling up. Tonight, I'd just wash up and crash...