Chapter Forty-Six: Healing Spells

Compared to the mage’s arcane spells, which are complex from content to structure, the priest’s divine spells are far simpler, usually consisting only of spell descriptions. Zhao Xu glanced at his spell slots.

[Priest:
Level 0 spell slots: 3 = 3 (class)
Level 1 spell slots: 2 = 1 (class) + 1 (Wisdom)]

He could freely select from the twelve level-0 and twenty-five level-1 divine spells to fill these three level-0 and two level-1 slots. In his morning duel with Antinoia, Zhao Xu’s five spells were quickly exhausted.

Recently, someone had already registered an account on the forums named “When will mages get buffed?” and started threads complaining about the scarcity of spell slots. Many players who had finally managed to advance to mage began to realize that the difficulty and power of the class were completely out of balance. In other online games, mages would be embarrassed to call themselves mages if they didn’t cast over a dozen spells in a single battle, not to mention being able to restore mana with potions.

But in Arthur, after four or five spells, you were already spent. Once spells were used, you couldn’t cast again until the next day, which had infuriated many newly graduated or even trainee spellcasters. Zhao Xu knew these players still hadn’t shifted their mindset; their thinking was stuck on the stereotype that Arthur was a typical level-grinding game. They hadn’t yet realized that researching, completing quests, or personal growth could also increase one’s level.

It would be another month in his previous life before the consensus emerged: spell slots had to be saved and used sparingly.

But Zhao Xu didn’t care about any of that now. With additional priest spell slots, at least at level one, he had twice the endurance of others. In Arthur, having extra spell slots was practically godlike.

Having mage experience, Zhao Xu quickly browsed the divine spells and made his choices. Since he didn’t need them for combat, he could use them however he liked. For level-0 spells, he prepared Create Water, Detect Magic, and Mending. For level-1, he selected Bless and Comprehend Languages.

As soon as he finished, it felt as if some sacred power poured directly into him, leaving his body tingling pleasantly and his mind invigorated. He swiftly snapped out of his trance.

Glancing at the hourglass in the corner, he realized an hour had passed. The spells he had prepared as a mage for the day had already turned gray, indicating they’d been expended.

Yet Zhao Xu remained calm on obtaining divine spells for the first time. Like arcane spells, some divine spells also required incantations and gestures, but unlike mages, priests didn’t need to understand the underlying principles—they only needed to imitate the forms to cast spells smoothly.

With his mage background, Zhao Xu was already adept at this. He studied the incantations and gestures for his selected spells on his character sheet and began to mimic them, much like a novice learning dance steps. For the first time, he managed to recite the incantation and make the gestures.

In his heart, he intoned: “Create Water!”

Suddenly, clear, sweet water gushed forth from his empty palm, spilling directly onto the floor without a container, and it kept flowing. By the time it stopped, he had poured out seven or eight liters—about half a barrel—drenching the dormitory floor. Fortunately, he lived on the ground floor, with blue brick tiles; otherwise, it would have been a mess.

Looking at the potable water conjured by his own spell, Zhao Xu fell into thought. Compared to mages’ arcane spells, priests’ magic was weaker in control but stronger in support. At least the most crucial healing spells were almost exclusively priestly.

Now Zhao Xu could gradually understand why spellcasters carried themselves with such superiority. They had achieved self-sufficiency. Mages still had to learn spells; priests only needed to pray. Whatever they lacked, they could create. At higher levels, Zhao Xu would be able to conjure food and even build houses. If the apocalypse ever came, spellcasters like them could just find a corner and live self-sufficiently each day.

Reflecting on his own foolishness in his previous life, Zhao Xu continued with his plan—he focused on healing spells.

He had experienced priestly healing on the battlefield in his past life—the feeling of life itself being uplifted was unforgettable. This was what “hit points” meant for professionals like them. Priests’ healing spells could restore HP; theoretically, as long as they weren’t killed instantly, with sufficient priest support and high-defense tank classes, one could outlast some of Arthur’s powerful monsters and achieve victory through attrition.

And as the representatives of healing, good-aligned priests could automatically convert any prepared spell into a “healing spell.” Evil priests could convert any prepared spell into a “harm spell.” Although Zhao Xu’s alignment was still strictly neutral, he chose the path of healing out of habit.

His mage spell list was already full of damage spells. This innate conversion ability required no training—Zhao Xu, as a priest, possessed it naturally. Now he had spells and abilities, but he lacked an injured target.

Looking around the room, he failed to find anything sharp. After some thought, he realized he had to be his own test subject. Raising his fist, he smiled awkwardly. Outside, adventurers were desperately waiting for healing spells, posting on the forums daily to beg for them—yet here he was, about to use one up just to experiment.

He drew a deep breath. Self-harm was embarrassing to admit, but with no one else to test on, he had no choice. Looking at his fist, he recalled that an unarmed strike deals 1D3 damage. With 6 HP, he wasn’t worried about knocking himself out.

He punched his chest forcefully. Since he didn’t defend against it, the blow left him breathless and almost dizzy.

[Midsummer uses ‘Unarmed Strike’ on himself, -4 attack penalty, deals lethal damage, 1D3=2]

His HP immediately dropped to 4.

After catching his breath, Zhao Xu didn’t hesitate. Having survived far worse injuries in his past life, he began to intone the incantation and gesture for Cure Light Wounds. Instantly, the level-1 spell “Bless” in his mind was consciously converted into fuel for “Cure Light Wounds.”

As the incantation ended, a pure white flame flared in his palm, not hot but soothing and warm. Most priest healing spells were touch-based—mere contact was enough. Zhao Xu pressed the flame to his chest.

His information panel flashed: [Do you wish to resist the spell effect? Harmless (resist with a Will save)]. Zhao Xu ignored it and let the effect proceed.

A gentle, penetrating light suffused his chest, and the tightness vanished at once. Just like the healing spells he had received before, his HP instantly returned to full.

[Midsummer receives level-1 divine spell “Cure Light Wounds,” restores HP 1D8+1=3+1=4.]

Seeing this, Zhao Xu couldn’t help but sigh at the power of healing—restoring 1D8+X HP, with X being his caster level, currently 1, with a maximum of 5. At level 1 that meant he could heal 2–9 HP; not a lot, but enough for most.

Since last week, as more combat-oriented players graduated, complaints flooded the forums: wounds didn’t automatically heal. Sleeping in bed restored only 1 HP per night, and a whole day’s rest gave 2 HP. For a warrior with about 12 HP, being reduced to 1 HP meant four or five days’ rest to recover—severely hindering leveling efficiency.

Zhao Xu knew that a level X character recovered X HP per night, and 2X HP per full day of rest. But this natural healing was far from enough for players. That was why the priest class had suddenly become the most popular profession.

However, each day only a pitiful number of priests managed to graduate—barely more than mages. If Zhao Xu were willing to team up, he would be shunned as a mage but hotly sought after as a priest. Just yesterday, Zhang Qi had told him several classmates had decided to delete their old characters and switch to priest, regardless of how hard it was to advance.

After verifying his innate ability to spontaneously cast healing spells, Zhao Xu was less concerned with the remaining spell slots. He turned his attention back to the twelve level-0 and twenty-five level-1 spell descriptions.

Once he had completed the requirements, these spells appeared in his priest spellbook. Knowing how to use them was as important as casting them.

As Zhao Xu studied the list, his eyes suddenly paused on the level-0 spell “Inflict Minor Wounds.” As a good-aligned priest, he couldn’t spontaneously cast damage spells, but he could still prepare them normally. Level-0 slots were of no great value to him, so he could prepare an Inflict Minor Wounds spell, use it to deal 1 point of damage to himself, and then test healing spells—no need to punch himself for injury.

Suddenly, Zhao Xu felt that being able to become a mage was truly a blessing from his transmigration.