Chapter Fourteen - Lesson in Healing Techniques

Nate sat in the back of the lecture hall, arms crossed over his chest and his black duster draped across the chair beside him. He rarely attended these open sessions anymore, but with the recent surge in magical injuries and faction battles, he figured brushing up on advanced healing theory couldn’t hurt. Especially after the mess with Talia and Lorelei’s brand removal… The Archivist for this lesson was Yancey Turner - a calm, silver-haired wizard known for his experience in restorative arcana. He stood at the front of the hall with quiet authority, his voice carrying clearly through the room.

“Today we discuss the delicate art of healing magic,” Yancey began. “Not the raw power of kinetic regeneration, but the more subtle craft of understanding the body, mind, and spirit as one interconnected system.” He wrote across the board: HEALING IS NOT JUST REPAIR - ITS RESTORATION.”

Nate thought about that quietly. After everything that had happened with Silas, and watching people carry scars from these endless fights between the factions, he certainly needed the reminder. Healing wasn’t just about closing up wounds, it was helping people feel whole again.”

“Every injury carries layers,” Yancey continued. “The physical wound is only the surface. Beneath it lies emotional residue, spiritual anchors, and sometimes lingering curses or venom. True healing requires addressing all of them.”

He looked around the room and said, “Empathetic Healing is a specialized branch of restorative arcana that focuses on the emotional, spiritual, and energetic layers of injury, rather than just physical repair. It is highly valued by the Conclave because it addresses the root causes of suffering and helps prevent magical backlash or recurring curses. Let’s look at the core principles. Can someone define Emotional Resonance for me?”

A young witch in the front row raised her hand and said, “The healer first must attune to the patient’s emotional state to understand how the trauma, fear, or anger is anchoring the injury.”

“Very good,” Yancey nodded. “And what about Energy Mirroring?” He asked, pointing to the second principle he’d written on the board.

Nate raised a hand slightly and said, “The healer temporarily shares a portion of the patient’s pain to create a bridge, allowing magic to flow more effectively.”

“Indeed,” Yancey smiled at him. “How about Layered Restoration?”

Another witch raised her hand and said, “Healing must occur in stages. It’s not just about physical healing, it’s also about emotional, and then spiritual as well.”

“Excellent work, everyone! Alright, let’s see… Some key techniques. Can someone tell me how Echo Reading works?”

Nate raised a hand again, since he’d just used this technique on Talia to detect the lingering shadow-venom from Hadrian’s attack. “The healer places their hands near, but not necessarily on, the wound and enters a light trance. They sort of… read the emotional echoes left in the injury - fear, rage, betrayal, etcetera. This helps identify the hidden curses or spiritual tethers left behind.”

Yancey nodded towards him and said, “Yes, Warden Caeden, I suppose you would be quite familiar with this technique, especially lately. Can anyone tell us about the Resonance Bridge?”

A wizard in the middle of the group answered, “The healer briefly synchronizes their own heartbeat and magical aura with the patient’s. This creates a safe channel for transferring healing energy while also absorbing and dissipating emotional pain.” He hesitated and said, “There’s a risk though. If you use this type of magic too much, the healer will carry emotional residue in the form of nightmares, anxiety, maybe even phantom pain.”

“That’s a very good point,” Yancey agreed. “We do carry a lot of risks with our profession as healers, don’t we? How about the Memory Weave?” He looked around expectantly.

Randy, one of Nate’s fellow healers, raised his hand and said, “It’s a more advanced technique where the healer gently guides the patient through a controlled recollection of the moment of injury. By reframing the memory with calm and safety, the emotional anchor is loosened, making physical healing far more effective. “

“Isn’t that kind of like what vampires do though? Mental manipulation?” Asked a young witch in the front row. “It’s basically just reliving the event against one’s will, especially if the healer is less attuned. The healer basically gets to control everything and implant suggestions or manipulate fears and stuff.”

“Not to mention interfering with fate,” a wizard agreed with her. “Pain and memory are part of a person’s path. Artificially erasing or reframing trauma interferes with their spiritual growth. Plus, altering memories risks weakening the patient’s sense of self or identity.”

Yancey nodded with an appreciative grin. “Very good, all of you. While these techniques are generally agreed on, it is definitely important to question each of them and consider the ethical and spiritual ramifications. The Conclave’s regulations are very strict when it comes to using Advanced Restricted Magic such as these techniques present. Having written consent is absolutely essential when treating a patient this way. If they are incoherent, then consent must be given by their next-of-kin. A second healer or Warden must also be present as a witness to make sure that these techniques are being used in adherence to the Accords. And finally post-procedure monitoring must be performed for both the patient and the healer afterwards. We can never be too careful, folks.”

Nate listened as the Archivist presented homework and dismissed the apprentices. He had found the discussion interesting, but had been disappointed to note that Tyra Pierce had not been in attendance. He wondered what was more important than attending healing lessons at the Gallery, but he reminded himself that he wasn’t responsible for her education or how she spent her time… Then why did he care so much?