The next day, Locke followed Witch Sophia by carriage to the Healing Hand Clinic located in another city.
The Healing Hand Clinic was situated in a valley, surrounded by the mundane city of Goye. However, this city had no connection to the clinic, as ordinary people couldn't approach the valley's Barrier where the clinic stood.
Locke and Witch Sophia's carriage passed through the Barrier and entered the valley where the Healing Hand Clinic was located. Ahead on the narrow valley path stood over a dozen steep, towering Gothic-style white buildings. The walls of these structures bore the emblem badges of Lilith's Cottage. Numerous wizards came and went through various means of transportation, entering and exiting the Healing Hand Clinic.
Following Witch Sophia, Locke encountered no obstacles along the way—or rather, the Potion Master Badge on her white wizard robe and his Potion Master Assistant Certification Badge ensured they wouldn't face any hindrance here.
The moment Locke stepped into the Healing Hand's tower, his eyelids twitched involuntarily. Before him were many wizard apprentices completely entangled in curses. These were all malignant curse spells that ordinary wizard apprentices couldn't dispel.
Locke saw a third-class wizard apprentice helper supporting a second-class wizard apprentice who was bleeding profusely from head to toe, searching for a temporary bed. They staggered unsteadily, their bodies enveloped in an evil Mana that carried the stench of rotting flesh—the lingering remnants of deeply malicious spells from their wounds.
Locke quickly recalled what he had read about this type of curse. "Teacher, is that the Thousand Blades Curse from the Necromantic School Curse Magic branch? The cursed will feel as if a thousand blades are slicing through their body. Wizards with lower Mana might even die instantly."
"The wounds are entwined with the curse and can't be easily expelled. Even if they don't die immediately, it's only because the curse intends for them to suffer greater malice," Locke continued. "This is a common characteristic of curse magic."
Witch Sophia nodded in agreement. "Correct. Your theoretical knowledge has been progressing rapidly lately."
"That is indeed the Thousand Blades Curse. This is your first time seeing someone afflicted by it, isn't it?"
Locke nodded.
When he turned around, he saw another second-class wizard apprentice suffering from a different curse. The apprentice lay on a hospital bed with twisted muscles, white foam dripping from his mouth, and all four limbs stretched upward but showing varying degrees of distortion. Stripped of all dignity, he could only be hurriedly carried by two third-class wizard apprentice helpers toward a Potionology Assistant's office on a stretcher.
At one moment, Locke's eyes met those of the cursed second-class wizard apprentice on the stretcher. Unable to move any part of his body except his rolling eyes, the afflicted apprentice looked at Locke with desperate longing, his gaze fixed on the Potion Master Assistant Badge on Locke's white wizard robe.
Locke remained silent for a moment before speaking to the Witch Sophia, "That's a Paralysis Curse. The victim will gradually become paralyzed over time. What's insidious is that this curse slowly damages the victim's nerves—by the time symptoms worsen, most of their nervous system is often already destroyed."
"I recall the specialized antidote is... the Worm Regeneration Potion. It can regenerate a wizard apprentice's nerves. If taken by a healthy person, it can temporarily enhance cognitive speed and is often used to assist in combat."
"The Worm Regeneration Potion can slightly increase casting speed. It's a very practical apprentice-level potion, and many Potionology Assistants research it," Locke added. "Of course, White Wizards don't get many opportunities to fight."
Sophia nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're absolutely right."
"Thousand Blades Curse, Paralysis Curse—these necromantic spells are just the first floor of this clinic. The second and third floors hold patients with even more severe conditions."
"The Blood Curse Court... is the faction most skilled in the Necromantic School's curse magic," Witch Sophia said, her eyes flashing with distaste. "Those curse masters—their only expertise is destruction."
"Curse masters inflict curses, while we Potion Masters specialize in breaking them. Over time, the Blood Curse Court naturally developed a deep enmity with our Lilith's Cottage. Add to that the fact that our academy's dean, for certain reasons, disrupted the Blood Lord's ritual to advance to a Second-Class Wizard... and thus this wizard war erupted."
Witch Sophia continued, "For curse masters, cursing others on the battlefield is combat experience. For us Potion Masters, the process of breaking curses here is also a form of combat experience."
Locke felt a flicker of surprise. At first glance, this first floor alone contained no fewer than a dozen vicious curses—yet there were even worse ones ahead. The Healing Hand Clinic was practically a massive museum of curses.
Locke observed that the wizard apprentices awaiting treatment here weren't just from Lilith's Cottage—many came from outside the academy as well.
He also noticed some enslaved mortals in the first-floor hall. Due to prolonged exposure to these curses, their bodies had become contaminated, leaving them severely weakened.
In essence, this clinic wasn't suitable for anyone below the rank of third-class wizard apprentice.
Locke then followed Witch Sophia deeper into the Healing Hand Clinic. They crossed the hall and ascended a spiral staircase.
The moment they stepped onto the staircase, Locke's expression shifted slightly. He instantly sensed a twisted malice slowly creeping down from above, like venom from a serpent—persistent and clinging.
It was magic energy of a nature completely opposite to the Life School's plant magic.
Swiftly, Locke retrieved a vial of Bear Spirit Bile Antidote Potion from his Astral Ring. A crystalline surge of mana rose around him, resisting the distorted magic drifting down from above.
Witch Sophia gave him an approving look. "A wise decision."
"As expected of my student."
"The Bear Spirit Bile Antidote Potion can temporarily enhance your resistance to curse magic. Judging by the type of potion you've chosen, you must have a solid grasp of the theoretical knowledge behind it."
"The curses on the second floor can spread through mere prolonged physical contact. The Blood Curse Court's curse magic... objectively speaking, its spell models are indeed ingenious, typically combining potency, suffering, torment, and contagious properties."
The Witch Sophia added by way of explanation, "These are all sub-branches of Necromantic School Curse Magic—key criteria for evaluating a new curse."
Sophia further elaborated, "The greatest difference between curse magic and other forms of magic lies in the fact that part of its power stems from... suffering. The more agony the victim endures, the more potent the cantrip model becomes."
"Thus, curse magic doesn't simply kill enemies outright like ordinary magic. Instead, it goes to great lengths to torment them."
"And we Potion Masters use Magic Potions to alleviate this suffering—even eradicate such foolish curses entirely. The key lies in breaking the vicious cycle of the curse."
Locke silently committed these crucial points imparted by the First Circle Potion Master to memory.
This knowledge wasn't recorded in ordinary Magic Books.
It could be considered exclusive, insider expertise.
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