Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 443. A healer’s ability

The whole group gathered closely, staring down the two people standing across from them.

Lysara displayed a relaxed face, but Garrick shifted uneasily in his chair, evidently uncomfortable in the setting.

"Are you certain you don’t wish to learn any extraction techniques, Miss Lysara and Sir Garrick? It would benefit everyone," Theo said openly, his words carrying a sharper edge this time as he revealed his honest thoughts.

The rest of the team clearly sensed the injustice as well, with these two contributing nothing while all others had readied themselves to offer at least some help.

"We don’t need any freeloaders," Merek chimed in with a tongue click, pulling even sharper glances toward him.

Under the mounting tension, Garrick’s anxiety appeared to intensify twofold.

In contrast, Lysara regarded the group with a neutral look. She stood up leisurely from her chair and approached Theo, halting only a step away.

Theo gazed down at the young woman, expecting a response, yet watched as she gradually lifted her hand toward his own.

He spotted the motion approaching at a leisurely pace, giving him ample opportunity to evade. Uncertainty lingered in his mind—whether her speed was naturally sluggish or if his sharpened awareness played a role.

Grasping his hand firmly, she parted his fingers to expose the recent claw scratches and toughened calluses.

"Do you require these scars, Young Master Theo?" she inquired, her tone eerily steady.

Theo eyed her palms and sensed their petite, refined nature, seemingly too breakable for harsh scenarios such as this.

"No," Theo answered, prompting her to meet his stare and offer a slight nod.

Clara observed from nearby, unable to shake the feeling that this girl stood too near her Young Master. Like a protective mother shielding her child from unsavory influences, though in her view lately, all outsiders qualified as trouble.

Lysara lifted her second hand next. Theo detected the power emanating from it prior to its full appearance. His reflexes urged him to shove her back and widen the gap, yet an inner voice assured him of her harmless intent.

Not under the watch of countless onlookers.

"By the heavenly artifact itself..." muttered Corven, an instructor, as he clutched his chest in reverent fashion.

The power then enveloped Theo’s hand. In a flash, a calming feeling coursed through it, like an internal massage tenderly easing every tension.

Moments afterward, she released his grip and locked eyes with him directly.

For an instant, Theo matched her stare before reflexively glancing aside to his hand. An unsettling quality in her look stirred discomfort within him.

’Damn this teenage hormonal body.’ Theo felt torn between laughter and tears. A mere exchange with an attractive girl sufficed to rattle his composure.

How could he endure life in the royal capital?

Yet upon inspecting his hands and noting the transformations, awe overtook him as he gaped at her.

"All the calluses have vanished... even some old nicks from the sword hilt are missing," Theo whispered.

"Thank you, Miss Lysara."

"Please, just Lysara is fine. I’m not so aged," she responded offhandedly while heading back to her spot.

Clara advanced and whispered, "Was that genuine, Young Master?"

Theo affirmed with a nod. His hand pulsed with full renewal, and somehow even more profoundly... Her skill seemed to surpass ordinary restoration.

"The emperor is truly magnificent! Sending a healer for our investigation squad... what a divine gift!" Oric ranted on, but nearly all had begun tuning him out, particularly Lysara.

Her gaze remained locked on Theo, meeting his fleetingly before he shifted to another team member.

"Do you possess a skill to demonstrate too, Sir Garrick?"

Garrick simply stared at Theo, his face etched with clear fright.

"I-I serve as a scout, Young Master. Handling such tasks... they fall outside my responsibilities..." he stammered, eyes darting away.

Theo studied him and let out a contemplative hum, heightening the man’s dread of impending doom.

"Fine, we’ll test your scouting prowess against my attendant’s. Prove superior, and you scout ahead entirely. Fall short... and you handle any chores we demand... no lessons provided," Theo declared, ramping up the intimidation on purpose.

No guilt stirred in Theo; the man had lounged uselessly for two full days.

"I-I accept that..."

"Huh?"

Surprise rippled through most onlookers; lacking any self-assurance, he had nonetheless trapped himself with those words.

"I see..." Theo acknowledged with a nod, then faced the instructors. "Are we prepared to proceed?"

The instructors required no discussion whatsoever. One by one, they lifted their hands in what resembled a thumbs-up signal.

"You're all fully prepared and free to depart at once. Remember, time within the gate flows unpredictably, so stepping in come morning might thrust you into utter midnight blackness," Mae stated, her smile warm.

"First, though, gather your gear from the workers. They'll tailor it to your builds and requirements," she continued.

A worker approached, leading them onward.

Theo gave a slight bow and nod to the instructors before rejoining his companions.

"Shall we head out now? We haven't pushed ourselves that hard yet," Theo suggested.

"I require a full night's sleep," Merek shot back.

A prominent vein pulsed on Theo's forehead, his irritation now plainly visible.

"Very well. At minimum, let's secure our equipment today."

All agreed with nods. Having seen Theo's prowess firsthand, Merek held back from further disputes.

That gate stood as a realm without laws. The sole rules imposed came from the empire's elite forces during their visits—hardly applicable to mere novices like them.

Death lurked around every corner there, demanding utmost readiness to seize any chance for survival.