Heaven's Greatest Professor

"What are you watching?" Jenni glared.

The man only deepened his gaze and then looked away. He focused his mind on the healing spell; the radiant golden light swirled around Agnes's figure.

"Why are all the lights in the shapes of runes?" Jenni couldn't help but mumble, as her eyes pierced the mysticism of the spell. It was a rune she knew, something she had just used to destroy the evidence of her embarrassment. A cleansing spell... but somehow the man was weaving it as a healing spell, infusing it with a light element. "How do you do that?"

The man gave her a look. "Practice, I guess."

Jenni snorted. "Well, you certainly haven't practised much because the runes were burning out so quickly."

He simply smiled at her as if he knew something she did not, which was kind of the truth, because this was the first time she was seeing a rune used like that. It made her a great deal frustrated too... But she couldn't begrudge the ordinary-looking man... Other than the intriguing runes he wielded, the man seemed to have no other quality as she peered into him.

He had dull brown hair, a common-looking face that wasn't too handsome or too rugged; he appeared to be her age, standing close to two metres tall, which was another above-ordinary thing about him. He was buff too, for being a healer. Perhaps a little health-conscious. What was weirder was the janitor's clothing.

She could understand the gloved hands, but why wear a janitor's attire even inside an inheritance ground?

Agnes finished her task in a few minutes as she collapsed on the ground, still conscious, with her chest rising and falling heavily. Her face turned pale white, losing all colour, but her eyes were completely dark and distant. She coughed painfully a couple of times as the healer presented her with a waterskin.

"Thank you," she said, and poured all the water into her mouth and on her head. "I feel ready for a fight... play along with me."

"Maybe later," the man said and shot in her direction. "Let's excavate; we have been here long enough."

Jenni realised it was because of her that they had to stay so long. She had no idea how long she had slept either.

"Fine," Agnes said, sounding somewhat disappointed. "I probably should be looking for my team as well."

"Captain Agnes, do you have my dimension cube?" Jenni asked. "It was on my person when I fell unconscious, but I don't have it with me."

Agnes frowned, and immediately Jenni was aware she wouldn't be getting her dimension cube anytime soon, if ever. Her father had gifted her that when she advanced to Iron about five years ago.

"I did not find any dimension cube on you when I changed you," Agnes said. "I was too worried about your condition to look or ask for anything else."

"Maybe the two soldiers who first found me took it," she said, gritting her teeth. "I don't remember much, so my memory couldn't be trusted, but Captain, do you recognise them?"

"Better," Agnes said with a triumphant smile, showing her badge. "I recorded their general data. They are from the Tenth Infantry, one named Sergeant Barn, and the other Dock Hammock. You'll find them again."

Jenni sighed in relief, and then she heard the man.

"Unless the Forsaken found them first, or the moonspawn."

"Then I guess we have to get to them before that," Agnes said, all the sweat and signs of her distress had long ago disappeared from her body. "They are likely moving to the next layer; we can catch up to them. But before that, Jenni, you need to consider something."

The mood settled on a serious tone as for an extended moment, none of them opened their mouths.

"You need to consider a way out of the inheritance ground," Agnes said. "With your condition and regressed stats, I can confidently say you'll gain nothing from here without paying a price."

Jenni sucked in a breath. Of course, she had forgotten to consider this. Captain Agnes or the healer wouldn't be there to babysit her; after all, they had greater things to worry about. Still, Jenni felt dissatisfied with her situation.

All she got from this inheritance ground was pain and cracks in her foundation. If she left like this right now, of course, it would leave a foul taste in her mouth. But she couldn't selfishly ask them to babysit her until she got better. They had already done so much, saved her life and all.

"I thought about sending you out with a couple of my soldiers on my team," Agnes continued. "I can tell you are not satisfied with your situation... but unfortunately, various matters bind my hands, preventing me from taking care of anyone else."

"I understand..." was all she said.

"Captain, about the Essence vein," the healer cut into the conversation. "Where is that exactly?"

"It's in the inner layers; so far, the only way we found to get there was through passing trials," Agnes said, as a frown crept onto her brows. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, for one thing, I lack some meagre essence for my own need," he said and turned towards Jenni. "And I feel like access to an Essence vein will be able to solve a lot of her problems."

A tinge of hope brewed in Jenni's heart as she turned to the captain.

"You're suggesting something very dangerous," Agnes said.

"Are the trials combat-based only?"

"There are various types of tests, but most of them are combat-based," Agnes thought for a moment before answering. "At least those that are rewarded with limited entry into the Essence vein are mostly related to combat."

"Are they life-threatening?" Jenni found herself asking.

"They can be," Agnes said. "Though it isn't without ways. For one thing, everyone can take up to three trials, either solo or in groups. If you want to succeed in a combat-based trial, you'll likely have to join as a team. Unfortunately, I cannot take you. I have already used two of my three chances..."

Jenni had joined the Azalea Garden. She would likely be taken back even with her regressed power. Hell, most of the teams would likely take her based on what the tests entailed, though that wouldn't raise confidence in their victory or success.

Not to mention the final trial where everyone could participate as a full regiment, Agnes had partaken in the trial before with the rest of the crew, however, they had failed. It was impossible to pass the final trial just on personal power. The last time they failed was because they didn't have enough people with them. But this time, it would be different. Hopefully.

Because without passing the final trial nobody could enter the third layer.

"For one thing, failing the trials does not mean your life will be severed," Agnes said. "While it is still dangerous... Perhaps you can decide after you have a good look at them."

Jenni clenched her fists. Hopefully, by the time her condition would get better, and it won't hurt her to wield power. She couldn't help but wish and set her eyes on the healer.

Jenni set it in her mind that she wouldn't antagonise the healer, as it wouldn't be wrong to say he had the ticket to her being healthy.