Second Life as a Soldier

So I spent the rest of the day buried in the manuals Cicero had assigned me. I read through dinner and kept going afterward. Before heading out for night patrol, I even set up a small mana lamp outside so I could keep studying the moment I got back.

The books were incredibly detailed, but their focus stayed firmly on foundational theory. They dug deep into how the human body changed based on stats, Class, and mana cultivation tier. In a strange way, they felt like a blend of mathematics and a biology textbook.

More than a hundred pages were devoted just to defining stamina.

Some scholars argued that stamina was simply the ability to sustain prolonged physical activity, such as running without skill or mana assistance. Others claimed stamina referred to the capacity to maintain skill usage and mana manipulation without fatigue. A third group tried to quantify stamina as a precise stat by combining mana consumption rates with regeneration patterns and restoration abilities to determine long-term exertion limits.

If I thought the library texts were difficult, these manuals were on another level entirely.

And these were not even advanced medical references. They were the basics. Required foundations for understanding medical theory related to stats, mana nodes, mana channels, and Class-based body modification.

One of the core topics in the book was the mana network inside the body. They defined the mana network as the combined system of mana nodes and mana channels. In Tier 1 the mana network was not yet formed. That stage was considered the preparation phase, where physical tissues and muscles were shaped by skill usage and Class growth to support future tiers. Tier 2 had a primitive mana network, consisting mainly of developing mana nodes and the early channels connecting them. Tier 3 was the point where a true mana network formed, spreading channels throughout the entire body. This was also why Class tier and mana tier were supposed to stay in sync. Class levels shaped the body so it could safely accommodate new nodes and channels. Pushing the mana tier too early could lead to a range of problems. In the best case, you might faint or experience prolonged pain. In the worst case, you could damage your insides permanently and never form a proper mana network.

The books also categorized skills on how they shaped the mana network. Movement skills, sensory skills, weapon techniques, endurance skills, even mage skills were all examined. This was my first time reading anything directly related to mages. I honestly did not know why Cicero had trusted me with material like this. For a moment, I even wondered if he would expect something in return later.

But I kept reading.

The manuals were not teaching me about skills. They were explaining how skills physically altered the human body from the inside out. They even described how stat increases from higher-tier skills were represented as changes in the mana network and in the physical body itself.

Only now did I understand why Lieutenant Cicero had stopped me from treating patients the day before. Trying to perform medical treatment without this foundation was like trying to become an engineer without first learning geometry. Basic first aid worked at low tiers because internal mana structures were almost nonexistent. Once both mana cultivation and Class levels advanced, the body changed so much that surface treatment alone was no longer enough.

Our battlefield first aid specialization classes were never meant to cover Tier 3 treatment, and now I understood why. Their purpose was only to stabilize low-level injuries long enough to get patients to the infirmary.

Even so, it bothered me that no one had taught us any of this earlier.

I studied whenever I could before night patrol shifts, and even during patrol I kept trying to recall what I had read, which only made me more distracted by the sheer volume of new information. More than once I nearly earned myself discipline for inattentive duty and ended up receiving a full shouting session from the sergeant after the shift. Thankfully we did not encounter any threats, so my inattentiveness did not affect the patrol.

Instead of sleeping after the patrol shift, I went right back to reading.

By the time my next infirmary visit arrived, I had completed both manuals.

I headed toward Cicero’s office hoping he would finally allow me practical instruction that I could use on the battlefield.

I knocked and saluted.

“Sir, I have finished the manuals you assigned,” I said, placing both books on his table.

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He looked up at me slowly.

“You did not sleep last night,” he said flatly. “I hope this does not affect your performance on duty. Lapses in judgment or slow reactions can be fatal. Especially for a healer.”

He studied me for a brief moment.

“If one sleepless night disrupts you, then your suitability as a soldier is questionable.”

Then he turned.

“Come.”

We walked back into the infirmary together.

This time he stopped beside a patient lying with his chest wrapped in heavy bandages. Cicero moved to the man’s right side.

“Come here,” he instructed, pointing to the opposite side of the bed. “Use your mana manipulation skill. Guide a very small stream of mana into his body. Be gentle. Do not force it. If you encounter resistance, stop.”

I activated [Mana Manipulation (UC)], slowly directing a thread of mana into the patient’s channels.

“Book should have explained what you are feeling. Tell me, what Class or skill category does this man likely possess?”

I focused, sensing the mana circulation patterns.

“Yes. His mana channels and nodes are denser and wider in the lower torso and around the sensory organs, mostly the ears, eyes, and skin. That indicates a scout or archer class with dominant perception and movement skills.”

Cicero gave a slight nod.

“And how do you determine skill specialization?”

“The texts explain that different skill types reshape the body in different ways,” I answered. “Perception-based skills reinforce the muscles and mana channels around sensory organs. The book also mentions that higher-tier perception skills enhance both physical and spiritual stats. Movement skills strengthen the legs and their mana pathways, and higher-tier movement skills mainly boost Constitution and Agility. These structural adaptations influence stamina and overall attribute growth.”

“Why is this knowledge important to healing?”

”Because higher Tier 2 or Tier 3 patients have significantly more mature mana channel networks. Areas with stronger channel clusters heal faster. Physical treatment can focus elsewhere if vital areas remain stable. For mana-based healing, administering through strengthened channels is more effective due to higher flow efficiency.”

“Is it necessary to know the patient’s precise Class and individual skills?” he said, this time focusing directly on me as if reminding me of something.

Suddenly I felt blood rush to my ears. I was embarrassed by the direct reference to the question I had asked yesterday.

“No. We only need to assess their internal mana structure in order to determine treatment priority and method.”

Cicero nodded once.

“Correct.”

He motioned again.

“Continue.”

For the next hour he guided me through patient assessments, showing practical differences between Tier 2 and Tier 3 mana structures.

Unlike yesterday, this session was hands-on. I performed examinations directly under his supervision instead of only answering questions.

During one evaluation, an idea formed.

I had been using [Minor Restoration (C)] exclusively for internal self-healing.

What if the effect could be guided outward?

I turned toward Cicero.

“Sir… I possess the skill [Minor Restoration]. I have been using it internally by guiding the mana and skill to specific injuries while suppressing the restoration effect of skill. Could I apply it externally to treat others?”

He stared at me with the unreadable expression. For a moment I thought I’d crossed the line again.

Then he asked calmly:

“What is your elemental affinity?”

“Wind, Sir,” I replied. I felt embarrassed by how low my affinity was, but since I was not sure whether affinity affected healing, I still mentioned it. “Only point one percent.”

“Your reasoning is correct. You may also release mana restoration effect of skill into others. With negligible affinity, your mana behaves similarly to low-grade mana crystals. However, foreign mana intake must remain minimal. Excess incompatible mana can cripple a patient, especially those with strong elemental alignment.” He said.

I nodded. The manuals had mentioned this concept, though not so directly.

“Try it,” Cicero ordered.

He pointed to an unconscious patient with a deep arm wound.

“Place your hand near the wound. Use [Mana Manipulation] first and guide your mana carefully, just like you did during testing. This is your first attempt, so take your time. Sit beside the patient and focus on my instructions.”

I did as I was told, closed my eyes, and placed my palm above the injury, activating [Mana Manipulation].

“Now direct [Minor Restoration] to your palm,” Cicero instructed. “Hold the mana externally. Can you maintain both skills simultaneously?”

I nodded, still concentrating.

“Good. Now slowly project the sensation you feel in your palm into the patient. Do not think of it as using the skill. Focus only on the sensation. Do not push. Let it seep naturally. It should feel identical to self-healing pathways, only weaker.”

I was startled.

Until now, I hadn’t realized that activating [Minor Restoration] in areas without injury created an observable mana effect at all.

But Cicero had been right.

A faint restorative mana like feeling gathered across my palm. I guided it forward into the wound. Within seconds the mana was absorbed into the patient’s channels.

“Withdraw slowly,” Cicero directed.

I cut off the flow and opened my eyes, looking at him uncertainly.

He studied the patient briefly.

“Good work.”

Then, seeing the confusion on my face, he added dryly

”This man is a high Tier 3 who suffered a mana attack. Your healing method would take months to show any effect on him. He will remain bedridden and will need a high-level complete healer.”

Only now, looking closely at the patient, did I see that he had injuries not only on his arm but across his chest as well. I had no idea what caused wounds like these, but it was clearly something far beyond a simple beast strike.

Still, the exercise turned out to be extremely useful. The moment my healing effect entered the patient’s body, I knew that my skill [Minor Restoration] had evolved.