Chapter 1
The wind in the border town always carried a gritty edge, sweeping sand past Vivian Schmitt's small cottage.
Outside, the wooden sign for "Vive Infirmary" swayed quietly, while the breeze lifted the corner of the door curtain, letting the warm yellow light from inside spill into the dusk.
Vivian had transmigrated into the beast world for three months. At first, she felt completely lost, but with her modern healer skills and a faint healing power she could barely access, she had managed to get by.
Life was far from easy, but it was at least stable.
The cottage was modest. Shelves along the walls were filled with dried herbs and homemade salves. A simple exam table occupied the center of the room, and in the corner, she had stacked a few pieces of medical equipment scavenged from abandoned camps.
Vivian wore a faded, rough cotton dress with the sleeves rolled up. She leaned over carefully, wrapping the paw of an injured young rabbit beast.
"Easy now. Don't move. It will be done soon," she said softly, her fingertips radiating a faint healing warmth as they brushed over the little one's reddened eyes.
The bunny had been sniffling, but he relaxed the moment Vivian's fingers touched him. His fluffy ears drooped, and he sat quietly, letting her tend to his wound without resistance.
This was Vivian's so-called "ordinary" ability. She could always soothe injured beasts with the gentlest touch. Even a simple bandage from her seemed to speed up the healing process.
The beasts in town believed she was a talented rookie healer. None of them knew that she came from a modern healer family and was actually the last heir of the legendary Level-5 Healer.
In the beast world, Level-5 Healers were revered like gods. They could cure the deepest genetic illnesses and even mend wounds of the soul. Their secret lay in close, physical contact.
But Vivian kept this secret well. She had not yet fully mastered her powers, and revealing herself as a Level-5 Healer could easily put her life at risk. More importantly, she was still searching for a way back to her own world.
Legend had it that awakening her Level-5 abilities was the only way to unlock the path home.
A sudden, urgent knock shattered the quiet of the cottage, followed by heavy, ragged breathing.
Vivian looked up to see three lupine clansmen at the doorway, covered in blood.
The leader's left arm was mangled so severely that the bone was exposed, with a shattered arrow embedded in the wound. The other two were injured as well, their faces pale and drawn.
"Dr. Schmitt, please, you have to save my brothers and me," the leader pleaded, his voice rough and desperate. "The old healer in town said there's no hope for me. This wound will get infected and rot, and the only option left is amputation."
Vivian felt a sharp pang of worry. For the lupine clansmen, strength was everything. Losing a limb meant losing their pride.
She rushed forward and examined the wound carefully. "The arrow was poisoned, and the infection has begun, but it has not reached the point where amputation is necessary."
"Really?" The leader's eyes brightened with hope.
"Let me try," Vivian said, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She pulled out some disinfectant and began cleaning the wound. Her hands moved swiftly and gently as she tried her best to ease the leader's pain.
As her fingertips touched the skin around the injury, Vivian instinctively drew on the weak healing energy within her. A gentle warmth flowed from her fingers into his body.
This was the only Level-1 ability she could control at the moment. All she could do was prevent the wound from worsening and dull the pain. She could not fully purge the poison, but the effect was immediately apparent.
The leader's body, once rigid with pain, slowly relaxed, and the agony etched across his face faded.
"How are you feeling?" Vivian asked.
"Wow, it feels so much better. It barely hurts now!" The leader stared at his wound in disbelief as the swelling visibly receded. "You are incredible, Dr. Schmitt."
Vivian smiled, about to reply, when heavy footsteps suddenly echoed outside. A tall figure appeared in the doorway, backlit and blocking most of the light.
The newcomer had striking silver hair and golden eyes that gleamed like frozen gems. A scar ran from his brow down to his jaw on the left side of his face, giving him a fierce and intimidating presence.
He wore black beast-hide armor, radiating a powerful aura. It was clear he was no ordinary beast.
"Alpha!" The three lupine clansmen quickly stood and saluted, their voices full of respect.
Vivian's heart skipped a beat. She immediately recognized Omar Thornton, the Alpha of the lupine clan. He was rumored to be the strongest beast on the border, feared for his ruthless tactics and unmatched combat skills. His aloof demeanor made him intimidating to everyone.
Omar's gaze shifted to Vivian, sharp and suspicious. He glanced at his wolf's injuries, his brow tightening almost imperceptibly. "What did you use to treat him?"
"Some basic bandaging and herbs," Vivian replied calmly, withdrawing her hand without any sign of the lingering energy in her fingertips.
Omar's golden eyes narrowed. He knew exactly how severe the injuries were with poisoned arrows and infection. Ordinary herbs could not have worked this well. He figured this delicate-looking human girl was clearly more capable than she appeared.
"Leave two men here and watch her closely," Omar commanded coldly, before turning and walking away. The two lupine clansmen obeyed, standing watch by the door cautiously and casting occasional glances at Vivian.
Vivian knew Omar was keeping an eye on her. She let out a resigned sigh, shook her head, and returned to tending the other two injured lupine clansmen.