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Following the priest’s instructions, you sit down, close your eyes and clear your mind of all distractions...
"Can you feel it? The mana of the Lord runnin’ through your veins?"
You nod. This tingling, warm sensation is undeniably Anu’s energy, and its presence becomes stronger the more you focus on it. It’s kind of pleasant in a way that’s hard to be described.
"Anu grants us powers to fend off evil and alleviate suffering in a world where malevolence reigns supreme. If ye seek to heal the wounded, the first step is to feel *compassion*. Only then will ye be able to make yer palms glow with the Lord’s healing light, and your touch will become miraculous by His grace."
"Feel pity while focusing mana in my palms… got it. Lemme try." You mutter a mental picture of an injured Daitza moaning in pain, a sight that hurts your heart badly. Keeping her on mind, you try to gather energy in your hands to heal her... but nothing happens. You try again and again, imagining worse scenarios with her, until you get tired of doing this morbid crap. Damn it! What are you doing wrong?!
You open your eyes and ask Murdock why the hell your method is not working. He sighs. “Listen, kid. Anyone wishes well upon their loved ones, but true compassion is to make no difference between friend or foe, dwarf or gnoll, family member or not. It is to take pity and concern for the misfortunes of others, regardless of their affiliation to ye. This is the mark of a truly selfless Champion.”
“Foes?” His words confuse you. "Why would I feel compassion for my enemies? If anything, it would please me to see their downfall."
"No, no...” The priest scratches his head, frowning. “Ye have to let go of yer grudges. They do nothin’ but poison the soul and make you vulnerable to demonic influence. Ye gotta replace yer hatred… with LOVE.”
“That sucks! I don’t want to love those that mess with me!”
Murdock rolls his eyes and glares at you. “Then ye won’t be able to use Healing Palms or most of Anu’s spells for that matter. Have fun getting ripped to shreds in the catacombs, foolish gnoll.”
“I… all I want is to cast spells. Is that so much to ask for?”
“Spellcasting involves MIND and HEART workin’ together. If ye wanna do magic, ye gotta learn to use both. It ain’t easy, but this is what ye signed up for as the Champion. Deal with it!”
“Okay, okay....” This is much harder than you thought. “Can you at least help me experience this ‘true’ compassion you mentioned?
“Do the same exercise you were doing, but with folk you have no bonds with. Imagine ‘em going through great pain, and only *you* have the power to do something ‘bout it. See past your relationship with ‘em. Place yerself in their shoes – I mean, feet. FEET. Forgot you tribals don’t know about shoes. You get what I’m sayin’…? Make their suffering YOURS.”
“Uhh… alright. Lemme try again.” You close your eyes and concentrate…
