What do you think is the most important thing for today's kids to learn in school?
"Do you think that's Professor Erlich," a student asked, gesturing toward the emaciated corpse propped up in a desk chair in the corner of the classroom.
"Indeed, I am," came a voice from inside the student's head. "Apologies for not making it clear."
A piece of chalk floated up and drew an arrow from where the professor's name was written on the chalkboard to the corner where the corpse sat.
"I'm sorry," the student stammered. "I should've realized."
"It is not a problem," the voice assured. "I assure you, I hear that question often. You may sit where you like. Class will begin in a few minutes."
Students continued to enter the classroom until a bell announced the beginning of classes.
"Welcome students," the voice entered the students' heads after the bell stopped. "I am Professor Dimitri Erlich." The corpse in the corner shuddered slightly, drawing attention to itself. "And this is your first year in the study of Healing magic."
The professor paused as the students silently looked to each other.
"I will start by explaining why I began studying and teaching Healing," the professor continued before the students could begin murmuring. "I believe that will answer the questions that, I have no doubt, are floating through your minds now.
"I am the way that I am--" the corpse wiggled slightly with the words "--not because of a lack of Healing, but because of the improper application of Healing. The Healer who helped me during my... crisis, which I will not detail, was poorly trained. He failed to understand the fundamental balance of life and body. Merely preserving one's life and not the body, which is what this Healer did, is insufficient for true Healing, and vice versa. It results in what you see before you, a highly inconvenient and frustrating existence that could be avoided by the proper understanding of fundamental Healing.
"And that is the topic we will cover extensively in this first year of study. You, in the front row--" a piece of chalk gestured at a student "--would you please hand out the syllabuses on my desk? Thank you. Now, to begin with..."
(written 2021 March 4)