Read Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic

Okay, let's talk about something controversial. Something that might get me exiled from the land of fantasy lovers. It's about healing magic, folks.

Specifically, how utterly, ridiculously, wrong people use it.

The "Band-Aid" Approach

Imagine a mighty warrior, Grug the Destroyer, gets a tiny scratch. What happens? Immediate healing spell! A fleeting moment of inconvenience, completely erased.

Where's the fun in that? Where's the grit? The character development?

It's like using a cheat code in a video game. Sure, you win, but did you really win?

My Radical Proposal

I propose we limit healing magic. Seriously. Make it scarce. Make it expensive.

Let injuries actually, you know, injure. Let them leave marks. Let them tell a story.

Imagine Lady Aerith, not magically erasing every stubbed toe, but sporting a cool, slightly crooked pinky finger. Now *that's* character.

The Power of the Limp

Think about it. A slight limp reminds everyone of the battle. A visible scar shows courage.

It adds depth. It makes the hero relatable. They're not perfect, invincible beings.

They're just regular people who've been through some serious stuff. And they carry that stuff with them, visibly.

Emotional Wounds, Too!

And while we're at it, can we stop magically erasing emotional trauma? Elara the Enchantress doesn't get to just "forget" witnessing her village burn down.

That's lazy writing! Let her grapple with the PTSD. Let her find healthy coping mechanisms (or unhealthy ones, I'm not judging!).

Give her a reason to develop as a character beyond "powerful magic user."

The Mundane is Magical

I'm not saying we should banish healing magic altogether. That's absurd. Just use it... sparingly.

Focus on the mundane. Show our heroes struggling. Show them bandaging wounds.

Show them drinking herbal tea to soothe their aching muscles. Let them suffer a bit, but let them also overcome.

The Healing Potion Conundrum

And healing potions! Don't even get me started. Instant HP boost? No thanks.

Give me a gritty brew that tastes awful and maybe has some weird side effects. Maybe it makes you hallucinate slightly, or gives you uncontrollable hiccups.

Now *that's* a healing potion I can get behind. Something with a personality!

In Conclusion (Prepare for Backlash)

I know, I know. Some of you are sharpening your pitchforks. "How dare you disrespect the magic of healing!"

But hear me out. Less instant gratification. More long-term consequences. More flawed, relatable characters. Doesn't that sound... better?

So, the next time you read a fantasy novel where everyone's perfectly healed after every battle, remember this article. Remember Grug's unblemished skin.

And maybe, just maybe, you'll start to see things my way. Or not. Either way, thanks for reading! (And please don't send any angry owls my way.)