Gwen Higgins

## Biography

### Early Years

Before Gwen attended the Scholomance, her father was killed by her future step-father, a Maleficer, who attached to Gwen's mother in her grief. Her daughter El suspects this is why Gwen attended the Scholomance in the first place.

When Gwen attended the Scholomance, she met her soul mate Arjun and ended up three months pregnant at the time of graduation. During graduation Gwen was grabbed by a maw-mouth. Arjun sacrificed himself so that Gwen and their unborn child could escape. After the Scholomance, Gwen settled in the Radiant Mind Commune in Wales where she raised her daughter, Galadriel.

## Summary

### A Deadly Education

Gwen's story is told through narration by her daughter as she doesn't make an appearance in this book.

Gwen Higgins is a powerful and well-known healer. Wizards from far away-enclaves come to visit her for advice. Despite the fact she could easily get into an enclave, Gwen decided to go it alone. Gwen gives the spells she invents away freely. A wizard comes to the commune once a year to collect them, and he charges a fee to send them out to others.

Gwen spent El's early childhood teaching El how to manage her anger and her power. She stopped El from pulling Malia from animals by taking the animals El found away and then buying her ice cream to make up for it. When El was old enough that Gwen couldn't have stopped her taking the life force of living creatures, she had taught El how wrong and dangerous Malia use is.

Throughout her life Gwen refuses to join any enclave, even though she could have joined large and powerful ones just by asking. When El was nine Gwen looked into joining a small enclave in Brittany that specializes in healing after a scratcher nearly killed El. Despite the safety they could offer, Gwen didn't join, and continued to refuse to join any enclave even when El begged or yelled at Gwen to do so.

Gwen sends her daughter a letter which is carried by an inducted freshman during El's senior year. She tells El that she loves her, and warns El to stay away from Orion Lake.

## Skills and Abilities

### Affinity

Gwen's affinity is for healing. She can cure illnesses and heal wounds, and can create items that also do the same. She also practices other forms of healing such as assisting insomniacs to sleep and spiritual healing such as meditations to set yourself right. She is sometimes referred to as the Great Spiritual Healer.

### Languages

* English
* Welsh

### Spells

Third Eye Lullaby.
This spell causes the target's third eye to close, allowing them to sleep. When used it can help insomniacs to fall asleep, or help those who missed out on sleep by giving a few minutes of rest the restorative effect of far longer.
Shielding spell.
A powerful personal shield spell written by Gwen that most of the students in the Scholomance use
Simple Gifts Meditation.
A spell often cast by singing the simple gifts hymn. However, all it needs to be cast is sitting down with the intention to set yourself right. The meaning of 'set yourself right' changes from person to person. It can also be cast using a great deal of mana, allowing the user to recover from trauma or small amounts of malia use. It can also be cast on others instead of targeting the caster.
### Artifices

Flax Patch
A patch made of linen and flax. When used, it heals the would or injury it is placed over. El uses one to heal a stab wound, causing it to heal enough to scar over in about a day.
Radiant Mind Crystals
Used to store mana, more effective than most types of power storing artifices. If Gwen gets a good feeling from a wizard she will sometimes give them a crystal. Because her sense about people is usually accurate, they developed a side reputation

## References

1. ↑ Novik, Naomi. A Deadly Education (The Scholomance) (p. 6). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Novik, Naomi. A Deadly Education (The Scholomance) (Chapter 3 Time 15:00). Random House Publishing Group. Audiobook Edition.
3. ↑ Novik, Naomi. A Deadly Education (The Scholomance) (Chapter 1 Time 11:15). Random House Publishing Group. Audiobook Edition.