Even if Garrett Nordmark doesnât like Viscount Joann, he wouldnât joke about a patientâs life. He could refuse an apprentice, refuse money, but he must see patients.
He patiently listened as Viscount Joann described the location, number of people, and the condition of the outbreak. Then he politely declined Viscount Joannâs invitation to a banquet, stating he would prepare and visit tomorrow.
âNo, wait! For someone of your status to return, there should at least be several banquets!â Viscount Joann was somewhat anxious. He counted off on his fingers:
âElder Elwin, Mage Gelman, High Priest Holna, Bishop Barkley, Baron Vaughn, Knight NolanâŠâ
He rattled off a dozen names:
âThese people, you must meet them! Iâll arrange the banquet, whenever youâre availableââ
âAfter Iâve seen this batch of patientsâŠâ
Garrett smiled, took his leave, and fled the scene. What a joke, he had just escaped from a diplomatic banquet, and now another banquet here? Please, he had traveled miles not to attend banquets!
How boring!
Leaving the lordâs mansion, Garrett immediately sought Elder Elwin. The village with the strange illness was in a remote location, on the edge of the viscounty, nestled in a small valley. As Viscount Joann said, "They are all poor people..."
Since they were poor, expecting the Grand Priest of the Spring Temple was unlikely. The Bald Bishop probably couldnât be counted on eitherâwrong expertise. But his teacher, who had traveled every corner of the viscounty, might have heard somethingâŠ
And indeed, Elder Elwin knew. Garrett had only described half the situation before he replied:
âI know this village. About a year ago, the villagers began falling ill one after another. I treated them, and it alleviated for a while, but then relapsed. Since the lord has asked you, letâs go see them together tomorrow.â
Garrett couldnât have asked for better. How great to go with his teacher! Someone to lead the way, an experienced healer to guide. There were many higher divine spells he still didnât know!
He arranged to meet his teacher tomorrow at the medical center, and set off with the guide sent by Viscount Joann. After calming himself, he headed to Uncle Karrenâs house but was stopped halfway there:
âUm... Mage Nordmark... Are you available now?â
âAh, oh!â Garrettâs brain clicked for half a second, then he realized. âKnight Robert?... You said yesterday about bringing your son for treatment, right? â Has he arrived?â
âHeâs here! Waiting at the medical center!â
Poor Knight Robert, who had scheduled the treatment for the afternoon, had gotten up early in the morning to wait. Wanting to arrive early, yet afraid of disturbing Garrett; after hurriedly eating lunch early, he rushed to the medical center, only to find Garrett had gone to the lordâs mansion.
Afraid to leave, and worried about missing the appointment, the agony was enough to push his hairline back a millimeter.
Garrett turned 180 degrees on the spot and returned to the medical center. Upon entering, he saw a tall, skinny teenager sitting uncomfortably in the lobby, twisting and turning as if the chair had nails on it. Hearing footsteps, the boy turned his head to look, then quickly twisted back.
With that twist, Garrett saw that the boyâs chin was covered with seven or eight pimples, the largest on his nose, red and shiny like a little light bulb. So⊠this was for treating acne?
This I canât do! Acne is dermatology, hormone regulation is endocrinology, neither of which are my specialties!
âIvan! Come here!â
Knight Robert called out.
The boy hurriedly supported himself on the back of the chair and limped over. Garrett immediately noticed that he was reluctant to put weight on his right foot, walking on either the heel or the side of his foot. Occasionally, when he carelessly put weight on the front of his foot, he grimaced in pain.
âWhat happened? Is there an injury on your foot?â
Garrett casually pulled out an oak wand, transforming it into a staff of eyebrow height with a few branches sticking out at the top, and handed it over as a makeshift crutch. The boy gratefully took the crutch, limping along with them into the consulting room. Knight Robert sighed beside:
âThis boy, always serving as a knightâs attendant at the lordâs mansion, was learning well and nearly caught up to me. Who knew, half a year ago while hunting in the woods, he got injuredâŠâ
As he spoke, he gestured for the boy to take off his shoes and socks. The moment the sole of his foot was placed on the chair, Seraina, who had crowded in to watch, immediately recoiled and covered her nose:
It stinks!
A mix of
sweat sourness and odor, mingled with a scent of blood! For a dragon race with sensitive smell, it was torture!
She turned and ran out of the consulting room, gasping for air, then cast a ăBubble Spellă on herself. Knight Robert was very embarrassed, slapping his son hard:
âYou! I told you to wash your feet first, wash your feetâŠâ
Garrett remained unfazed. Sour stench, so what? This bit of odor, compared to diabetic foot or the like, was nothing. He even stopped Knight Robert with a smile:
âHey, itâs alright, let me see whatâs going onâŠâ
He bent slightly and immediately saw a flat, purplish-red swelling under the big toe of the boyâs right foot. It was raised about 1-2 millimeters above the skin, about the size of a 5-jiao coin. The surface wasnât the thick skin typically found on the sole, and looked rather fragile.
âAt first, we bandaged it to stop the bleeding, and it seemed alright, but then this growth appeared. It doesnât hurt unless touched, but walking hurts, and running or exerting force is unbearably painful. Sometimes it even bleedsâŠâ
History of foot trauma, swelling on the sole lasting over six months, painful upon pressure, history of bleeding. Garrett silently recorded the medical history, listening as Knight Robert rambled:
âLetâs get it treated, it was better at first, but then quickly relapsed. I was determined, took him to the temple to have it cut off, and the knife went downâblood spurted everywhere, and it just kept growing back⊠If heâs to become a knight!â
Garrett nodded silently. With such a growth on his foot, walking was awkward, let alone exerting force or running. A child on the path of knighthood, this was a career-ending setback. But cutting it off and having it grow back, this was a deep issue!
âWho has treated this patient before?â
Garrett raised his voice and called out. Immediately, two heads popped out at the consulting room door:
âMe!â
âMe!â
Priest Anthony, Little John. One from the Church of the Nature God, the other from the Temple of the War God. Garrett waved them over:
âCome here, Iâll teach you a spell that can see whatâs underneath. First, clean this foot, then, this bottle of oil, apply it thickly for meâdonât skimp on the oil, the effectiveness of the spell depends on how well you apply it!â
Two cleansing spells quickly followed.
A thick layer of glycerin was applied, and Garrett placed his hand on it, initiating an Ultrasound spell. The branching pattern of blood vessels immediately unfolded in his mindâs eye.
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