Chapter 26 (J) - Treatment

“Watch your step. Don’t wanna trip over some junk on the ground and mess up yer leg even more.” Stepping cautiously, I continue following the men through the darkness, until a faint flickering light comes into view. As we round a corner, we enter a large, somewhat dimly lit room. Some people are strewn about, few sharpening weapons, repairing clothing, or performing some other simple task. A few of them look up as we enter the room.

“Hey, Toby! Good ta see ya back!”

The man with the axe- Toby, I presume- grins. “Sorry we took so long! Got a bit held up.”

The man he’s speaking with gestures to me. “Who’s this guy?”

“Found ‘im sittin’ in the river. Seems he got his leg burned pretty bad by some knight. Figured we’d bring ‘im back here, get it looked at. Know where Richard is?”

“Rich? Yeah, he should be where he always is.”

“Got it.” Toby glances at me. “C’mon, then. Don’t wanna be standin’ around on that leg any longer than ya have to, right?” Without waiting for me to respond, he walks across the room, and into a new hallway. I follow close behind him, and he leads me down a few halls to yet another room. Unlike many of those we passed, rather than an empty doorframe, this one has an actual door separating it from the hall.

Toby knocks on the door and calls out, “Hey, Rich! Got someone here to see ya!”

After a moment of silence, the door is opened from within the room by a man with a gaunt face and auburn hair. He stares at me through thin rectangular glasses, scanning me from head to toe.

“Hm. First-degree burns across the lower leg. Partially healed gash across the palm. Several dozen healed-over scars across the exposed skin, possibly more beneath clothing. Potential malnourishment and sleep deprivation, too.” His grey eyes return to my face, bearing a familiar cold, analytical stare. “You have healing magic, do you?”

I nod silently. I have no intention of disclosing my actual ability to anyone, especially not the Order, but the appropriated serums I’ve used operate on much the same principle. It shouldn’t be a difficult lie to sell.

“In that case, you must have burned through it, then.” He turns and steps back into the room. “Lie down. This shouldn’t take long.” I do as he’s instructed and lie on what seems to be a makeshift cot, as he begins rummaging through a cabinet. He removes two bottles, a roll of bandages, and an empty glass he fills at a nearby sink.

From the door, Toby shifts awkwardly. “Erm… Hey doc, there anything I should do to help out?”

The doctor looks over at him pointedly. “Yes. Leave, so you can’t serve as a distraction. I’m sure you can find something better to do elsewhere than stand in a doorway.”

“Y-yes sir!” Toby leaves hurriedly, as the doctor turns his cold stare back to me.

“Now, swallow these.” He places the glass of water on a small table next to me, and holds out a few capsules taken from one of the bottles. “These should alleviate the pain you’re no doubt in.”

I take the capsules in hand. They each bear the enemy’s logo along their sides. I hate the idea of ingesting the enemy’s medicine… but at least I know it will be effective. With only a moment’s hesitation, I wash them down with the water. As expected, the effects are almost immediate. It’s as though all the pain throughout my body, even in my damaged leg, gets washed away in seconds. With the pain having left my body, I finally become aware of just how tired I am. Before I even consider fighting it to stay awake, sleep takes hold.

Some time later, I wake to the sound of birds in the distance. Slowly, I push myself up into a sitting position and take in my surroundings. The shelves full of medical equipment and hand-drawn anatomy diagrams covering the walls indicate I’m still in the same room as before. Sitting at a small desk in the corner of the room is the doctor, scrawling something on a sheet of paper. Quickly, I check my gear. Everything is where it should be, except for the sword. I frantically look around, but it’s merely sitting on the floor next to the cot.

The doctor looks up. “You’re awake.”

“...Seems like it.”

“You ought to take better care of yourself.”

“...I’m aware.” A moment of silence passes between us, before the doctor turns back to his writing. Only now do I look down at my leg. It feels slimy, and is wrapped in some sort of cloth.

Chapter 26(J) - Treatment

“Your leg has been treated, if you haven’t noticed. Between magic and the supplies we had, it should heal. So long as you actually get a proper amount of rest and don’t strain it too hard, it should be perfectly fine before week’s end.”

“Th- Thank you,” I manage to choke out. It’s not easy giving gratitude to the enemy, especially one so reminiscent of… them.

He looks up at me again. “By the way, the General has been informed of your presence here, and apparently he wishes to meet with you. If you have rested enough for the time being, I suggest you go do so.”

“I see. Would you tell me how to find him, exactly?”

“I’m busy. Go ask someone else. I’m sure it won’t be hard to find someone with nothing better to do.” Without another word, he returns back to his work. …Well, I suppose there’s nothing to be gained by staying here. I climb off the cot and pick the sword from the ground, returning it to my side, before exiting into the hall I arrived from earlier. It’s time to meet this “General”.