Chapter 61: The Dignity of a Doctor
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Making his way inside the central plaza of Everfall City walking casually toward the Ursus Hotel, the largest hotel in the country from what the Royal Guards mentioned in their initial guide around the city, where even Nobles found themselves to have a residence always reserved when they would come to the Capital for business.
"I want order from each and everyone of you!" shouted a man with a large frame, looking domineering from the top of the statue he was standing, while the people gathered in front of the Hotel stopped from pushing one against one another for the chance of having their dear one healed.
"First off all someone explain to me why you've gathered in such a large number? Are you planning a revolt for the shortage of food even though we can keep on for years?" asked the man, who was wearing an expensive-looking knight's armor, commanding respect, while his frame only amplified that sensation.
"LORD GENERAL FISCHER!!"
The people calmed down, once they understood who the person who jumped on the large statue was, and with the ones closer to the statue, they responded to the large man who had silvery gray hair, and some scars on his face, marks of experiencing battles in his life.
"Someone called Ademar spread the news that his friends who have suffered from the "Curse of the Mountain" have been healed by a Doctor from foreigner lands."
The silver-gray-haired man looked to be taken aback by this response, and with a loud voice, he shouted for the one called Ademar, only to have the blonde man raise his hand.
"Who is the one who calls himself Ademar? Raise your hand and explain why you've created such a commotion by spreading fake information?"
"It's me, sir."
Fischer looked with his green eyes at the blonde guy, and with a frown, he once again raised his voice, as if to have everyone gathered in the courtyard of the Ursus Hotel to hear him.
"Do you know what is the punishment for agitating the crows for riots? It's ten years in jail with no chance of shortening the sentence. Now you better explain yourself!
Who is the doctor said to have healed your friends from the curse?"
Ademar gulped down thinking he got himself in trouble, but he didn't expect for such a reaction from the city, to have already about 1500 people gathered brimming with hope. He even had to hide from the public, acting like someone who also came with hopes of healing a dear one.
"I can explain it, Lord Fischer. I was told by the one who healed my brother and friends to spread the news that someone can heal them. I swear, I had no other motive but just trying to help others who also might have a dear one in suffering."
"..."
"Then, where is this doctor? Why didn't he show up if you had already gathered so many people?" asked the man with his voice lowering a lot, as if he also got into contemplation.
"I don't know… He might have taken a break on his ship. I really don't know a concrete answer, sir."
"COHM! Dispatch a squad to summon the doctor from his ship and to explain to me his actions."
"YES, SIR!"
The guards around the large statue acted quickly and started moving out from the courtyard, only to be stopped by a cold voice that spread around the entire Hotel Courtyard, not loud and forced like Fischers, but calm, spreading along like an evil spirit's whispers.
"There's no need, gentlemen. The one you are looking for is here."
Fischer and many other citizens gathered with or without their dear one, turned toward the source of the voice, and noticed a tall man with a normal built covered by a crimson coat that looks expensive, who had long black hair tied loosely on a tail, with his head being covered by a style of hats that don't exist in Sorbet Kingdom ...
The Chaperone.
Vlad chose to move slowly in this gathering of people while having the Echolocation and his walking cane on his hand since to his surprise, passing by large gatherings of people made his abilities clash with the presence of too many people.
"It's him, Lord Fischer. He is the doctor who healed my brother, sir Vlad Dracul."
Stopping close to the statue in the courtyard, he raised his head toward the man standing on the statue, opening his abyssal eyes.
"If you want to punish someone, that should be me. The boy only did as I told him, and to my surprise, he exceeded my expectations."
"Hmph, such arrogance. Also from how you moved with the cane, it seems like you are blind. Are you sure you are not a charlatan?"
"Who knows." replied Vlad with sarcasm in his tone while clicking his tongue afterward, making an image of the man standing proud on the statue, a man about 2,2 meters tall, towering even over him, who was decently tall for the region he grew in.
"Who knows? Then we'll have the real doctor with the full trust of the Royal Crown to verify your claims. Cohn, go get old Viril and have him check on this foreigner.
Hmph, if each guy visiting Sorbet takes us for fools, just because we lack resources, it doesn't mean we are fools. For a quick reward, many charlatans, especially pirates, have come here. Now jailed for life."
"Ohh, interesting. You want to summon that fool who called an infection with the Maggris Worm the "Curse or whatever" to check on the real deal? Haha, sure, you are my guest, but for now. I want to treat some patients who can be rescued with real medicine, not Voodoo bullshit."
Stepping forward, and moving toward Ademar, fully ignoring in the process the silver-haired man, who jumped off the statue creating a big shock, only to be still ignored by Vlad, who told the blonde man.
"You did well. For now, can you help me out and settle each person in order? Also, we'll have to get inside the Hotel since it might be warmer there. We can't have the sick suffer too much from cold exposure."
"Eleine, can you go first inside the Hotel and deal with the managers or whoever owns this place, to allow us access to the reception room? Also, I want the basic ingredients for treating those people, the more the better. Titania, join her in case she gets into some clashes with fools and announce to me if she gets in trouble."
"Yes, master."
"Why me too? … Fine, I will join her. She is a loose cannon left alone and will for sure get in trouble since she is crazy."
"Ara, ara, thanks for the compliment, Fairy." added the young woman with a lot of sarcasm.
With the two girls getting off his hands, being left only with Ademar who was nervous about the whole situation, Frischer reached his hand to grab hold of Vlad, only to be dodged.
"I didn't give you permission to touch me." added Vlad coldly to the middle-aged man, looking surprised at how swiftly the blind man dodged.
"What are you intending to do? Harm the citizens of Sorbet?"
"If you would be quiet for a while, I would appreciate it."
Turning his attention to the gathered people, he gave a small cough as if preparing for something, and the middle-aged man was shocked that from this man that had the appearance of a scholar such a heavy and loud voice could have boomed.
"Everyone listen to me and my orders! I am the doctor who came to help you guys however before that I want to order in this place!"
"I want you guys to prioritize the ones who feel the sickest! Even though they might have arrived later, it's important that they receive my treatment first."
"Starting with a raise of a hand, those who have been sick and reaching about one month mark!"
The citizens looked stunned not knowing how to react, if to believe this man they only knew for some minutes, or not. But, with a lot of despair and hope, a woman in her late twenties extended her left hand crying out, while on her shoulders was supporting a sickly man, covered in various clothes to keep him warm.
"My husband is about to reach one month! Please, doctor! I implore you! Heal him. I feel him weaker and weaker with each day."
Vlad nodded his head, which extended the hope the woman was building in her body, and following her courageous act of speaking up first, others started raising their arms, having someone dear with them.
"Ademar, start lining up the people based on their urgency and get them inside the Hotel once Eleine returns with the Okay. Prioritize those who are closer to the one-month mark."
"Yes, mister Dracul. Hmm, if I remember right from what you explained to me, it's when the worm would eat at the heart?"
"Indeed, and I fear, I can't just use that simple method … The worm gets closer and closer to the heart, and if it reaches the vena cava, is over for the patient. That's the place your blood that is left without much oxygen … air, goes to take a little breath, they go to the heart using a complicated pathway of veins."
You, the one with a loud voice, have your guys bring more doctors because I am short-handed with so many people."
"..."
'This guy's tone is annoying me as if he views himself as some great being … But I can't be shortsighted. The livelihood of the citizens is at stake. And if it is proven that he is a charlatan, he will rot in prison until his death.'
"Do as he says, and bring the doctors from the city."
"All four of them, excluding old Viril who Cohm went to pick?" asked his subordinates, to confirm which one to pick.
"Yea, all of them living in Everfall. If they bitch about it not wanting to come, tell them their funds will be cut in half from the Crown."
"Yes, sir!"
"You aren't as narrow-minded as I expected. But I have this feeling that I will need to beat some of those doctors to teach them my way."
"You'll not harm any of the scholars of this kingdom."
"That remains to be seen."
.
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From another part of the city, at a well-off residential area, the Royal Guard Cohn, accompanied by his men knocked on the door of one of the two-story high houses, repeating four times before someone opened the door revealing an old person with short white hair and a long white-beard, braided in two tails, wearing a luxurious sagely robe with silver thread embroidery on it.
"Young Cohm, what a surprise. But I remember that I specifically said that I will come to check on the wounded in the garrison on Mondays and Fridays. Why disturb my rest?"
The Royal Guard wasn't someone to get nervous facing this shrewd old man, and immediately reported what his general told him to deliver.
"Lord Fischer is requesting your presence at the Ursus Hotel because we have a foreigner who claims himself to be able to heal the Curse of the Mountain."
"Someone able to heal the Curse of the Mountain? What nonsense are you saying boy? The Spirit of the Mountain speaks to us by punishing those disturbing its peace. It's the power of the mountain that punishes those idiots who don't heed to warnings."
"..."
Some of the guards including the Captain shifted the look in their eyes, as if the old man touched the wrong heartstrings on them.
"So I assume Fischer wants me to confirm if this foreigner is a charlatan or not. Sure, let's get going so I can return back to my own relaxation time."
With the group of guards on their way back to the Hotel, Cohn couldn't help but curse this arrogant and hateful old man who had such exorbitant prices for his consultation and healing procedures.
'Damned old fucker. I hope that foreigner isn't a charlatan just so we run your reputation down shit. What Royal Physician? What best Doctor in Sorbet Kingdom? … If it was needed for a foreigner to clear the curse, then everyone who died so far were because of your incompetence.'
In a similar fashion were the other Royal Guards picking up the doctors in the town, at Fischer's orders, and in no time 5 old guys who moved slowly toward the Ursus Hotel could see the large gatherings of people.
Intersecting one another, the 4 older guys bowed respectfully at Viril who waved his hand with a lot of humbleness, unknown if it was fake or genuine.
"Master Viril, it's a pleasure seeing you again
But what are your esteemed self doing here? Were you also summoned by General Fischer too? I wonder if it's really because of that Foreigner mentioned by the Guards."
"Good to see you too, old friends. Well, the General just requires my expertise and it seems he also wants to hear your opinions on this matter. It shouldn't take long to take care of those arrogant foreigners believing themselves greater than us."
"Indeed. I feel this should be short. As for those people, it's their fault they didn't listen to the warning. We can't do anything for them, just prescribe some herbs to make the fever easier on them."
The guards listened to those old guys with some disgust in their eyes, and once they returned at the statue in the courtyard of the Hotel they noticed how the people were arranged in a disciplined line, where the one called Ademar was talking with each person suffering and their guardians.
"What's this? Some protesters?" asked one of the doctors, walking guided by the Guards, who got in touch with the ones stationed to watch over the situation at hand.
"How could those guys get organized in such a way in only 20 minutes?"
"The line was constructed by the foreigner doctor who entered inside the Hotel with the General and some of the people who looked the sickest from the crowd."
"It does look nice to see those people could be put in order so easily."
"Haha, you should have seen the doctor shout from the top of his lungs giving instructions. He seems to read the deal if you ask me. Unfortunately, I can't see with my own eyes what he does to those people."
"Hah, you little soldiers shouldn't go about spreading rumors for charlatans. What would happen to the people by giving them hope?"
"Hmph."
The Royal Guard in charge of keeping the peace and order in the courtyard of the Hotel ignored Viril, who was guided inside the Hotel reception room where various couches were used to accommodate the sickly, giving them some comfort.
In a specific corner of the large reception room, there were white cloths used to shield the view from what was happening inside, a made-shift surgery room thanks to Eleine's talents in making people listen to her, making the owner of this Hotel already be struck by this divine beauty.
Around the clothes used like a tent, guards stood there with their swords in a passive stance.
"Captain, what could that be?" asked one of the doctors, who approached one of the men looking with a cold and indifferent expression at everyone.
"The doctor is operating on the sick. To not make it uncomfortable for the rest, he made this protective perimeter. … He mentioned it's to not spread around something called ... bacteria."
"Hah?? Let us in, we can't let some charlatan kill an innocent citizen of Sorbet." added one of the doctors who wanted to enter inside the surgery room and scold Vlad for entering their territory, only to be stopped by the guard Nels
"No. I received direct orders from the General to not let anyone disturb the foreigner. This is the first surgery he performs and requires full concentration."
Meanwhile, inside the operation room, Fischer watched with surprise and shock, even some small chilling sensation at the black-haired man who cut open the chest of one of the sick guys, effortlessly like a butcher would do a pig.
He was just an observer, but the more he listened to him talk with his assistants, the small woman flying around him, trying to avoid looking at the bloody scene where the vessel, skin and organs of the poor man could be viewed.
'I understand your feeling, young lady. Even I feel my skin crawling up when I look at the body of that man who has his chest opened up. This guy, there's no doubt about him, he is the real deal. Like the doctors from Kaysang Kingdom who are famed for their medical skills in South Blue.'
What's more, the middle-aged man was also surprised by the black-haired woman who acted like the right-hand in command, telling Vlad most of her observations and also asking him various curious questions about the human body which Vlad responded with a sign of ever-slowing down to think, as if everything was common knowledge to him.
'Young lady, you are as shocking as this "Masters" of yours.'
*Click*
*Click*
Another observation Fischer had in regard to Vlad was that he liked to click his tongue too offen. It was so much that it made him feel weird as if instead of blinking his eyes, Vlad was simply clicking in a quiet way.
"The heart is in sight. Right? No, it should be the heart as it fits the description you've told me. There's no Maggris Worm in sight or any anomaly."
"Yea I know… As for the anomaly, I will teach you something new, and why you shouldn't trust your eyes at times.
While I am 100% on the fact that a Great Surgeon should be able to have full use of his senses, especially sight, I've had some of those surgeries in my head as I learned about them. Now, watch, little Eleine."
The young woman who became fascinated by this path of medicine and by extension open surgery where she was so close to life and by extension death, couldn't help but watch Vlad each move closely.
He moved his hand slowly down to the chest incision he made to open the patient's chest, his scalpel morphed into a long tweezer which was inserted in the body of the man, and from nowhere a shriek and squirting blood splashed on Vlad and Eleine's face.
"There's an evolution … Incredible. It shrank down in size considerably from the advance it would make to the leg upward."
"Doctor, is this what you mentioned, the Maggris Worm?"
Vlad shifted the tweezers into a black jar that engulfed the shrieking worm, closing the lid, he transferred the worm to another jar containing 6 worms.
Yet once this new worm got inside, the rest of the worms froze down like golems, not moving, as if their predator arrived.
"Truly fascinating behavior. I regret nothing in wasting my time performing surgery on those peasants. Only the amount of information gained from those bugs would bring new innovation in medicine once I get an extract of their saliva."
Fischer noticed Vlad's wide sick smile as he "stared" at the glass jar, which he, later on, placed back in his large pocket, resuming the last part of the surgery after spreading some vodka on his hands which confused the soldier.
"Alcohol, and in general liquors like your Vodka that have a high concentration of alcohol can be used as a disinfectant. It lowers the risk that I would spread unwanted viruses and bacteria on this poor man who was almost welcomed in hell."
Unlike the local sewing he did for the three brats, this time he had everything he asked for, such that horse hair became available, the best material he knew for sewing aside from his resilient long strands of hair which were equivalent to the horse ones.
Finishing his stitching and in such a way the surgery without being required to cut open the vein or artery of the man, he spread around some of his ointment in a sensible location, before opening the curtain to see five old guys staring at him with angry looks.
"A little brat thinks of himself as a doctor? You've got to be kidding, there's no way a brat would have sufficient knowledge to tell from the right or left." commented Viril who didn't like Vlad's handsome face from the get-go.
The guards didn't react, but some of them turned to look at the guy lying on the operation table, where he recovered some of the color in his face and even noticed the bandage covering his entire chest area.
Walking past the old fossils, completely ignoring them, he arrived in front of the woman who was his patient's wife, who quickly ran to drop on her knees, grabbing hold of Vlad's legs, with a desperate expression while asking in a pleading tone.
"Lord Doctor, please, please, tell me that my Aralt will be healthy again. Have you cured the curse he suffered from traversing the lower part of the mountain with his caravan?"
Vlad helped the woman up on her feet, and a small smile appeared on his face, before saying with some dark humor.
"Miss, next time when he travels just tell him to avoid the mountain and open other safer routes if he is a merchant."
Understanding the meaning of his words, tears began forming, and with deep nods of her head, she asked him, barely keeping her emotions in check.
"Can I take a look at him?"
"Sure, but he should still be unconscious. However, he will wake up later this night."
It was everything this woman wanted to hear, as she moved quickly even pushing three of the older doctors standing in her way.
"Get out of my way you charlatans." called out the woman, before reaching the bedside of her husband, and seeing how the man recovered the color in his cheeks and body, she started crying relieved, stroking his face lovingly.
"Woman, who are you calling charlatans? You better show us the respect rightfully to us respected scholars and doctors." added one of the doctors pushed, sounding narcissistic and arrogantly.
"Old vermin, quiet. You have no right to destroy the happiness she is feeling right now seeing her dear one being able to live at her side. That person might be a father, a son, and certainly a husband.
It is our role as scholars, doctors, and surgeons to bring the miracles of human capabilities. But I guess being a doctor can differ from place to place. Some are people worthy of being called Saints, while others can be called greedy old pigs."
The Royal Guards smiled with grins when hearing Vlad's comments which directly was hitting at the shameless and narcissistic old fossils.
"Who are you calling greedy pigs, brat who didn't even grow hairs above his lips or dick? Guards, what are you standing doing nothing, immediately arrest this foreigner who threatened the life of a citizen by utilizing forbidden medical practices."
Vlad only chuckled, waving dismissively his hand at Viril as if he was a barking dog, walking toward another couple in suffering, moving to have a small chat, asking if they were ready, or if they needed more time.
"Forbidden Medical Technique? Old bags, you sure have thick skin to allow you to say and eat, such a large quantity of shit. Just because you guys are incompetent and lack knowledge because of your disinterest of journey out to the closest kingdom, Valent, Sagletius or Roshwan to check the newest developments in their country, you did nothing of that short."
"I feel really awkward saying this to someone working for the Royal Crown, but it's evident after watching Lord Dracul's mastery of medical arts and his conduct as a doctor, always placing the well-being of his patients even in surgery. He is above all of you in expertise."
"Hah??? You, Fischer, what do you know about medicine, about being a doctor? You only know how to swing your ax, and nothing more. Talking to us like this, I will make sure to report this to Queen Conney."
*Punch*
Not being able to hold himself, hearing the constant words of those old guys for shifting blame to other places, he punched Viril straight on his face, while the guards heard a satisfying bone cracking on the old fucks jaw.
"Youu! Fischer! What is the meaning of this? Do you want a reminder of who we are?"
"A bunch of old greedy pigs, who are incompetent, watching as people die with your hands in the pocket, placing the blame on some inexistent being, instead of the actual culprit, called Maggris Worm. Hah, to think that I a soldier would reach the day I would teach some scholars."
"See boys, you don't need to study much to be far smarter than some scholars." completed Fischer while making his soldiers to nod in agreement.
"Lord Dracul, mind showing those old greedy fucks what the culprit is?"
"Ohh, are they curious?" asked Vlad, taking a break from his talk with his patients.
"Hmph, come show us. Show us this culprit, if you are so confident." called Viril, only to be moments later faced by Vlad who appeared like a ghost in front of him, grabbing him by the face.
"You know? Initially when I heard the amount of bullshit someone could make on an easy to read affliction, if only you at least read some medical history of popular afflictions. But even if you look out of the box, it could be obvious. But, greedy pigs would be stuffed with too much food to even bother with real challenges."
"Brat, you are one hundred years too early to talk like this to your elder."
"Hahaha, such pathetic old fools. Here let me present you with the culprit. It will help you a lot in improving your medical expertise."
He kicked to the ground all the old guys, and raising the trousers they were wearing, he removed the lid of the jar, and allowed the Maggris Worm to get to new hosts.
"Arghh, what have you done? Those worms? What are they?"
"Maggris Worm. Go document yourself and find out how to cure yourself if you are legit doctors. If you can't make it in one month, you'll die. And unlike your spirits, this worm is rather greedy too, and once it gets to your heart. It's checkmate."
.
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A/N: A doctor should always place the well-being of their patients above any other possessions like money. A conflict that many doctors even in our age struggle to grasp, being washed over by corruption and greed for money and wealth.