Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the fight went on, and the wolves' numbers dwindled rapidly. More than twenty-five of the pack lay dead, their dark bodies scattered across the blood-soaked field. Finally, the alpha, bleeding and battered, let out a final, mournful howl before turning and fleeing into the forest. Four remaining wolves followed close behind.
The hunters, exhausted and wounded, did not pursue. Their focus shifted to the chaotic battlefield, tending to the aftermath of the brutal fight.
The field fell silent, apart from for the crackling of dying flames and the labored breaths of the hunter team. Jubin, still holding his hands at the ready to cast spells, surveyed the scene with grim satisfaction. "We've done enough. Let's organize the battlefield," he said, his tone steady despite his exhaustion.
Water elemental mages immediately stepped forward, extinguishing scattered fires across the battlefield. Meanwhile, others began cutting open the wolves' stomachs to search for beast cores, which is a valuable alchemy ingredient that could fetch a good price.
Once the tasks were complete, the team regrouped. They exchanged brief updates about their injuries. Most had suffered minor wounds, but after taking healing pills, they were in no immediate danger. Saraf's armor, however, had been damaged, and he was still bleeding from cuts sustained during the fight. After applying healing ointment, his wounds stopped bleeding, leaving behind only faint scars.
When the hunters thought of Usha, their mood darkened. Jubin broke the silence. "I saw Usha's injuries from a distance. They are deep but not life-threatening. Ranav should be able to stop the bleeding. Raaz gave her a healing pill, too. Don't worry… we'll check on her as soon as we finish up here."
Rita interjected, "We should burn the corpses before we leave. This area is too close to the forest. If we leave the cleanup to the clearing team, other beasts might be drawn here by the smell."
Dinesh nodded in agreement. "Good idea. But before we burn them, does anyone need any wolf parts?"
When no one spoke up, Jubin turned to the knights. "How many beast cores were recovered? Did we miss any?"
Saraf answered, "I double-checked all the corpses. We found only three cores, all level one. It's disappointing… these wolves weren't very strong."
Jubin frowned. "Be thankful for that. If the wolves were stronger, we might have had casualties. What matters is that we're all alive. Forget it… burn the corpses, and let's head back to the carriage. We need to check on Usha."
Several fire spells were cast to burn the corpses, followed by water spells to extinguish any lingering flames. The hunters then scanned the surroundings one last time before leaving the battlefield.
As they emerged from the cornfields, they spotted something unusual. Lying in front of them, a wolf carcass stained with fresh blood blocked their path. Two wounds marked its body; one on the neck and another on the head. The team instantly grew anxious.
"What happened here?" Rita asked, her voice edged with worry. "How did this wolf end up here? Where's Usha?"
Kulbir and Raaz, standing grimly by the carriage, turned toward the group.
"Usha is in the carriage," Raaz said. "Ranav is healing her injuries."
As the team approached, Raaz recounted the events that had unfolded upon their return, how Ranav and Kulbir had dealt with the lone wolf that attacked them.
Saraf exclaimed in admiration, "What a brave kid! At his age, I don't think I'd have been able to handle something like this. I might have wet my pants!"
Rakesh chuckled. "Knowing you, that's probably true."
Jubin cut their banter short. "Raaz, how bad are Usha's injuries?"
Raaz replied, "Ranav said the wounds are deep but missed her vital organs. She was lucky this time. However, it's taking longer for Ranav to treat her since he can only use basic healing spells."
As they shared their battle experiences, the carriage door creaked open. Ranav poked his head out and asked, "Who can cast water magic? I need fresh water."
Raaz handed him a water bottle, but Ranav shook his head. "It's better to conjure water with magic. It's cleaner for treating wounds."
Jubin stepped forward. "There's a black box under the seat near the door. Pass it to me."
Ranav retrieved the box and handed it over. Jubin opened it to reveal a silver bowl and some clean white clothes. He passed the clothes to Ranav. Then he conjured water into the bowl, cleaned it, and then filled it again before passing it to Ranav. "Let me know if you need more. Dinesh can cast water magic as well."
"Thanks," Ranav said, taking the bowl and closing the door behind him.
Inside the carriage, Ranav prepared to heal Usha's wounds. To properly tend to her injuries, he had to remove her upper clothing. Though still covered by an inner cloth, it barely contained her large breasts. In her late twenties, Usha had a voluptuous figure. A slight layer of fat around her belly accentuated the sensual curve of her navel. For a brief moment, Ranav's eyes lingered on her alluring body as he thought, "This is the first time I have seen a woman's body after coming to this world. In fact, besides Sarah, I did not see any woman's body this close ever."
Thinking of Sarah, he shook his head and scolded himself, refocusing on the task at hand. "Focus. You're a healer now. You have a job to do."
Jessica's voice broke into his thoughts. "Why are you zoning out again? What are you thinking?"
"Nothing," Ranav replied hastily. "Help me locate blood clots inside the wounds. If we don't clean them properly, they could cause problems later."
"Understood," Jessica said, her tone serious.
For the next half hour, Ranav worked meticulously to heal Usha's every deep and shallow injuries. With Jessica's help, he ensured that no clots remained and no complications lingered. To be certain, he performed a final diagnostic spell. Both he and Jessica confirmed that Usha was out of danger. Usha was sleeping due to exhaustion. He tidied up her clothes as he could. Satisfied, Ranav opened the carriage door and stepped out.
Turning to Rita, he said, "Could you assist Miss Usha? She's asleep from exhaustion after the healing process. I need someone to arrange her bearings."
Rita nodded and entered the carriage, closing the door behind her.
Ranav exhaled deeply. He was exhausted. Healing Usha had been his first serious medical endeavor, and it had taken a toll on him. He sat down beside the carriage, letting the cool air wash over him as he finally allowed himself to rest.