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[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 43: Let’s Start with Cutting His Stomach
Chapter 43: Let’s Start with Cutting His Stomach
Xion grabbed a piece of parchment from the counter. His pen moved swiftly across its surface. His handwriting was pretty, unlike the usual scribbles of the doctors.
As he finished, he turned toward Nikolai’s father.
"Here," Xion handed the paper over. "This states that you consent to me performing the procedure. You also acknowledge the risks involved, complications, or even... fatal outcomes. Surgery of this scale carries no guarantees."
The relatively young father looked up, looked up, his face contorted with despair. His shaking hands fumbled as he took the paper.
"You... want me to sign?" His voice cracked, his eyes darting to Nikolai writhing on the bed as muffled groans escaped his pale lips.
Xion sighed, "I want to help him, but this needs to be your decision. I’ll do everything I can, but there are things even I cannot control."
For a moment, the room was silent save for Nikolai’s ragged breaths.
Then, in a choked voice, the father said, "All of them, they turned us away. You’re the only one willing."
Swallowing hard, the man blinked back tears that refused to stay hidden. "If there’s even a chance, no matter how small... do it. Please."
No one in the entire Uzera had even dared to touch Nikolai. After all, no sane person would want to be cursed by the devil.
When he was on the verge of despair, someone told him to come to the new caped healer. That was how he rushed here.
Wiping the tears streaming down his face, he wrote his name on the parchment with shaking hands.
Another person who had accompanied Nikolai carefully consoled the crying father. The man nodded absently, his gaze locked on his suffering son.
There at the corner, a name was scribed. Lucian Valaria. What a strangely familiar sounding name...
He brushed the thought aside for now, folding the parchment neatly and tucking it into the drawer with the rest of his patient records.
After instructing Noxian, and placing Nikolai on the new bed hidden behind the curtains, Xion got ready.
He stood by the bed, surveying the purple gash spreading like an ominous stain. Every time Nikolai moved, he cried out, and each sound tugged at the hearts of his family members.
Noxian worked quickly as he placed the required tools on the nearby tray.
The surgical kit gleamed under the soft light. A collection of sharp instruments, sterilized herbs, and mana crystals for infusing healing energy were in arms reach.
Xion scrubbed his hands, using the herbs’ disinfectant properties, and donned the clean gloves he had summoned just moments ago.
He clenched his now gloved hands, willing his rising heartbeat to slow down. You’ve got it Xion. You can do it...
Allen had been lingering near the wall, still watching him intently.
The once-composed healer of nobility now looked hesitant. A subtle unease was crowding his handsome face.
"Allen," Xion said without looking up as he arranged his instruments. "If you have something to say, just ask."
Caught off guard, Allen stiffened but quickly composed himself. He cleared his throat.
"I... I’ve never seen someone daring to touch Devil’s spawn. If possible..." He faltered for a moment as his pride battled against his curiosity.
Finally, in a subdued tone, he finished, "Can I observe your method?"
Xion turned around to look at Allen’s face. It wasn’t the pride of a noble that shone in his sunset-orange eyes but genuine interest, an eager yearning to learn.
"Sure," Xion replied easily, "In fact, stay close. I’ll explain everything as I go. But first, clean your hands and wear the gloves and that mask."
Without a single word, Allen followed the orders. He stayed a bit far from the patient while carefully observing from the sidelines.
Xion pointed to the now unconscious Nikolai. "Let’s start with cutting his stomach. His condition is caused by extreme internal pressure. The blood flow is being cut off to the muscles and organs."
As Xion spoke, he cleaned Nikolai’s stomach with alcohol and herbs.
"The only way to relieve this pressure is by making precise incisions in the skin. This will allow the trapped blood and fluid to drain and restore circulation."
Allen nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "And what of the mana disruptions? Won’t this procedure... disrupt them further?"
"Good question," Xion acknowledged.
Touching the place where mana was running rampant would only make it worse. With a slight touch, the mana would move forward and burn the internal organs in its wake.
"Mana circulates with the blood here. That’s why I’ll be using a dual approach. Surgery to release the pressure, and targeted mana to stabilize the flow. Watch closely."
With that, Xion picked up the scalpel. He made a deep, careful incision along the puffy abdomen, just above the worst of the purple swelling.
Blood and turbid fluid immediately gushed out, filling the air with an acrid metallic scent. It was so strong that people standing outside the curtained room frowned in disgust.
Noxian, on the other hand, stepped forward. He pressed clean cloths to the area to soak up the drainage.
"See this?" Xion showed Allen the cross-section of muscle and pooling fluid. "This is what the pressure buildup looks like. The dark discoloration is dying tissue."
He generated a yellow stream of mana and turned the faintly glowing strands into surgical threads. It would stop unnecessary bleeding while guiding healthy blood flow back into place.
But instead of stopping a new wave of blood gushed out. The sudden splashing scared Allen, not to mention the sweat gathering on Xion’s forehead.
Xion glanced at the mana thread and made them thinner this time. He gulped to wet his dry throat and focused on the procedure.
As he worked, Allen’s stoic demeanor slowly cracked.
He leaned forward, mesmerized by each careful movement of those small hands. He could not take his eyes away from the miracle.
No wonder, His Grace had been so fond of this little healer. Allen looked at the healer whose robe barely hid his thin form.
It was marvelous how this tiny body possessed such god-like skills.
Unaware of Allen’s thoughts, Xion summoned a small, flexible tube-like apparatus, "This will keep the pressure from building again while allowing his body to heal." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Even in deep sleep, Nicolai’s heartbreaking cries echoed in the vicinity.
"Almost done," Xion whispered after nearly an hour of meticulous work.
"We’ll need to monitor him closely for infections and such."
Finally, as Xion completed the final sutures, he stepped back. His stiff nerves slowly relaxed. He looked at his hands. They did not tremble, not even once.
With a relaxed smile, he turned to Allen. "Did you see your Devil’s spawn?"
Xion teased but Allen remained silent. His no response only made Xion embarrassed.
I was just joking... pouting, Xion slumped on the empty chair.
Allen, still staring at Nikolai, seemed momentarily lost in thought. Or perhaps, he was still rewinding what he had just witnessed.
Little Noxian handed Xion a clean cloth to wipe his brow. "Do you think he’ll make it?" his dark purple eyes shone with excitement.
Well, at least, someone is enjoying the bloodshed, Xion mused as he turned to look at Nikolai’s pale but slightly more relaxed form. "He’s got a chance now."