Farms and Ranches were a common sight in the Slums, since cities rarely bothered to collect its tributes but once a year it gave rise to plenty of places that could barely be called villages. Master Zoe explained on the ride there that work related injuries cases like the one Iris explained were part of the harsh terrains were a common occurrence. Since most folks couldn’t afford to seek treatment in the Lower States, many off the books healing operations were practically a gold mine for healing opportunists. Since Master Zoe had treated this family on several occasions they knew she would not take advantage by charging extraordinary rates or fees. Anthony could tell from the reception they got the moment they went to the farm. A young girl came greeting them more like an old acquaintance than a stranger.

“Ms. Zoe, thank goodness, you’re here.” The girl rushed over to the horse to help tie it up to the nearby rails.

She was a young ebony haired girl scrawny but at least in her early teens, wearing a set of farmers work garments instead of dress. Anthony could tell by the dirt on her clothes and sun on her cheeks that she was definitely a farmer’s daughter. She handled the horses so well that it saved considerable time for Anthony and Ms. Zoe to part their wagon.

“Where’s the patient, Ida?” Zoe stepped off the wagon.

“He’s in the house.” The teenage girl responded. “Thisbe, is helping Ms. Clio. Mom and dad are in the front of the house.”

“Anthony grabbed the bag in the back, quickly!”

Anthony reached behind the wagon seat and grabbed a bag that had already been prepared with several essentials. He carried it behind him as Zoe was escorted by Ida to the front of the house. He listened closely and watched as the old master had asked questions on their way there, taking notes in his mind of the whole procedure.

“That patient is your brother again, isn’t it?”

“Yes, he hurt his leg pretty badly, and said he tripped on a heavy rock in the garden.”

“I see, do you know what Ms. Harmonia has been doing so far?”

“She said she’s using her water magic to ease his pain, but she said she needs your help with some guy named Ray.”

“It must be worse than a trip then.” She whispered to herself.

“What could be worse?” Anthony asked, hauling the large bag over his shoulder.

“You got sharp ears, kid, but just listen and learn and just do what I tell you when I tell ya to do it.”

“Yes, Master.” He obediently obeyed as he reached the house.

Standing outside the door was a tall burly man and woman with tears flowing from her eyes. The man’s name was Niles, a humble farmer, and his wife’s name was Thisbe, although she didn’t look as rough as her husband, she was a capable farmer who had her share of hardships. When it came to her children, it was hard to keep her composure knowing that an injury this serious could mean more than the end of the work day. With barely any access to medicine or even proper sanitary tools, even a small cut could mean the end in the Slums. Anthony could see the sigh of relief in their eyes when they spotted Master Zoe from behind their daughter’s shoulder.

“Master Zoe, thank the Kings you arrived!” Niles greeted her in a formal manner.

“Please save my son.” Thisbe was practically pleading on her hands and knees.

“I’ll see what can be done, but where is Lycus?”

“Ms. Clio moved him to the barn, she said she needed a place close to water.”

“That means she’s a step ahead of me.”

“Ida show Anthony the patient, I need to get a few more details from the parents.”

“Right away Ms. Zoe.” She grabbed Anthony by the arm and dragged him to the place several yards away.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Even in the open fields amongst the sounds of animals and wilderness he could hear the cries of muffled pain echoing in the forest. Ida led Anthony to the barn where large spheres of water floated through the door of the barn. The water spheres made a trail to Clio who was kneeling before the injured Lycus. He had always been a spry, but gangly boy in the prime of his life and now his face was turning in knots, his face beaded with sweat as Clio took a cloth and wiped it clean. Then without missing a breath she reached up into the air and summoned a sphere of water to her side. She spun it like top releasing an air of misty ice particles everywhere in the vicinity and with a wave of her hands she guided the sphere above his head as it slowly evaporated.

“You’re using freeze magic to manipulate the area around this man, to keep him cool?” Anthony had heard that some Ice Mages used this technique in places where summoning was hot, it was a step below controlling large environments.

“Ms. Gaia taught me this technique to keep the patient’s vitals stable as well as prevent the spread of infections and other germs that might enter the body at this stage.”

“And that’s why you needed a large water source.” Anthony placed his bag next to her and started to further inquire.

“The scrap of cloth seems to have an usually greenish hue.” He pointed at the bandage around his right foot that was smeared with a strange paste beneath it.

“It’s a special medicine Ms. Gaia made to decrease inflammation, his leg was pretty swollen when...”

“Hey, you know I’m sitting here in pain!?” Lycus called out to the floor trying to remain still.

“It’s only for a little longer, sir.” Clio apologized and bowed her head slightly. “Ms. Gaia will be here shortly, she just needs you to stay calm to prevent any further damage.”

“You did that ten minutes ago, and she’s still not here.” He squirmed and squinted his eyes in pain. “Why, don’t you give me some more of that medicine to ease the pain.”

“I’ve already given you the recommended dosage, any more could cause serious...”

“Come on, I’m pleading here.” He almost reached up with his arm to grab her, but fell back short.

“Okay, just half a dose.” She reached into a satchel around her arm and took a small vial of pills.

“Wait!” Anthony grabbed her hand before she could pull out the first pill. “You said you got this injury from tripping on a rock?”

“Yeah, a big rock.” He sounded offended. “You calling me a liar?”

Anthony did not speak, but simply let go of Clio’s hand as she dispensed a small pill from her bag and fed it to Lycus as she got some water from a nearby cup and handed it to him. It was at the moment Master Zoe had entered the room looking at how Clio simply handed him a pain killer.

“Who said you could give the patient another dose?!” Zoe scolded her as she entered the barn.

“L-Lycus, I mean, the patient, said he was feeling a lot of pain.”

“Ha, the pain’s not so great if he keeps asking for more medicine.” She pondered Clio’s accommodating nature. “Remember what I said about making decisions without spending more time in the field. If you keep dispensing pain killers like candy, you might cause more harm than good.”

“Y-yes, Ms. Gaia.” She obediently said as she pushed herself aside.

“Alright let’s start with the examination. Anthony, hand me that long scroll of paper from my bag.”

As instructed Anthony opened her bag and pulled out a large white scroll of parchment and handed it to Zoe. She proceeded to spread out the paper, measuring the length of his leg with the scroll before tearing a piece from it. She then proceeded to gently lift the paper directly under the leg and crossed her arms together.

“You all might want to close your eyes for this.” Her hands started to glow with light reached down to her elbows.

Everyone, especially the Lycus closed his eyes tightly as a bright light filled the room so much that it could be seen through their eyes. When they opened their eyes again, after a momentary adjustment, they saw Master Zoe pull out the paper from under him and took a look. To Anthony’s surprise the piece of paper was imprinted with an image in black of what looked like a piece of leg that had been broken in several places and one large break between the ankle and knee.

“Looks like you hit a pretty big rock there, son, on more than one occasion.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid we have no other option, we’re gonna have to reset that bone before it sets wrong. Which means you’ll be going into surgery. Clio, grab my tools from the wagon. Anthony, I need to grab a broom and start tidying up this place, it’s not ideal but we’re gonna have to do the surgery here.”

“Master Zoe, what is happening right now?” Anthony was bewildered at the cold methodical nature of her requests.

“Grab a broom or stand out of the way, kid.” She stared at her with eyes as cold as ice.

“Before I do, may I speak with you for a moment Master Zoe?” He matched her stare with ferocity of hot as lava.

Seeing this Master Zoe nodded to Clio to keep an eye on Lycus while she stepped out of the barn to have a discussion with the young Hunter. There was obviously something on this mind, but it was more than the events that just happened now. Knowing he was more single minded than Clio who was more accommodating she could see there was something saying on his head. Whatever it was, she had to resolve it quickly for time was of the essence for surgery was not an easy task to get ready and especially if they were going to get this barn and turn it into a halfway decent operating room.