As Loden and Brokenfang make their way quickly to Kaiden's room, Kaiden's eyes remain open, his vision intermittently becoming blurry due to his weakened state and poison. The needle-like pain in his leg begins to intensify, now moving and extending into his foot. Chills envelop his body once more, causing him to shiver on Loden's back. Kaiden's voice, weak and strained, manages to utter, "Loden..." The urgency of the situation is palpable, and the duo quickens their pace, trying to reach Kaiden's room as swiftly as possible.

Loden and Brokenfang move with remarkable speed and fluidity, employing their adept skills to navigate through the palace. To any onlooker, they would appear as a mere blur due to their rapid movement. Even those who try to focus their gaze on them find it challenging to keep up, as if the warriors are darting and maneuvering between blinks. The distance to Kaiden's room is significantly shortened due to their extraordinary speed.

Loden enters Kaiden's room and swiftly maneuvers him onto the bed, gently lowering him down. Kaiden's weak body sags in relief as he finally finds respite on the soft surface. As Brokenfang follows Loden into the room, he closes the door behind him to ensure their privacy. He takes his position beside the wall near the door, his presence a silent observer, watching as Loden tends to Kaiden. Loden takes a moment to assess Kaiden's condition with his eyes, his concern etched on his face. The room is now quiet, except for the occasional breeze outside and the sounds of Kaiden's pain. Brokenfang takes a deep inhale, his heightened sense of smell instantly capturing the medley of scents filling the room. He notices the emotional undertones carried by both Loden and Kaiden, as well as the faint yet distinct smell of poison coursing through Kaiden's blood. The intensity of the sensations threatens to overwhelm his sensitive nostrils, causing him to shake his head in a slight effort to regain his focus. The atmosphere in the room is tense, with a sense of urgency as they await the arrival of the physician.

Kaiden fidgets on the bed, attempting to find a comfortable position amidst his growing discomfort. Loden carefully keeps examining him, searching for the source of his pain and distress. Kaiden occasionally clenches his teeth as sharp flares of pain shoot through his body, further blurring his vision. The room remains quiet, the only sounds being Kaiden's pained sighs and Loden's focused attention on his charge.

Loden tenderly touches Kaiden's arm from time to time, and the celestial energy from his touch briefly flashes as it gets absorbed into Kaiden to heal his discomfort. However, the relief is short-lived as the pain doesn’t stop. Brokenfang remains quiet against the wall, his hood pulled down, and his attention focused on Kaiden. His silver and black animal ears twitch occasionally, betraying his observant nature. Loden continues to analyze Kaiden's condition, trying to find a permanent solution to his pain.

After Loden's third attempt to heal Kaiden fails, Brokenfang steps forward, closer to the bed and removes his gloves, his intentions clear to Loden. Loden gives Brokenfang a quick glance before turning away, silently giving him permission to proceed. Brokenfang gently lays his hand on Kaiden's other arm, and the celestial energy emitted from both warriors floods the room, merging together in a powerful display.

The celestial energy courses through the room, enveloping both Loden and Brokenfang as they shut their eyes, focusing entirely on channeling the power. The energy flows in rhythmic waves, seeping into Kaiden's body once again. This time, the energy not only eases the pain but also works to diminish the poisonous presence within him. The process unfolds, and the room seems suffused with a palpable sense of healing energy.

Wulfric bursts into the room with another individual, both taken aback by the intense celestial energy filling the space. The sudden opening of the door disrupts the healing session, causing both Loden and Brokenfang to pause, pulling their hands away. As the celestial energy fades, a feeling of relief washes over Kaiden as the needles and discomfort, at least for now, subside. He is left baffled, uncertain about what's happening to him or why he's experiencing such recurring pain. The uncertainty and confusion leave him feeling unsettled, as he grapples with the mysterious nature of his current predicament.

The newcomer's astonishment is palpable as he utters, "Oh, my Astryaln, what a sight to behold!" He adjusts his glasses firmly before stepping into Kaiden’s room, placing his basket on top of the table. His attention turns to Kaiden as he states, "Priestess,” he begins with a slight bow, his voice steady and professional, “I am here to examine you as requested by the Leader of the Guard." The newcomer stands directly in front of Brokenfang, Loden, and Kaiden, who is still sitting on the bed. This newcomer has long, dark black hair neatly tied behind his head, secured out of his eyesight, and his vivid green eyes scrutinize the two warriors and the priestess. Without saying a word, he patiently waits for them to move aside so he can begin the examination.

Loden, Brokenfang, and even Kaiden, all remain silently observing. Brokenfang, using his acute sense of smell, takes a discreet sniff, analyzing the individual who stands before him. He notices the scent of a physician, characterized by the intermingling odors of blood, herbs, and metal. However, there is a subtle, elusive scent lingering beneath these prominent smells that Brokenfang can't quite identify. The undercurrent of this hidden scent is enigmatic—is it an emotion, an object, or something entirely different?

Wulfric clears his throat, bringing himself out of his own surprise at the sight he just interrupted. He shakes his head, clearing his thoughts for now and steps into the room as well. Wulfric walks over to the newcomer, acknowledging his presence to the others. “Ah, yes thank you, Tibost, for coming on such short notice.”

With a gesture of familiarity, Wulfric extends a hand toward Tibost, introducing him to both Loden and Kaiden. Ignoring Brokenfang completely, his eyes never reaching his position in the room. "Allow me to present Tibost, the palace physician. He is highly regarded for his expertise in the medical field," Wulfric explains, emphasizing his confidence in Tibost's abilities. As Wulfric speaks, it's evident that he holds Tibost in high regard and trusts in his knowledge and skills.

Loden, Kaiden and Brokenfang, still on edge due to the earlier events outside the palace, exchange a brief glance before turning their attention to Tibost.

Tibost nods respectfully to Wulfric and then turns his attention to Brokenfang and Loden, gesturing with a sweeping motion. He calmly requests, "Please move aside for me to conduct a thorough examination of the patient. It's difficult to accurately assess the priestess with you obstructing my view."

Brokenfang nods briefly and proceeds to move to the other side of the bed, positioning himself near the dresser and partition. Loden, however, hesitates momentarily before reluctantly stepping back somewhat, though maintaining his position close to Kaiden with an arm's length between them, still within reach to intervene if needed.

Kaiden remains quiet and still, his gaze fixed on the others in the room. The pain in his leg has subsided somewhat, but a lingering heaviness still persists in that area. Tibost, with a gentle and reassuring expression, lowers himself to his knees beside the bed, his attention fully focused on Kaiden now.

Tibost addresses Kaiden with a serious yet caring tone, "Priestess, it's crucial for you to share with me if you sense any difference or abnormality in the way you normally feel. For me to accurately diagnose your condition, it is essential that you be honest with me. Do you understand?"

Kaiden nods affirmatively, acknowledging that he understands Tibost's words, "Yes, I understand." He moves to explain to Tibost about his wounded leg, attempting to point out the injury, but his hand begins to tremble before he can touch the bandages that he himself applied to compress the wound. "It's my leg," he explains, grabbing and kneading his hands to keep them from shaking further. "There is something wrong. I keep experiencing dizziness, and chills, as if my energy is being drawn out at unpredictable moments. Does that make sense?"

Wulfric stands off to the side, observing the scene quietly. Brokenfang and Loden do the same, waiting to see what can be done to ease Kaiden’s condition. The room is hushed, anticipation hanging in the air as the Tibost proceeds with his duty.

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Tibost listens attentively, nodding to acknowledge Kaiden’s response. "It certainly gives me a starting point to go by," he affirms. He then proceeds to stand up, retrieving his basket, and places it on the ground near to bed before resuming his kneeling position beside the bed as well. He poses a question, "When did the dizziness and chills start? Additionally, are you experiencing any other pain or discomfort?"

Kaiden nods swiftly, providing the timeline of his symptoms. "It started a few hours ago, not long after I was injured by a dagger wielded by those thugs near the northern gate." He describes the sensations he experienced, "The cut initially hurt making it hard to walk a little. It didn’t feel too deep though.” Kaiden pauses taking a breath to continue his explanation, “But then the pain transitioned to other pains like sharp, needle-like sensations in my leg and into my chest, chills, and this heavy feeling in my chest. My vision becomes blurred and my head feels incredibly heavy. Since then, these symptoms have come and gone at odd moments."

Loden interjects, drawing attention to an important detail, "His nose started bleeding when we were outside the palace. Prior to this, he was first healed by Brokenfang, followed by an intervention from Wulfric. Just a moment ago, Brokenfang and I healed him as well.” Loden continues a question with concern edging his words, “Considering the use of celestial energy for healing, shouldn't all of his wounds be completely healed by now?"

Wulfric chimes in, his tone laced with irritation, "Could it be that the beast poisoned the priestess' energy with his tainted celestial warrior power, causing it to become corrupted? If that's so, it may explain why the symptoms linger despite the healing."

Kaiden shakes his head in disagreement with Wulfric, expressing his frustration over the way Wulfric continues to perceive Brokenfang solely as an animal. Instead, Kaiden sees Brokenfang as a person, unique in his own way, just like everyone else. He believes that individuals should be recognized for their individuality rather than being narrowly categorized.

Brokenfang interjects with a calm and matter-of-fact tone, "The priestess was poisoned by a dagger. The foul presence of the poison is still lingering within his blood."

Kaiden is stunned to learn the news that poisoned resides in his blood, a realization he had never considered before. He can't help but internally chastise himself, wondering how he could have overlooked the possibility of poisoning. Looking back at the recent encounter with the thugs, Kaiden scoffs at his own lack of awareness, thinking, Great job.

Both Loden and Wulfric's expressions mirror each other with a mixture of shock, concern, and fear. They, too, are surprised by this revelation, and the fact that the celestial healing power hasn't eradicated the poison from Kaiden's body raises alarming questions. They exchange worried glances, contemplating the severity of the situation and the implications of the poison's persistence. Tibost pauses midway through extracting the items from his bag, his movements slowly stopping as Brokenfang's words catch his attention and sink in. He listens intently, his face betraying a mixture of confusion and intrigue.

Tibost speaks, his hands moving more quickly as he pulls various items wrapped in cloth from his bag. "You mentioned sensing the poison's presence. Can you identify the type? It's possible that it's complex enough to rapidly replicate, making it resistant to full healing through celestial means. The healing energy administered by you all may be alleviating the symptoms, but it falls short of addressing the root cause. Medicine, specifically designed to target this particular poison, might be necessary to eradicate it entirely."

Brokenfang responds with conviction pointing to his nose, "I can indeed smell the poison inside his blood. It may be complex like you said since I have not smelt something like this before.”

Tibost calmly nods, slowly laying out his medical tools within easy reach. He meticulously unwraps the items he retrieved from his bag, placing them onto a clean cloth on the floor. The array includes assorted test tubes, scalpels, and various other medical instruments, Kaiden did not recognize. Tibost turns to Kaiden, his voice decisive, "To assess the poison properly, I'll need to obtain a sample of your blood and inspect the wound inflicted by the dagger.” He then turns his attention to Wulfric, explaining, “Additionally, it's possible that I'll have to prepare a remedy using certain herbs to effectively neutralize the poison."

Both Loden and Wulfric speak simultaneously, their voices filled with concern and determination. "Please, do everything within your power to aid Kaiden," they say in unison. Wulfric quickly amends his words, adding, "We are at your disposal, Tibost. Should you require any assistance in helping Kaiden, simply let us know, and we shall fetch anything you need."

Kaiden's gaze drifts towards Wulfric, his thoughts lingering on the incident at the gate. The memory of the mistreatment towards Brokenfang resurfaces, but sensing the gravity of the current moment with Tibost's examination, Kaiden decides to keep those thoughts to himself for now. He remains quietly observant, withholding the urge to revisit the subject.

Tiboss offers a simple yet sincere "Thank you," before turning his focus back to Kaiden. He then explains, "I will now proceed with the examination. If you experience discomfort or pain at any point, please inform me. I will begin with an array of tests, first by checking your temperature and then last to inspect the wound."

Kaiden nods listening to Tibost words, feeling like he is back at a normal doctors office for a routine checkup. He starts to experience a subtle tingle in his leg accompanied by a shiver. Kaiden is about to inform Tibost of the pain. However, before he can speak, Loden interjects with a suggestion, pointing out, "Shouldn't we focus on examining his leg first?"

Tibost shoots a stern sideway glance at Loden, asserting his authority as the medical expert. "Who is the physician here – me or you? Please refrain from interrupting." He then turns his attention to Kaiden, his expression now displaying a mix of concern and concentration. He observes the subtle change in Kaiden's demeanor.

Kaiden's body displays clear signs of distress, his facial muscles involuntarily contracting around his eyes and mouth as if in pain. To keep himself grounded, he clutches the bedsheets tightly, gripping them with trembling hands in an attempt to remain conscious. Kaiden knows he can't afford to pass out again, not wanting to be weak in front of the warriors and Tibost.

With a swift motion, Tibost immediately extends his hand, gently placing the back of his palm against Kaiden's forehead. After a brief moment, he moves it down to Kaiden's neck, his expression unreadable. He withdraws his hand, shaking his head slightly. "Your temperature has shifted subtly, and your complexion has grown paler," he mentions, his tone serious. He then asks, "Describe for me in as much detail as possible, how you are feeling right now at this very moment."

Tibost reaches out and gently stretches open Kaiden's eyes one at a time, focusing his attention on his patient's condition. Kaiden describes his sensations slowly, "My leg feels a bit tingly again, and I'm feeling a slight chill. This feeling is very uncomfortable. "

Tibost nods silently in response to Kaiden's description, his eyes closing momentarily as he checks Kaiden's wrist. Kaiden surmises that Tibost is likely assessing his heartbeat. Tibost then queries, "Is there anything else changing or different that you've noticed? You previously mentioned your vision blurring and experiencing sensations akin to needles."

Kaiden nods his head, expressing his words with the best detail he can, "For now, I only feel the sensations in my leg, and then they seem to move up into my chest into my whole body. It's as if my energy is being slowly drained.”

Tibost nods in acknowledgment, informing Kaiden, "I need to listen to your breathing, so I'm going to place my head close to your chest. When I instruct you, please take several deep breaths for me. Understood?"

Kaiden responds with a simple "Okay", following Tibost's instructions to stay still. As Tibost leans in closer, placing his head gently against Kaiden's chest, Kaiden feels a slight sense of awkwardness in the situation. However, he remains motionless, allowing Tibost to listen carefully to his breathing.

Kaiden follows Tibost's instructions, taking a deep breath in and holding it. Then, upon his cue, he releases it slowly. Tibost requests, "Now, repeat the process one more time, please." Kaiden obliges, inhaling deeply and holding it for a moment before exhaling steadily.

The room falls silent as everyone observes Tibost carefully examining Kaiden. Brokenfang, with his heightened senses, can hear the rhythmic thumping of Kaiden's heart, his sensitive ears attuned to each beat. The tension in the air is palpable, and the three warriors find themselves holding their breaths, deeply invested in the outcome of Tibost's evaluation.

As Tibost moves away, nodding silently, Kaiden observes him in confusion. He's about to ask what the examination has revealed so far, but suddenly he feels the return of the sharp needle sensation in his leg, and his vision begins to blur once more.

Kaiden struggles to move his hand, unsure if it's even moving at all due to his impaired vision. His head feels increasingly heavy, and the discomfort spreads rapidly, reaching a heightened intensity then before. Through the dizziness, he manages to utter, "I'm... gonna..."

Kaiden's body loses its steadiness, and he begins to tilt forward, no longer able to support his head and body upright. In a swift and instinctive response, Tibost catches him, preventing Kaiden from crumpling onto himself.

Wulfric and Loden call out in unison, their voices filled with concern, "Kaiden!" Brokenfang swiftly moves toward Kaiden with obvious worry, while Tibost continues to stabilize him. However, upon the group's initial approach, Tibost holds up a hand, silently signaling them to stop and maintain their distance as he tends to Kaiden.