Chapter 90: Another Cult
Alan lay on one of the narrow medical beds in Graheel Hospital, his right arm heavily wrapped in thick, clean bandages. His face showed a mixture of exhaustion and mild discomfort, but he managed to stay attentive. At his bedside stood his close friend Jafar, who watched over him with concern. Opposite Jafar, a doctor wearing scrubs stood with a clipboard in hand, shuffling through sheets filled with Alan's medical information. She reviewed his charts, occasionally glancing up to make sure Alan was following along as she explained his injuries and the recommended course of treatment. Her voice was calm yet thorough, guiding Alan through his current condition with both professionalism and empathy.
Doctor: “I must say you're very lucky. There won’t be any permanent scarring or damage. I’m going to prescribe you a special salve to go on your arm. You’ll need to apply twice daily until used up. And you’ll have to keep it wrapped up in the meantime.”
Alan: “How long will it take to heal?”
Doctor: “With the salve, two to three weeks before the bandages come off. It could be quicker if you have healing magic applied to it daily; unfortunately, we can’t offer that at this hospital. We’re short staff on healing mages, and your injury is not serious enough to warrant daily application of healing magic. You’ll have to seek out other healing mages outside our hospital if you want that, which won’t be cheap. Although, if you want to risk it, you could try seeking a Silverwing student in training. They might be willing to heal you as part of their education, and your injury is not serious enough that a misapplication of healing magic would cause any damage or make it worse. But, it would hurt quite a bit if they mess up.”
Alan: “Thank you. I have a friend in the Silverwing College that might help me out.”
Doctor: “If you're going to get help from a Silverwing student, would you like some painkillers as part of your prescription?”
Alan: “Knowing her, that might be for the best.”
Doctor: “OK then. I’ll send your prescription down to the hospital pharmacy. Once they get that filled, you're free to leave. It might take an hour, so get comfy,” she said before walking away.
The female doctor pulled back the white curtain that sectioned off Alan's small corner of the bustling hospital ward and stepped out, her footsteps fading as she left. Once she was out of earshot, Jafar, who had been sitting quietly beside Alan, leaned forward, his face filled with concern. He glanced around to ensure they were alone before finally breaking the silence.