Beep... Beep... Beep. The sound of the heart rate monitor echoed.
"It is already a miracle that she could live until now," Dr. Lenny said with slight awe as he examined Zenith's condition.
"Zenith, 19‑year‑old, female. Her upper torso was exposed to the Toxcarver's poison four days ago during the siege. Her estimated time of death was within 24 hours post‑exposure, but she has now exceeded that prediction by 72 hours."
Reading the patient record, Dr. Lenny paused and stared at William.
"Is there no cure yet?" William asked uncertainly.
"The research team is already working day and night, but at the current pace, it could take more than a month," Dr. Lenny responded resignedly.
"Is she important to you?" Dr. Lenny asked offhandedly.
At that question, an image flashed through William's mind—Zenith crying and begging to live, just last night.
"She told me she can't die yet. Her grandparents are still waiting for her, and she doesn't want to abandon them."
"I see."
After a brief silence, Dr. Lenny spoke up. "A cure might not be possible in a short time, but… There might be a way to delay the poison."
Perking up, William asked excitedly, "How?"
***
Arriving at a remote corner of the hospital, William was greeted by rows of massive cylindrical pods connected to multiple magical circuits and tubes.
"This is a cryo-chamber." Dr. Lenny spoke majestically
"It can theoretically slow the poison's corrosion effects long enough for a cure to be developed."
"However." Dr. Lenny's face turned serious as he warned. "Due to the severity of her condition, she might end up in a vegetative state forever, even if she were cured."
After explaining the risk, Dr. Lenny stared at William, waiting for a response.
"... What are her chances of surviving?"
"80%. But it's a different story whether she could wake up. The longer she stays in stasis, the less likely it is."
"And her chance of surviving the poison alone?"
"0%. It's already a miracle that she can survive until this point, but her willpower could only take her so far."
"…"
The image of Zenith silently fighting and enduring the pain flashed in William's mind again.
"Doctor, can we let Zenith enter the cryo-chamber?"
A slight smirk formed on Dr. Lenny's face. "Well, we have to ask the patient first, don't we?"
***
"Yes doctor, I am willing." Zenith who was covered in a soothing green light, pleaded weakly.
"Are you sure? Don't you at least want to meet your grandparents? This might be the last time you'll ever see them."
Forcing a brave smile, Zenith replied, "I'll be fine. So why worry them when they should be enjoying their retirement?"
Dr. Lenny shook his head with a self‑deprecating smile.
"Alright then, let's get you prepared."
The nurses washed Zenith's skin and applied a thin layer of protective gel.
They attached an IV with special liquid to protect her body and checked her pulse one last time.
A medic mage drew glowing runes across her chest, sending a calming spell through her veins as a soft green light shone.
Technicians sealed the chamber and began to freeze it, closely watching the status screen.
Through the frosted glass, Zenith's breathing slowed—and then stopped. She was now in stasis.
Staring at Zenith through the glass, William asked. "How long will this delay the poison?"
"One month at most."
"And if the antidote isn't made by then?"
"..."
Both of them remained silent, tacitly understanding the implications if a cure was not found.
Exiting the room, William and Dr. Lenny walked side by side in silence for a while, respectively lost in their thoughts.
Breaking the silence, Dr. Lenny spoke.
"You have grown, William. It seems like the nurse's work is leading you to start caring about others." Dr. Lenny let out a rough chuckle.
"Is it?"
"I have heard rumors about you in the capital. They say you are arrogant, entitled, and spoiled. But looking at you now, you don't seem to match with all the descriptions at all. "
"... I guess so."
"So, how's nurse life been treating you?"
"I… didn't have time to think about it."
"That… does happen a lot in healthcare." Dr. Lenny could only offer an awkward laugh at that response.
"So, what now? The reason I placed you in the End-of-Life care unit was to help face your trauma, and it seems like a success."
Dr. Lenny stopped and stared at William. "So, what's your plan moving forward?"
William clenched his fist, a look of determination on his face.
"Doctor, is it possible to send me to the front lines as a combat mage?"
"Hmm, and the reason?"
"I want to help collect the venom samples."
Contemplating, Dr. Lenny didn't instantly agree to his request. "I'll see what I can do."
***
"Absolutely not!"
"Are you out of your mind, Lenny? How can I send a kid with practically no battle experience to the front lines?" A man roared.
"Now now, Isaac, that's not what I meant," Dr. Lenny sighed, trying to calm the excited Isaac.
"All I am asking is to give him some practical training and if he meets the requirement, then deploy him."
"Lenny, a normal soldier takes at least 3 months to train, and you are telling me to deploy him with only 2 weeks of training?!"
"On top of that! You want me to assign him to the Toxcarver capturing unit, that even an experienced soldier finds troublesome?"
"Lenny, if you had some old grudges, there are many other ways to do it than to send the kid to his death, right?"
Dr. Lenny let out an even more exaggerated sigh. Too tired to even reason with his old friend's 'creative imagination'.
"Again, only if he meets the requirement. Besides, he had also been training under Jack for nearly a month, so he could withstand pain."
"He did? While I guess it won't hurt to test him a little."
The next day, Isaac came face-to-face with William.
"William Stromholde, age 17, banished to Gorgon City for sexual harassment, had trained under Jack, and was assigned to the End-of-Life care unit. Is that correct?"
"Yes." William nodded, not daring to meet the general in the eyes.
As General Isaac stares at William intently, he can feel waves of invisible pressure washing over him as the clock ticks by.
"Who do you think you are?" Isaac's solemn voice, laced with restrained anger, reverberated through the whole room, dropping the temperature by a couple of degrees.
"Coming in here, requesting to be transferred whenever you want, like you own the damn place."
"..." Not daring to answer, William could only lower his head in silence.
"Look at you. Weak, pitiful, abandoned. Who gave you the courage to think that you are qualified to participate in a battlefield?"
William clenches his fist as he starts to tremble.
"Just give up. The battlefield is not meant for someone like you. Besides, you would just drag everybody down with you anyway."
With that, General Isaac stayed silent, staring intently at the boy in front of him.
Only after a few seconds did William finally speak up.
"I know. I know I am weak. I know I'm just a spoiled kid who has never experienced the harshness of war. I know my enlisting wouldn't change a single thing."
Clenching his shaking hands until his fist turns white, William continues.
"I was naïve. I thought I had nothing to live for, after being banished by my family. I thought I had lost everything."
"Yet, seeing all those dying soldiers who had no options left but to wallow in regret and wait for death. It makes me feel that maybe my life wasn't so bad after all."
The vision of all of the patients he had taken care of flashes in his mind—Ben, Gun, Tinny, Zenith.
"That's why I want to fight, to at least do something right in my life."
After pouring his heart out, William finally looks the general straight in the eyes.
A stare-down commences as William and Isaac stare at each other for minutes, without speaking.
Cold sweat can be felt forming on William's back as he stares at Isaac, trying to put on a brave front.
"Alright." withdrawing his gaze Isaac instructed. "Go grab a uniform from the supply depot. Tomorrow, at 4:30 am sharp meet up at Sector C, understood?"
"Yes!"
Giving a slight bow, William swiftly left the office.
"Did you have to watch the interview?"
After William left, Dr. Lenny emerged out of nowhere.
"Can't a doctor even worry about his patient?"
"Ha, well, if you spent all the time worrying about the patient into loving your wife, maybe she wouldn't be grumpy all the time."
Dr. Lenny only laughed, staring at the door William left through, with a gentle smile on his lips.
***
Sector C training grounds.
A body came crashing into the ground, sending all the dirt and sand flying, followed by a painful groan.
"You are dead again, William!! How many times do I have to tell you to be aware of your surroundings!?" The drill sergeant barked.
"Sorry... Sir."
"LOUDER, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"
"SORRY SIR!"
"Ten laps around the field, now!!"
"YES SIR!!"
With heavy training gear on, William had to run ten laps around the field. The ground was shape to feel like the real battlefield—uneven paths, small hills, deep holes, and hidden traps.
Golems shaped like real monsters were buried in the dirt. They jumped out without warning, attacking in the middle of the run. For someone already weak, each lap felt like hell.
By the end, William looked like he had been through a war. His body was bruised, his clothes torn and dusty, and his right arm hung limp at his side.
He limped over to the instructor, barely able to stand. The man looked at him, too tired to shout. With a sigh, he just pointed back to the fight.
"Get back in."
William didn't say anything. He turned and walked into battle. His head felt heavy. His body wouldn't move right. So when a four-legged golem rushed at him, he didn't even react.
The hit sent him flying. The world spun—and then went black.
Later that night:
"General, I don't understand the kid is clearly untrained so why place him in this last stage of training?"
"Because the kid wants to be deployed within 2 weeks."
"What?" The drill sergeant could only stare at Isaac confusedly, not fully comprehending what he said.
"Don't look at me, Dr. Lenny requested."
"And after 2 weeks is up, he will be deployed regardless of his training?"
"Of course not, if he doesn't meet the standard, then he will just be sent to normal training."
"I…see."
"Ah, don't worry about it the kid trained under Captain Jack before so he can take it." Isaac shows a thumb-up to show that everything will be fine.
"…Understood, then I will take my leave now." Speechless, the drill sergeant just saluted and left.
Now alone in his room, Isaac muttered to himself.
"In two weeks, huh? He's a Stromholde, maybe he still had some hidden talent ."
***
Waking up in the infirmary, William couldn't help but sit up and gasp, as the situation seemed all too familiar to him.
"Finally awake? Took you long enough." A nurse spoke out of nowhere.
Pausing slightly to collect his breath, William asked. "How long have I been unconscious?"
"3 or 4 hours maybe. It's 5:46 p.m. right now."
"Can I leave now?"
"Yes."
Before walking out of the infirmary, the nurse spoke again.
"Hey kid, a piece of advice, if you can't take it just quit, there is nothing to be ashamed about it."
Standing at the door, memories of him getting tortured by Captain Jack emerged, followed by a self-defeating smile.
"Thanks for the advice, but I think I can take it."
At the canteen, while William was eating dinner, his ID bracelet suddenly lit up with a message.
Tapping on it, 3 holographic icons appeared:
Monster Hunting Spells – Important spells used to catch a Toxcarver. Includes support, attack, and trap spells. Monster Hunting Guide – Shows team setups and plans for capturing a Toxcarver. Sleepless Magic – A spell to keep you awake without needing sleep.
Finding the 3rd manual quite particular, William clicked on it to learn more, only to find out that it was a manual sent by Dr. Lenny with a detailed explanation of application and backlash.
Staring at the manual, William sighed to himself and muttered silently.
"It seems like my debt just keeps adding up."
With the 3 manuals in hand, William drowned himself in a full night of study, practicing new spells and memorizing battle formations.
Day 2
Nothing changed. Despite having learned about all the spells and strategies overnight, William still fell short during training.
Due to his pitiful amount of stamina, the moment it ran out, William instantly forgot all of the spells and tactics he had learned.
Just like the night before, he fell behind, got separated from the others, and was overwhelmed by the golems, rendering his late-night study all useless.
Frustrated, William spent the night running around the training field while simultaneously trying to cast different types of spells.
Day 3
William was exhausted by the nonstop running and was given no time to rest, as he was thrown straight into battle.
Unsurprisingly, William performed even worse than before, as his tired body had failed him under the golems' relentless attack, and in just minutes, he was carried off to the infirmary.
Afternoon, ignoring the nurse's warnings, he rushed back to the ongoing training as soon as he woke up, only to collapse again and be carried back to the infirmary.
That night, William changed his approach. He still ran like hell, but this time he only cast healing spells on himself.
Day 4
William's endurance had improved. However, he had overused his healing magic the night before, leaving his mana drained.
With no magic, he can't defend himself and quickly becomes a deadweight on the team, prompting him to be swiftly beaten down by the golems, and then punished by the sergeant.
When he came to his senses, he was staring at the familiar infirmary ceiling.
That night, learning from his mistakes, William chooses to only heal himself when he has reached his limit, and before the training begins he pays the infirmary a visit to get a free healing.
Day 5
His midnight training finally paid off. He could now keep up—barely—during terrain hikes and lasted longer during monster battles.
But he was still a burden. Without good proficiency in his spells, he couldn't contribute meaningfully to the team, ending up as a deadweight.
Day after day, William made mistakes, then tried to fix them at night, only to make new ones the next day.
It was a painful cycle.
Day by day. Night by night. No breaks.
Until one fateful morning, amid a battle, William saw his world distort as he collapsed to the ground.