Chapter 135: Village Chief’s Granddaughter (2)
Once Gara had safely stored the pills and double-checked so Rea and the kids wouldn’t sneak any away, he stepped out of his lab.
The quiet he’d grown used to inside the soundproofed barrier shattered at once, replaced by a loud commotion from outside.
"What’s all that noise? Are the Liners causing trouble again?"
Gara stepped out of his house, only to find villagers gathered instead of Liners. They seemed to be crowding around the village chief’s home, something clearly having happened there.
Not far from the doorway, he spotted Wina. Gara hurried over to his mother, asking what was going on.
Before she could finish explaining, one of the villagers came out of the chief’s house, his face heavy with sorrow.
"Rima can’t be saved anymore. Miss Healer said the poison has already spread throughout her body. There’s nothing she can do."
The announcement struck the crowd like a hammer. Shock and grief rippled through them, Wina included.
For villagers who had already lost loved ones to the poison contamination, the thought of yet another victim was unbearable.
"Wasn’t the chief’s granddaughter under Narin’s care?" Gara asked, surprised that his neighbor’s condition had worsened so badly.
"Yes. But Miss Healer said her state was already too severe before her treatment even began. All she could do was keep the poison from spreading."
Gara frowned. He’d always known Narin was looking after the village chief’s granddaughter. He had assumed the treatment was taking so long simply because there was so much poison to cleanse.
It hadn’t crossed his mind that Narin’s water could only suppress the poison’s spread, not expel it.
At the clinic, whenever someone was poisoned, Narin had always managed to draw it out. That was why Gara had believed she could handle the chief’s granddaughter as well.
Was her condition really that dire?
"Sir Healer, can’t you save Rima?" one of the aunties pleaded, eyes filled with hope.
"That’s right! You’ve always managed to save even our most severely injured villagers. Please—save her too!" another chimed in.
Gara was about to explain that this case was different... but then he remembered his new anti-toxin pill. There was no harm in trying.
"Wait here," he said quickly, and rushed back into his home to fetch it.
The moment villagers saw him act with purpose, their despair shifted into sparks of excitement.
"Sir Healer’s going to save Rima!" they cried out.
Wina, watching them, wanted to caution the crowd not to get their hopes too high, just in case Gara failed. But even so, their joy, however fragile, was better than sinking further into grief.
At that moment, Narin emerged from the village chief’s house. She immediately caught the whispers that Gara was going to try saving Rima.
At first, annoyance flared in her. But then she reminded herself, this case wasn’t like the ones at the clinic.
This time, Rima’s body was heavily poisoned. The toxins had already spread too far. Gara might be a talented healer, but poison wasn’t his specialty. His water wouldn’t be enough.
She had intended to leave, unwilling to witness death, it was an omen of misfortune. But the chance to watch Gara fail was too tempting. She chose to stay.
Gara soon returned, a small jar in hand. As he approached the village chief’s house, he crossed paths with Narin. Neither of them spoke. They only traded a brief glance—Narin’s carrying a smug, almost mocking edge. Gara ignored her and stepped inside.
The room was heavy with tension. Rima lay pale on the bed. At her side was Hari, grief etched across his face.
Mohan and Kian had stayed as well, offering what little support they could to the village chief.
The rest of the villagers didn’t dare enter, instead crowding just outside the doorway.
"Sir healer, please save my granddaughter!" Hari nearly collapsed to his knees again, but Gara caught the old man’s body before he could.
"I can’t make any promises," Gara said calmly, "but I’ll do everything I can."
Mohan and Kian exchanged doubtful glances. They didn’t believe Gara could really pull Rima back from the brink.
But at the very least, he was trying. Unlike their teammate who hadn’t even bothered to pretend.
That teammate, Narin, suddenly appeared again, standing beside Mohan and Kian with her arms crossed.
Kian nudged her sharply, giving her a look that said, Watch yourself. Someone’s life is on the line here.
Narin clicked her tongue inwardly but lowered her arms.
Meanwhile, Gara pulled a pill from a small jar. Wrapping it in a sheath of his water, he guided it gently into the girl’s mouth. No need for any force.
The three Liners in the room froze in surprise. Gara’s control over water was extraordinary. It was no wonder he’d been able to split Mohan’s metal bat so cleanly with a water slash. That hadn’t been a fluke at all. Gara truly had the skill.
Once Gara was sure the pill had passed her throat, he crushed it into finer particles with a subtle twist of water, making it easier to absorb, then released his control.
"All we can do now," he said softly, lowering the girl’s eyelids, "is wait."
Time crawled. Each second stretched unbearably long.
Inside, Gara counted. At the count of five, the girl’s shallow breaths lengthened, becoming steadier.
Her grandfather noticed immediately. "My granddaughter—she’s saved!" he cried, voice breaking.
"Not—" Narin opened her mouth, ready to say ’Not necessarily’, but Kian elbowed her hard. Now was absolutely not the time for her comment.
"Is Rima’s condition improving, Gara?" Mohan asked, half-believing, half-doubting.
Gara didn’t answer right away. He leaned in, checking her breathing, then carefully lifted her eyelids. The black irises had returned to their proper place, though her consciousness hadn’t yet.
"She’s past the critical stage," Gara said at last, sounding like a modern doctor, "but we’ll need to watch her closely from here on."
Even he wasn’t completely certain, but one thing was clear, Rima had been pulled back from the edge of death.
...