RISE OF THE FORSAKEN DRAGON HEIR

THE DEATH OF ELDER REGINALD

Tristan gave a cold laugh. “Now you're telling me Dragon healing is dangerous because your medicine has failed?”

“It has nothing to do with my pride,” David replied. “His condition will worsen if you increase the force of his heart.”

Tristan's Emerald aura became brighter. “You expect me to stand here and watch my uncle die because a powerless doctor such as yourself is afraid to admit that he has reached his limit?”

David did not move.

The nurses watched both men, unsure who to believe.

Tristan raised one glowing hand toward Reginald's chest.

David's face became cold. “I'm telling you for the last time. Do not put that power into his heart.”

Tristan smiled and stepped closer to the bed. The Emerald light around his palm became stronger as he prepared to release it into Reginald.

David could see from Tristan's expression that he had no intention of listening.

The Emerald light around Tristan's palm grew brighter as he stepped closer to Elder Reginald's bed. He wanted more than anything to prove that David was wrong, especially with the nurses watching them.

“Tristan, halt!” David yelled. His voice filled the cardiac suite. “Do not use that power on him.”

Tristan glanced back at him with a mocking smile. “You had your chance, David. Your medicine failed, and now you want everyone to stand here while my uncle dies.”

David moved closer to the bed. “This isn't a contest. Elder Reginald's heart cannot handle what you're about to do.”

Tristan shook his head. “That's convenient especially as it is coming from someone who has no Dragon talent. Maybe you're simply afraid that once I save him, everyone here will see how useless your treatment really was.”

David's jaw tightened. “I'm warning you for the last time. If you force the Emerald Essence into his heart, you will make his condition worse.”

Tristan's eyes hardened. “Then watch me prove you wrong.”

Before David could stop him, Tristan placed his glowing palm over Reginald's chest.

Emerald Dragon Essence poured from his hand.

The green energy entered Reginald's body and spread across his chest. For a few seconds, the monitor beside the bed showed a stronger heartbeat.

Tristan smiled immediately. “You see that? His heart is responding you talentless fool.”

David did not share his confidence. His eyes were already fixed on the monitor. “Withdraw your Essence now Tristan.”

Tristan ignored him and pushed more power into Reginald. “You really can't accept being wrong, can you?”

The monitor suddenly released a sharp alarm.

Evelyn turned toward it. Her face changed at once. “His heart rate is rising too fast.”

Another nurse checked the blood pressure. “It's dropping. Seventy-eight over forty-six.”

Tristan's smile disappeared.

Reginald's body suddenly jerked against the bed.

His arms began shaking violently, followed by his shoulders and legs. His head turned to the side as his entire body started convulsing.

“What's happening?” Tristan shouted as he pulled his hand away.

David rushed toward the bed. “I told you this would happen!”

Evelyn looked at the monitor in horror. “His rhythm is becoming unstable. We're losing him.”

Another nurse stared at Tristan. “Doctor Myles was right. The Dragon Essence increased the stress on his heart.”

Tristan stepped backward. “No. Emerald Essence is supposed to heal him.”

David shoved him away from the bedside. “Get out of my way.”

Tristan stumbled several steps and stared at him angrily. “Don't push me.”

David did not even look at him again. “Evelyn, monitor his pressure. Prepare emergency cardiac support immediately.”

Evelyn hurried to obey. “Pressure is still falling. His pulse is becoming weaker.”

David checked Reginald and turned toward another nurse. “Keep his airway clear. I need the emergency medication now.”

The nurse handed it to him quickly. “Here, Doctor.”

David worked without hesitation. The room became filled with alarms, hurried footsteps, and short medical instructions as the staff tried desperately to keep Reginald alive.

“Check his rhythm again,” David ordered.

Evelyn stared at the screen. “Still unstable.”

David adjusted the treatment. “Continue. We can still bring him back.”

For several seconds, the monitor showed a slight improvement.

One nurse looked hopeful. “His pulse is getting stronger.”

Then the rhythm crashed again.

Evelyn's face fell. “No. We're losing it again.”

David refused to stop. “Continue support.”

The nurses followed every order.

Tristan stood several feet away, his face turned pale as he watched them. His earlier confidence had completely disappeared.

Evelyn checked Reginald again. “There's almost no pulse.”

David continued working. “Again.”

They tried once more.

Nothing changed.

A long tone suddenly came from the monitor.

Everyone in the room froze for half a second.

David immediately continued. “Don't stop. Again.”

The medical team tried once more to restore Reginald's heartbeat.

Nothing.

Evelyn swallowed hard. “Doctor...”

David checked Reginald himself.

There was no response.

He looked at the monitor, then at the older man's motionless face. David knew what the silence in the room now meant.

Evelyn slowly lowered her hands. “He's gone.”

Tristan stared at his uncle.

His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

David turned toward him, anger building beneath his calm expression. Tristan had been warned repeatedly. He had ignored every warning because proving David wrong had mattered more to him than understanding what Reginald's heart actually needed.

Before David could speak, the doors of the cardiac suite slammed open.

Janet Sterling entered first.

Her parents followed closely behind her, with Donald Ashford coming in after them. All four looked tense, as though they had rushed across the hospital after receiving the news.

Janet immediately searched the room. “Where is Uncle Reginald? We were told his condition became critical.”

Her father stepped forward and looked toward the bed. “What happened? Has he been stabilized?”

Janet's mother noticed the expressions on the nurses' faces. Her own face tightened. “Why is everyone standing around? Someone tell us how Elder Reginald is doing.”

David looked at Janet.

He knew he had to tell her.

“Janet, I'm sorry, but—”

Tristan suddenly stepped forward.

“Uncle Reginald is dead,” he said.

Janet froze.

Her mother's hand flew toward her mouth while her father stared at Reginald's unmoving body.

Then Tristan pointed directly at David. “And David Myles here was the one who killed him.”

Janet slowly turned toward David, her eyes widening with shock as she looked from him to Reginald's lifeless body.

David's eyes widened in shock because he was just accused falsely.