RISE OF THE FORSAKEN DRAGON HEIR

THE TREATMENT DAVID FORBADE

David entered the emergency cardiac suite with Evelyn and immediately heard the sharp alarm from the monitor beside Elder Reginald Sterling's bed. Three nurses were already working around him, while another adjusted the oxygen line with shaking hands. Reginald's face had lost most of its color, and his breathing was weak.

“What is the report,” David said as he moved to the bedside.

One of the nurses quickly answered him. “He collapsed about twenty minutes ago after complaining of severe chest pressure and dizziness. His blood pressure dropped suddenly, and his heart rhythm became unstable. We managed to bring the pressure up briefly, but it fell again.”

David looked at the monitor, then at the imaging results beside the bed. “What have you given him?”

The nurse listed the emergency measures they had already used. “Nothing is holding for long, Doctor. Every time we stabilize him, his pressure starts falling again.”

David placed two fingers against Reginald's neck while studying the rhythm on the monitor. “Get me his latest scan and increase the fluid support slightly. Don't push anything else until I see the imaging.”

Evelyn handed him the results. “Here. These were taken shortly before he became worse.”

David studied them for several seconds. His expression changed.

Evelyn noticed immediately. “What is it?”

David pointed at the image. “His heart isn't simply becoming weak. There's an unstable obstruction affecting the blood leaving it. The harder the heart contracts, the worse that obstruction becomes.”

One of the nurses frowned. “Can we correct it?”

“We can try to stabilize him first,” David replied. “Reduce the strain and keep his circulation from collapsing.”

They moved quickly.

David gave several instructions, and the nurses followed them without argument. Medication was adjusted, fluid support was changed, and Reginald's vital signs were watched closely.

For a short moment, the numbers improved.

Evelyn leaned toward the monitor. “Pressure is coming up.”

David remained focused. “Keep watching it.”

Less than a minute later, another warning sounded.

The nurse beside the monitor stiffened. “It's dropping again. Eighty over fifty.”

David immediately adjusted the plan. “Change the rate. Keep his oxygen steady.”

A second nurse checked Reginald. “No improvement.”

Another alarm followed.

“His rhythm is becoming unstable again,” Evelyn said. Her voice was beginning to shake.

David stared at the monitor and thought quickly. Everything he was doing should have bought Reginald more time, yet the man's condition had already progressed too far.

Evelyn looked at him desperately. “All our efforts are proving futile. We should summon the more experienced Emerald Dragon wielders now.”

David turned toward her. “No.”

The room became quiet for a second.

Evelyn stared at him. “Doctor, Elder Reginald is deteriorating.”

“I can see that.”

“Then why are we waiting?” she asked. “An Emerald wielder may still be able to stabilize him.”

David looked back at Reginald. “Dragon Essence is the last thing his heart needs right now.”

Two nurses exchanged confused looks.

One of them stepped closer. “How can Dragon Essence make things worse? Emerald power repairs damaged tissue.”

“Usually,” David replied. “But his problem isn't that his heart needs more strength.”

The nurse frowned. “Then what does it need?”

David pointed at the scan. “The obstruction becomes worse when the heart contracts too forcefully. Emerald healing stimulates tissue and pushes damaged organs to recover faster. That also increases activity.”

Evelyn slowly understood what he meant. “So if someone forces more energy into his heart...”

“The contraction can become stronger,” David finished. “The obstruction gets worse, his circulation drops further, and the stress on the heart increases.”

One of the nurses shook her head. “But we've used Emerald wielders in critical cardiac cases before.”

David looked at her. “Then those patients didn't have this problem.”

She did not look convinced. “Emerald wielders have saved patients conventional medicine couldn't save.”

“And they can still kill a patient if they use the wrong power at the wrong time,” David answered.

The nurse's expression hardened. Fear for Reginald was beginning to mix with frustration. “How can you be so certain?”

“Because the results are in front of you.”

She glanced at the scan, then back at him. “Or maybe there's another reason.”

David's eyes narrowed. “What reason?”

The nurse hesitated before speaking. “Maybe you don't want us calling an Emerald Dragon wielder because you're afraid of what happens if one comes in here and saves him.”

Evelyn turned sharply toward her. “This isn't the time for that.”

The nurse continued anyway. “Everyone in this hospital knows Doctor Myles doesn't have useful Dragon talent. Maybe he doesn't want conventional medicine to look unnecessary.”

David stared at her.

She swallowed but kept talking. “If an Emerald wielder walks in and fixes what medicine couldn't, people may start wondering why they need a powerless doctor standing here.”

The words hit harder than David expected.

Only minutes earlier, Tristan had said almost the same thing.

David's anger rose, but he controlled it. These people had no idea that the man they were calling powerless carried the strongest Dragon authority in Asterion.

He looked at the nurse. “Whether I have Dragon talent has nothing to do with Elder Reginald's condition.”

She folded her arms. “Then prove you're right.”

David's expression hardened. “This isn't about proving anything. It's about keeping him alive.”

Before the nurse could answer, the doors of the cardiac suite suddenly thundered open.

Everyone turned.

Tristan Sterling walked inside.

His confidence had returned completely. Bright Emerald Dragon Essence flowed around his arms and shoulders as he headed directly toward the bed.

He had overheard everything that was said while he was outside.

Evelyn stared at him. “Mr. Sterling?”

Tristan barely looked at her. His eyes were fixed on Reginald. “I heard Uncle Reginald is dying.”

David saw the green power gathering around Tristan's hands. “What ever you do, don't touch him with those hands.” David warned.

Tristan stopped and slowly looked toward him. “You've already had your chance.”

David stepped between him and the bed. “If you use Emerald Essence on him in his present condition, you could kill him.”