Returns Of God Of Medicine

chapter 3

Lyra jolted awake, her small body twisting violently. Convulsions racked her limbs for a moment before her head tipped forward, and thick, dark blood spilled from her mouth. Then, as suddenly as it started, her body went still. Calm, but fragile.

Mara pressed herself to Lyra, wrapping arms tight around her trembling frame, burying her face in her daughter’s hair.

Sobs shook her, quiet at first, then ragged. “She’s… she’s breathing,” Mara whispered, her voice cracking. “She’s really breathing.”

I knelt beside them, hands hovering close, ready to act if she faltered again. My chest felt tight, heart hammering. “How long has she been like this?” I asked, voice low but firm.

Jasper’s shoulders slumped. “Five months,” he admitted. “It started with fatigue, small fevers… we didn’t know. Every month, it just got worse.”

I exhaled slowly, keeping my hands steady. “It’s Nyx toxin,” I said.

Mara froze, her body stiffening around Lyra. “Nyx toxin? That… that can’t be. That’s… a death sentence.” Her voice broke, disbelief and fear laced through every word.

“It’s fast-acting and insidious,” I said, eyes scanning Lyra for lingering symptoms. “We need to take precautions. Fill a bathtub with warm water and add salt. Both of you. You may be exposed. This isn’t just her fight anymore.”

Mara’s eyes widened. “Infected?”

I exhaled slowly, keeping my hands still. “Nyx toxin lingers in the body for months,” I explained. “It attacks the white blood cells slowly. Symptoms only appear once it takes hold.”

Jasper’s face was tight. “And Lyra?”

“She’s stable now,” I said. “The method I used was taught by Master Alden. It’s unconventional, but it works. It can neutralize even the most aggressive toxins.”

Mara stared at her daughter, silent, disbelief etched in every line of her face.

Jasper’s jaw tightened. “Who would do this to us?”

I didn’t answer. Not yet.

“Wait,” Mara said, voice trembling. “You’re saying Lyra’s cured? But everyone knows Nyx toxin is incurable. How can we trust this?”

Jasper’s gaze darted between us, uncertainty in every movement.

I gave a firm nod. “I know it sounds impossible. But tomorrow, take her for a full check-up. Let the doctors test her. They’ll see the truth—she’s clear.”

Mara’s eyes narrowed. “And this… method you used? A miracle?”

I smiled faintly, tension in my shoulders. “Not a miracle. Techniques Alden taught me aren’t in textbooks. But they work. Precise pressure points, controlled circulation, targeted remedies. Hard to understand, but effective.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out a small, engraved compass, the kind given to elite operatives. I handed it to Lyra.

“Here,” I said softly. “I didn’t have time for a proper gift before. Next time, I promise it’ll be something better.”

Lyra’s eyes went wide. She turned the compass over in her hands, tracing the intricate engraving with awe. A tiny smile flickered across her lips.

“I like it!” she said, voice bright for the first time in months.

“Thank you, Soren!” she added, looking up at me with genuine admiration.

I blinked, caught off guard. “You know my name?”

She nodded, grinning. “Jasper showed me your picture. You’re really handsome.”

I laughed, warmth spreading through my chest despite the chaos. Even Mara and Jasper exchanged glances—Jasper’s relieved, Mara cautious but softening.

I knelt beside Lyra, brushing the edge of her small hand with my fingers, watching her fiddle with the compass and flashlight.

A small giggle escaped her lips.

Mara’s expression remained guarded, but she managed a quiet, “Thank you.”

Jasper tried to lighten the tension. “See? Soren’s a good man, Mara—he just—”

Her voice cut him off, sharp. “That doesn’t erase the past, Jasper. He’s a killer. I won’t have him in our home.”

She scooped Lyra into her arms, gaze fixed on Jasper. “Take him to Ashbourne Enterprises. They have employee dormitories, and they’re looking for a new security officer. Speak with Reginald, head of operations. He’ll find a place for him.”

Jasper blinked, almost laughing. “That’s… amazing. Thank you, Mara.”

I caught a glimpse of her face as she turned away—stern, cautious, but not entirely unkind.

As she disappeared into the house, Jasper clapped me on the back. “Ashbourne Enterprises is family-owned,” he said, pride in his voice. “Mara’s family has run it for generations. This is huge for you, Soren.”

I nodded, picking up my bag. “Lead the way.”

The building loomed before us—towering, polished, intimidating. Sleek glass reflected the afternoon sun, manicured gardens stretching beneath it. The kind of place that whispered wealth, power, influence. I let out a low whistle.

“Impressive,” I said, scanning the grounds.

Jasper grinned. “Ashbourne didn’t get this big by being modest. Mara’s family built it from scratch. Every corner of this place screams legacy and power.”

As we entered the lobby, my eyes caught a silver sports car gleaming under the atrium lights. A bold plaque read:

$1,000,000.

I nearly choked. “A million-dollar car… in the lobby?”

Jasper chuckled, unphased. “Welcome to Ashbourne Enterprises. They like to make a statement.”

I couldn’t help but ask, curiosity slipping through my calm. “You’d think with all this, they’d go public, right? Ashbourne Enterprises is massive.”

Jasper’s expression darkened, a shadow of frustration crossing his face. “We tried a few years back,” he said, voice low. “But the government never granted the approvals we needed.”

“That’s… strange. What’s the holdup?” I raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“No idea,” he muttered. “It’s been a major hurdle. Some things… they don’t explain.” His jaw tightened, and I knew there was more he wasn’t saying.

The lobby stretched before us, a cathedral of glass and polished marble. A man appeared behind the reception desk—receding hairline, a permanent scowl, eyes sharp enough to cut.

“Ah, Jasper,” he drawled, his voice thick with disdain. “And you’ve brought… Soren, is it?”

He tossed a labor contract toward me like it was trash. His eyes flicked over me as if I were a stain on the floor. “Fill this out,” he said, voice flat. “Then report to the janitor’s closet. You’ll be working as a… sanitation engineer.”

Jasper’s anger hit the room like a storm. “Calder, what the hell? This is my brother, Soren. He’s not some… janitor.” His voice cracked, sharp with disbelief. This was the first time I’d heard him raise it.

Calder’s smirk was thin, cruel. “And I’m not running a charity, Jasper. You’ve always been good at begging favors from your wife’s family. Don’t expect me to bend for your whining.”

I could feel Jasper’s fists tighten, knuckles whitening. Heat of frustration radiating off him. I laid a calm hand on his arm, steadying him.

“It’s fine,” I said, voice soft but firm. “I’ll take whatever they give me.”

He froze for a second, caught off guard, but he didn’t argue.

Calder’s eyes remained cold, unwavering. “Good. Glad we understand each other, Ryder. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more pressing matters.”

He turned and walked away, leaving us in the gleaming, silent lobby.

I glanced at Jasper. He was still taut, but his shoulders had dropped slightly. I tried to lighten the moment, even though a part of me felt the sting too. “Hey… it’s not so bad,” I said, letting a faint smile curve my lips. “I’ve had worse jobs.”

Jasper slapped me on the back, hard but brief. Relief flickered in his eyes. “Thanks, Soren. I owe you one.”

He checked his watch, hesitated, then nodded. “Alright… I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I paused, impulsively opening my arms.

He froze for a second, then stepped into the embrace.

“I’m glad to see you again, brother,” I murmured, feeling the familiar weight of our shared past press down.

Jasper’s smile was brief but real as he patted my shoulder. “Me too, Soren. Me too.”

He pulled away, and I turned toward the janitor’s closet, bracing myself. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered, casting shadows along the hall. Not glamorous. Not what I’d hoped for. But it was a roof, a start, a chance.

I pushed the door open.