The Rise Of A Shadowsmith

Chapter 66: Uncertainties

The medical room exuded an atmosphere of quiet intensity. The air was heavy with the scent of antiseptic, mingling with the soft hum of medical equipment.

Shinon stepped through the doorway, his eyes scanning the room until they found Kira by Rico’s bedside. She was sitting beside Rico, holding his hand, her head bowed as if lost in thought.

Shinon approached the bed and looked down at his friend, who was hooked up to various machines, monitoring his vital signs. He was still unconscious, his chest rising and falling with the help of a ventilator.

According to the nurses Shinon spoke to while walking there, Rico would have to stay on the ventilator for quite some time as his body seemed to be healing at an abnormally slow rate.

Although they weren’t sure why it was the case, they believed it had something to do with the projectile that hit him, possibly being laced with poison.

’I know that isn’t the case because I still have that bone thingy, and it didn’t have any poison on it. At least not one that I could detect.’ Shinon wondered. ’Something else must be the reason...’

Kira looked up as the door creaked open, her eyes meeting Shinon’s. Her face lit up with relief and anticipation, and she hurriedly approached him.

"Shinon," she greeted, her voice filled with gratitude and worry. "You’re finally back. How did it go?"

Shinon met her gaze, his eyes reflecting a mix of weariness and determination. He had spent hours crafting the combat knives, but his mind had never strayed far from Rico’s condition.

"It was challenging, but I managed to finish the knives," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of exhaustion. "How is Rico doing?"

Kira sighed, her gaze shifting towards Rico lying on the bed, his features pale and his breathing shallow. The injuries he had sustained from saving Kira had taken a toll on him, and the medical staff worked tirelessly to stabilize his condition.

Kira sighed heavily. "He’s stable for now, but he’s not out of the woods yet. The doctor says he’s in a medically induced coma to give his body time to heal."

Shinon clenched his jaw, his fists balling up in frustration. He hated feeling helpless, and there was nothing he could do to help Rico except wait.

"But no point worrying about him," Kira smiled, wiping a stray tear from her face. "His stubbornness will overcome any problem that gets thrown his way."

Shinon nodded, his expression reflecting a mix of concern and determination. Rico was not just a comrade; he was a friend, a brother. Shinon’s thoughts were consumed by the idea of saving him, of ensuring his return to health.

"I’ll do everything in my power to help him," Shinon vowed, his voice filled with unwavering resolve. "We won’t lose him. Not on my watch." freewebnovel.cσ๓

Kira’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her hand reaching out to grasp Shinon’s. "Yeah, I know. We’ll get through this together."

As they stood by Rico’s bedside, a profound silence settled between them. The steady beeping of the heart monitor provided a metronomic backdrop, reminding them of the fragility of life and the importance of their collective efforts.

"When was the last time you slept?" he asked, his voice softening.

"Last night for three hours, I guess?" Kira yawned. "I can’t seem to rest knowing Rico is in this condition."

Shinon put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Go get some rest, Kira. I’ll stay here with him."

"Thank you," she whispered before standing up and leaving the room. "I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep longer than that either way."

Shinon sat in silence, watching Rico’s chest rise and fall with each breath. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him, knowing that it was his fault that Rico was in this condition. If he hadn’t taken them on the quest, none of it would’ve happened in the first place.

He leaned forward and took Rico’s hand in his, the metal of his combat knife still cool against his skin.

"Get well soon, you bastard," he whispered. "I miss treating you as my meat shield. Also, I know you’d never want to hurt Kira, so there’s that."

Moments later, a soft knock at the door interrupted their thoughts. The door swung open, and a weary-looking doctor entered the room, his lab coat bearing the emblem of the Phoenixes.

"Excuse me," the doctor said, his voice laced with weariness. "Are you Shinon?"

Shinon turned his attention to the doctor, nodding in affirmation. "Yes, I am. How can I help?"

The doctor approached Shinon, his gaze filled with gratitude and urgency.

"We heard about the work you did, and we are grateful for your contribution." The doctor said. "Although I shouldn’t say this, we have been having many more people injured due to lack of proper equipment. I hope with your help, we can resolve that problem."

Shinon acknowledged the doctor’s words with a nod, his focus still fixed on Rico’s fragile form. "Thank you, but right now, my priority is Rico’s recovery. Is there any update on his condition?"

The doctor’s expression softened, his professional demeanour giving way to empathy. "We’re doing everything we can, but it will take time. He’s stable for now, but we’re closely monitoring him regardless of his state."

Shinon’s grip tightened around his bicep as the feeling of helplessness overtook him. But the moment only lasted for a moment as he offered his hand to the doctor.

"Well, I’d like to thank you for everything you and your team have done for us. Not many people would readily help a stranger in a world like this," he said.

"You can always thank Lady Nova. She’s the one who gathered the supplies for Mr Rico’s surgery."

"I... didn’t know that," Shinon replied, quite surprised that a Phoenix, for once, did something selfless. "I’ll be sure to offer my thanks to her when we meet the next time."

The doctor nodded understanding before exiting the room, leaving Shinon to his thoughts about the Phoenixes. Maybe he was being too harsh on them?

’No, don’t even think about going down that road.’ Shinon reminded himself.