After treating that patient, we had a short eting with the other healers as the situation headed for the worst-case scenario. We all knew what that ant as he stared wordlessly into each other’s eyes and nodded sadly.
“We can’t go on like this anymore...so from now on...it’s code Black...” Uncle Gobei stated what was already on everyone’s mind. It took courage and authority from a senior doctor to say those words because it ant that from now on, we would be forsaking the lives of so patients. That’s right, we’re going to leave so of them to die...
Code Black. The situation that no dical practitioner wants to find him or herself in. Ever. In ergency situations where there are more patients than the dical staff could handle, patients will be categorized based on their probability of survival. Only those labelled as having high and dium probability of survival will be given treatnt. Those that were beyond saving were automatically categorized as Black and will receive no dical attention.
That’s right, we are now mandated to leave so people to die. I bit my lower lip, all the while my hands were moving to treat the patient lying on his back in front of on a stretcher. Looking up montarily was a mistake, all I saw were more patient being rushed in, all on stretchers. Shit.
...
“How far have we progressed?” Ren asked his ssengers from the frontlines in a calm voice.
“The second wave of soldiers combined with the first have already entered the main part of town as you have planned, Your Highness,” the ssenger reported before bowing low to show his respect.
“The war is coming to a climax, can I join the foray now?” Ren asked while his horse perked up at the opportunity to go into battle.
“No, Your Highness! You must not go into battle. The Emperor has absolutely forbid it...else he’ll have my head. Please stay behind...” Shin cried out in protest.
“This is so boring...” Ren muttered under his breath.
...
Black. Black...and yet another Black patient. I closed my eyes for a mont and will this to just be a dream. When I reopened my eyes, the sa chaotic scene greeted . The number of Black patients with no chance of survival increased exponentially. I didn’t even have ti to hold their hand as they slowly passed away from their injuries. This is insane! When will this battle end. There is no way we can win this war; why are we even fighting.
“Lin! Take this!” Uncle Gobei called my na before throwing more bandages and cloth. Soon our dical supply will be running low. If the number of patients keep on rising, not only will we not have enough staff, but we also wouldn’t have enough supplies and dicines to treat them with as well.
“Excuse , mister. How is the situation outside?” I asked hopefully.
“Not good...” was the soldier’s brief answer as he headed out of the tent after leaving behind his injured comrade for our treatnt.
I didn’t need to do the math to know that more patients died rather than survive at my hands. I wanted to scream, cry and then blackout. I’m just not skilled enough to save them. This is my fault. If I had more skill, if I had developed better dicines and potions...perhaps they didn’t have to die. Perhaps, I could have saved more of them...
I watched as many pairs of eyes lost their sparkle of life and many hands fell limp as death claid them. The whole place slled of blood mixed with herb and dicine. My clothes, my arms and face were covered all in blood. Blood that wasn’t mine.
“There are more patients outside!” a won called out.
Shit! I grabbed whatever dical supplies that I had left and ran out of the camp to treat the new patients arriving outside.
...
“How long do I have to sit here without any action...” Ren complained, his voice plagued with boredom.
“Stop complaining, Your Highness...” Shin replied curtly.
“I hate it when you use that tone with ...” Ren teased his best friend.
“Then stop acting like a spoiled child already...” Shin said with mock annoyance.
“Is that how you address your Crown Prince?” Ren asked mockingly, eyeing his best friend who was also astride his horse.
“When we’re alone, yes. Who else will keep you in check? You’re the Crown Prince, Ren, you can’t go out in the mist of random battles anymore. Your old man is going to wring my neck...” Shin started to lecture Ren endlessly.
It should be around this ti that the enemy will offer to negotiate terms of surrender. If I’m not wrong, a ssenger should be arriving soon. This is getting more and more boring by the minute. Hopefully, the usage of the secret passages had saved us so ti and so n.
“Your Highness, a representative from the Town of Amber Leaves has co to negotiate terms of surrender,” a young soldier inford Ren and Shin.
“How insolent of them to send a re representative and be expected to et in person with the Crown Prince!” Shin spat as he moved his horse forward.
“Shin...” Ren said in a low voice as he gestured for Shin to remain still.
“It is all going as planned. I won’t et with the representative, so please give these terms from the Emperor of the Fla Dragon Empire to the representative. If he agrees to all the terms, we will cease this war and retreat at once,” Ren stated emotionlessly, handing the young soldier a scroll bearing the empire’s crest.
“Yes, Your Highness,” the ssenger replied stiffly.
“I’ll go along to et the representative. Ren, you stay here with the guards...” Shin said as he followed the ssenger.
“Sure,” Ren replied in agreent.
Finally, Shin has left my side. Shin is my best friend, but he is super strict and follows father’s order to the letter. He would flip if he found out what I’m about to do...
“Guards, co with ...” I ordered in my authoritative voice. Shin or no Shin, I’m the Crown Prince here.
Although they seed a little shock, the guards decided to comply and followed . Not like they had a choice since the very beginning.
--To be continued...
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