Medical Request

After that breakfast filled with "life" and noise, the guild hall gradually began to fill up.

Young mages gathered in twos and threes before the request board, picking out jobs that suited them.

Although the medical requests on the board did not name a particular mage, everyone knew they belonged exclusively to Riyao.

In the Fairy Tail guild, absolutely no one dared underestimate this eight-year-old because of his age.

Not only did Riyao possess extensive knowledge from his previous life as a medical student, but he was also the only mage in the guild who had learned and mastered Healing Magic.

In a world where mages were quick to smash, loot, and burn, causing astonishing destruction, a skilled medical mage was practically as rare as a giant panda.

The local residents of Magnolia Town trusted Fairy Tail, especially this miraculous little healer. Whenever someone in town had a headache or fever, suffered a bruise or sprain, or was bitten by a low-level magic beast from the nearby forest, they would habitually send a request to the guild.

Riyao rose onto his tiptoes, pulled several parchment request forms off the board, and read through them carefully.

He turned to Cana, who was sitting quietly by the bar with little to do, and a gentle smile curved his lips.

"Cana, do you have any plans today? If not, would you like to come with me on my house calls in town? You can use the chance to get familiar with Magnolia."

Cana's eyes lit up at Riyao's invitation.

She had only just arrived and was still a little intimidated by the mages in the guild who breathed fire and spat ice at the drop of a hat. Naturally, she could ask for nothing better than to go out with Riyao, who seemed the gentlest and most reliable of them all.

"Yes, Riyao! I... I can help you carry things!" Cana hurriedly jumped down from her chair and ran over to him, her little hands clutching the hem of her clothes. She looked excited and a little nervous.

"Let's go. Our first patient today is Uncle Thomas, who lives in the south of town."

Riyao took Cana's hand and pushed open the guild doors.

Magnolia Town was full of life and energy in the early morning. Vendors had already set up stalls along the cobblestone streets, displaying a dazzling array of fresh fruit, newly baked bread, and colorful fabrics.

"Hey! If it isn't little Riyao! Going on house calls again today?"

A plump woman selling apples spotted Riyao and immediately greeted him warmly. She picked out the two biggest, reddest apples from her stall and pressed them into Cana's arms.

"This little girl must be new, right? What a lovely child. Here, have these!"

"Thank you, ma'am. You look much healthier than you did last month. It seems you've been taking the restorative potion I prescribed on schedule."

Riyao smiled as he replied, his familiar and courteous manner nothing like that of an eight-year-old child.

Holding the two big apples, Cana followed beside Riyao, a little overwhelmed by the kindness.

She noticed that the townspeople all regarded Riyao with respect and affection.

All along the way, people kept tipping their hats to them or giving them little snacks.

"Riyao, everyone seems to like you," Cana said softly, a hint of envy in her voice.

Riyao slowed his pace and spoke to Cana with a grin.

"We at Fairy Tail have caused the people of Magnolia plenty of trouble. One day, I said I wanted to take on requests, and the old man immediately announced that the guild would accept medical requests! To thank the locals for looking after us all this time, he set the prices really low. But I don't care how much money I get!"

Cana nodded, only half understanding, but she could feel a warm, reassuring glow radiating from Riyao as he spoke.

That glow was completely different from the scheming little devil who had tormented Uncle Macao with a strange potion the night before.

The two passed through several bustling streets and arrived at a wooden house that was somewhat old but kept very clean.

Riyao stepped forward and knocked. Soon, an elderly woman with graying hair opened the door.

When she saw Riyao, a smile appeared on her face. "Oh, little Riyao, you're here! My husband has been rolling around in pain since last night. Please, come in and take a look!"

"Don't worry, Grandma Mary. I'll examine him right away." Riyao's voice instantly turned serious.

He led Cana inside, where the air was thick with the smell of herbs and a barely perceptible, foul stench.

On a wooden bed in the inner room lay a broad, powerfully built middle-aged man—Uncle Thomas. His face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

He had once been a well-known lumberjack in town, but now his right lower leg was badly swollen and a frightening purplish-black. Black mucus was seeping from the edges of the wound.

At that moment, Riyao's entire demeanor underwent a complete transformation.

He was no longer the prank-loving brat or the gentle boy next door, but an utterly professional, calm, and reliable physician.

His clear eyes became exceedingly sharp, as though they could see through to the patterns of muscle and bone.

He examined Thomas's wound carefully, his brow furrowing slightly. "This isn't an ordinary bruise or sprain. The wound is torn, and there's also slight magical erosion. Uncle Thomas, did you go to the edge of the forest east of town and get bitten by a Purple Poison Badger?"

Uncle Thomas weakly opened his eyes and nodded with difficulty. "Y... yes... I wanted to pick some rare tree mushrooms to help Mary regain her strength... I didn't expect to run into that beast... Little Doctor Riyao, can my leg... still be saved?"

"Bear with it. The toxin has already started to spread, so I have to draw it out first."

Riyao held his hands about three inches above the wound, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The next second, pure, warm emerald-green magic brimming with life poured from his palms and slowly seeped into Uncle Thomas's lower leg like a fine spring rain.

Cana stood to one side, holding her breath as she watched without blinking.

The green light shone on Riyao's delicate profile as he concentrated, making him look utterly sacred.

She saw the purplish-black poisoned blood being forced little by little from the wound as Riyao channeled his magic into it. It dripped into a copper basin prepared beforehand, giving off a pungent smell.

The detoxification process lasted about ten minutes. By the time a fine layer of sweat had formed on Riyao's forehead, the blood flowing from the wound had finally turned a normal bright red.

Riyao withdrew his magic and let out a long breath. Then he quickly took a cloth bundle from his case and unfolded it, revealing a row of silver needles of varying lengths.

His hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers as he precisely inserted several silver needles into key acupoints on Uncle Thomas's leg.

This was not only to relieve the pain, but also to clear the magic circuits and meridians damaged by the toxin.

"One last step." Green light shone from Riyao's hands once more, gentler this time than before.

Under the effects of Healing Magic, the vicious-looking tear began to heal and scab over at a speed visible to the naked eye, eventually leaving only a faint red mark.

Riyao removed the silver needles and took the bandage Cana handed him. With practiced, graceful movements, he dressed the wound and tied a neat bow.

He removed his gloves and breathed a long sigh of relief. "All done, Uncle. The toxin has been completely purged, and the muscles and blood vessels have been repaired. Still, try to stay off your feet for the next few days. I'll leave you a few doses of herbs to regulate your qi and blood. Boil and take them on schedule, and you'll be hopping around again in a week."

Uncle Thomas tried moving his right leg and found that the piercing pain and numbness had vanished completely, replaced by a warm, comfortable feeling.

He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Th... thank you so much, little Riyao."

Riyao and Cana left Uncle Thomas's house.

"Riyao, you looked so cool treating him just now! You were amazing!"

Cana praised him sincerely, her large eyes sparkling like stars.

Riyao stopped, turned to look at Cana, and suddenly gave her a sly smile befitting a scheming little devil.

"Really? Since you think I'm amazing, and you're my personal little nurse, I've decided to reward your excellent performance today by letting you try my newly developed 'strawberry-flavored stamina enhancer' when we get back. It might keep you awake for three days, but it's definitely very good for you!"

The admiration on Cana's face instantly froze. Remembering the miserable sight of Uncle Macao rolling on the floor that morning, she stumbled back two steps in fright and shook her head furiously.

"N... no thanks, Riyao! I think my stamina's pretty good as it is!"

Riyao's clear laughter and Cana's somewhat panicked footsteps echoed through the streets of Magnolia.

Earnestness and cunning, a physician's compassion and a child's wicked sense of fun, blended perfectly in this eight-year-old boy, making him a unique and heartwarming sight in Fairy Tail.