Treatment

Vili shook his head gently."You hired me;it's my duty."

Caril and the others said nothing more but kept this favor in their hearts.

"Go inside the cave and rest for the night.I'll keep watch outside,"Caril said after settling the horses and taking his spear to the cave entrance.

The forest was more dangerous at night,with many terrifying creatures preferring to be nocturnal.Without someone keeping watch,they could easily be ambushed by wild beasts.

"I'll take the second half of the night,"Vélin told Caril,who nodded without another word.

Vili found a corner in the cave,lay down,and closed his eyes.The series of actions to save Vitente had left him physically and mentally exhausted,and sleep was the best way to rest.

Soon,sleepiness overcame him,and Vili drifted off to sleep.

The next day.

The first rays of morning sunlight shone into the cave,and Vili slowly opened his eyes.

"You're awake?Have some food,"Lani said,still groggy from sleep,as she handed Vili a piece of dried meat.

The scent of the meat made Vili's stomach growl.It was the first time he had seen meat since arriving in this world.

"Thank you,"Vili said,taking the dried meat.He first opened his water skin and took a drink before chewing on the meat.

"Where are Vitente and the others?"Vili looked around,realizing that only he and Lani were in the cave.

Lani pointed outside."Vitente said it was too stuffy in here.Vélin and Caril are taking care of him outside."

"Vitente woke up?"Vili had thought Vitente would remain unconscious for a while longer.He didn't expect him to wake up after just one night.

"He woke up,but he's not in good shape,"Lani's face showed a hint of worry."The ointment wasn't enough.Although we've bandaged the wounds,we can't stop the signs of infection."

Vili's brow furrowed.He swallowed the last piece of dried meat and stood up."I'll go take a look."

Vili stepped out of the cave and saw Vitente half-reclining against a tree not far away.Vélin and Caril were sitting beside him.

Seeing Vili approach,Vitente smiled gratefully."Thank you,Vili.Thank you for saving my life."

Last night,amidst the continuous wolf attacks,Vitente's consciousness had faded.He only vaguely remembered seeing Vili running towards him with a long knife before losing awareness.It wasn't until this morning,when Caril recounted the events of the night,that Vitente learned how Vili had driven away the wolves and risked his life to save him.

"It's nothing,"Vili said,not wanting to dwell on the topic further.He squatted down and examined Vitente's bandaged wounds.The blood on Vitente had been cleaned,but the bandages were still stained with blood seeping through.

"Let me take a look at your wounds,"Vili said as he gently unwrapped the white gauze.The areas where the black wolves had torn into Vitente's flesh were already beginning to adhere,but not in a normal healing process.The flesh was sticking together because of the rot.

Vili's expression grew serious.He knew that if the wounds continued to fester,Vitente would not make it out of the Mors Forest alive.

"It's my fault.I should have prepared more ointment,"Lani said,filled with deep self-reproach.

"It's okay.I'll get through this,"Vitente replied,his face pale but still managing a weak smile to comfort Lani.

Vili thought for a moment,then took Vitente's crossbow and a few bolts in hand.

"I'm going to check around,"he said.He knew that if Vitente's wounds weren't dealt with promptly,tragedy would be inevitable.Since he had already saved Vitente once,he might as well help again.

From the knowledge granted by the[Beginner Gatherer]title,Vili knew that many herbs in the Mors Forest had anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.He might be able to find some.

"Where are you going?"Vélin asked,puzzled.

"To find something,"Vili replied,heading off into the distance.

Vélin hesitated for a moment,then picked up her longsword.She didn't feel comfortable letting Vili wander alone in the forest."I'll go with you,"she said.

Vili didn't refuse;having an extra person meant an extra layer of safety.

Vili moved through the undergrowth,keeping an eye out for potential dangers while searching for the herbs he remembered."What are you looking for?"Vélin followed behind,scanning the surroundings for any lurking beasts.

Vili didn't hide the truth."I'm looking for some herbs that might help stop Vitente's wounds from festering further."

Vélin looked at Vili in surprise,at a loss for words.

He knew about herbs?But he was just a country boy.Ever since she had met Vili,he seemed to be doing things that ordinary people couldn't.

"Found it,"Vili said,his eyes brightening as he looked at the wild grass beneath his feet.He bent down and pulled up a cluster of dark green leaves by their roots.He brought the roots to his nose and sniffed,nodding slightly.

"Let's go back,"Vili turned around and hurried towards the cave.Maybe this cluster of seemingly ordinary leaves could save Vitente's life.

"Lani,could you remove the bandages from Vitente's wounds?"Vili had returned to Vitente and the others.He crushed the herbs in his hand,forming them into a ball.

Lani looked bewildered at Vili,unsure what he was rushing back to do.

"These are the herbs Vili found.They might help stop the boss's wounds from spreading,"Vélin explained.

Lani and Caril glanced at Vili in surprise,while Vitente paused,a look of gratitude appearing on his face.He wanted to say something,but Vili stopped him.

After Lani removed the bandages from Vitente's wounds,revealing the mangled flesh,Vili evenly applied the crushed herbs onto the injuries.

As he did so,Vitente's expression twitched;the herbs clearly caused intense pain upon contact with the wounds.

After applying the herbs,Vili said,"Don't re-bandage the wounds yet.Wait for half an hour,and there might be some changes."

"How confident are you?"Caril asked in a low voice.

"Fifty-fifty,"Vili replied.In reality,he was about seventy percent sure that he could help Vitente through this,but he didn't want to overstate his confidence.

"That's enough,"Vitente said with a smile.Whether he lived or not,he would always remember Vili's favor.

Since the moment he decided to form a mercenary team,Vitente had been prepared for the worst.He had faced life and death too many times,and this time,he was calm.