Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 27

“Hang in there, just a little longer. Don’t fall asleep, or you’ll die. Keep your eyes open.”

On an improvised stretcher was a soldier, his arm nearly torn off, groaning with barely any breath left.

A fellow Felius soldier was trying to reduce blood loss by applying a tourniquet and positioning the injured soldier’s arm, while writhing in pain on the stretcher.

The circular wound on the upper arm was caused by an ice spear, a water attribute magic spell. Moments before, they had engaged in fierce combat with the Jeyf Cavalry Battalion of the Highserk Army, narrowly emerging victorious. But the victory came with a high cost.

Many had fallen, and even more were injured. The Felius soldier’s comrade on the stretcher was among the latter. Unlike those who suffered fatal wounds to their vital organs, he still had a chance to survive.

“Is there no healing mage here?! The bleeding is severe! Cauterization will kill him!” the Felius soldier shouted hoarsely, but the responses he received were bleak.

“We’re out of magical power. The healing mages can’t sustain any longer.”

“I’m sorry, it’s impossible.”

The soldiers who rushed into the camp searched for a healing mage, but they had already exhausted their magical powers treating the critically wounded.

“Is there no healing mage here?!”

Desperate, the soldier started looking for an alternative. A fire magic user to cauterize the wound would do, knowing well the risk of shock-induced death was high due to the soldier’s weakened state and blood loss. Yet, it seemed to be the only option as the wound continued to bleed profusely.

“Crap, we’re running out of time,” he muttered, about to start his search when a knight from the neighboring Kingdom of Crest stopped him.

“There’s treatment available. Follow me.”

“Really?” the Felius soldier asked, hurriedly following the knight to a space surrounded by tents centered around a wagon. The area was heavily guarded by twelve fully armed knights.

The Rehazen knight spoke to the soldier, looking him up and down from head to toe.

“Leave your sword here and enter,” one of the Crest knights instructed. The Felius soldier complied, stepping into the tent with hesitation.

Inside, the tent reeked of blood and death, typical of a battlefield makeshift medical station. But the Felius soldier sensed something unusual.

“Lay him down over there,” the knight directed.

As the Felius soldier followed the instruction, a figure emerged. It was a girl with rare black hair and black eyes, her gentle round eyes narrowed with severity. Her long hair was tied up, presumably to avoid hindrance during treatment.

Seeming out of place on the battlefield, perhaps an assistant or apprentice, the Felius soldier turned to the knight and asked, “Sir Knight, where is the healing mage?”

“She’s right there,” the knight replied, just as a warm light filled the tent. Astonished, the Felius soldier watched as his comrade’s wound closed, and even the missing part began to regenerate.

“Impossible. Treatment for a missing part?!” he exclaimed.

“Being injured here turned out to be fortunate. No one brought here has died yet,” the knight proudly informed him. Looking around, the Felius soldier saw that all the wounded soldiers, regardless of their severe injuries, were resting peacefully.

“Thank you, thank you so much! She’s like a saint,” the soldier gratefully expressed as the girl healer, with a brief smile, continued her focused treatment.

That day, soldiers who would otherwise have been lost were saved, not just once or twice. It was inevitable that rumors of a miraculous healer on the battlefield from the Kingdom of Crest would spread.

◆

Ayane Sugimoto, had been a typical high school student enjoying her youth just a few months ago. She rarely saw blood except during physical activities or unfortunate falls, and she had never witnessed someone dying.

With many doctors and nurses in her family, Ayane herself was studying hard with the goal of becoming a nurse. Her destiny drastically changed when she, along with her childhood friends, was transported to another world.

Struggling to adapt to different cultures, customs, and environments, Ayane eventually found her role in this new world. Unlike her friends Yuuto and Makoto, Ayane didn’t develop any offensive abilities. She felt powerless and anxious, unable to do more than watch as her friends fought and got hurt, but they were also the ones who helped her find her place.

Ayane’s talent for healing magic was discovered by chance. She instinctively healed Yuuto’s shoulder injury during a bandit raid. Realizing she could heal and save people in pain, Ayane was overwhelmed with emotion. Her friends and the knights of the Rehazen Knight Order, with whom they were staying, all rejoiced at her newfound ability.

Ayane played a supportive role with her healing magic during the battles against the demonic territories and the lake dragons. She found joy in her role, helping and healing others.

The situation escalated when Felius and the Highserk Empire went to war, and surrounding nations joined the conflict. According to the knights, the Highserk Empire was heavily militarized and engaged in aggressive, expansionist wars under the guise of defense. If unchecked, neighboring countries would be swallowed one by one. Ayane learned that the Four Nation Alliance around a giant lake was formed to dismantle the Highserk Empire.

Truthfully, Ayane hated war. She detested seeing people getting hurt, and disliked causing harm to others. Above all, she never wished for the danger that her two childhood friends and the knights from the order would face, and the toll it would take on their minds and bodies.

Despite hating the idea of war, Ayane understood the necessity of fighting. She was well aware of this world’s violent and primitive aspects.

Day after day, Ayane continued treating patients in her tent. The sight of unsavable lives and horrific injuries nearly broke her spirit at times. However, the peaceful faces of her patients, the words of gratitude from soldiers, and the support of her comrades kept her going.

“Looks like the treatment is done for now,” Maya, a healing mage assisting Ayane, said.

“I was saved again today. It’s thanks to you that I can perform healing while having strong magic but insufficient experience.”

Although Ayane had some knowledge of medical care, it was only at the level of a novice. Ayane understood well that she merely followed Maya when it came to the precise treatment and preparations for the wounded.

“I was saved again today. It’s thanks to you that I can perform healing while having strong magic but insufficient experience.”

Although Ayane had some knowledge of medical care, it was only at the level of a novice. Ayane understood well that she merely followed Maya when it came to the precise treatment and preparations for the wounded.

“You are undervaluing yourself too much, Lady Ayane. Have more confidence,” Maya said with a troubled look.

“Oh, right. Yuuto and Makoto have come nearby.”

“I hope they’re not injured.”

“They were not injured. They have inflicted significant damage on the Jeyf Cavalry, which has been troubling us since joining the battle. They were being mobbed by soldiers and knights at the camp,” Maya said with a smile.

Ayane laughed along and said, “I think I’ll go and meet them once I’ve finished cleaning up.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll come with you.”

Despite its miraculous nature, healing magic was not omnipotent. Various items like instruments for aligning wounds, buckets for washing, and cloths were needed. Understanding the use of these tools and checking their condition was essential, which was why Ayane didn’t leave the cleanup entirely to Maya, her assistant.

Maya began cleaning the tools with water attribute magic, and Ayane wiped off the dirt and stored them in her magic bag.

After focusing on the task for half an hour, when Ayane stepped outside, she found two childhood friends waiting there.

“You’re both here. I was just about to go and see you.”

“The military council has finished. Johanna and the others are discussing future strategies and tactics. They wanted us to rest first.”

“It was tough today. Each member of the enemy’s Jeyf Cavalry was too strong. They are almost like knights,” Makoto said looking drained.

“Yeah, several of them broke through our magic and charged at us. Johanna and others drove them back, but between us… it was a close call.”

“It was incredible, wasn’t it?”

Yuuto said modestly, but in reality, he felt fear as the approaching cavalrymen threatened him, their entrails scattered around.

If it weren’t for his training and allies from the Knight order, Yuuto would have likely been more shaken. Unlike battles with monsters, he keenly felt the toll it took on his mind and body.

As the conversation was about to shift towards the battle, Maya, who had been standing behind Ayane, spoke up.

“Have you two eaten yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“No, we haven’t eaten.”

“The Felius army has provided us with extra food. It seems among those whom you three helped, there were some of noble blood, and this is their way of thanking you. We’ve received white bread that isn’t hard-baked, cheese, and sausages.”

“WHAT?!”

All three reacted with surprise. Ever since coming to this other world, especially to the battlefield, their diet had been worsening.

Growing teenagers and, in addition, the calorie demands of magic use meant the three could eat as much as strong warriors.

“Food! I want to eat!”

“Meat and white bread, lately it’s just been beans and potatoes.”

“I also… want to eat.”

Even the famed Three Heroes showed their age-appropriate reactions. Maya smiled warmly but was simultaneously worried they might be lured away too easily by their simple desires.