I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

Moments later, the door burst open as Kojo returned, slightly out of breath. Behind him stood Dr. Mensah, a tall, slim man with a stern expression. In his hand, he clutched a small test tube containing what appeared to be colorful wood chips or some other curious substance.

Dr. Mensah strode into the room, his eyes fixed straight ahead, not bothering to acknowledge anyone present. His voice, when he spoke, was laced with irritation.

"Why have I been dragged from my bed at this ungodly hour?" he demanded, his tone sharp. "I hope you realize that consulting me at this time comes at a premium. And my services? Even more so."

Before anyone else could respond, Matilda stepped forward, her voice tight with worry and impatience. "I'll pay whatever you ask. Just please, help him."

The doctor's cold gaze settled on Matilda for a moment, assessing her. Then, without a word, he stretched out his hand, palm up.

"Five hundred Thalens," he said flatly. "That's my fee just to look at him. Treatment will cost significantly more."

Without hesitation, Matilda reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. She counted out Two thousand Thalens and pressed them into the doctor's waiting hand.

"This is for both examining and treating him," she said, her voice trembling slightly with a mix of desperation and annoyance. "Now please, help him."

Dr. Mensah's eyebrows raised slightly at the amount, but his expression remained impassive. He pocketed the money and turned towards Zafron, muttering under his breath, "Well, at least someone here understands the value of my time."

As he approached the table where Zafron lay, he cast a dismissive glance at the herbal treatment the old man had applied. "Amateur herbalism," he scoffed. "Step aside and let a real professional work."

He removed the leaves the old man had applied, his lips curled in a slight sneer. He then turned his attention to the test tube he'd brought, shaking it gently until a small green pebble rose to the top.

With practiced precision, he extracted the pebble and began to mutter an incantation under his breath.

The onlookers watched as the pebble suddenly vaporized, forming a misty ring around the doctor's hand before coalescing into a shimmering liquid. Without hesitation, Dr. Mensah applied this mysterious substance to Zafron's forehead.

As Dr. Mensah applied the mysterious liquid to Zafron's forehead, the effect was immediate and dramatic. Zafron's body suddenly tensed, his back arching as his chest rose sharply.

Mara gasped, stepping forward instinctively. "Is that good? Is he getting better?"

The doctor turned, his expression grim. "It's a critical situation," he said, his voice low and serious. "I've used my best medicine, but the boy isn't responding as he should."

He paused, considering his next words carefully. "The good news is that the medicine will stop the bleeding and help him recover. He's not dead, but... he's not very much alive either."

Dr. Mensah's gaze swept across the room, settling on Matilda. "You need to get him to a true alchemist in town as soon as possible. They'll have resources I don't have access to here."

Matilda shook her head vehemently. "No, not town. We can't go back there." Her mind raced, considering alternatives. "What about Drakoria? The next city over?" She turned to the men in the room, her voice urgent. "Does anyone have a boat we could use?"

The men exchanged uneasy glances, murmuring among themselves. One by one, they shook their heads. "No boats available, miss," one of them said apologetically.

Kojo, who had been standing quietly near the door, stepped forward. "I... I could help you get there," he offered hesitantly. "But it won't be easy. It's a journey through the dark, and Drakoria... well, it's not exactly a friendly place.

There'll be expenses."

Matilda nodded, relief and determination mingling in her expression. "Whatever it costs, we'll pay it. We just need to get him help."

With that, Kojo rushed off to prepare his boat, the other men carefully lifted Zafron from the table.

They moved slowly, mindful of his fragile state, as they carried him outside. Matilda followed closely behind, her mind a whirlwind of worry and fear.

'Please, Zafron, you have to wake up,' she thought desperately. :You have to be okay.' The weight of responsibility pressed down on her. 'What would I tell your stepmother? How could I face them if...' She couldn't bring herself to finish the thought.

As they approached the riverside, Matilda's gaze swept over the dark, choppy waters. The journey ahead seemed daunting, but she steeled herself. They had no choice.

Before they boarded, Dr. Mensah approached Matilda, a small vial in his hand. "This is a stabilizer," he explained, his tone more professional than before.

"Apply it to his wounds every hour. It will help, but..." He paused, his expression grave. "You must find an alchemist as soon as you reach Drakoria. This situation is beyond what a mere doctor can handle."

Matilda nodded, taking the vial with trembling hands. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they carefully situated Zafron in the boat, Matilda turned to the men who had helped them. "Thank you all," she said earnestly.

The men nodded solemnly, a few murmuring wishes of good luck as Kojo pushed the boat away from the shore.

As the boat glided through the dark waters, Kojo's rhythmic paddling was the only sound breaking the tense silence. Each passenger was lost in their own thoughts, united in their desperate hope for Zafron's recovery.

Mara cradled Zafron's head gently in her lap, her eyes never leaving his face, searching for any sign of improvement.

Matilda paced the small space of the boat, her mind racing. Every hour, like clockwork, she would kneel beside Zafron, carefully applying the stabilizer to his wounds as Dr. Mensah had instructed.

The night seemed endless, each moment stretching into eternity as they raced against time. But finally, the first hints of dawn began to paint the sky, a faint glow on the horizon signaling the approach of morning.

As the sun slowly rose, casting its golden light across the water, the silhouette of Drakoria began to take shape in the distance. Tall buildings loomed on the horizon, their outlines growing clearer with each passing minute. The quiet of the night gave way to the distant sounds of a city awakening.

Boats of various sizes dotted the shoreline, some heading out for the day's work, others moored and waiting. The sight of civilization after their harrowing night journey brought a mix of relief and apprehension to the group.

Matilda's heart raced as she realized they had finally arrived. "We're here," she said, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and renewed determination. "Kojo, where's the best place to dock? We need to find an alchemist as quickly as possible."