Chapter 227 That Will Do

Chapter 227: Chapter 227 That Will Do

Ling Xuan considered the request. She had been concentrating on the monsters, the unstable passage and the practical problem of getting everyone out, while Laurel possessed medical knowledge that could make a difference now that the immediate danger had passed. There was no reason to keep control merely because she had been the one fighting.

’Very well,’ Ling Xuan answered. ’But work quickly. This tunnel is not secure.’

Laurel felt the familiar shift as control of their shared body passed to her. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly, and she drew a careful breath before lowering Tina against the wall, making certain the girl’s injured leg remained supported.

Stefan noticed the change when Laurel turned towards him. Her expression was still serious, but the sharpness in her gaze had softened, and the way she reached for Jack was different from Ling Xuan’s earlier movements.

"Don’t lift him yet, Stefan," Laurel instructed, kneeling beside the boy. "I need to check his neck, back and breathing before we move him. Please hold the flashlight where I can see his face."

Stefan obeyed immediately, shifting into position beside her. "Is there something wrong with his spine?"

"I don’t know yet," Laurel answered, gently placing her fingers against Jack’s neck to assess his pulse. "He took the impact across his back and shoulders, and he’s been unconscious since the collapse. Until I can examine him properly, we need to assume there could be an injury we haven’t seen."

She checked his breathing, the response of his pupils to the flashlight and the visible injuries around his head and shoulders, taking care not to twist his neck. His pulse was present, and his breathing remained regular, although both were weaker than she liked. When she carefully examined the bloodied fabric across his back, she found several cuts and areas of bruising, but the darkness and the limited space made a complete assessment difficult.

Laurel reached into the farming space and retrieved the medical supplies she kept available for emergencies. Stefan had already seen her produce objects without warning, so he showed no surprise when clean dressings and other necessary items appeared in her hands.

"His breathing is stable for now, but I’m worried about the head injury and the possibility of damage beneath the bruising," Laurel explained as she worked. "I can stop the bleeding and protect the wounds, but I can’t rule out a serious internal injury here. He needs proper examination and observation as soon as we get back."

Stefan watched her clean the visible wounds and cover them with sterile dressings. "Can you wake him?"

"Not safely by forcing it," Laurel answered, checking Jack’s response once more. "He may have a concussion or something more serious. What matters is keeping him breathing, preventing further injury and getting him to a place where we can examine him properly."

The answer did little to ease Stefan’s expression, but he understood enough not to interrupt her again.

Laurel finished securing the dressings before turning towards Tina, who stirred when she felt her aunt’s hand against her forehead. The child’s eyes opened slowly, and for a moment she looked confused by the change in position, but when she recognized Laurel, her fingers immediately reached for her sleeve again.

"Aunty Laurel?" Tina whispered, blinking sleepily. "Is Jack awake?"

Laurel’s chest tightened at the question. She wanted to tell Tina that everything would be fine, but the boy was still unconscious, and she would not make a promise she couldn’t support.

"Not yet, sweetheart," Laurel answered, gently brushing the dusty hair away from Tina’s face. "He’s breathing, but we need to get him somewhere safer. First, I want to check you properly."

Tina nodded reluctantly, although her gaze remained fixed on Jack. Laurel examined the injury on her forehead, asked her several simple questions to assess her awareness and checked whether she remembered what had happened before the collapse. Tina answered most of them correctly, but she struggled to describe the moments immediately after the roof fell, which increased Laurel’s concern about a possible concussion.

When Laurel moved to examine the swollen knee, Tina flinched and gripped her sleeve more tightly.

"Does it hurt here?" Laurel asked, touching carefully around the injured area without forcing the joint to bend.

Tina nodded, her face tightening. "Yes, Aunty Laurel. It hurts when I try to stand, but I can still move my foot."

"That’s useful to know," Laurel reassured her, checking the circulation and sensation below the injury. "I don’t want you putting weight on it until we can examine it properly. I’ll support the leg so it doesn’t move around while we travel."

Tina watched as Laurel cleaned the small wound near her knee and applied a dressing, then carefully supported the joint without trying to straighten it by force. The child remained unusually quiet throughout the examination, although her eyes occasionally filled with tears whenever she looked towards Jack.

Laurel noticed and paused long enough to take her hand. "Tina, I know you’re frightened, but Jack needs us to stay calm while we help him. You did the right thing by staying beside him and calling for help."

Tina lowered her head. "He got hurt because he was protecting me."

Laurel felt the guilt in those words immediately. She had heard similar thoughts from adults who survived when someone else was injured, but hearing them from a child made her heart ache.

"Jack chose to protect you because he cares about you," Laurel told her gently, squeezing her hand. "That doesn’t mean you caused what happened to him. The monsters chased you, and the roof collapsed. Neither of you wanted any of this."

Tina’s lips trembled, and she leaned forward to embrace Laurel carefully. "I was so scared, Aunty Laurel."

Laurel held her close, mindful of the injured knee. "I know, sweetheart. You’re safe with us now."

Inside their shared consciousness, Ling Xuan remained quiet as Laurel comforted the child. She could feel the depth of Laurel’s relief and the fear that had not completely disappeared, but she also recognized the difference Laurel’s medical knowledge had made.

Stefan shifted beside Jack, drawing Laurel’s attention when he pressed one hand against the wall to steady himself. His breathing had become uneven again, and the effort of remaining alert seemed to be taking more strength than he wanted to admit.

Laurel studied him for a moment before reaching into the farming space. She retrieved a restorative medicine from her stored supplies and held it out to him, along with a bottle of water.

"Take this," Laurel instructed, placing the medicine in his hand. "It should help you recover some of the strength you’ve used, but it won’t replace proper rest. You’ve pushed your ability too hard already."

Stefan looked down at what she had given him. "Will it be enough for another teleportation?"

"It may help you recover enough to make the attempt more safely," Laurel answered. "But I need you to be honest about how you feel afterward. If you’re still too weak, we’ll wait rather than risk an uncontrolled jump with two injured children."

Stefan nodded and took the medicine with the water. The thought of finally bringing Tina and Jack home made him willing to accept whatever help she could offer.

While they waited, Laurel returned to Jack and checked his breathing again. She wanted to move him as little as possible, so she prepared a firm support from the materials available to her, taking care to keep his head, neck and torso aligned while arranging how they would carry him. Stefan assisted only when she directed him, following her instructions closely rather than attempting to lift the boy himself.

Several minutes passed before Stefan rose carefully from where he had been resting. His complexion had improved slightly, and although exhaustion remained visible around his eyes, he no longer swayed when he stood.

"How do you feel?" Laurel asked, studying him before allowing him near Jack.

"Better than before," Stefan answered, flexing his fingers and taking a measured breath. "Not completely recovered, but I can concentrate again. The medicine helped."

Laurel nodded, though she remained cautious. "Then we won’t waste that improvement. We need to choose the destination carefully, and I want you to avoid unnecessary jumps."

Stefan considered the route they had taken to reach the platform. Returning all the way to the fortress would normally require a single teleportation if he is well recovered, but carrying two injured children meant he could not afford to lose control halfway through the journey.

"I can take us back to the fortress," Stefan suggested after a moment. "But because of my state right now, I think it will be better if I make several jumps instead of one." He added.

Laurel glanced towards the children, then towards the collapsed passage. Remaining underground carried its own dangers, particularly with the damaged ceiling and the possibility of more monsters finding their way into the tunnel.

"That will do," Laurel answered. "But first, I think it is safer if I bring the kids into my storage space, so as not to risk worsening their injuries. And it wouldn’t be too much of a workload for you too."

"That is a good idea." Stefan replied, though he wanted to ask more questions of how the storage space works.

Laurel closed her eyes and immediately moved the children into her space. ’Sister Ling Xuan, have Luo to monitor their health.’

’I will.’ Ling Xuan replied curtly.