NOVEL NEXT Chapter 207: Healer talk
After the thought occurred, Pollux felt a sense of unease, a tightness in his chest, and heaviness in his stomach that he couldn’t identify.
Him and Hadrian? No, that didn’t seem right. Just because he imagined something didn’t mean he actually wanted to do it. He had imagined impulsively attacking his father multiple times, but he didn’t do so, did he?
(Except he did, in the end.)
Just because Prince Rian was in love with Ayden didn’t mean he was in love with Hadrian. They weren’t the same, their circumstances were widely different.
The simple reason Hadrian had come to mind was because he spent more time with Hadrian, and Hadrian was objectively handsome.
He had to reluctantly applaud the author of this novella for writing such an evocative story. The author had a career in writing erotica before them.
Hadrian was a good friend.
Hadrian was a good friend.
Pollux skimmed the rest of the novella, put it and the booklets away, and went to sleep with an expressionless face.
Hadrian was a good friend.
As it turned out, Wolfgang Titian heard that they were back, so he came over with his basket of cats to play.
Wolfgang picked up Artemis, placing her on his palms. He nodded. “Lady Artemis Terra is a beautiful and adorable little cat,” he said seriously.
“Meow,” Artemis replied cutely.
Hadrian nodded like a proud father.
Wolfgang introduced Artemis to his cats one by one.
All of Wolfgang’s kittens had become larger young cats. Yet, little Artemis was a brave kitty, gamely plodding around, jumping (face-planting) into different cats. Eventually though, she mewed for help and Princess Sasha came over to the errant kitty’s side.
Then, Artemis went to investigate the other cats once more, and the cycle repeated.
Pollux, Hadrian and Wolfgang all looked at each other in amusement.
Everything was definitely fine and normal during Pollux’s afternoon exercise therapy session with Hadrian.
Pollux appreciated Hadrian’s loyalty, and Hadrian was a good friend. Men could have good male friends without it being romantic.
He was merely still getting used to having sensations in his legs, not that Hadrian’s touch was special. A year ago, he barely had any sensation in legs, and most of it was pain.
His university courses were about to start. He was going to develop single-personal transportation vehicles with Prince Alexius and he also wanted to develop his own product and research ideas. He should focus on that.
The next day, in the late afternoon, Ren Xiyang come to the Rosewood house for a healing session with Prince Pollux and Hadrian.
“How was your first day back at the university?” Ren Xiyang asked.
“The first lectures of the year are easy,” Prince Pollux said.
Ren Xiyang gave him a magical scan. “No unusual pain over the summer? Your muscle definition has improved.”
“No unusual pain,” Prince Pollux said.
“Have you had any conscious movement?”
Prince Pollux looked startled. “Should I be able to move my legs consciously already?”
“I’m not sure,” Ren Xiyang admitted. He reached out and touched Prince Pollux’s upper leg. “Can you feel that?”
Prince Pollux nodded.
Ren Xiyang touched above the knee, and then below the knee. “How about that?”
“I can feel it.”
Ren Xiyang nodded. “Your legs have improved over the summer, especially your upper legs. But movement is complicated and moving your upper legs requires also pulling your lower leg along, which complicates matters. It’s possible I haven’t fully restored some muscle or tendon that’s also needed.”
Prince Pollux frowned. “I see. I had the Imperial healers cast those spells every day for me. Perhaps the exercise therapy needs to change?”
Ren Xiyang also frowned, as he vaguely recalled an image of someone learning to walk again. It had involved walking on a long treadmill, with handrails on the side for support.
“I think you’re right,” Ren Xiyang said. “I’ve been thinking about your healing plan over the summer. I studied how Rian’s legs were like in motion versus when they’re stationary, and there are some differences. I’ll continue healing your nerves and restoring your lower legs’ muscles for now, and make sure everything is connected. But, later, we’ll try supported walking directly. I’m not entirely clear on how your brain would relearn to walk, but we’ll try every reasonable and safe option.”
Prince Pollux nodded. “And the exercise therapy?”
“It has clearly worked over the summer, so I would advise to continue it until I can figure out how to adjust it. Do you give me permission to consult with other healers? I will request their confidentiality.”
Prince Pollux had a wry expression. “I think others can guess what you’re talking about even if it’s confidential.”
“I plan to ask Duke Schauss,” Ren Xiyang said. “He always comes when Cassiopeia comes for her regular meeting with me.”
“Wouldn’t that fuel that rumour?” Hadrian asked. “The one where you and Lady Cassiopeia are meeting romantically?”
Ren Xiyang shrugged. “Not my problem. Duke Schauss is a very experienced healer. I don’t have to consult with him or a healer, but as a researcher, I know my limits, and I think his help will speed up your walking acquirement.”
“You can consult with Duke Schauss,” Prince Pollux said.
“Thank you. I’ll continue healing your lower legs now,” Ren Xiyang said.
Without further ado, Ren Xiyang started, while Prince Pollux and Hadrian pulled out their prepared materials to past the time.
Ren Xiyang had the feeling (the suspicion) that Rian had either had a bit too much time on his hands or wanted to do something different. Regardless, he needed more enriching engagement. So, Ren Xiyang tasked Rian with constructing a long treadmill with handrails with some kind of supportive harness system.
“Consider it done,” Rian said.
“And this can be combined with the floating desks that I’m making with Alexius, which would allow you to walk as you work. This is good for people who have a lot of desk-work but want to have more exercise. It’s also good for people who find it hard to sit still while working.”
“I will create the most perfect system for you,” Rian said sombrely.
Ren Xiyang quirked up his lips. “Thanks.”
Over the next week, Ren Xiyang had research, administration, meetings, healing sessions, an Imperial Council Gathering, and a social event.
Then, came his meeting with Cassiopeia.
As usual, Duke Schauss arrived with Cassiopeia.
“Hi Cassiopeia. Your Grace,” Ren Xiyang greeted them. “Your Grace, would you have time to have short meeting after I talk with Cassiopeia? There are some things I want to ask you.”
“Very well,” Duke Schauss said.
“Thank you. Cassiopeia, let’s go.”
Cassiopeia looked between Ren Xiyang and her father, and followed Ren Xiyang to his office.
“Why do you want to meet with my father?” she asked once they were inside.
“I just have some other things to talk to him about,” Ren Xiyang said. “As per our meeting a month ago, let’s talk about gender transition magic today, and how we’re going to set up that gender clinic.”
Cassiopeia had been working mostly on the information booklets and improving her general healing skills, including her direct-magic healing, for over nine months. Both of these would provide a good baseline for the future, for herself, the kingdom, and for sustainability of their future ventures, but Ren Xiyang could see that she was starting to become a little restless.
Cassiopeia perked up right away. “Okay. So. Over the last month, I’ve been thinking about it, and there are a lot of things we need to consider.” She opened her notebook to her prepared list. “There’s finances and expenses, location and reach, the development of a proper method for gender transition healing, and other possible issues. The easiest thing is the location. Here, in the Capital, I assume?”
“Yes, and we can consider expansions afterwards, through the Royal Healers’ Association,” Ren Xiyang said.
Cassiopeia made a small note. “Okay. I thought it could even be set up within the Capital Hospital, or as a new clinic affiliated with the university. Isn’t Prince Rian’s rare diseases centre affiliated with both?”
“Yes. Those are good ideas.”
Cassiopeia brightened. “Hm, now, with finances, I don’t know what exactly we need to spend money on, but…”
“The Rosewood Group will provide some funding, and I believe I can secure some funding through the Royal Healers’ Association. We may be able to leverage that to secure co-funding from the Capital Hospital or from your father.”
“Right…”
“Don’t worry, I will handle that, and I’ll have someone come in to be the finance manager,” Ren Xiyang said.
Cassiopeia was relieved. “Okay. I thought more about the money in the future. We don’t have anything yet, but how would we pay healers? And how much would patients pay? If gender transition magic requires numerous regular sessions, it’ll be really expensive over time. People without…um, there’s no health insurance here, wouldn’t be able to pay. It would also be time consuming, and a healer can only see a relatively small number of people regularly.”
That reminded Ren Xiyang about how he was regularly earning money from Prince Pollux. “We may need a wealth-based payment system,” Ren Xiyang said. “We’ll have to brainstorm it. As for the treatment bottleneck…”
“I know that’s why you’re working on making gender potions,” Cassiopeia said.
“Yes. The direct healing method and the gender potions would be gradual, but we could try something more invasive, like the surgeries in our old world, following by a new healing procedure. That would be beyond me, though, and we’ll definitely need to bring in other healers,” Ren Xiyang said.
Cassiopeia nodded. “Yeah. And about the direct healing method, it relies on us copying a reference body. But what if someone comes in and doesn’t have anyone they can ask to be a reference? And wouldn’t that be weird to have, like, the healer essentially duplicate that part of their body structure on multiple people? Instead, shouldn’t we develop a gender transition healing process, such that the patient has something more uniquely them, something that they may have had naturally if they were cis?”
“That’s a really good point.”
“And then, finally, er, did your old world have discussions around designer babies?”
“Yes.”
“Then, like that,” Cassiopeia said. “If trans people can come in and, through a possibly lengthy process, get their ideal and desired body, then cis people might want to come in and do that too…and what if they’re nobles and want to pay a lot of money? Or, maybe other healers would offer to do so outside of the gender clinic…I mean, I know that it’s not bad in isolation, but…”
“It’ll increase the inequality in our society,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Exactly!” Cassiopeia sighed. “There’s a lot to think about…”
“And you don’t have to think about them all,” Ren Xiyang said firmly. “You only have one year left free before you have to attend the academy.”
“You’re attending the academy. I plan to take the alternative stream exam too,” Cassiopeia said.
Ren Xiyang inclined his head. “Then, which of the things you mentioned are you interested in? Not finances.”
“I guess…I want to see a bit of the finances and the management. Maybe sit in a few meetings, just to observe.”
“That can be arranged.”
“But I’m most interested in the healing part.”
Ren Xiyang nodded. “Alright, let’s talk about that.”
“I’ve been practising direct magic healing and I’m getting better and better at it. I want to try something more, maybe try gender transition magic now. But then, how would I practice that? How do I find volunteer patients? It’s not like I can practice on myself…”
Ren Xiyang quirked up his lips. “Perhaps the next booklet should describe gender transition options, and an address for the clinic.”
Cassiopeia made a face. “Okay, that shouldn’t be too hard…but then we need an address.” She sighed. “My father has been asking me about things…should I ask him for help?”
“You could, or I could.”
“He’s my father, so I’ll ask,” Cassiopeia said. “You can talk to the Capital Hospital.”
“Sure.”
They spent the rest of the meeting discussing about the different parts of the gender transition process, and what things could be sped up, and how to create a gender transition spell or set of spells. Healing spells could heal a broken bone in a few seconds—why couldn’t some parts of gender transition go faster?
It made Ren Xiyang also think, why couldn’t he restore Prince Pollux’s nerves and muscles faster? Going slowly helped the body acclimatise to the changes, but the body would also eventually acclimatise after fast changes too.
No, the main reason Ren Xiyang went slowly was because he didn’t want to do something wrong. Ren Xiyang had to admit that he really wasn’t a healer at the end of the day, and that was okay. This was the time to pull in people who were healers.
After their meeting concluded, Ren Xiyang had Maria accompany Cassiopeia to meet and play with the cats in the household. Meanwhile, he went and sat down opposite Duke Schauss in the drawing room, where he would wait every time he came over.
“Where’s Cassiopeia?” Duke Schauss asked.
“Holding Artemis, a kitten,” Ren Xiyang said.
Duke Schauss didn’t look particularly happy, but that seemed to be his usual face when facing Ren Xiyang.
“What do you want to talk about?” Duke Schauss said.
“About Prince Pollux’s healing process. The following is confidential.”
“I agree to keep the following conversation confidential.”
“A recent scan showed that the nerves in his upper legs are restored, but he can’t seem to move them yet. The muscle definition looks sufficient too,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Have you considered a deep tendon reflex examination?” Duke Schauss asked.
“How would I conduct this exam?”
“Tap His Highness’s knee with a rubber hammer,” Duke Schauss said. “Normally, there should be a natural reflex, and one’s leg will kick out without thought. You’ll need to distract the patient while you do it. It may be that His Highness is thinking too consciously about movement. But the way we move our muscles isn’t quite like that.”
“So you’re saying, rather than having His Highness focus on movement during an exercise, I should have him focused on something else, like a different goal or task.”
Duke Schauss nodded. He leaned back. “Tell me, you really believe Prince Pollux will walk again. How exactly are you doing it?”
Rian: I’ll have you know that I’ve also been very busy in the background.
Ren Xiyang: *indulgent smile* yes, dear
Behold something I made—a character productivity scale!
Ren Xiyang is toxic productivity, unrealistic standards, do not try this at home 🤣
And right now, I really want Wen Zhihao’s life…
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