Someone else arrived! Garrett turned around, pleasantly surprised. "Elder Donald!"
It was another familiar face, Elder Donald from the Temple of the Spring Goddess, the only person Garrett had managed to gain favor with in the temple, given his past blunders with the exploration team. It seemed like he was finally allowed to participate again after being reprimanded.
"Elder Donald, is your temple here to help too?"
"I happened to pass by," Elder Donald strode in briskly. Glancing around and seeing the various marks on the wounded, his eyes brightened. "This is a good idea! - Young Garrett, where do you need my assistance the most?"
"This woman!" Garrett pointed at a middle-aged woman clutching her abdomen. Elder Donald lowered his gaze, his brows furrowing immediately. "This kind of injury... I'm afraid I can't..."
"Do what you can! Wait for the elders to arrive!"
Elder Donald fell silent. He and the two lower-ranked priests he brought with him stood side by side, murmuring prayers. Beams of white light poured onto the wounded. Garrett hurried over to observe closely. The middle-aged woman's condition gradually stabilized under the healing spell. Even so, Garrett couldn't help but worry:
Internal injuries worsen quickly. When will the higher-ups arrive?
They were indeed on their way.
Bald Bishop dashed out of the lord's mansion, scanning the crowd gathered in the courtyard. - With such a dense crowd, there were no faster means than using their own legs.
As he rushed out, a gust of wind blew, Elder Elwin's robe billowing as he caught up.
They exchanged a glance and without a word, sprinted forward - determined not to be slower than the old man or the bald bishop!
The High Priest from the Temple of the Spring Goddess, however, was less hurried. Rising leisurely, he accompanied Lord Joane out, taking their time to queue up for the carriage.
The lord, the High Priest, the mages, and curious nobles, all orderly formed lines and departed. Mage Elliott, amidst the crowd, overheard a woman at the back of the line incessantly speaking:
"That lad is just a priest's apprentice! If they let him handle this, those who might've survived won't make it out alive!"
If Garrett heard this commentary, he'd surely say: Even if it's just one person, I wouldn't want to see them perish! He entrusted the middle-aged woman to Elder Donald and dashed towards the dark zone. The red and yellow zones were already taken care of. If there was any chance to save those two at the back, he must!
In the dark zone, there were only two casualties: an adult male and a young girl. The two priests from the Nature God's sect, Anthony and Joanna, were treating them, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
Garrett quickened his pace. Just a few steps away from the dark zone, Joanna cried out, "She's not breathing!"
A piercing wail echoed. Garrett's heart squeezed; he almost halted, contemplating a glance backward.
This girl... was she the daughter of the woman he saw at the accident site, the one the mother, with a broken leg, desperately tried to save? The child he'd marked as 'black,' indicating no breathing or heartbeat, only to be rescued later?
If only I'd been quicker... If I'd prioritized her... Her heartbeat and breath had returned before. If she'd been treated promptly, maybe... just maybe...
Garrett gritted his teeth, hastening his steps. In times of great calamity, the principles of sorting the wounded and prioritizing treatment were derived from countless experiences and sacrificesa rule to be followed, not crossed!
"Continue the healing spells!" he shouted, rushing over. "Let me see her!Was she not breathing just now?"
"She wasn't!" Joanna hurriedly replied. She managed just that sentence before bowing her head in prayer. Garrett's question followed:
Joanna shook her head vigorously. She couldn't spare a moment to speak, her face marked with three red streaks, as if stickers had lost their shine. She chanted rapidly while Garrett pressed his fingers against the girl's pulse, then checked her neck. His heart tightened, then relaxed.
Heartbeat stopped abruptly. But the pulsation beneath his fingertips indicated the girl hadn't bled out yet. There was hope! Hope of saving her remained!
"Maintain the healing spells! I'll take over from here!"
The little girl lay on the tavern's long table, pale and motionless, her nostrils unmoving. Garrett took in the table's height at a glance, propped himself up, and knelt on either side of the girl:
"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation! You handle the breaths!"
Thank heavens for the CPR training he'd given them before. They wouldn't need to perform chest compressions, just focus on breathing. Hopefully, they wouldn't falter!
One, two, three... twenty-nine, thirty!
Garrett roared. Joanna swiftly leaned over, tilting the girl's head back, pinching her nose shut. She took a deep breath and sealed her lips over the girl's, exhaling forcefully!
Garrett stared intently at the girl's chest. Once, twice, continue chest compressions!
Thirty chest compressions, two breaths, another thirty compressions, two breaths! On and on without pause!
The table was hard, and within a minute or two, Garrett's knees felt like they'd been stabbed. He completed five cycles in one breath, arms aching, sweat pouring, yet he didn't dare stopchecking for pulse, checking for breath, confirming no revival, and continuing!
According to guidelines, in CPR, it's recommended to switch the person performing chest compressions every 2 minutes or after five cycles. But Garrett dared not let others take overeven certified doctors might make mistakes during their first rescue attempt, let alone these priests who had only attended lectures!
Persist, keep going, little Lila's life is in your hands!
You can do this, you surely can! Seasoned healers have persisted alone for over an hour, pulling people back from the brink of death!
When will the reinforcements come!
Gritting his teeth, Garrett pressed down with all his might. Down, up, down, up. Beads of sweat from his forehead dripped onto the little girl. Joanna glanced at him, too preoccupied to speak, chanting her prayers even faster.
A shout from the doorway. Elder Elwin rushed in, followed closely by Bald Bishop. They assessed the situation and hurried to Garrett's side, a gentle, abundant light raining down.
Ignoring them, Garrett, gritting his teeth, continued the compressions. After this round of CPR, checking once more, placing his fingers under Lila's neck, an overwhelming surge of joy enveloped Garrett.
Under his fingertips, there was vitality, pulsating steadily. The girl's heartbeat had returned!
Garrett sighed, struggling to get off the table. But as soon as he moved, excruciating pain shot through his knees, and his body slumped sideways, falling to the ground beside the table.