Chapter 252

Carissa knew the excruciating pain of broken bones, having experienced it in her youth. Even with pain-relieving decoctions or acupuncture, the agony remained sharp and penetrating. Her heart breaking, she asked, “What about the addictive drugs he was using before? Is that still a serious issue?”

Sebastian replied, “The drug was Peony Bliss. It is indeed addictive, but considering his current condition, he seems to be managing well. Did he experience any discomfort during the journey back to the capital?”

Carissa recalled that Ryan seemed to have had a few episodes along the way, but he endured them. After that, there were no further signs of episodes.

She said, “It didn’t happen much. The last time, he was able to endure it. Also, His Highness mentioned that Ryan had severe episodes in Eldoria—he was hitting walls and hurting himself. I didn’t see such extreme behavior when I arrived.”

Sebastian sighed deeply. “Withdrawal is very difficult at the beginning, but the symptoms will gradually lessen until he is completely free of the addiction. The drug is harmful, and he will need time to recover fully. His stunted growth is partly due to a lack of proper nutrition and the drug's impact on his young body.”

He looked at Ryan with profound sympathy. “Usually, withdrawal from Peony Bliss requires additional medicinal support. The child has endured it alone, showing remarkable willpower. Once he has fully recovered and is well-nourished, he has the potential to achieve great things.”

Carissa listened to Sebastian’s assessment and realized how tough Ryan’s withdrawal must have been. Rafael’s haggard appearance confirmed the severity of the situation.

Though Ryan was still quite thin, he was in better shape than when Carissa first saw him. His once-pale face now had a hint of color, and he no longer looked like a mere stick. There was a bit of flesh on his cheeks, signifying a slow but hopeful recovery.

It wasn’t entirely accurate to say that Ryan hadn’t grown in the past two years. Because of his lame leg and hunched posture, he looked short. However, he didn’t look too short when he tried to stand straight. Regardless, he was shorter than an average seven-year-old child.

Sebastian’s treatment plan was to focus first on restoring Ryan’s health and then address the broken bone. Detoxification and general nourishment were the priorities. Once the poison was fully expelled, there was hope that Ryan might regain his ability to speak.

Sebastian left Ryan with pills to boost his energy and blood, and prescribed a detoxifying formula to be administered daily. Additionally, every other day, Sebastian would send an apprentice to perform acupuncture on the swollen area of Ryan’s throat, which had been affected by the poison.

“How long before he can speak?” Carissa asked.

Sebastian replied, “He can produce some murmuring sounds, which means the dosage of poison wasn't large.”

Sebastian was familiar with the crude methods used by those people. “They likely used a smaller amount to avoid killing him outright. Since they already used Peony Bliss, they weren’t concerned about him escaping, so they opted for a lighter dose.”

Carissa harbored a deep hatred for those responsible, but she was somewhat reassured by Rafael’s report. The genuine Beggar Guild was coordinating with other provincial authorities to rectify the situation. They would rescue all the abducted children and severely punish those involved.

In truth, the Beggar Guild might have been aware of the situation. However, since those people didn’t openly use the Beggar Guild’s name to carry out their crimes, the Beggar Guild couldn’t be bothered with them.

Carissa recalled her master’s words about the current Beggar Guild leader not truly embodying the spirit of chivalry. That was why her master had little regard for the Beggar Guild and avoided interactions with them.

However, Carissa knew it was her master’s fellow apprentice who despised associating with the Beggar Guild. The eccentric man’s name was Everett, and he thought the Beggar Guild were dirty people.

In the Pathfinder’s Guild, even Carissa’s master didn’t dare offend Everett.

Today’s Bonus Offer (This section seems unrelated and should be separated further)