Chapter 564
That night, everyone except Everett stayed awake. They were exhausted, but Sebastian had emphasized the night's importance. If Lawrence could survive until morning, there would be at least a ten percent chance of survival. A ten percent chance—it was minuscule and heartbreaking.
Sebastian slept on the floor, his exhaustion evident from the grueling journey. Mira and Vanda took turns keeping watch, each working a two-hour shift. Throughout the night, they administered medicine five times. Initially, Lawrence could only tolerate a couple of spoonfuls. But by the fifth dose, they could feed him nearly half a cup.
The night was a painful ordeal, each moment excruciatingly slow. Everyone awake repeatedly looked outside, hoping for sunrise.
In the early hours before dawn, Sebastian woke. He checked Lawrence's pulse and blew some powder into his nose, claiming it was to reduce his fever. Sebastian's dark circles were pronounced, his exhaustion evident. Julian mentioned their nonstop travel, with only about two hours of sleep during brief stops for horse changes. The younger people fared better, but Sebastian, in his late fifties or sixties, struggled. After examining Lawrence's pulse and temperature, Sebastian announced, "He's made it through the night, but don't be too optimistic. His fever has lowered, indicating the treatment is working, but its overall effectiveness still needs confirmation. We won't be able to leave immediately. If anyone wants to return to the capital, you may do so now. Otherwise, help with chores at the relay station to avoid crowding here. You're making even me nervous."
Hearing this, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. They had overcome one hurdle!
When morning came, Everett prepared to leave for Meadow Ridge to collect rent—a task that couldn't be delayed. Rafael helped him with his horse, and Everett clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry," Everett said, "I've done a little calculation. He'll be fine."
Rafael's eyes lit up. "Really? You can predict that? When did you learn how to do it?"
Everett took the reins, mounted his horse with a neutral expression, and replied coolly, "I picked it up in a dream after a short nap last night. But I'm sure of it."
Rafael smiled wryly and called out to his departing figure, "Thank you, sir!"
After the rain, the main road was dust-free. Only the sound of hooves gradually fading away was audible, and Everett's silhouette soon vanished. Rafael stood at the relay station entrance for a while before sitting down. He thought about Carissa and wondered how many more days until her arrival.
Chapter 564 +25 CONUS
Everyone had moments of vulnerability. While Rafael hoped Carissa wouldn't see him like this, he desperately wished she were there. Even just seeing her and holding her hand would have comforted him. He leaned against the door and fell asleep.
Inside, the others were scattered around, exhausted from the ordeal. The collective relief was palpable, and fatigue finally set in. Julian was finally allowed to sit by his brother's bed. He looked at the wounds and swelling on Lawrence's face and gently touched his thin arm, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. But Sebastian forbade crying, so Julian could only wipe away his tears.
Lawrence was asleep, but no one knew if he was in a coma or merely sleeping. Since Sebastian said he was asleep, they chose to believe him. Sebastian observed the disheveled room and its occupants and shook his head with a wry smile. Despite the many rooms in the relay station with beds and blankets, everyone insisted on staying in this room to be near Lawrence.
On the third day, Sebastian announced that Lawrence had passed another hurdle. He hadn't had a high fever for three consecutive days, and though he still had a low-grade fever, he'd passed a critical point. The news brought some cheer, but Sebastian quickly dampened the mood. "A low-grade fever can still be dangerous." His words effectively froze the smiles around him. And Sebastian's concerns were not unfounded. The low-grade fever persisted for several more days. Lawrence remained semi-conscious, rarely waking.
It wasn't until the seventh day after Sebastian's arrival that Carissa and her companions finally arrived. The journey from the capital to Westglade usually took twelve days, considered fast, especially given the rainy days that made travel difficult. Complicating matters, Violet, typically robust, fell ill after getting soaked in the rain. She was too afraid to board the carriage, worried about infecting Kayla. Kayla had battled motion sickness the entire trip, overcoming it through sheer willpower.