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Dr. Jang was still not moving and I didn't know what else to say to make him release me. He was probably weighing his options, trying to decide if he could save the psycho without me. The problem was he didn't have time. He was dying, right in front of us and, unless this doctor proved to be a better surgeon than me, I was his only chance to survive.
Maybe they were friends, it made sense: this doctor was with them and if the psycho was indeed a warrior it was likely Dr. Jang was the one who healed him every time he got hurt. Now he didn't want to leave his friend at the mercy of the woman who nearly killed him.
I was trying to think at something else to say to convince him when he finally let me go. I didn't waste time, in case he changed his mind and immediately cut the psycho's abdomen with relief: now he couldn't stop me anymore.
Eun Soo, concentrate now. The stomach. Is the stomach hurt?
No, it isn't. That's good.
Now, the liver. The liver is cut. I need to suture it.
The blood vessels. I can tie the bigger ones, but what about the micro ones? I don't have a bovie. Damn it!
No, no panic. Think Eun Soo. What did they use back in the old days when they couldn't tie the blood vessels?
Fire! They cauterized the wounds.
Ok, needles. No, this one is too big. That one. The smell of burning flesh is so nauseating... alright, the bleeding stopped.
Now, the suture. Come on, Eun Soo, you're near the end.

When I took off my gloves, I could barely stand on my feet; the adrenaline rush that kept me going was finally subsiding and I had to sit down, my head suddenly dizzy. Looking outside we were well into the night. The surgery must have taken hours.
"Are you alright?" Dr. Jang asked me. His voice was kinder than before, and a bit worried. He approached me and I smiled, tired and with my eyes barely open anymore. During the surgery we reached a sort of silent understanding: I was saving his friend, using techniques he never dreamt about and while he was helping me I could feel he was looking at me with a new respect. At least he wasn't thinking about me as an attempted murderer anymore.
"I'm fine," I replied, "Give me a minute, then I'll bandage him."
"I'll do it." He answered, a bundle of clean cloths in his hands. "Divine Healer, rest now. You worked hard."
Just a minute, I thought. I'll close my eyes just a minute, to rest. I need to keep watch tonight, to see if he wakes up or if he develops a fever. Sepsis is the greater risk now. Oh, how I wish I had my antibiotic...

When I opened my eyes it was morning already. My whole body was aching, as I fell asleep on a chair and it took a moment to realize where I was. Still there. I was still there. I wasn't in my bed, in my apartment or even at Coex. This was becoming a very frightening reality, one that I couldn't deny, no matter what. A reality where I was trapped in a world I couldn't understand, with no way home.
And a world where the psycho was awake and reaching for his sword!
I bolted up, grabbing the clamps. Oh God, now he's going to kill me because I stabbed him.
"Don't move!" I stuttered, holding the clamps in my shaking hand, like a lethal weapon. "Put down your sword! Or I'll..."
"What will you do?" He asked me. Well, at least he looked tired. Maybe he wouldn't have been able to draw that sword and pay me back with my own coin. "You stabbed me and then spent the night treating me. Now you want to stab me again? In order to treat me again?"
No, he wasn't going to punish me. He was more using the sword as a stick, to keep him up. Why was he up anyway? He shouldn't. He should stay in bed for some days, trying to recover. That was not a simple wound, that was a sword stab!
"Daejang!" Dae Man rushed beside me, pushing me on the chair while running, happy and relieved to see his friend up again.
As they talked, I observed them. The psycho was almost doubled over in pain and Dae Man was carefully supporting him, helping him to stand up and then walk. It was almost like he was his puppy: he was always the first to go to him, the first to react, a loyal friend always by his side. For a moment it made me jealous: I never had that kind of friendship with anybody and for sure I never had that kind of loyalty. A friend allowed to see me in that state? A friend to show my weaknesses to? No way, I always was too much independent for that.
Well, no matter what, the psycho needed to lay down. He could barely stand on his feet and stress was the last thing he needed. So, when he asked for his armor, my eyes went wide. An armor? No!
"What are you doing? Where are you going?" I was stunned. A man with a sword stab in his abdomen who could actually stand up the next morning, walk and even wear an armor?
"You need to lay down right now." I demanded while Dae Man helped him. That armor was heavier than the one he previously wore. Bulkier. "You can't walk, you can't sustain such a heavy weight, you're still recovering! Lay down now!"
No need to say they completely ignored me, like I wasn't even there; it was like I was invisible, like I could stand right in front of them and cry and they wouldn't listen. Was it that hard to see that the psycho was in so much pain he couldn't even walk straight? I didn't even have any painkiller with me!
I followed them down the stairs, still incredulous, finding him among his men. Great, more puppies to defend this unreasonable, idiotic warrior.
"Didn't you hear what I said? You must rest! Listen to me!" All their eyes were on me, but I didn't stop. They would hear me out this time! I rushed downstairs, pushing Dae Man aside when he tried to stop me.
"I worked hard to suture you up, what if that wound opens back again?"
I couldn't believe my eyes when he ignored me again and just ordered his men to prepare their immediate departure. This man! I wanted to hit him so hard right now...
"Do you think this is some small wound that a few stitches will cure?" I shouted again. I couldn't believe he actually didn't know how bad his injury was. He was a warrior! He had to know! So why was he this unreasonable?
"The liver inside your abdomen was cut open! I sutured it back up one blood vessel at a time, don't you understand?"
Damn it if I was going to let him waste all my work! I spent a night treating him!
I took the direct approach this time. He was a warrior, wasn't him? Then he would sure understand orders when he heard them. I was a doctor and this was a medical situation: my authority was higher than his! I proceeded to tell him exactly what he needed to do, step by step and made sure he understood he was under my responsibility until I removed the stitches. I was rather proud of myself: in a world I didn't know, with people who could easily hurt me, I was actually standing my ground, keeping my head up and not letting anyone mistreat me.
In the middle of my tirade though, the psycho collapsed on my shoulder, finally out of strength. That scared me, but relieved me at the same time: maybe he would listen to me now!
"The problem is," he managed to say trying to breathe through the pain, "if we don't depart now, we will all die. I can't fight in this condition."
Die? Why die? What was happening? I was starting to panic again. I couldn't even laugh when he misunderstood my question, thinking I was asking him about his inability to fight. It was amazing how he thought just eating would solve the matter: he had a sword thrust through his whole body, he barely survived a surgery, he couldn't even walk straight and he thought he would be better by eating!
Then he ignored my question again, looking at me like I was some kind of silly, idiot girl. Hey, my question was perfectly fine! He said we were going to die, I had the right to ask why, or by whom!
I grabbed his arm trying to turn him around to give him another piece of my mind but he avoided my grip, managing to spin me around with amazing quickness, holding me right in front of his face.
"Imja, their capturing you indicates that they know of your identity." He tiredly told me. Some answers finally! I didn't like them though. So those men kidnapping me actually had a reason? Because I came all the way there to heal the girl? Did they know where I came from?
"Although I don't know how much they know," he continued, struggling to speak, "leaving before they regroup for another attack is the best plan."
A thought suddenly occurred to me. He kept saying "we". He was including me as well in that "we"! He wanted me to go with them!
"Leave? Leave for where? Why must I leave!" No no, I didn't want to leave! I needed to stay there!
"Is it that difficult listening to me?" He told me again, his eyes slightly exasperated now. "In order for me to keep the promise to send you back, Imja, the prerequisite is that you must be alive!"
So, he changed his mind again. Now he wanted to send me back. Too bad I was already proved his wishes counted for nothing if his "King" ordered otherwise.
"I will always protect you. So please," he stopped to look at me. His eyes were tired, full of pain, but determined. He was willing me to believe him. "don't take one step from my side."
I was stunned for some moments and I found myself slightly nodding because of the sheer strength of his words. How could I not agree to everything he said when he was looking at me with such resolution? As soon as he let me go and turned around to go away with his men though, I came back to reality again.
I couldn't really trust him, or anybody for what mattered. I needed to remember I was alone to fight my battles. The Gate was here and if I let them take me away from it, their "King" would have found reasons upon reasons why I couldn't come back. I didn't even know why he wanted me here now! Maybe the Gate was also part of the reason they wanted to leave so quickly: now it was closed, but what if it opened again? Tomorrow? Or in some days? If I wasn't here, then I couldn't escape.
I'm sorry psycho. Either you're a really good actor, or you believe in what you are telling me now about protecting me and sending me back home. But I can't trust you. I can't trust anybody.
"I will not leave!" I shouted, defying them all. They stopped walking and turned to me, clearly not believing their ears. But I wasn't going to be handled like a soulless doll!
"The door through which I can return, that hole, isn't it here? How can I leave here? I won't leave. I'm not leaving!" I took a step towards the psycho, clearly angered, but Dae Man stopped me once again. He really was a watchdog!
I looked at him nearly begging with my eyes and I could say he was at a loss. Maybe he wasn't used to someone arguing his orders, especially in front of his men, but I wasn't going to just bow and say "Yes Daejang" like they all did. And I wasn't going to leave that place either.
In the end he sighed, telling his puppy to do something about me and left with the Commander.
Do something about me? What?! Who did he think he was? I wasn't one of his troop, he had no right to order me around like that!
I soon found out that even if he didn't have the right, he still had the strength to make sure I did what he wanted. His watchdog never left my side, not allowing me to exchange another word with the psycho and following me anywhere. He never touched me he but closed every corner I could go leaving me no other option but to go upstairs again and gather my stuff up. The biggest problem was he was still carrying the psycho's sword. I didn't know if he could actually use it, but I didn't really want to find that out.

"You could at least tell me why I can't go back home!" I exclaimed after a while of silent watch. "What is it that this King want from me? I'm just a doctor!"
No reply of course. Not that I was expecting any... ignoring me looked like the national hobby here.
"Listen." I sighed sitting down after gathering my tools. "Your Daejang as you call him, isn't in good shape. The surgery was hard and he barely survived. He should be resting right now, not running around. And not with that armor on! The wound could open up again and that's just one of the problems. He's not out of danger yet."
That got his attention, finally. He still didn't speak, but at least he was looking at me now.
"You don't know what sepsis is, right?" I sighed again, shaking my head. Of course he didn't. "Well, let's just say he could fall sick again. Just because the surgery went fine, it doesn't mean he's alright now. And walking around isn't going to make it better!"
I felt like I was talking to myself as he wasn't answering but I hoped he got the general meaning: the psycho wasn't ok yet and he needed to rest. He also needed to be kept under watch.
"Dae Man!" I heard the Commander calling from downstairs. It was our cue to move. I froze in my chair, refusing to stand up.
"I don't want to go." I whispered, my hands closing in fists on my pants. "I don't want to. I want to go home. Please don't make me leave here. I'll hide somewhere, nobody will find me. Please, help me."
I expected him to just grab my wrist and drag me along, like his Daejang so loved to do, but the boy clearly didn't know what to do with me. He looked around confused and scratched his head taking a step towards me and then stopping again.
"D...Daejang..." He stuttered, trying to speak while not looking at me at the same time. "He promised. He'll... send you back."
"He won't." I whispered again. "He wanted to, but he was ordered to keep me here."
"He'll find a way." The boy stammered again. "He p...promised."
"I can't trust him." I wasn't standing up yet, but I was looking straight at him. He looked away, uncomfortable. "I can't trust anyone. I don't know what you all want from me. I just know I was kidnapped, beaten up, threatened and I almost died. And then your Daejang broke your promise to me."
"We... have to go." He bit his lip, taking another step towards me. It looked like I had no choice but to obey, again.
I stood up, clenching my fists and I got my stuff, walking to the stairs.
"D...Daejang..." Dae Man stopped me, looking at the floor. "Trust him. He never broke a promise. He will... protect you. Stay near him. He'll send you back to Heavens soon."
I turned to look at him, but his eyes were fixed on the ground, his fingers clinging on the psycho's sword like saying those few words was a challenge for him. I didn't reply, just sighing. What could I say? The boy believed his leader, but I couldn't. I already had the proof I couldn't trust him.
Yet, I had no choice but to go where he wanted me to, or I had no doubt he would tie me up and force me to follow.

I slowly walked downstairs with my bag, my watchdog just behind me. He was nowhere to be seen but as soon as I was out the inn I found his familiar figure near a couple of carriages.
"You'll stay in this carriage with the Queen." He told me as soon as I approached. He was pale and ready to collapse any moment, but his eyes still had that resolute glint. I didn't reply and just hopped in, finding the injured girl. She was awake but still weak and I slightly bowed my head, not in the mood to talk. It looked like she didn't want either because she never opened her mouth during out short journey to the river.
The boats waiting for us weren't big, and I wasn't even sure they could cross the water without sinking but apparently I was the only nervous one. Boarding was very quiet and quick as they couldn't wait to leave that village behind.
I sat down, staring at the water moving beneath me, then I looked up.
The Gate was in that direction. It was the third time I saw my way home disappear in front of my eyes. Crossing the river I knew I was leaving the only place that could lead me home. I didn't know where that village was, I didn't know where we were going and I didn't know how to get back there.
I bit my lips choking back a sob but I felt a slow, lonely tear rolling down my cheek. I hurried to dry it, taking a deep breath to regain my composure but when I turned my head, he was there, looking at me.
Our eyes met and I knew that he had just seen me crying.
Turning around once more I broke our stare, looking back at the water. I never felt so empty and desolate.