After that "vibrant" and noisy breakfast, the guild hall gradually filled up. Young Mages gathered in small groups before the commission board, selecting tasks that suited them. However, although the medical commissions on the board didn't specify a Mage, everyone knew they were reserved exclusively for Riyao.
In the Fairy Tail Guild, absolutely no one dared to look down on this eight-year-old child because of his age. Riyao not only possessed the rich knowledge of a medical student from his past life, but he was also currently the only Mage in the guild who had mastered and specialized in Healing Magic. In this world where Mages were prone to smashing, looting, and burning with terrifying destructive power, an excellent Medical Mage was a resource as rare as a giant panda.
The local residents of Magnolia Town placed great trust in Fairy Tail, especially in this miraculous little divine doctor. Therefore, whenever anyone in town had a headache, a fever, an injury, or was bitten by a low-level magical beast from the nearby forest, they would habitually send a commission to the guild.
Riyao stood on his tiptoes, pulled a few parchment commission slips from the wooden board, and browsed through them carefully. He turned his head and looked at Cana, who was sitting obediently by the bar with nothing to do, a gentle smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Cana, do you have any plans for today? If not, would you like to come with me into town for house calls? Consider it getting familiar with the environment of Magnolia."
Hearing Riyao's invitation, Cana's eyes instantly lit up. As a newcomer, she was still a bit intimidated by the Mages in the guild who breathed fire and spat ice at the drop of a hat. Being able to go out with the seemingly gentlest and most reliable Big Brother Riyao was naturally something she couldn't wait for. "Okay, Big Brother Riyao! I... I can help you carry things!" Cana hurriedly jumped down from her chair and ran to Riyao's side, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, looking both excited and a bit nervous.
"Let's go. Our first patient today is Uncle Thomas, who lives on the south side of town." Riyao took Cana's hand and pushed open the guild's main doors.
Magnolia in the early morning was full of life and vitality. Along the stone-paved streets, vendors had already set up their stalls, displaying a dazzling array of fresh fruit, freshly baked bread, and various colorful fabrics.
"Yo! Isn't this little Riyao? Out on house calls again today?" A plump auntie selling apples saw Riyao and immediately greeted him warmly. She picked out two of the largest, reddest apples from her stall and stuffed them into Cana's arms. "This must be the new little sister? She's so pretty! Here, take these to eat!"
"Thank you, Auntie. Your complexion looks much better than last month; it seems you've been taking the conditioning potion I prescribed on time," Riyao responded with a smile. His familiar and proper manner didn't look like that of an eight-year-old child at all.
Holding the two large apples, Cana followed Riyao, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. She discovered that the town's residents were full of respect and affection for Riyao. Along the way, people constantly tipped their hats to them or gave them small snacks.
"Big Brother Riyao, everyone seems to like you very much," Cana said softly, a hint of envy in her tone.
Riyao slowed his pace and said to Cana with a grin, "Our Fairy Tail has caused quite a bit of trouble for the residents of Magnolia. One day, I mentioned I wanted to take on commissions, and the Old Man didn't say a word—he just directly announced to the public that the guild would accept medical commissions! To thank the local residents for taking care of us, the commission prices are incredibly low. But then again, I don't really care about the money!"
Cana nodded, only half-understanding, but she could feel a reassuring, warm glow radiating from Riyao as he spoke. That glow was completely different from the black-bellied little devil who had tormented the older man with strange potions the night before.
The two crossed several bustling streets and arrived in front of a wooden house that was slightly old but kept very clean. Riyao stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, a white-haired elderly woman opened it. Seeing Riyao, a smile appeared on her face. "Oh, little Riyao is here! My old man has been rolling on the floor in pain since last night. Please, come in and take a look!"
"Don't worry, Grandma Mary, I'll check on him right away." Riyao's voice instantly became serious. He led Cana into the house, which was filled with a heavy scent of herbs and a faint, hard-to-detect stench.
On a wooden bed in the inner room lay a burly middle-aged man who was currently pale and drenched in sweat—Uncle Thomas. He used to be a famous logger in town, but now, his right lower leg was highly swollen, showing a terrifying purplish-black color, with black slime seeping from the edges of the wound.
At this moment, the aura around Riyao underwent a world-shaking change. He was no longer the prank-loving brat or the gentle boy next door, but an absolutely professional, calm, and reliable healer. His clear eyes became incredibly sharp, as if they could see through the textures of muscle and bone.
After carefully observing Thomas's wound, his brow furrowed slightly. "This isn't a common injury. There are tear marks on the wound, and it's accompanied by slight magical erosion. Uncle Thomas, did you go to the edge of the forest on the east side of town and get bitten by a 'Purple Poison Badger'?"
Uncle Thomas opened his eyes weakly and nodded with difficulty. "Yes... yes... I wanted to pick some rare wood mushrooms to nourish Mary... I didn't expect to run into that beast... Little Doctor Riyao, my leg... can it still be saved?"
"Bear with it. The toxin has already begun to spread; we must drain the poison first." Riyao held his hands about three inches above the wound, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The next second, a surge of pure, warm, and vibrant emerald-green magic poured from his palms, slowly seeping into Uncle Thomas's lower leg like a spring rain.
Cana stood to the side, holding her breath and watching the scene without blinking. The green light reflected on Riyao's focused and delicate profile, making him look incredibly holy. She saw that as Riyao's magic was injected, the purplish-black poisonous blood began to be forced out of the wound bit by bit, dripping into a pre-prepared copper basin and emitting a pungent odor.
The detoxification process lasted about ten minutes. When a layer of fine sweat broke out on Riyao's forehead, the blood flowing from the wound finally turned a normal bright red. Riyao withdrew his magic, let out a long breath of turbid air, and then quickly took a cloth roll from his leather case. When spread out, it revealed a row of silver needles of varying lengths.
His hands moved like butterflies through flowers, accurately inserting several silver needles into key acupuncture points on Uncle Thomas's leg. This was not only to stop the pain but also to clear the magic circuits and meridians that had been damaged by the toxin.
"Final step." Riyao's hands lit up with green light again, this time even softer than before. Under the effect of the Healing Magic, the hideous tear wound actually began to heal and scab over at a speed visible to the naked eye, eventually leaving only a faint red mark.
Riyao pulled out the silver needles, took the bandage Cana handed him, and skillfully and gracefully wrapped the wound, tying a beautiful bow. He took off his gloves and let out a long sigh of relief. "All right, Uncle. The toxins have been completely cleared, and the muscles and blood vessels are repaired. However, try to avoid walking around for the next few days. I'll leave you a few herbal prescriptions to regulate your blood and qi. Brew and take them on time, and you'll be back on your feet in a week."
Uncle Thomas tried moving his right leg and found that the original piercing pain and numbness had completely disappeared, replaced by a warm sense of comfort.
He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank... thank you so much, little Riyao."
Riyao and Cana walked out of Uncle Thomas's house.
"Big Brother Riyao, you were really cool and amazing when you were treating the patient just now!" Cana praised sincerely, her large eyes sparkling like stars.
Riyao stopped, turned his head to look at Cana, and suddenly revealed a sly, black-bellied little devil's smile. "Is that so? Since you think I'm amazing, then as my exclusive little nurse, to reward your outstanding performance today, I've decided to let you try my latest 'Strawberry-Flavored Physical Reinforcement Agent' when we get back. Although it might keep you awake for three days, it's definitely very nourishing!"
The admiration on Cana's face instantly froze. Recalling the miserable state of Uncle Macao rolling on the ground this morning, she took two steps back in fright, shaking her head desperately. "No... no need, Big Brother Riyao! I think my physical stamina is pretty good right now!"
On the streets of Magnolia, Riyao's crisp laughter and Cana's somewhat flustered footsteps echoed. Seriousness and mischief, a healer's benevolence and a child's wicked sense of humor, perfectly blended in this eight-year-old boy, forming a unique and warm scenery within Fairy Tail.