Hearing his diagnosis, the young woman fell to her knees.
-Is there nothing that can be done?
She sobbed as she asked.
-Not at the moment.
Paul shook his head, remembering himself asking the same question at the hospital when his mother and stepfather died.
It pained him greatly to see someone else in the same situation, and once again, he was too weak to do anything.
-If it's a matter of price, just tell me how much it will take. I'll get the money.
She said, through her sobs, hoping that it was only that.
Paul could not even become angry at her for this assumption.
-It's not the money.
He shook his head.
-I'm too weak to help her even though I know how to do it.
-Then we can invite a stronger healer, and you can guide them through the treatment.
She said, with a spark of hope.
-It won't work.
Two vertebrae in her neck were crushed to bits.
If it were only a matter of realigning and reconnecting her bones, it would be an easy fix.
With her spine intact, she could wait until I had enough mana to reconnect her spinal cord.
But in this case, I would need to regenerate her bones from scratch, and I don't have nearly enough mana to accomplish something like this.
Additionally, I need to be able to see and control the regeneration process to avoid severing her spinal cord completely.
Paul explained.
-Then how long does she have?
The Yang family patriarch asked.
-Hard to say, but you can be certain that when her Qi runs out, she will die.
There was no reason to hide the truth from them.
-No, there has to be a way to save her or at least to allow her to wait for the treatment.
Madam Yang's daughter screamed.
-There is no way that I can think of that would allow her to wait for such a long time.
Even in the most optimistic scenario, it would take me a month at the very least to become strong enough to attempt to save her life, and she will last at most a week.
Paul stated calmly.
-As much as I wish to save your mother, there is simply no way for me to do so right now.
The moment her neck stops being supported by her Qi…
Paul stopped mid-sentence.
He had an expression of someone who had just realized something, and it shocked him.
-What…
The young woman tried to ask something before her father's hand covered her mouth.
-Be quiet, don't interrupt him.
He whispered into her ear.
She was not happy at all, but she listened to her father, hoping that there might still be a sliver of hope for her mother.
In the meantime, Paul ran scenarios in his mind, forming a plan.
He realized that he got too caught up in the ways of this world and forgot that there was another set of knowledge in his head.
The silence in the room stretched for a long moment before he took a deep breath.
-I might have a way to allow her to wait for treatment.
He finally said.
-What is it?
The young woman asked, with a flicker of hope in her eyes.
-Before I explain the idea I have, let me warn you that if this fails, then she will die today.
Paul was serious enough to make both father and daughter consider this carefully.
-As it stands, my wife's death is certain, but if this idea of yours gives her a chance to wait for the treatment, then I'm willing to take the risk.
The patriarch said after a moment of thought.
Paul nodded and immediately took out a piece of paper and started to write on it.
-Get me these items as soon as possible and send someone to my mansion for Irine Jeger, and tell her to bring her sewing kit with her.
-What do you need these things for?
The patriarch asked, surprised at the listed items.
-To try and save your wife or at least let her live long enough for me to reach the level required to try and heal her.
Paul explained.
Without any further questions, the patriarch gave orders to the staff and guards to bring the items, and if there were none at the mansion, then to go get them as soon as possible.
While he waited for the items, Paul took some measurements and wrote them down.
Soon, a small table was brought in, along with some wooden planks.
-What do you need these for?
The young woman asked, seeing him starting to work on something using magic.
-I will attempt to create a neural bridge to save your mother's life.
If it works, then she won't need to use her QI anymore to keep her neck in place, which will buy us the time we need.
He answered, making some wooden parts.
If he could, he would prefer to use metal for this, but it would take much longer to make what he needed.
Not long later, Irine arrived.
-Why did you call for me?
She asked.
-I need your help.
He said, giving her the parts he had made.
-These need to be sewn together into a Cervical collar and padded slightly, but leave these four holes open, he pointed at the parts.
Irine nodded and got to work, knowing that this might save the woman's life as the servant who went to get her told her everything on their way back.
The rest of the requested items arrived shortly, and Paul got to work setting everything up.
He used a small brush to create a magic circle on both sides of Madam Yang's neck.
-Madam Yang, what I'm about to attempt will hurt a lot, and I can't dull the pain or put you to sleep, so you will have to endure it.
Also, if it works, you might feel the control of your body returning, but you need to remain still.
If you try to get up or move your head, the spell might be interrupted, and this will end your life.
He said to the woman on the bed.
She was awake all this time, cursing them in her mind for talking about her as if she were not even there.
But now she listened attentively.
Previously, when the young man said that he could not save her, she was seriously considering just ending it all, but now that he came up with an idea that could save her life, she was ready to endure any torture.
-The two of you should leave this room.
Paul turned to the patriarch and his daughter.
-No way, I want to be here and see if it works.
The young woman said, not willing to move, and her father nodded, agreeing with her.
-Since that's what you want, you need to promise me that you won't interfere, no matter what you see.
This procedure is very risky as it is; if I'm interrupted and make a mistake, there won't be a second chance.
He warned them.
They both agreed.
-Is this what you had in mind?
Irine approached him with the cervical collar, now covered in cloth and filled a bit with cloth scraps to make the padding in the areas that would be touching the patient's body.
-Great work.
Paul praised her, then he turned to the servants.
-Tie madam Yang to the bed, make sure she can't move at all.
The servants looked at the patriarch, who nodded, giving his approval.
They did as instructed and gently tied the woman down, making sure to avoid her head and neck.
-Irine, hold down her head.
You need to be gentle enough not to move it and firm enough to hold her in place if she tries to move.
The seamstress did as she was told.
This was her first time taking part in saving someone's life, and she felt both excited and terrified at the same time.
-Let's begin.