Fog Street Clinic, Living Room.
"Oh, child, you're so beautiful… but how did you get in here?"
Fran clasped her hands together, maintaining her usual professional smile, though her amber eyes now held a hint of surprise.
The sudden arrival of this "guest" was indeed unexpected.
Standing before her was a small, pure-white deer, seemingly unsteady on its feet, its tiny hooves occasionally slipping.
Its fur was soft and pristine, like the pale white of frost. The patterns on its body were scattered like hidden stars, radiating a dreamlike brilliance. Its branch-like antlers had a translucent, crystalline quality, as if made of glass.
"Baa!"
The fawn was clearly wary of the human before it. It let out a cry and limped backward a couple of steps.
"Most likely a dream creature, but a species I've never seen before… how peculiar."
Fran carefully examined the trembling fawn before her. After a brief assessment, she confirmed that this little creature didn't match any known species of deer.
Even among the various exotic beings from other worlds, she couldn't find one that fully matched its characteristics.
[Dear Dr. Fran, this month's monthly consultation has been triggered. The target is 'Glass Fawn'—'Luya La.' Please begin treatment as soon as possible. The target is expected to flee with injuries in 30 minutes.]
"So it was you who let it in…"
Fran's eyes took on a hint of understanding as she glanced at the dark, swirling mist at the door.
The April monthly consultation had come so early, while May's had only triggered as the month was nearly over… What a tug-of-war, as if tormenting the doctor had become an addiction.
"Baa!"
As if sensing Fran's potentially ill intentions, the fawn let out another warning cry.
"Alright, stay calm, dear patient… You can barely stand steady, so let's keep it peaceful."
Fran soothed the fawn as if it could actually understand her words.
"As you can see, I'm a doctor. I'll perform a full examination of your body next, then treat your illnesses and injuries. Please cooperate, alright?"
"Baa!"
The fawn remained cautious, but its attitude seemed to soften slightly, and it stopped retreating.
Noticing the fawn's willingness to cooperate, Fran naturally seized the opportunity.
She slowly sat down beside the fawn, gently stroking the soft fur along its back to calm it down.
It was then that Fran noticed the side of its body facing away from her was mangled and bloody, the flesh rotting to a near-black hue. The organs beneath its ribs were faintly visible… and within the exposed muscles, she could see a writhing, worm-like movement.
No wonder she had faintly smelled decay earlier.
"To remain conscious and standing with such severe physical damage… Your species must be incredibly resilient. Of course, your will to survive is equally commendable."
Fran's expression was calm and focused.
She observed the fawn's horrifying lacerations as if appreciating a piece of art, meticulously dissecting each detail with her gaze.
"Reaching for the Moon."
The chain-like black tendrils around her wrist shot out without warning, swiftly wrapping around the fawn's limbs and neck, binding it so tightly that it couldn't even let out a cry.
Clearly startled by the sudden turn of events, the fawn's eyes were filled with terror as it struggled incessantly, its despair almost palpable.
Fran leaned close to the fawn's ear, covered in pale white fur, and murmured an explanation as if to herself.
"I know you're scared, but please restrain yourself. I don't want you to fall into delirium or hysteria before the procedure. This is just a necessary restraint."
Though Fran was soothing the fawn's emotions, the faint blush on her pale cheeks and the barely contained excitement in her voice…
Made it clear that she was eager to begin the treatment.
"It might hurt a bit, so bear with it. This surgery will take a while…"
——
Inside Fran's private operating room.
Her medical kit lay half-open, neatly arranged with over thirty different types of surgical instruments, most of which were already stained with blood. Several of the quartz tubes containing medicinal solutions were empty.
The data on the surrounding life-support equipment flickered incessantly as Fran leaned weakly against it.
She had removed her medical mask by now, her pale pink tongue panting heavily.
"I declare this to be the most challenging surgery of the year."
Before she began, she truly hadn't expected the little creature's condition to be so complicated.
First, her unfamiliarity with this species forced her to proceed with extreme caution, as if treading on thin ice. What if it had something like a flame sac or venom glands, like a Rathian? One wrong move, and things could get… interesting.
Second, the malignant infection ravaging its body hadn't just consumed its flesh—it had seeped into its organs and spread throughout its limbs, carrying an unusually high level of mystical significance.
The wounds and decay clinging to its body seemed like parasitic entities with a will of their own, even forming a kind of living nest. During the surgery, they had actively attacked Fran more than once.
But this was Fran's operating room… and she had never failed on her own turf. Not even a contamination deep enough to reach the bone could stop her. If it came to dismantling a god, she would still dare to try.
Fran exhaled deeply, then straightened up, no longer leaning on the equipment.
With a slight raise of her wrist, the black tendrils wrapped around the fawn suddenly contracted, reforming into a chain-like bracelet.
"Though I've tried to anesthetize you and apply psychological suggestions, you still can't fall asleep… Is it a racial trait?
How fascinating. Since exhaustion and pain are unavoidable, you'll just have to endure them…"
"This is the price of being alive."
The fawn lay on the operating table, covered with a sterile sheet, its eyes fluttering open and closed, seemingly exhausted.
The gruesome gash exposing its insides had completely closed, now reduced to several neatly stitched black lines.
At that moment, Fran began to collect the fawn's biological data as a form of payment.
She wasn't naive enough to think that a deer would pay her.
"You have antlers, and you don't exhibit reindeer traits, so you're probably a boy. But your name is 'Luyala,' which suggests you're a girl. Let me check…"
"Oh, you're a girl."
Fran meticulously examined the fawn's body, leaving no detail overlooked. She even took out her notebook to sketch on the spot. The little creature before her could truly be called a "mythical being," and it would be a shame not to conduct a thorough examination.
The fawn even slightly closed its eyes, lifting a hoof to cover its face, showing an unexpectedly human-like shyness.
Fran quickly finished her sketches from various angles and, stroking her chin, began to speak thoughtfully to Luyala.
"Your emotions seem to change based on what I say, so you should be able to understand my language. Referring to you as 'she' will be more appropriate…"
Just as Fran was about to continue their conversation, the notification that the treatment was complete came through.
[The malignant infection of 'Glass Fawn' Luyala has been successfully treated. This month's routine treatment task has been completed, with a rating of: S. Your next monthly consultation will be randomly triggered next month.]
[Payment for this session: Unknown biological material x1 (High quality. Unidentified).]
[Your analysis progress has changed: Xenobiology (27% → 33%), Biotic Prosthetics Technology (30.5% → 32.5%).]
"Xenobiology increased by 6% directly… It seems she truly is a rare mythical creature."
Fran was somewhat surprised by the gains from this consultation. While it was indeed a long and advanced surgery, a single increase of 8% in analysis progress was unexpected… This indicated that Luyala's species was even rarer than she had initially thought.
Luyala had already stepped down from the operating table, displaying an indescribable resilience that allowed her to regain mobility almost immediately after the surgery.
Fran gave a slight bow to Luyala, who stood before her.
"Though it's a bit late for introductions, it's a matter of basic courtesy."
"I'm your attending physician, Fran Herschel. Miss Luyala, you've been an excellent guest, and Fog Street Clinic is always open for your next visit. I'll even give you a 10% discount, how about that? With that, our doctor-patient relationship comes to an end…"
She took out a pure black membership card from her white coat pocket and placed it beside Luyala.
Luyala, however, slightly tilted her head up, her crystalline eyelashes fluttering, deliberately avoiding Fran's gaze… as if still upset over the slightly intrusive observations earlier.
But Fran had already stepped forward, gently stroking the soft fur on Luyala's neck.
Her technique was so masterful that it not only eased mental fatigue but also soothed physical pain… Physical therapy is an essential part of medicine, after all!
Though Luyala tried her best to maintain her composure, she couldn't help but squint her eyes.
Fran's skill was so refined that no mammal could resist it—she was truly a fluffy killer. How to describe it?… She had once calmed a Rune Bear on the verge of a frenzy with her bare hands.
"If my earlier actions offended you, I hope you'll understand. After all… that was the payment for your treatment."
"Magic and miracles don't come for free, you know?"
Fran spoke with a smile, her voice steady and soothing, exuding a strong sense of calm.
Luyala's earlier pout had disappeared, leaving only a trace of shyness.
She slowly stood up on all fours and walked over to Fran, extending her tongue to lick Fran's cheeks and hands. It was warm, with a texture reminiscent of jelly.
Luyala then walked out of the operating room, through the hallway and living room, and exited the clinic through the door shrouded in pale mist.
Before leaving, she gave Fran a slight nod of her head. It was both a gesture of thanks and a farewell.
"Though she's a bit childish, this mythical creature isn't hard to get along with… In a way, she's quite adorable."
Of course, Fran wished Luyala would stay a bit longer at the clinic so she could fully observe her recovery period and further refine the information model of her species. However, since Luyala chose to leave after being healed, Fran didn't make any extra effort to keep her.
After all… she would return.
Fran turned to look at the table, only to find the black membership card already gone. It seemed Luyala had taken it in her mouth when she left.
At the same time, Fran turned her attention back to her hands. Those pale hands, already crisscrossed with stitches, were now battered and marked with signs of erosion and gnawing.
The wounds healed rapidly, restoring themselves almost instantly… likely due to Luyala's parting licks. Yet, the iconic stitches remained unchanged.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, pinching a living contaminant that had been squeezed out of one of the healed wounds. After crushing it, she brought it to her nose and sniffed.
"Indeed, it's an 'ant.'"
"It actually involves an otherworldly deity. It seems that Luyala is quite significant, and so are the troubles she brings..."
As she spoke, Fran suddenly felt everything around her rising at an incredible speed, while she herself was plummeting rapidly, as if she was falling from the clouds.
…
A pair of deep golden eyes, like amber, suddenly opened. She woke up and then yawned.
"I performed surgery on a deer that understands human speech and even gave her a membership card. Oh my goodness... how could I dream of such a thing?"
In the next moment, Fran threw off the heavy, tightly wrapped quilt and stood up.
"Who invented the idea that 'everything is a dream,' which should have been tossed into the dustbin of history ten years ago?"
She glanced at the bear-patterned pajamas she was wearing, and her expression turned a bit strange.
"But I really just woke up, and I still have clear memories from last night before I went to sleep."
Fran quickly looked at her hands. The scars from the living contamination had healed, but faint traces were still visible.
"Display the panel for mastered techniques."
[Received your command, proceeding to execute.]
[Technique Mastery: Abyssal Applications (17%), Terra Medicine (3%), 40k Medicine (37.9%), Mechanical Prosthetic Technology (10.1%), Biological Prosthetic Technology (32.5%), Xenology (33%), Modern Neuroscience (21%), Clinical Psychology (20%), Anatomy (79.5%), Genetic Research (27%), Soul Shaping (17.1%), Forbidden Alchemy (21%).]
"The resolution has increased, and there are indeed traces of contact with living contamination on my hands. This means I really did perform surgery... Has the May consultation been completed?"
[Dear Dr. Fran, your monthly consultations for this month have been completed.]
The system module's response confirmed her thoughts.
Fran was not surprised or confused for long; she checked the membership cards she had issued, and indeed one was missing.
Although the previous experiences were within a dream, everything that occurred was not fictional. This is likely the special aspect of Luyala.
This also explains why she couldn't induce a deep sleep in her through the "swaying heart clock" or anesthetic drugs, as the two of them already existed within the dream... Was it her dream, or her own?
"This patient today is indeed quite interesting..."
Fran pursed her lips and then smiled, clearly enjoying the moment.