10: STORIES OF SURGEONS

A flashback nine years into the past shows ten-year-old KaI assisting his father, the surgeon LIrin, as he operates on a young woman named SanI who has a badly mangled hand. After the procedure, LIrin and KaI have a heated discussion about KaI's fascination with becoming a soldier rather than following his father into surgery, with LIrin insisting that saving lives is nobler than taking them and revealing his plan to send KaI to KharbrantH for advanced surgical training at age sixteen.

The chapter opens with young KaI arriving late to his father LIrin's surgery, where a fifteen-year-old girl named SanI lies sedated on the operating table with a severe hand injury. LIrin uses expensive SphereLight and mirrors to illuminate SanI's mangled hand, which contains three broken fingers and embedded debris. KaI observes as his father determines that the third finger is too damaged to save and must be amputated. LIrin performs the amputation with careful precision while KaI assists by cleaning wounds, handing instruments, and wrapping bandages. After the successful procedure, LIrin notes that KaI worries too much, though he acknowledges that caring is important. While cleaning, LIrin questions KaI about his tardiness. KaI admits he was watching JamTrain with the quarterstaff, whose father was a soldier under the noble lighteyes BrightLord AmaramThey then debate the value of soldiers and the military. KaI argues that soldiers are necessary and honorable, citing the need to defend against enemies like the ThaylenSthough LIrin calmly counters that surgeons save more lives than soldiers take them, and that protection through killing is illogical. LIrin then reveals his plan to send KaI to KharbrantH for advanced surgical training when he turns sixteen, praising KaI's natural gift and reminding him that their family's second nahn status was earned so they could have opportunities. KaI, though conflicted about his military aspirations, ultimately agrees to his father's vision.