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Ragnar was lying on his bed, his breathing labored as he coughed up blood. His eyes were sunken and his skin was pallid, giving him a deathly appearance. The physician was by his side, feverishly concocting a medicine to help ease the pain and cure his illness. The physician's assistant was standing by the bed, a handkerchief clutched in her hand.

The assistant, a young woman with a gentle face, leaned over Ragnar as he coughed up another mouthful of blood. She reached out and placed the handkerchief over his mouth, trying to catch the blood as it spilled out. The handkerchief was quickly stained red with the blood, evidence of the severity of Ragnar's condition.

The physician worked feverishly, his hands moving quickly as he mixed together various herbs and powders. He added the mixture to a boiling pot of water, the steam rising up and filling the room with the sweet aroma of healing herbs. The assistant watched as he worked, her eyes focused on the task at hand.

They were both dres