DB Lazarus

90. Interlude: Rægnor - II

Rægnor took a bite of the mash, eyes widening as a complex mix of sweetness and earthy tones burst in his mouth.  He closed his eyes, savoring the high-tier food that he didn’t have access to.  It made the betrayal sting that much worse.

He had lived his life by his father’s ...

89. Interlude: Rægnor - I

Rægnor walked down the trail cut through thin patches of grass, ferns, and needles covering the ground outside the mines.  The land had started to recover from the clearing needed to set up the mine camp, but it would leave a mark for decades to come.  Just like this expedition had for...

New Cover Art

Here’s a first look at the new cover for A Doctor Without Borders.

I wanted something that captures the heart of the story—a blend of medicine and magic with a clear nod to isekai/portal fantasy. The cracked caduceus symbolizes the clash between Daniel’s science and the world...

88. Interlude: Lydia

Lydia Archonides Chrysemporos lifted her mug, giving the ale a swirl.  The fruity bouquet wafted from the iridescent liquid.  Any other day, she would have savored the exquisite brew.  Today, she couldn’t help but take an undignified swig. “Now for one last topic.”

Anth...

87. Interlude: Dorian - II

Dorian nodded, cracking the seal on his own drink.  He brought the bottle to his nose, taking a whiff.  He closed his eyes, letting the sharp blend of local berries fill his nostrils.  Thalia was becoming quite the artisan.

He raised his cup to Daniel, who immediately go...

86. Interlude: Dorian - I

Dorian entered the Common, the vast dining hall practically empty at this time of day. That would change quickly, in a matter of minutes, once the shift rotated, but for now, only a few servers milled around the back tables, preparing for the dinner rush. He scanned the room, looking for one pers...

85. Interlude: Grimglæf

Hi everyone, I’m back from my break! It was a busy time, but I managed to get a lot of writing and planning done. You can expect a few interludes coming up soon that I hope will deepen the supporting characters and expand the world. Thanks for sticking around!

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Grimglæf...

84. Interlude - Esper

Esper sat at a small table in the back room, the dim lights not a bother to her sharp eyes. She worked at grinding her latest batch of herbs. Her hands ached from the repetitive movements, though in truth, her work strained her more mentally than physically.  The constant infusion of Energy ...

83. A Place at the Table - II

While I complied, she closed the door and slid over two bars.  As the door latched, the runes flared green, then dimmed. The Aether density rose again, prickling my skin.

Fascinating.

Moving the latches had completed a pattern, or looking at it from a more Earth-centric view, she...

82. A Place at the Table - I

As we walked through the mine, Dorian’s mood soured.  The meeting with Sæmdarskati had provided unwelcome revelations.  However, he didn’t say a word.  He had opened his mouth multiple times, only to close it without uttering a thing.  Each time, he radiated even more fru...

81. Meet the "[Leader]"

The Vísir stepped forward, kneeling next to the Ættar.  Around us, the battle continued, but the older Ættar moved with utter calm.  It wasn’t just hurt.  The space around us had taken on a new air as if she could bring peace to an area by force of will.

The Vísir reach...

80. The "[Healer]" - II

“What are you doing?”

I ignored the shout from behind, and Rægnor came to my rescue.  “His job.  Leave him be.”

There was a shout and possibly a thud, though I didn’t dare look.  No one jerked my arm away.  I extended his neck to expose his throat. ...

79. The "[Healer]" - I

Author’s Note:
We’re nearly at the end of Part I of A Doctor Without Borders, and I just want to say thank you. Your support and encouragement have meant a lot.

The "[Healer]” I & II are the medical peak of this arc, and the next few p...

78. On a Knife’s Edge - III

Alone again with just my thoughts, I could confirm the two things that I had already suspected:  First, I had managed to pour some of the potion into Eiræk’s mouth.  Judging by what dripped from my fingers, I hadn’t lost too much.  I tried to conjure a memory of the vial’s w...

77. On a Knife’s Edge - II

I had lost count of the people I had healed when Rægnor grabbed my shoulder.  “We need to hurry back to our group.”

I craned my neck to see them.  Our group had fared well given its location.  Not once had they needed my support.  Even now, I detected no significant...

76. On a Knife’s Edge - I

We burst out of the tunnel in a rush. Eiræk bellowed a warning about the incoming horde.  Ættir parted the defensive line to let us through.  We moved through the gap, not slowing until we reached a small spot in the back, empty and waiting.

So, not a complete betrayal by the Ve...

75. Staunching the Surge - II

When I had the chance to examine them, I had once again experienced a skill’s fallibility.  [Sense Injury] had picked up the wounds and judged them equal, but they were anything but.  While both penetrating wounds had caused localized hemorrhage, a cursory examination revealed wounds ...

74. Staunching the Surge - I

All conversation died as the cracks widened.  Our plans to delay?  Forgotten.  We hadn’t even started, and things had already gone south.  However, our hærlið took the change in stride.  He sent a runner to update the company and then ordered people into a formation�...

73. Before the Breach - III

The next day moved fast. The end of the tunnel was left untouched as any further excavation risked opening a path for monsters to escape. However, that still left plenty of work on the traps.  Dorian, along with other Ættir, designed the traps and defense structures.  Mining this vein ...

72. Before the Breach - II

Eiræk didn’t return by the end of the shift.  He didn’t return at the end of the next one either.  All we got were Rægnor’s short, terse, and then repeated assurances that Eiræk was working on it and that he needed support, something that took time.  Of course, that did no...

71. Before the Breach - I

Eiræk grunted after Dorian finished his explanation. He squatted down and ran his hand across the segment of the floor that blocked access to the cavern. “How far down again?”

Dorian tapped the ground with a heavy knuckle.  “Less than a few hours’ worth of work for just me—t...

70. Complications - IV

“You are a fool.”

“For what? Forcing you to come here?  Or talking back to the Vísir?”

He stared at me incredulously. “Both, but one doesn’t tend to live a long life if they make a habit of irritating a [Shaman].”

I couldn’t disagree. “That may not have b...

69. Complications - III

Even though Rægnor promised to cover my patient’s duties, he had reservations—far more than reasonable—about walking out with a Human.  Dragging an overfilled cart together helped placate him.  Dorian had shot me a questioning look but said nothing more when I gave him a small sh...

68. Complications - II

Before I started, I gave him another perfunctory warning. “This is not the same as healing. It will be uncomfortable and may hurt.  It will also take more time.  I will first wash out the wound with cold water.  Then I will warn you before I scrub the inside of the wound.  T...

67. Complications - I

Only two people took me up on my offer the first day, and only one, the next day.  From there, people’s acceptance of my help varied based on the size of the pocket of crystals we discovered.  Larger deposits equated to more monsters and injuries.  Still, even with Rægnor’s he...

66. Beneath the Surface - II

Note (4/20/25): In working on the next chapter, I realized I needed to make a slight change to the third-to-last paragraph to make how certain skills function a bit more explicit.

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After how our breakfast conversation ended, Dorian and I walked to the mine in silence.  ...

65. Beneath the Surface - I

I rose before the first bell despite a restless sleep after last night’s antics.  The morning after drinking always carried a price, though today’s was not as steep as in the past.  While my mouth was bone dry, I did not sport the expected headache.

I still stumbled on the way...

64. Celebrations - II

By the time we headed over to the Commons, the darkness of the long shadow cast by the ridge had deepened.  Night was upon us, but the lights of the Commons stayed bright.   However, Dorian and I entered to find it emptied save for our company and a few Volkski stragglers that hung out ...

63. Celebrations - I

Rægnor actually did have another patient for me. I recognized his face—barely.  He worked under a different hærlið, and the laceration he sported would’ve once counted as a major.  However, healing potions and pain suppression skills changed the calculus.  I treated it with ...

62. Further Inroads - II

Normally, exiting the cave was a literal breath of fresh air.  While the majority of the improved tolerability came from the notable drop in the Aether density, the cave, even with its size, had a stale quality, especially deeper in.  Yet, when I exited, the air outside was also off.&nb...