"Please rest assured, Lord Jason. Since this recommendation comes from all of us, the academy will certainly take it seriously!" Maester Terry assured him earnestly.
After all, medicine was one of the key disciplines in the Citadel. An opportunity to significantly advance medical knowledge was something they simply couldn't ignore.
"Then, regarding Boris's qualifications as a maester..." Jason Liu began, his face stern as he continued, "You must understand that if Boris cannot attain the rank of maester, it will be difficult for other maesters, assistants, and apprentices to trust him."
Hearing Jason's request for Boris to be granted the title of maester, Boris himself felt a wave of uncertainty. Though he kept his head bowed, his ears were keenly tuned in, afraid to miss even a single word.
The maesters in the hall exchanged glances at Jason's proposal, their expressions filled with hesitation. Then, hushed murmurs spread among them. After several minutes, they seemed to reach a decision.
It was Maester Terry, the eldest and most knowledgeable among them, who finally spoke. He glanced at Boris, who still kept his head bowed in a show of humility, and then addressed Jason, "The Citadel has strict requirements for awarding the title of maester. Such decisions cannot be made lightly."
Maester Reed, another senior scholar, nodded in agreement and elaborated, "To maintain the credibility of the maester's title, the Citadel follows a rigorous process. If you wish for Boris to be recognized as a full-fledged maester, he must undergo an evaluation."
Reed then turned directly to Boris. "If he truly meets the necessary standards, the Citadel will grant him the title. Boris, are you willing to undergo the assessment?"
Jason Liu hadn't expected the process to be so strict. He had assumed this small request would be easily approved, yet now there were additional hurdles.
This was truly troublesome!
There was no way around it, though. Jason turned to Boris, hoping he could meet the Citadel's standards and pass their evaluation.
After all, the doctor he had chosen had five assistants under him and had been running free clinics for over a month. Surely, his medical knowledge had improved enough to meet their requirements.
Boris lifted his head, a determined look on his face. "I am willing to take the assessment, Maester Reed!"
Though he respected Jason, Boris did not want to rely solely on his lord's influence to attain the title. It would be far more meaningful to earn recognition through his own abilities.
I, Boris, am confident that I can do this!
Seeing Boris accept the challenge, Jason Liu had no reason to object. He turned back to Maester Terry. "Then, I ask that you send word to the Citadel as soon as possible. I look forward to their response."
"Of course, my lord," Maester Terry replied. "We will travel to Winterfell later today to use a raven and send our letter jointly. I expect that within a month, representatives from the Citadel will arrive to conduct the evaluation."
Jason nodded in satisfaction before turning to Boris. "Boris!"
"Yes, my lord?" Boris bowed slightly, awaiting instructions.
"Prepare one of the medicines used to treat colds and fevers in our hospital. Present it to the northern maesters as a gift. I hope it will aid them in their treatments."
Jason smiled as he turned to the gathered maesters, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. "I trust you will appreciate this gift."
"Thank you, Lord Jason!"
"This is a most generous offering, my lord!"
The assembled maesters were visibly pleased. To receive medicine from Jason's homeland, known for its effectiveness against colds and fevers, was a rare and valuable gift.
As advisors, assistants, and healers to the northern lords, the maesters often dealt with noble families' illnesses. Colds and fevers were common afflictions. With Jason's medicine, they would be better equipped to treat their lords and their families.
As for the common folk... that was another matter entirely. If they were lucky enough to gain entry to a castle's maester tower, they might receive aid. Otherwise, they would have to fend for themselves.
After all, a maester's duty was first and foremost to the noble families they served.
Boris quickly returned to the hospital next door and instructed his five apprentices to prepare enough aspirin tablets for each maester. The supply was enough to treat colds and fevers for at least twenty people. He carefully explained the proper dosages for patients of different ages, ensuring the maesters understood how to use the medicine effectively.
The northern maesters listened intently, taking note of every detail. Then, they carefully placed the medicinal packages into the deep pockets of their robes, ensuring their safety.
After expressing their gratitude once more, the maesters departed from Jason's store, their hearts filled with satisfaction. They made their way back to Winterfell, eager to find Maester Luwin and use the castle's ravens to send word to the Citadel.
Their goal was clear: urge the Citadel to send scholars to learn the advanced medical techniques of Jason's homeland. If possible, they hoped to acquire a large supply of the so-called "miracle medicine."
As the evening approached, the thought of Boris's upcoming assessment lingered in the minds of many northern maesters. Some couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Boris was merely an assistant maester, yet he had gained the favor of Lord Jason and been entrusted with such valuable medical knowledge.
What a lucky fool!
Maester Luwin, busy handling the accounts from a recent banquet, looked up in surprise as a group of maesters from various northern castles approached.
After hearing their request, Luwin raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain that Lord Jason Easter possesses medical knowledge surpassing even that of the Citadel? I do not doubt your expertise, but this claim is quite extraordinary..."
Maester Reed, unfazed by Luwin's skepticism, nodded firmly. "For the past two days, we have closely observed Boris at work in Easter Hospital. We have seen him and his apprentices treat patients firsthand."
"Easter Hospital?" Luwin repeated, intrigued. "I have heard of it, though I have not had time to visit. The name comes from Lord Jason's homeland, does it not? It refers to a place for treating the sick?"
"Exactly," Reed confirmed. "Within Easter Hospital, we witnessed their methods firsthand. They clean and bandage wounds meticulously, administer treatments, and even inject medicines using strange devices with needles. The results were astonishing."
Luwin stroked his beard, deep in thought. The Citadel prided itself on its medical knowledge, yet what he was hearing suggested Jason's homeland had techniques far beyond their own.
If that was true... then Westeros had much to learn.
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