"Why are you so shocked? If you don't take your clothes off, how are we supposed to examine you?" Kelsey, upon seeing his reaction, seemed rather displeased.
Hearing that, Wang Fei flinched immediately, then gave a sheepish smile, embarrassed that his imagination had run wild.
Almost pulled out my phone to call Sister Hui... Wang Fei sighed and pulled his hand out of his pocket, where he had been gripping his phone. Then, he reached up to unbutton his shirt.
But he paused again shortly after and looked up at the two women, asking awkwardly:
"Uh... do I need to take everything off?"
"Just the upper half is fine, Mr. Wang Fei. The body scanner doesn't take long—just a few minutes," Shining answered instead, which made Wang Fei feel slightly relieved. He then removed his shirt entirely, revealing the body underneath the thick layers.
Shining's eyes widened the moment she saw it. Beneath his clothing were numerous scars, clear evidence of the harrowing experiences the young man had endured in the past.
"You're a bit thin," Kelsey commented softly after seeing his emaciated frame, jotting down the observation in her notepad.
Wang Fei, hearing that, responded with a shy laugh.
"I've tried my best, but for some reason, my body just doesn't absorb nutrients like others. The doctors said my metabolism is... unusual. No matter how much I eat or exercise, it doesn't build muscle—just gets flushed out of my system."
"Hmm... that's called a metabolic deficiency. It could be caused by recessive genes or hereditary traits passed down through your bloodline. I've seen many cases like this. Naturally, there are ways to treat it."
"You—You know how?!" Wang Fei lit up with excitement and unknowingly stepped closer. The woman didn't respond to his eagerness, simply walked past him toward the body scanner and opened its lid.
"Get in the machine first. I'll tell you after we see the test results."
"Understood!" Without hesitation, Wang Fei quickly lay down inside the now-open scanner, carefully removing any equipment he had on him before entering.
Before long, the machine pulled his body inside and began scanning him with flickering green light. A small needle also drew his blood from behind without him even noticing.
While waiting for the scan to complete, Kelsey turned to glance at Shining, whose expression seemed a little disturbed.
"Are you okay?"
Shining nodded. "Yes, Dr. Kelsey. I'm just... a bit surprised."
Kelsey watched her in silence for a moment, then turned back to look at the scanner. It was soundproofed, so the young man inside couldn't hear any of their conversation—even if he had exceptional hearing.
"I chose you as the assistant today because you had the least personal connection to him. But it seems... I underestimated that connection."
Shining didn't respond. She clenched her fists and finally looked up to ask Kelsey directly:
"Dr. Kelsey... aren't you shocked?"
Kelsey replied coldly:
"If you're referring to those scars, I've known for a long time. His family back in Yan is a prestigious military noble house. They probably had high expectations for him. But with a body like that... it's no surprise he became a disappointment to them."
After finishing, Kelsey turned to Shining with a questioning look.
"Is that what's bothering you? Or do those scars remind you of Operator Nightingale?"
"...No, Dr. Kelsey. It's just... I hoped that someone who saved lives like him would be living better. I think Liz hoped the same."
"But seeing his condition now, I..."
Shining gripped her staff—a relic of her past. Though her face remained composed, her body betrayed emotions Kelsey could read easily.
Kelsey was silent for a moment, then looked at the scanner again and murmured:
"Do you believe in curses, Shining?"
"A curse... it's something that comes with being Sarkaz," Shining replied almost instantly.
The Sarkaz—despised from birth, discriminated against like Infected, and blamed for the origin of Oripathy. In the eyes of the world, the Sarkaz were demons tainting the earth.
"Then you should know—to him, a curse is his very being."
"No matter where he goes or appears, he always brings a curse to others. Sometimes it's a curse that makes people around him happy just to live beside him. Sometimes, it's a curse that lets others survive at the cost of his own sacrifice."
"He's that kind of person... a selfish creature who hands out curses to everyone who meets him."
"The curse called 'hope'—it's the cruelest, most terrifying curse of all... for people like us."
Kelsey narrowed her eyes, recalling a blurred memory long forgotten. But the image she remembered clearest was that of a blue-haired young man whose face still lingered in her mind.
"I hope one day all this will finally end. Because... I'm starting to get tired of it."
"Dr. Kelsey..."
Shining looked at her with disbelief. She could hardly believe that this woman was once called a cold-hearted monster by the Kazdel nobles. And yet now, Kelsey was showing human emotion for the first time. If those nobles could see her now, their expressions would surely mirror Shining's.
But thinking about how many historical records mentioned Kelsey appearing throughout Terra's history, Shining felt a pang of sadness and blurted out without thinking:
"How many times... have you had to witness things like this?"
Kelsey didn't answer right away. She closed her eyes, and a moment later, her face returned to its usual emotionless state.
"Even I think it's been too many times..." she said quietly, before turning to leave the room.
But she didn't forget to leave one last instruction:
"His blood and Oripathy results must be kept secret and sealed by Logos. Once you finish reading them, they will be erased from access—no one will be able to see them, not even Amiya. Authorization will require me and at least five top operators. And... once you've explained the results to him, bring him to my office."
"Understood..." Shining nodded, watching Kelsey walk away in silence.
"Ah... it felt like half an hour passed. Was it really just five minutes?" Wang Fei said as he emerged from the machine. But he quickly realized Dr. Kelsey was no longer there—only the white-haired woman, Shining, remained beside him.
"Dr. Kelsey's not here?" he asked, a bit disheartened, afraid she'd broken her promise about helping with his condition.
"She said she had urgent business to attend to, but told me to take you to her after we go over the results. Would you like to hear them now?" Shining asked with a warm smile, which made Wang Fei—weak to that big-sister charm—nod before he even realized it.
"Of course~"
She handed him a sheet of paper. Wang Fei, who was familiar with medical exams due to frequent checkups since childhood, could understand most of what was written.
Name: Jin Fei (Former) / Chen Wang Fei (Current)
Hometown: Yan (Former) / Lungmen (Current)
Birthday: November 7
Race: Lung (Dragon)
Gender: Male (Emphasized)
Age: 21
[Oripathy in Blood]: 0.03u/L – Extremely high blood resistance to Originium. Possibly due to his impaired blood, Originium can't fully integrate with his body. The infection is thus not severe.
[Originium Crystal Presence]: 0.51% – Small crystals found near nerves and right brainstem. Currently non-lethal, but if they grow and reach control centers of the brain, they could become life-threatening. Under observation. Patient must avoid contact with raw Originium or devices that react to it. In progressive stages, hallucinations or uncontrollable flashbacks may occur. Constant 24/7 monitoring recommended.
Body Condition: Under Surveillance – Health issues require specialist supervision to prevent further infection. If new Originium crystals appear, notify Dr. Kelsey immediately. No one should come within 100 meters of Wang Fei.
Immunity: Normal – Not alarming, but under observation. Avoid fatty and sugary foods for now.
Mental Health: Pending – Evaluation currently underway by Dr. Kelsey.
"Uh... looking at the summary, it doesn't seem that bad, right?" Wang Fei asked with a forced smile after reading.
Shining immediately shook her head and answered honestly:
"Although Mr. Wang Fei's infection isn't very severe, it's still considered dangerous due to the originium crystal lodged near your brain. If the condition progresses, the crystal may grow and encroach into the brain. If you're lucky, you might end up in a coma or pass away peacefully. But if not, the infection could advance relentlessly, leading to excruciating pain, possible hallucinations, or even permanent disability."
"Th-that serious?" Wang Fei scratched his head, his smile fading. At first, he thought the situation was only a bit bad—but he hadn't imagined it could be this serious.
He let out a long sigh, then looked directly at the woman in front of him and asked bluntly:
"I know this might be a stupid question, but... is there any treatment available?"
Shining was silent for a moment before setting the test results in her lap and replying:
"There are only two possible treatments in your case, Mr. Wang Fei. The best option is to implant a device directly into your brain to control the growth of the originium crystal. However, this method comes with many limitations and side effects, directly affecting your physical and mental health. The main drawback is that your brain might lose the ability to think or process information normally. You may have to rely on AI systems or command interfaces instead. Naturally, that means you wouldn't be able to speak like a normal human or express emotions as before. Most patients who undergo this treatment develop long-term depression. Many of them eventually die due to complications from severe mental health deterioration. At present, there's only one person I know who's still alive after receiving this treatment—she's currently working at Rhodes Island."
"That's really tragic..." Wang Fei sympathized, clearly uncomfortable with this method. He then asked what the second treatment option was.
"The second option involves using highly potent suppressive medication regularly to control the originium in your body directly. It will slow the growth of the crystal in your brain and might prolong your life. However, it comes with a major downside: side effects after every dose. These include hallucinations and weakened immunity. Prolonged use can lead to addiction, making it difficult to live a normal life in the future. And if the medication isn't taken consistently, it may trigger a chain reaction, causing the originium in your body to surge and grow aggressively, worsening your condition significantly."
"Unfortunately, the drugs currently developed by Rhodes Island only suppress originium in the bloodstream. But since your infection level in the blood is very low, this method won't help reduce the size of the crystal embedded near your brain," Shining said with regret. If it were any other infected person, the new medication could change the world—but for Wang Fei, they were practically useless. His biggest threat wasn't severe bloodstream infection but the crystal embedded dangerously close to his brain, which could end his life at any moment if the disease progressed.
"Both treatments sound incredibly risky... and the second one sounds expensive too," Wang Fei said anxiously. He didn't have much in the way of assets. Though that problem could be solved if he told Lady Fumizuki directly, he didn't want to burden anyone with the knowledge of his infection, fearing it might cause them worry or distress.
"Don't worry, Mr. Wang Fei. If you're already employed by Rhodes Island, all treatment costs will be fully covered. Moreover, your friend, Lady Schwarz, contacted us directly. She said she's willing to support all your medical expenses. So there's no need for you to worry at all."
"Beatrix... she contacted you?" Wang Fei asked in surprise.
Shining nodded and gave a gentle smile.
"Yes. She contacted us several days ago after learning we were heading to Lungmen. She offered to cover the expenses so we could personally assess your condition. At first, we tried to refuse because treating the infected is part of our duty—but it seems Lady Schwarz is genuinely concerned about you. She even donated a significant amount of money to Rhodes Island to ensure we could provide the best possible care for you."
"It seems she really cares about you deeply."
Wang Fei scratched his cheek awkwardly upon hearing that.
"...I ended up owing her again," he muttered.
Even though they'd just had a fight that morning, hearing all this made Wang Fei feel even guiltier toward Beatrix. He thought that before leaving Lungmen, he needed to go see her and apologize in person.
"Miss Shining, can I ask... with either of these treatments, how long will I live?"
Shining froze for a moment. That was one of the hardest questions for a doctor to answer. While some patients with severe infection could live decades longer with good originium control and consistent use of Rhodes Island's suppressants...
For someone like Wang Fei, whose infection is embedded in the brain...
"I-if you go with the first option, I'm confident you could live more than 10 years. With the second method, if you maintain consistent medication and control, you might live up to 6 years—or at least 3 years, minimum."
"Six years..." Wang Fei whispered, then nodded to himself.
"In that case, I choose the second treatment."
"...I'll notify Dr. Kal'tsit myself," Shining replied. Although she wanted to say something more, she respected his decision and held her tongue.
As Shining accepted the medical file back from him, Wang Fei made a request:
"Miss Shining, could you keep my condition a secret from the people around me? Just tell them the infection isn't serious... I don't want them to feel sad about this."
Shining hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Normally, we're required to inform the patient's family. But... since this is a personal request from you, Mr. Wang Fei, I'll inform Dr. Kal'tsit directly."
"Thank you." Wang Fei smiled with relief before standing up and turning to put his clothes back on.
As he did so, Shining, still looking at his back, suddenly spoke again.
"Mr. Wang Fei, Rhodes Island will find a way to treat you..."
"So please—don't give up, okay?"
Wang Fei turned to look at Shining. Seeing the determination in her eyes, all the bad feelings he'd carried vanished instantly.
"Thank you, Miss Shining."
Not long after that, Wang Fei was brought by Shining to Dr. Kal'tsit's office.
On the way, she acted as his guide, leading him through the facility. When they reached a room that appeared to be the doctor's office, she told him to go in first while she took his medical files to be archived.
Wang Fei said goodbye to Shining before opening the door.
Click!
Inside, he found the office surprisingly ordinary—just bookshelves, a computer desk, and a few lab tools. Nothing stood out, except for the desk in the middle of the room, where a woman was reading a report.
"Please take a seat, Mr. Chen," Kal'tsit said without looking up.
She didn't even need to glance at him to know it was him. That unsettled Wang Fei slightly. He sat down on the couch across from her, rubbing his arms because the room was much colder than outside.
"Um... Dr. Kal'tsit, don't you think it's a bit too cold in here?"
"..." Kal'tsit didn't respond. She kept reading her report silently. Seeing she was busy, Wang Fei also stayed quiet and glanced around the desk. He noticed how neatly the reports were stacked—it reminded him of his older sister. He thought maybe Kal'tsit and his sister would get along well.
Then something else caught his eye: a knife placed beside Kal'tsit. It looked like it was made of crystal glass, and on its blade were ancient Kazdelian runes written in what appeared to be blood-red ink.
Wang Fei, who had studied Kazdelian before, found the ancient script difficult to read. He didn't know what the writing said, but something about the blade drew his attention in an almost unnatural way.
Before he could study it more, Kal'tsit—having finished reading—finally spoke:
"Sorry for making you wait, Mr. Chen," she said, setting the report down on top of the knife, blocking his view. She took off her glasses and looked up to meet his eyes.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
"Um... is it about the mental health questions mentioned in the report?" Wang Fei asked.
Kal'tsit nodded.
"Good. That saves me the explanation. Most infected patients tend to experience emotional instability after learning about the brutal truth of their condition. Even the most cheerful individuals can accumulate severe stress, leading to a variety of psychiatric symptoms."
"I may not have formally trained in this field, but I've acted as a counselor to many before. So my role today is to ask you a few questions—and your role is to answer them truthfully, so I can assess your mental state as accurately as possible. Do you understand, Mr. Chen?"
"...Of course."
Though Wang Fei was a little unsure why she was being so serious, he nodded. He figured it must be some kind of psychological screening done by specialists.
"Then let's begin..."
"First question: How do you perceive life and death?"
"Second question: If you knew you were going to die today, what would you do?"
"Final question... If I wanted to use this knife to kill you, would you fight back?"
Once Kelsey finished asking all the questions, she picked up the knife he had been looking at earlier and stared at him emotionlessly.
"..."
'Uh... Is this supposed to be a psychological test? Sounds more like a threat to me,' Wang Fei was a bit surprised by the question, but before he could say anything—
A system message appeared.
(Warning: Target has a 50% intent to kill the host. Please choose your response carefully.)
'Huh...'
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