ccheal

She thought there could be nothing more glaring that the sun.

She realized she was wrong when she left the jungle.

The most glaring thing is the eyes of other people, staring at the Originium crystals on her body.

She was not afraid of the malice in those eyes, but they are always averted when she tries to look into them.

It took some time for her to learn that her illness was known as 'Oripathy', rather than 'Stone Disease'. And people like her were known as 'Infected'.

She learned that Oripathy was considered incurable.

She learned that most Infected lead hard lives.

In the jungle, there was no such distinction, no discrimination against those afflicted by Oripathy.

She did not understand why. All she knew was that she might be able to make the lives of Oripathy patients better, even if it could never be cured.

So she searched for doctors who claimed to be able to treat Oripathy, trying to learn from them.

But she found only disappointment.

Some were mere frauds. Others were worse, using the treatment of Oripathy patients as a cover for criminal activity.

When she pointed it out, they framed her and made her a fugitive.

Why?

She feels the pain of a needle going into her arm, then the feeling of loss as her blood is drawn.

Her friends in Acahualla do not even know what happened to her.

She should have gone back to see them, just once.

The sense of loss is soon gone.

Then, silence.

Is this death?

Do Vampires kill painlessly?

No. She is still alive!

Your blood is surprisingly healthy, despite the high concentration of Originium crystals.

I knew it. You really are a remarkable physical specimen.

You're not going to kill me?

Why would I kill you? I said let me draw your blood in her stead.

But... you're a Vampire, aren't you...? Isn't drawing blood the same as killing?

Some of my kind like to do that, but I'm not interested.

Why do you do it, then?

You freed yourself from my Arts by sheer willpower. I'm very interested in your blood.

But fighting you would be quite bothersome, so I improvised.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Who are you?

You may call me Warfarin. Doctor Warfarin.

Wake up, kiddo.

Mm... hm?

Did you come to get treated too?

I came looking for you.

Everyone thought you went missing.

I didn't.

The doctor told me I was too weak and needed to rest, so I didn't go out.

So... you weren't tricking them with candy?

Some people wouldn't even believe that a Vampire could become a doctor. You can't convince these people to believe something that exceeds their capacity for imagination.

You don't try to clear things up?

I stopped caring about how people felt centuries ago.

I would rather spend my time studying blood.

Thank you, doctor. I feel much better.

You give me blood, I give you medicine. Give and take, that's all.

Now run along home. I have research to do, and I don't want to be bothered.

Alright! Bye, doctor!

Wait, the candy—

Yes, it's just ordinary candy.

But if the patient believes it will work, then it will work.

We call that a 'placebo'.

But it's lying, isn't it?

Can you give them medicine that works?

...No.

There is no cure for Oripathy. No reason to not lie, if it helps the patient live a little longer.

The ultimate aim of treatment is to mitigate the patient's suffering. Never mind lying; I would gladly become a demon, if that's what it took for the treatment.

Not that I expect you to understand.

Now begone, and don't bother me again.

I see! That makes so much sense!

What? You believe it?

Of course! It makes perfect sense.

Unless you're still tricking me?

...I'm telling the truth. Not many would believe it.

Why? You're absolutely right.

Doctors can't make miracles. I don't care if the patient hates my guts, as long as they get better.

...I didn't expect you to be so understanding.

Dr. Warfarin! No, Master Warfarin! I've been searching for a doctor like you, someone who can really teach me how to heal!

Can you teach me about medicine?

It's not every day that I meet someone who understands me like this. I suppose I could teach you a thing or two about medicine.

But I don't want my blood research interrupted.

You're interested in my blood, right?

You can take my blood! Study it all you want!

Well, I've already drawn plenty for my purposes.

Anything troubling you? I could help you take care of it.

Now that you mention it... there is one thing.

What is it?

A lack of samples.

At the end of the day, only a number of simpletons would believe this blood-for-candy thing.

There are still many Infected who don't trust me.

Besides, you said that rumors about me have started to spread, making it even less likely that people will come.

Before you came, I was planning to make my identity known, and go door-to-door to scare the inhabitants into giving blood.

You don't think it's a good idea?

Well, I think it's a little too slow.

Even counting me, it's no small task to draw blood from so many people with just the two of us.

You have a point.

...Aha!

What is it?

Leave it to me, Master.

Will you train me in medicine if I solve your problem?

Certainly.

A few days later...

Gavial hasn't been back for a few days.

Did she run into some sort of trouble?

I would have taught her medicine, even if she didn't solve my problem.

Maybe I should go and find her.

Master Warfarin!

What took you so long?