svrash

Fine, I'll tell you.

You completely stole the spotlight in that ball, and you wouldn't believe how much that upset me.

So I left the venue early that night, thinking that as long as you were in Sykes, I'd rather be anywhere but there with you.

And while my head was lost in the clouds, I accidentally ran over a woman.

Now, I'm no saint, but I wouldn't just do a hit-and-run, so I took her to the hospital.

But when we got there, I found out she was actually Infected, so no one would treat her.

The most hilarious part though? That the doctors were all so eager to help me, the Viscount's son, right up until they saw the Originium crystals on her skin and recoiled in horror.

I just couldn't understand at the time. I honestly could not wrap my head around it. I knew that having Oripathy was bad, but I never expected it to be THAT bad.

So my temper flared up and I brought her back home. Made our personal family doctor see to her.

Naturally, the old man was furious when he found out, but I pushed back against him.

This all sounds vaguely familiar, but I was busy getting ready to move on to the next city at the time.

That's right, you bastard. You decided to just up and leave after making such a big splash. I don't even want to know how many girls' hearts you took with you.

Looking back though, I have no idea what came over me back then.

It's not like I wasn't scared of Oripathy, but I couldn't see what about it made everyone shit their pants like that.

But now I understand how terrifying it truly is. Some patients will straight up explode when they die.

Some don't, but their deaths are still very painful. Heh, better watch yourselves. Maybe I'll blow up too, and take the both of you out with me.

And then what?;That's fairly rare, actually.

Hm? Hey, Hood, your reaction's pretty different from Mister Cool here. You Infected too?

A lot of my friends are Infected.;I can treat you.

No wonder you seem so comfortable with all this.

If you're that bored, why don't you go hang out with my brothers?

This is none of your business.

You're really a doctor then?

Spare me. You think I can afford a medical bill?

In any case, the old man wouldn't let the lady stay in his house, so I had her convalesce in my own courtyard.

For the longest time, she thought I was planning to do something to her, but it was much simpler than that. I just wanted her to get better.

I was a complete idiot at the time. I'd push back against anyone that tried to go against me, no matter the reason.

The old man wanted to kick her out, so I insisted on keeping her. She thought she'd be a burden on me, so I wanted to look after her even more.

You fell in love.

Damn right I did. It's a story as old as time. A noble and a commoner fall in love, but the family will never approve. Finally, father and son turn against each other.

Only difference is, the commoner was Infected, and the father had a hand in tormenting her to death. So the noble infected himself as revenge against his father.

I see. So that's the basis of both your 'death' as well as Viscount Walden's hatred of the Infected.

Naturally. His son with a bright future fell in love with an Infected and turned against him. Unwilling to admit his own failures, who else could he blame but the Infected?

And... I was already the Infected he hated the most.

The news of my death wasn't a lie, Enciodes.

The man named Carle Caster died, seven years ago.

Look, you have that expression on your face again.

What do you think is going to happen even if I do get the ransom?

I share the money with my brothers, then we move to another city and live out the rest of our lives in peace?

No, we'll still be turned away at every door, simply because we are Infected.

We'll still be looked down on. We'll still have stones thrown at us. We'll still be driven to suffer in the slums.

Even if we wanted to work, nobody would take us in. The only thing left for us would be to find a cozy little alley to die in.

Of course, the money wouldn't hurt. A few of us have already starved to death.

But how much would that money actually be worth?

After years of groveling, struggling to survive with my Infected brothers, I finally understand.

The Infected cannot survive.

I've heard of a group called Reunion that was uniting the Infected. And of an organization called Rhodes Island trying to save our lives.

Who knows when their help will ever reach us?

It may not happen in my lifetime.

But at very least, they have the ability to help because they know how hard it is for us to even survive.

But you. You know nothing.

Carle...

So, you might as well kill me right now. Bring Kate back to the old man, claim his reward.

Or, just turn back. You can even tell him everything, if you want. What difference does it make?

Point is, there's nothing you can do for me.

It seems I've made something of a fool of myself.

Let's go, Doctor.

Doctor, I have a question.

Did I act out of line when dealing with Carle?

No.;You were the same as usual.

In other words, my usual performance didn't work in front of him.

Hm...?

That's... Carle?

He's headed out alone... in the direction of the city?

Follow him.;That look on your face...

I'm begging you, my sister seriously needs an anti-infection device.

This is all the money I've got, but I assure you, give me a few days and I'll come up with the rest. Let me take out an IOU on this, and I swear I'll pay it back double!

Shoo, away with you! Stop coming here to beg every day, it's pissing me off.

Like hell I'd believe that you can get that kind of money in a few days. That's what every debt-ridden deadbeat says. What's to say that you won't just take the blasted thing and I never see you again?

Besides, Lord Walden has decreed that we aren't allowed to sell anything to the Infected within the city.

But I can't get my hands on anything like that in the slums!

I've looked all over to find you. Everyone speaks of how kind you are, so can't you see how desperate I am? Can't you help me just this once?

This is everything I have on me. Whatever you want, just take it.

Or maybe I can earn my keep? I swear, I won't let anyone find out that I'm Infected!

Please... I'm begging you... Just this once...

Fine, enough of that. How could you possibly have anything of value on you?

Come in. Keep wailing like that, and you might even attract the guards.

Thank you, thank you so much!

And get off your knees already, you're going to dirty up my floor.

We'll need a spare protective suit.

Roger that.

Surprised?

Somewhat.

No, I'll admit it, I'm surprised.

Now I better understand why he said I can't do anything for him...

And Kate, how long do you plan on following us?

I'm sorry...

Did you know of this?

Yes, I knew. But there's nothing I can do.

If I went up there right now, Carle would just tell me to leave.

I know this is shameful Enciodes, but... I- I want you to help my brother!

He's already refused my help.

If he were only after the ransom, I wouldn't have risked myself to come here, so... I don't want you to misunderstand him.

But, you've always been ever so reliable, and there is no one else I can turn to, so please!

I'll do what I can.

As you said, I was, in fact, the one to bring up the kidnapping plan.

And ever since my 'kidnapping', I've been living with my brother and the other Infected.

While I dare not say that I completely understand their plight, I have at least some idea of what they're going through.

Back then, he plunged a chunk of Originium into his arm, right in front of me and our parents, before rushing out of the house.

It took two years to find him again in the slums, completely by chance.