story_ccheal_1_1

Thank you, Dr. Gavial.

I feel a little better now.

Sorry... This is all I can do.

It's okay. Not like there's a cure for Oripathy. Every day I live is a bonus.

I'm new in town. Is there a doctor here who's knowledgeable about Oripathy?

What is it?

Well, a Sarkaz doctor came here a few months ago and bought out some ruins on the west end.

She told people she had candy that could cure Oripathy.

She handed it out in exchange for a test tube's worth of blood.

People believed that?

Not in the beginning, but some were desperate enough to send their children there. When the children actually started getting better, people started to believe.

Normally, that would have been the end of the story...

But there have been rumors in the slums about a missing child.

Missing... you think that doctor did it?

The last person who saw the kid said she went to the doctor.

Why didn't anyone confront her?

We're afraid... Those who have been to that place say it's full of blood bags.

She's a nasty character, too. Feels like she could start killing people any time.

Why not report her to the lord ameer?

...The nobility couldn't care less about a homeless child gone missing.

I'll go, then.

Are you really going?

I want to see if that doctor can really treat Oripathy.

If she's a fake who's been kidnapping children... she'll get what's coming to her.

The room is so decrepit that Gavial thought she had come to the wrong place at first.

No, there's a smell...

This is...

The smell of blood.

She takes one step forward and kicks something.

She looks down.

It is a shoe, without a doubt that of a child.

There is a pool of dried blood next to it.

She feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

What happened here?

She bends down and sniffs the blood.

This is real blood, alright.

Did a kid really die here?

She notices a candy next to the pool of blood.

Is this the candy that the doctor's handing out?

It's... a plain old ordinary candy.

Tricking kids with candy, huh...

Who's there?

Gavial looks up to see a girl standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at her.

Hey, kiddo. Can you tell me what happened here?

Wait!

Hmph—

Just what is going on here?

You again?

Wait!

No need to be scared! I'm here to help you!

...I see.

Are you the doctor who lives here?

Gavial has no time to be surprised at the blood bags hanging everywhere, for there is a Sarkaz with white hair and red eyes standing in front of her.

A Vampire. She remembers reading about them in a book.

A tribe of the Sarkaz, as powerful as they are infamous.

They walk in shadows, feeding upon the blood of others. There is no murder they will not commit, no evil they will not stoop to...

Y—You're a Vampire?!

I get it now. You use candy to lure children here so you can feed on them!

And who might you be?

I'm Gavial. Doctor Gavial. I'm here to expose your evil plot!

I don't have time for you right now. Sleep.

What... did you... do to me...?

Just fiddled with your blood circulation.

Be a good girl and nap for a while.

I... I feel like I'm burning...

You're still standing after being hit by my Arts.

Intriguing.

Who are you?

I said... my name... is Gavial...

That's... Doctor... Gavial...

I came to save this girl—argh!

You broke free. Most intriguing...

Most intriguing indeed.

What I wouldn't give for your blood—

Let her go?

As you wish.

The Vampire's hand brushes against top of the girl's head, and she immediately loses consciousness, collapsing by the Vampire's feet.

What did you do to her?!

I'm saving her for dinner. Don't worry, she won't feel any pain.

You... you monster!

If you want to save her, we can make a trade.

A trade?

Yes. You let me draw your blood in her stead, and I'll let her go. How about that?

Sure.

That was fast.

She might get hurt if I fought you right here.

But you'd better keep your promise and let her go.

Otherwise, I won't ever forgive you, even if I die here today!

How do you plan on not forgiving me when you're about to die?

The tribe shaman says that when the heroes of Acahualla die, their souls go back to Acahualla's lakes.

'My soul shall be cleansed by the lake and become the wind in the trees, the rain in the sky.'

It's you who should be afraid, Vampire scum.

You'll remember me when the wind brushes against your face and the rain falls upon your shoulders!

The tribes of Sargon have such delightful traditions.

But you don't understand the Vampires.

The wind is averted by the smell of blood, and the rain turns to blood that nourishes me.

Your soul won't harm me in the slightest.

Seething with rage, Gavial closes her eyes, ready to meet her death.

Before she left the jungle, Gavial thought the most glaring thing that existed was the sun.

Once, she mustered the courage to stare directly at the sun, and it burned her eyes, leaving her seeing double for days.

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?

Here.

Care to explain all the blood bags?

Well, I do some volunteer medical work in the slums, which means the people there are willing to hear me out.

They were willing to give their blood when I told them you needed it for their research.

Oh, and I cleared up the rumors about you while I was at it.

Is this enough for your research?

Plenty.

I've also logged the records, following the sample that you gave me for reference.

Here's the logbook.

...Very good. Very good indeed.

Will you train me in medicine now?

I never thought I would encounter a woman who's not only after my own heart, but one who can also do the things I can't.

If only I had met you earlier! I would never have had to worry a lack of samples.

You can count on me!

I've made up my mind, Gavial.

Let's travel together and study the blood of Oripathy patients in different places.

You'll collect the blood, and I'll study it.

I'll teach you everything about medicine that I know.

Awesome!

Where exactly do you think you are going, Warfarin?

K—Kal'tsit?!

How did you find this place?!

I had already zeroed in on this area as your likely hiding spot.

Then I heard about a doctor talking about another Vampire doctor treating patients.

Let's just say it wasn't hard.

I forgot how well-connected you are.

You've been away from your post for three months.

I mean, I've been sending back my research reports on a monthly basis! It's not like I've been doing nothing.

There are certain things that require your physical presence.

It's time for you to come back.

Who are you?

My name is Kal'tsit, Warfarin's colleague. I'm here to bring her back. What about you?

I'm Gavial. Doctor Gavial!

Warfarin said she'd train me in medicine if I helped her.

Are you taking her away? But we were just about to set out—

Yes! Gavial and I were about to set out on a journey!

Construction has begun on the blood bank that you requested. You said you wanted to supervise it personally, didn't you?

What?!

You should have told me earlier! I would have gone back so long ago!

Looks like our travel plans are going on hold, Gavial.

B—But what do I do?

Sorry...

What is this place you two are talking about?

It's called Rhodes Island. It's a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the treatment of Oripathy.

Are there a lot of people like Warfarin who can teach me more about medicine there?!

Of course.

Can I come with you if Warfarin's going back?

Now there's an idea. This one's a special talent, Kal'tsit, I guarantee it.

Did you collect all these blood bags by yourself?

Yes.

This logbook...

Hey, when did that end up in your hands?

Let me see... very detailed data, accompanied by appropriate comments and summaries.

There is an entrance test you'll have to take, but you'll quality for a clerical position on the strength of this logbook alone.

But I want to learn medicine!

You'll have no shortage of opportunities if you come to Rhodes Island.

Before that, though, I have a question for you.

Why do you want to join Rhodes Island?

Because I want to cure everyone of Oripathy!

Welcome aboard, Gavial.