story_hbisc2_1_1

Hibiscus!

Where are you!

My leg... it hurts...

It's ok. Stay still, and let me have a look.

It's just a bruise. No bleeding or fractures. I'll rub some salve on it and you'll be fine.

But it hurts so much when I try to move...

I know how it feels. I hurt my leg once when I was little. It really hurt, and I was bleeding and scared. I couldn't stop crying.

But you're not crying. That means you're a strong boy, aren't you?

(Rubs eyes)

But it's not gonna get better by itself if you sit here like this.

Would you rather sit in the cold and the rain, or go home and get better on your warm and comfy bed?

I, I...

Come, take my hand, and stand up. Good. Can you go home by yourself?

Yes!

Good boy. Now go on home; your mum and dad are waiting.

Thank you!

Hibiscus!

What happened at the concert, Hibiscus? Why are you here by yourself?

Andante... perfect timing.

No time to explain. I just patched up a few injuries here.

But Originium levels are very high around here. Take them to the office for a closer look...

What the heck are you talking about?!

What's with all those wounds on you? You're in no shape to help anybody!

Wounds? What are you—

Young lady, why do you—

I'll hold down the fort here, Ebenholz. Now!

It can't be. I thought I blocked it...

Don't worry, I learned a few things from Lava. I know some Ar—

Hibiscus!

A few days ago...

Hello, this is the medical assistance center. Is this the number of Mr. Darron?

It's you... where's Andante?

Dr. Andante is out visiting patients, so I'm checking on you on her behalf. Don't worry, I received the same professional training.

May I come in to do a few checks? Just some basic tests. No blood will be drawn—

Stay away from my house!

I won't come near without your permission.

But you do not sound well. You should get yourself checked up—

It's none of your business!

I was feeling perfectly fine until you came to the Afterglow, Sarkaz!

The prophecies were right! You Sarkaz have brought calamity upon the Afterglow!

It's a complicated situation, and hard to explain... but you need help, and your health should come first.

Enough! I'm not gonna grovel to a Sarkaz, even on my deathbed.

Very well, I won't force you, if you don't want to get checked up.

Here's some medicine that may help... please don't consider it help from a Sarkaz. I'm simply delivering medicine to those in need, on behalf of Rhodes Island.

I'll leave the medicine at the door. You can pick it up at your convenience.

Go away... or I'll call the guards.

Sorry... I'll be going.

I've gone through the Afterglow. Based on the number of Infected who have recovered abnormally, we don't have enough supplies at the office to deal with a crisis.

Why hasn't the medicine we ordered come in? I hope that patient doesn't waste the doses...

Hibiscus—

...What?

As though hearing a call from afar, Hibiscus turns around, but finds no one there.

Every door and window is closed, as though the scenes of song and dance from a few days ago were merely an illusion.

But the weathered walls and battered tiles look so familiar upon close inspection.

I asked you to carry ingredients for tomorrow into the warehouse, but I didn't expect you to carry enough to last a week. Aren't you tired?

Ha, don't underestimate Sarkaz strength!

Alright... still, you must be tired. Here, have two servings of fins & chips, and share it with your sister.

Thanks, but I think mom has dinner ready. I'll just take one serving and share it with Lava.

See? You shouldn't give a young lady too much fried food.

Here, take this bag of fruit. Guaranteed to be sweet and juicy.

Thanks!

You're welcome. I'm counting on you to tutor that little brat of mine!

Come on, Hibiscus, focus...

I'm back.

Why have you gone out again? Didn't I say I would take care of the investigation for a few days?

Things in the Afterglow are complicated. I can't just leave it all to you.

All I did was deliver some medicine to patients in need. I won't draw any attention.

Did anyone bother you...?

(Shakes head)

Dr. Kal'tsit says a medic's first duty on a field mission is to her own safety.

What happened the other day—it was their fault, but you shouldn't have charged ahead like that. It was dangerous.

Sorry. I realized afterwards that I should have taken another path... I was angry and anxious, and being right was all I could think of.

But thinking back now, there was really no point to an argument like that.

Good that you realize your mistake. Next time you put yourself in danger like that, I'm putting it in my report.

I'm sure they meant nothing by it. They're just scared after all that's happened lately.

I remember being invited to dance my first day in the Afterglow.

They probably just mistook you for a Caprinae...

I don't think so.

I used to think there wasn't much difference between the horn of a Caprinae and that of a Sarkaz, but I recently learned that the Caprinae are able to tell them apart at a glance.

Let me tell you something funny.

I found a Caprinae girl unconscious by the roadside before I arrived in Vyseheim.

I gave her some medicine and water. When she woke up, she recognized me as a Sarkaz and looked scared.

I panicked and said, 'Don't worry, I'm a Caprinae too!'

She didn't believe me and ran away screaming.

It was so funny, now that I think of it. Why would a Sarkaz introduce herself like that?

It's not funny at all.

Hm...

I'll get the door.

It's you...?

You just left my house! Don't you remember?

I'm his son! You sucked my father's blood!

I'm looking for Dr. Andante. Where is she?

(Gestures 'pretend I'm not here')

She's not here right now. I can help, if you need something.

Er, I...

P-Please help my father!

What happened?

He was feeling well a few days ago, but things took a bad turn this morning.

He's running a high fever, and new crystals are appearing on his skin...

Please, help him!

Take me to him.

Y-You'll do it? Than—

No time to talk, let's go.

(Anguished moaning)

Doktor, will my father—

I performed some basic treatment to stabilize his condition. He's out of danger for now. Let him sleep.

Will he get better?

I can't give you any false hope.

But why...?

As is the case with many others in the Afterglow, your father's condition is a type of 'false recovery.'

The body draws on undamaged organs to fill in for functions that have been damaged, but this is only a stop-gap measure.

Your father is now undergoing the rebound that follows a false recovery. His age only compounds the rapid onset of Oripathy symptoms.

I remember you saying something to the effect.

It's all my fault. If only I had...

There's no point regretting the past. The important thing is to take care of your father now.

Pay careful attention to his diet, his sleep cycle, and keep his bodily functions in balance. Care is more important than treatment right now.

Alright, I'll do it.

And Dr. Hibiscus... I, I'm sorry about—

Are you there, Hibiscus?

Something's not right. We need to—

Don't disturb the patient. We'll talk outside.

What's going on?

A dozen patients came into the office right after you left. Some had suddenly lost consciousness, while others experienced a rapid deterioration in vitals.

Other patients are also coming in with various symptoms, but we haven't been able to determine if they are Oripathy-related.

Mr. Schneider's father was not an isolated case. Many patients who had recovered abnormally are entering the rebound stage.

Rhodes Island alone can't take in everyone. Have you asked if the other hospitals can accept patients, or deliver the medicine that we ordered?

I have, but they keep finding excuses. And they said...

They needed to ensure sufficient medical supplies for the Cliffy Patio.

How could they be so irresponsible!

Hang in there, Andante. I'm coming back—

Calm down, Hibiscus.

People are restless right now, and there are many who believe the rumors. This is not the time to show your face.

But I can't—

...You're right.

Could you take care of things at the office, Andante?

Of course. I haven't spent all this time in the Afterglow for nothing.

I'll help!

But your father...

The neighbors can care for him for a while. You're short-handed, aren't you?

I can help. Anything you need.

Alright, this is the list of patients who recovered abnormally.

You know the Afterglow. Check the list and bring the patients who have deteriorated quickly to the office for intensive care.

Got it!

I'll take care of the hospitals.

I'll convince them.

Doktor! Help me!

I wanna go home...

The room is packed with several times the normal number of patients.

There is a sickly smell in the air, which is filled with the sounds of crying and moaning.

Ugh, what's this smell... I have the patients, Dr. Andante.

There are too many of them. It's far more than the number of abnormal recoveries we recorded.

We have our hands full with the cross-infection risk alone.

You're right. Panic may be even more dangerous than the disease.

The patients don't know their own situations. Whether they're experiencing the rebound or not, Oripathy sufferers believe that their condition is being caused by some unknown threat.

The first priority is to identify the cause of the symptoms, and deal with it individually.

Patients in the rebound stage experience a rapid decline in bodily functions. In the absence of blood tests, body temperature is the most direct sympt—

Hibiscus! Are you alright over there?

I... I'm fine.

Take care of the office, Andante.

I'll get the medicine.

Alright, be careful!

Is this the troublemaker?

This is private property, Fräulein. Even members of other medical institutions require permission to enter.

This is your last warning. Leave now.

I didn't come to interrupt the work of a fellow medical professional.

But how could you talk about not having enough supplies or beds, when a single flu patient could take up enough space for ten people?

We make our decisions based on each patient's unique circumstances...

S-She's the prophesied devil, isn't she?

Help! Somebody! Get this Sarkaz out of my room!

If I really were the prophesied devil, do you think there's anyone here who could help you?

Eeek—

No sudden moves!

A dozen wands are aimed at Hibiscus.

Please don't threaten our patients.

I'm not threatening anyone. I'm just reminding you, as a fellow doctor, of your moral obligations.

The people of the Afterglow are in serious trouble. I only ask that you provide the necessary medicine to the Rhodes Island branch office and take in a number of patients, in accordance with our agreement.

Am I asking too much?

Why would I listen to a suspicious foreigner? Everyone knows about the prophecy.

I'm not wasting my time with her. Remove her from the premises, officer.

Fine, call me a devil, then.

Do you remember what the prophecy that you put so much stock in says?

'The Blood hides Plague within, slow beckons Death to creep all Ways.' Where do you think things stand with the Afterglow right now?

The prophesied devil stands before you. Take me in, or chase me out. Do whatever you think will protect you.

And we'll see how high and mighty the Cliffy Patio fares, when calamity strikes.

Mr. Karl—temperatures normal, small increase in blood Originium levels.

Mrs. Marta—temperatures normal, blood Originium levels normal.

Too many files... too much equipment... I, I can't carry any more...

No more health food... I need meat...

Looks like she didn't have the time to eat today. She's dreaming about food.

Hey, Andante, you're drooling.

Dr. Hibiscus... you're still up?

Just filing some patient data. It's not easy for me to go out during the day, so I have to make it up at night.

Thanks for helping out today. You should go home.

I... I'll stay here. Here's some water for you.

Thank you.

Hibiscus reaches out to take the bottle, but it slips from her hand and rolls across the floor.

Sorry... I'll get it.

Are you okay?

I'm fine. Just careless.

Ambulances came this afternoon, not long after you left. How did you persuade them?

Not exactly with logic and reason, I guess.

Anyway, it's good that things have calmed down. The temporary quarantine zone should be lifted tomorrow.

Dr. Hibiscus... I have a question.

You're new here in the Afterglow. It's not like you had time to make friends, and some folk have even treated you terribly. Why are you still willing to...

I think this is the first time I've been treated like a doctor.

What?

I mostly do the work of a nurse back at HQ, caring for patients and assisting doctors. This is the first time I've been put in charge of things.

You call me doctor, so I had better do my job.

You... you'll forgive what I said to you?

What if I say no?

I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!

You can hit me with that flute if you want!

I'm just joking. No need to slap yourself.

I'm not going to pretend that it didn't bother me at all, but it's understandable.

In the face of terrible danger and an unknown threat, it's natural for people to become wary of outsiders.

Do you really think so?

And if I just packed up and left, I would really become the prophesied devil who brought disaster to the Afterglow and then disappeared, wouldn't I?

Hate leads only to hate, never to understanding.

I just hope I can fix people's prejudices with my actions, even just a little bit...

Sorry, I wandered off there.

You should get some rest. I'll be over there, and you can call me if you need anything.

Whew... things are finally settling down.

I should have a sip of water and take a break—

Cough... cough...

Water... I'm thirsty... water...

Oh, here's some water for you!

Cough... cough... whew...

Feeling better?

A-Are you a Sarkaz?

Er... maybe you could treat me as a Caprinae?

Pah, I can tell the horns of a Sarkaz from those of a Caprinae at a sight.

Ah, so it's true.

Seeing a Sarkaz under a full moon... am I going to die?

I've never heard that legend before.

Ouch, my head hurts. Guess I'm starting to ramble.

Thank you for the care... let's sing a song, whether you're Sarkaz or Caprinae.

A song? You should rest up. Your condition has just stabilized.

It's too quiet... we need some music tonight, even if I die tomorrow.

I'll sing. Accompany me with your flute.

Very well, if it makes you feel better...

But I'm not great at the flute.

It's easy. Just follow my melody.

I'll start. One, two—

The Sky is blue and fine, the Breeze lilts by in Song♪

The River murmurs clear, my Heart is filled with Hope♪...

The alley is quiet, cleared to accommodate the overflow of patients.

The intermittent sounds of flute and singing echo under the moon, a lullaby for a city just emerging from chaos.