NFBE Chapter 12: Does it really matter if it's human or Melusin? (1)
Chapter 12: Does it really matter if it's human or Melusin? (1)
Months later, Siegwen and her teacher bid farewell to the massive shipwreck in the White Dew District, said goodbye to the gradually recovering patients, and continued their journey to the more distant Morte District.
Along the way, Siegfried didn't have much time to ponder the meaning of medicine. The endless stream of patients kept little Siegfried and her "witch" teacher busy, but what troubled them even more was dealing with the doubts and malice from most of the patients.
"Melushin can be a doctor? This is utter nonsense!"
"You can't trust Mellux! You're risking the safety of your patients!"
"Leave! You are not welcome here!"
boom!
The wooden door was slammed shut by the homeowner once again. The witch silently shielded the somewhat frightened Siegwen behind her, quietly packed her medicine box, and pulled the silent Siegwen, who had her head down, away.
It was the height of summer in Fontainebleau, and the paths were carpeted with blue-purple basil and pink jasmine. Fruit trees along the roadside were laden with plump, translucent mandarin oranges. But Siegwen had no interest in appreciating the scenery. The little girl followed silently behind the "witch" with her head down, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Unlike the Shadow Chaser members who frequently interact with humans, Siegwen, who has spent most of her time living with the Melosens of Fontaine, has only ever had regular contact with one human: Mufeng. Therefore, having lived for so long under the almost boundless pampering and care of her Mufeng brother, Siegwen has even somewhat forgotten that this is an era in which humans are extremely hostile to Melosens. Suddenly faced with undisguised hatred and malice, the kind-hearted Siegwen is momentarily at a loss.
After a long silence, Siegwen broke the oppressive silence with a muffled voice: "Teacher... I don't understand, does it really matter whether someone is human or Melusin?"
The witch fell silent for a long time, a rare occurrence. Then, she sighed softly and murmured in a low voice, "Alas..."
"Higgwen, the prejudice in people's hearts is a disease I can't cure..."
After speaking, the witch's originally straight back seemed to deflate and hunch over, her brows furrowing deeply, as if she had aged considerably in an instant.
Siegwen didn't ask any further questions, and silence once again enveloped the two of them. The two figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappeared at the edge of the village, slowly walking away into the distance...
Nighttime in an unnamed town in the Morte district.
Hisewen spread a sheet of paper out on the wooden table, dipped her quill pen in ink, and prepared to write a letter to her brother Mufeng, as usual.
After hesitating several times, Siegwen still didn't include her recent experiences in the letter. Although she had a lot of grievances and confusion that she wanted to confide in her closest person, the sensible little girl didn't want busy Mufeng to worry. So, this reply continued her usual style of only reporting good news and not bad.
Opening the lunchbox Mu Feng had brought, Siegwen picked up a cute little animal-shaped butter cookie and took a small bite. The crisp, sweet cookie melted in her mouth, and the familiar sweetness dispelled much of the gloom that had been weighing on Siegwen's heart. Her previously listless little ears perked up slightly, and she visibly perked up.
Savoring the sweet aroma of the butter cookies, Siegfried smiled and left a final note about health on the letter. Then, she carefully put the letter away and placed it in her personal medicine box, as if it were a very precious treasure.
After completing her travels in the Mortei district, the teacher plans to return to Fontaine for a while. Then she will finally be able to meet her beloved brother Mufeng, whom she hasn't seen in a long time. She wonders if Mufeng will be amazed by her medical skills.
Speaking of which, Brother Mufeng promised to try her nutritional milkshake. If Brother Mufeng dares to break his promise, she will stick stickers all over his back!
Filled with longing and anticipation, Siegwen temporarily put her recent troubles aside, a cute smile curving her lips as she pulled the blanket up and slowly drifted off to sleep.
……
Meanwhile, inside the room on the other side.
Noticing Siegwen's even breathing and confirming that the little one was fast asleep, the [Witch] picked up the heavy backpack and slowly and carefully took out a glass bottle filled with liquid from it, placing it cautiously on the table.
The clear liquid in the bottle looked no different from the usual pure water in Fontainebleau, but upon closer inspection, one could detect that the water seemed to have a viscous texture, and under the dim light of the oil lamp, it shimmered with a faint, almost imperceptible, bewitching blue-purple glow.
On the old wooden chair beside the table, in the space between darkness and dim light, lay an open notebook with slightly yellowed pages and messy handwriting, along with several clippings of varying ages, but whose contents were strikingly similar:
Unexplained redness, swelling, rashes, ulceration, and even... that are completely unresponsive to conventional medical treatments.
Missing.
There has been no further news since.
What goes unnoticed is that patients who experienced adverse reactions all seemed to have had some contact with water before the onset of their symptoms; however, this astute doctor inadvertently noticed this easily overlooked detail.
As the research deepened, even more striking similarities gradually emerged before the [witch's] eyes.
Without exception, a puddle of water was found at the last known location of every missing person.
water?
A sharp glint suddenly flashed in the witch's previously calm eyes, like a blazing flame in the darkness, illuminating the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
The witch lifted the bottle filled with a strange liquid and shook it gently; it was a sample collected from a water stain left by a missing person. The viscous liquid slowly climbed the glass, reflecting the suspicion and hesitation in the eyes of the aged itinerant doctor.
Blue-purple light splashed in the bottle, as if challenging and mocking the stern doctor.
The oil lamp slowly went out, and darkness gradually swallowed up the clippings and yellowed notes. The eerie liquid added to the mystery in the boundless silence, like a tempting forbidden fruit hidden in the shadows of Eden.
In the darkness, the witch's eyes shone brightly, her hesitant expression gradually replaced by determination and resolve. She reached out her well-defined hand and gently pulled out the cork from the bottle.
The cork was pulled from the bottle neck with a clear click, which sounded particularly distinct in the deathly silence, as if it were singing for something, or perhaps weeping for something...
On this nameless, faceless night, in an unknown town, the earth-shattering secret buried at the beginning of creation by the gods, and the primordial sins borne by the Water Kingdom, unveiled a corner of the dark veil to this perceptive healer.