Chapter 258 – Fever Dream

“But didn’t Maiara-san say that the king’s sister who was the crown princess back then, perished alongside the queen mother back then?” Clavis suddenly asked Manasye.

“Well… She became kind of a topic that nobody should touch. Though my father never declared her as passing away or wrote her name in the memorial tomb, it was a fact that Aunt Oriel was never seen since that day. People seemed to speculate many things, and the most probable scenario is that– since Father lost both his mother and sister in that incident, he fell into deep grief. Late grandmother’s body was found, so it was inevitable for him to announce her passing and hold a funeral for her. As for Aunt Oriel… everyone wanted to say that her body… was mangled during the fire… but Father would shoot them a fierce look, so nobody dared to bring up the topic anymore. Some also said that Father didn’t officially declare Aunt Oriel’s death for political reasons… I don’t know what that might be. Luring enemies or what, I don’t really get it. But everyone has an unspoken rule about this topic. That Aunt Oriel has perished alongside with the late queen–my grandmother, and that we shouldn’t bring it up in front of the king,” Manasye explained.

It seemed he himself was confused about it, and that he had tried to dig around about this topic, as much as he could without being found out by his family.

“…”

An uncomfortable silence enveloped the whole room.

“Anyway, Eneida! You’ve improved so much!”

Seemingly uncomfortable with the topics brought up so far, Manasye shifted the topic… but his attempt was quite… bad.

“I… just had an outbreak again, and it almost hurt you, though?” Eneida awkwardly replied.

“Uhm, I mean before that, you were doing well, right? Ah yeah, did you figure out what caused the outbreak earlier?” Manasye asked in a fluster.

“Oh… Uhm… Sorry… I…,” Eneida teared up.

“Oh no, I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you aren’t comfortable with it! I just want to help…”

“Then… Can you accompany me next time when I train again?” Eneida asked.

“That…”

“You don’t want to?” Sensing Manasye’s hesitation, Eneida’s mood turned for the worse again.

“Is that what has been bothering you?” Manasye asked.

“W-well…,” Eneida hesitated. She didn’t want to answer honestly because that’d make her seem like a spoiled kid, but she couldn’t lie either. She wasn’t the type of person to lie, perhaps due to her upbringing as the saintess.

“Sorry… You see, our friends have helped a lot by helping you and how they want to help Maiara as well, so I wanted to be able to repay them. I figured out the way to repay them was by getting along with their friends who have become the delegation sent from Riviera, and helping them all. I think I should have explained to you beforehand, that’s my mistake,” Manasye quickly explained.

He seemed to just realize that he hadn’t explained anything to Eneida, and was so busy and engrossed with his new routine that he didn’t consider Eneida’s feelings.

“Since there are Clavis and Fenrir, I think you’d do fine…,” Manasye bitterly smiled.

It was unsure if he thought that his presence didn’t matter so much to Eneida, or that he thought that as long as Eneida had someone accompanying her, it’d be fine and that it didn’t have to be him, as long as that someone could fill the role of a friend for Eneida. Or perhaps he simply didn’t manage to think that far.

“I was worried you no longer want to be my friend…,” Eneida finally muttered her concern.

“Of course not! I was just… busy… Sorry, I wish you could’ve come along as well…”

“But… Why did you hesitate when I asked you to accompany me next time when I train again?” Eneida pouted a little as she continued, “You’ve been spending time with the Riviera delegates for so long… Can’t I ask you to skip tomorrow and be with me, at least tomorrow? I mean, your known agenda is to be with the Riviera delegates, so if tomorrow you’re absent and only continue the next day, then…”

I want to be able to talk with Manasye again after all this… 

The moment the desire took root, Eneida began to hope more.

Moreover, since she realized that keeping her feelings down resulted in the outbreak, she decided to try voicing it out.

This time, she got a feeling that it’d be alright. That Manasye won’t abandon her or feel that she was too much.

Rather, if she still held herself back and it caused yet another outbreak that may put Manasye in harm, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

“Sorry, but would it be alright for you to be accompanied with Clavis and Fenrir for the next few days–”

“Apologies, but I have to depart to my contractor’s side soon. She’s calling me,” Fenrir interjected.

“Lyra’s returned?!” Altaire asked.

“Most likely so, since she’s telling me to meet her in Eltharion’s residence tonight. Eneida’s progress has been good so far. She can just keep her training even without me,” Fenrir explained.

“That’s good to hear. And I hope Maiara will return fully recovered with Lyra and Kuu. After that, we can all discuss our next move together!” Manasye clapped happily.

“Uhm… But continuing our talk, does that mean you’ll be busy for the next few days? Will you be with Luca and the others again?” Eneida asked.

“We haven’t had anything planned yet. Did you already have something in mind?” Luca asked Manasye.

“Uhm… Not that… How do I explain it… In short, I will clear up my schedule for the next few days. Yeah, I won’t accompany either of you,” Manasye said.

“Huh? Why?” Eneida tilted her head in wonder.

“It’s a long story… Let me try to explain… So, you see… I have been a sickly child, unlike my sister, Phoebe. That’s why my parents were so overprotective of me, and I became more timid than Big Sis Phoebe…,” Manasye began explaining.

“Sickly? Are you alright?” Eneida became worried.

“I’m better now, but back when I was a child, I often got sick. It was also quite unpredictable. Oh, but it was nothing serious as our physician explained that my constitution was simply fragile and that I would get better as I aged. And it indeed got better,” Manasye explained.

“And what does this have to do with you clearing up your schedule for the next few days?” Luca asked, clearly intrigued.

“Ah, I said before that it’s unpredictable when I will get sick, right? Except for one occasion. I can predict that I will get fever and most likely be too sick to resume normal activities after this,” Manasye explained.

“One occasion, could it be?” Luca had a hunch.

“So, I will definitely get a fever and get sick after using Dark magic. I think the fever will start as early as this night.”

“Fever after using Dark magic?” Clavis widened his eyes.

“Did you overexert yourself?” Kiri asked.

“No, I didn’t feel like I depleted my mana or something like that…,” Manasye shook his head.

“That is certainly odd. Normally, one will fall sick after they overexert themselves, exhausting their mana. Or if they use magic normally incompatible with them, through the forceful help of artifacts or grimoires, for example. But I didn’t sense any artifact or grimoire being activated back then. And your mana as an elf should be vast. I don’t think your case matches either case,” Fenrir said, amused.

“Yeah. I don’t know why, but it’s the pattern, so…”

“Pattern? Did you use Dark magic often?” Altaire asked.

Manasye shook his head.

“To be honest, it’s mostly unconscious. So, the first time it happened… At that time, I got kidnapped during an outing at a festival and was almost killed by the one who kidnapped me. The second time, I tried to use it consciously, but I only succeeded in forming a simple magic ball with Dark element before I got too scared and stopped it. I got sick again with a terrible fever that night, so I never tried to use it anymore… Plus, it seemed scary, so I didn’t want to try again. And the third time, it was when… I found a cursed item. I accidentally came into contact with it, and Dark magic suddenly appeared from my hand and burned the cursed item to crisp,” Manasye explained.

“A cursed item? Well, Dark magic is sensitive to curses, and it can protect its wielder from curses, indeed,” Luca nodded.

“Yeah. Luckily, with my first and third time, people thought I got too scared due to the incidents and became ill due to the shock. With my second… people thought it was my usual illness flaring up. So, this time will be the same as well,” Manasye added.

“Since I will get a fever soon and won’t be able to do anything for the next few days, please brief me on how you are doing for the next few days, okay? I can’t wait to recover enough to meet you guys again!” Manasye said.

“Your last sentence seems odd since you aren’t even sick yet,” Kiri pointed out.

“Yep, but I will get sick soon, so let me say it before I can’t!”

“Will you be okay, though?” Eneida asked.

How I wish I could fully control my power again now. Maybe I can do something to help Manasye alleviate his soon-to-strike illness…

“Mhm. I will be okay. I know I will get through it and see you all again, so I’ll be fine!” Manasye said with his hand curled up.

If he could heal his body with sheer will power, perhaps he could’ve dodged the illness all along.

Still, the most help he could get was medicine or healing magic to help with the pain and symptoms. But it was important for his body’s immune to work to heal himself.

“Then, until next time we meet! Good luck, Eneida! Clavis, I entrust Eneida to you. Fenrir, be careful on your way and please help Maiara. Luca, Kiri, Altaire… Do tell me if there’s any changes!”

Manasye said with a smile, despite knowing he’d get sick later that night.

***

Lyra’s POV

My journey to the Dragon’s Heritage and back felt like a fever dream.

I wasn’t sure if it was because I wanted to savor the experience or due to the scientific fact that our brain would try to capture and digest a completely new experience to the best of its ability and that explained how time seemed to pass by so slow during when we had new experiences and how it would feel like time passed by so fast if we just stuck to our routine… but it felt like a long time had passed.

When it was just like… five days?

I clearly experienced the sun rising and setting exactly five times.

I couldn’t rely on meal times since we had breakfast, then tea time, then lunch time, evening snack time, and then dinner. I essentially ate five times a day.

Schelri was so excited in having me try their cuisines that non-dragon could eat.

And obviously, I was excited as well and might have overexerted my belly!!

And don’t get me started on my sleep. It was so out of rhythm. I needed to fix this after returning.

We departed from Pyrpgrnt kingdom in the morning after eating a big breakfast.

Schelri gave us some food to eat on our journey and she made sure Carbuncle would stop on the way to replenish her energy and eat the food she’s given us. Thankfully, Carbuncle listened to her this time, so no more starving and non-stop journey!

Schelri was really a godsend!

I gave a signal to Fenrir right when Carbuncle and I were about to return. Thankfully, the bond between me and Fenrir worked wonderfully despite the distance. I was told that we were connected mentally, so all I had to do was to concentrate, feel Fenrir’s power inside me, call out his name, and deliver the message.

I was unsure whether or not the message was really delivered to Fenrir, though, since it was the first time we were away this far and this long.

I felt as if I got Fenrir’s reply, but I was afraid I was imagining the whole thing…

But thankfully, it wasn’t just my imagination.

For Fenrir was already there by the time Carbuncle and I reached Eltharion’s residence during what seemed to be midnight or even past midnight already.

The divine doctor, Eltharion, watched in awe as Carbuncle undid her transformation–transforming back to her humanoid form.

“This still feels surreal… I still feel like I am dreaming,” Eltharion slowly said as he blinked.

“Hmph, look all you can,” Carbuncle said.

“Fenrir, how’s everything on the other side?” I said as I patted Fenrir. It’s been so long since I last stroked Fenrir’s fur. I’m having a withdrawal!

Then, I glanced to the left and right.

Isn’t Maiara here? Where is she? And isn’t Ein here as well? 

But I don’t see them both anywhere…

I looked at Eltharion who seemed so focused on examining Carbuncle as if she were a rare foreign object…

“Uhm, Doctor… Eltharion-sensei… Where is Maiara-san and Ein?” I asked.

It was odd for Ein to not dart away at the mention of my name. As for Maiara, since she’d be receiving the treatment, perhaps she’d be nervous to ask me and Carbuncle how our herbs-picking journey went. So, I was curious to not see them both here.

“Ah… They are fast asleep. Actually…,” Eltharion then began explaining.

“Maiara-sama had diligently completed her preparations to receive the treatment. She would usually be too tired and fall asleep at around 9 PM, after dinner. She tried to stay awake when she heard from Fenrir that you’d be returning tonight, but I told her to sleep since it won’t be good for her to lack rest, when her treatment would start soon. As for Ein… he was so excited that he played with my pooch, Minny, to spend time and to channel the energy peak from his excitement. However, it made him too tired and he ended up falling asleep together with Minny, just as midnight came.”

“Ah… I see.” That’s very typical of Ein. And I guess it’s understandable for Eltharion to ask his patient, Maiara, to get enough rest, before a very important treatment.

“Aren’t you tired, Doctor? What time is it?” I quickly asked.

“Ho ho ho… Compared to them, I got just enough rest. I read some papers while waiting for your return. And it’s almost 3 AM now,” Eltharion said.

“3 AM… I see…” No wonder I feel so sleepy.

“Still, it took faster than what I had imagined,” Eltharion commented in awe.

“Yeah. Who would have guessed that the whole round trip journey only took five days in total, right?” I said as I yawned.

“Hmm? Five days? What do you mean?” Eltharion was confused.

“Huh?” Now I am confused.

“Eh… Ah!” Carbuncle seemed like she just realized something, and quickly avoided my questioning look.

C-carbuncle… did you forget to tell me something again?

“O-odd… I clearly saw the sun rising and the sun setting in total for… only 5 days so far… so…??” No matter what, I can’t fathom my calculation being off.

“It’s been ten days, child,” Eltharion quickly briefed me.

“Huh? Why is it double the time you told me… Carbuncle?” I quickly asked Carbuncle, who seemed like she was about to sneak off somewhere else.

“Uhm, you see… The sun rises and sets at different time lengths in Dragon’s Heritage compared to Non-Draconis’ part of Sphaela…,” Carbuncle muttered in an explanation.

“But you told me it would take five days?” I asked.

“Yes… In Draconis language, ‘day’ means a complete cycle of the sun rising, then setting, then rising again. Technically, it was only five days…,” Carbuncle mumbled, still not wanting to lock eyes with me.

“How do dragons count one’s age, and how do their calendars work, then?” It was Divine Doctor Eltharion who asked.

“Uhm… 24 hours a day and the calendar system was made up by the people, due to the condition in the Sphaela, minus the Dragon’s Heritage. Nobody factored the fact that the different climate and blablabla… uh, I meant, I forgot what caused it, but the sun rises and sets at different times in Dragon’s Heritage. Since us dragons used to live together with the other races and used this system as well, our calendars and age counting work the same as the rest of you. The only difference is… we decided to say that the 24 hour counter in a day that’s also used in the rest of the world as one ‘date’ in our place. A ‘day’ means one complete cycle of the sun,” Carbuncle tried her best to explain.

…Again, I got a long overdue culture shock.

No wonder time felt so slow in the dragon’s continent!!

I wanted to get angry, but I saw that Carbuncle genuinely forgot, so how could I be angry at that face?

Carbuncle was so used to the meaning of a ‘day’ in both the dragons’ sense and the non-dragons’ sense that it really slipped her mind that I didn’t know.

I should have known to always double check everything when it concerned Carbuncle. However, how should I double check something that I thought was universal common sense, like what defines ‘a day’?!

“W-well! It’s not like you have any other choice, right, Lyr? Five days or ten days, you still need to go through this, right?” Carbuncle quickly asked.

W-well, if she puts it that way…

“Hrngh… True,” I couldn’t say otherwise.

Still, I am worried after finding out that we were away for 10 days already. 

Did our parents already catch on? What date is it now, then? Is school starting again?

How are Briar and our other friends?

Did Clavis manage everything well in Cielle’s royal castle?

…Whatever it is, I now have no choice but to go forward and see things through first. Overthinking it won’t change anything.

“At least it still takes less than 2 weeks, it’s still fast, right, Doctor?” Carbuncle quickly turned to ask Eltharion.

“Yes. Indeed. I imagined it would take no less than a month,” Eltharion said.

“A month?! Lyr here isn’t a dragon. She only has a bit of dragon blood. Even with the help of my Dragon Orb, she wouldn’t be able to last more than 2 weeks at best in Dragon’s Heritage,” Carbuncle quickly said.

“WHAT?!” I was really shocked.

Excuse me, it’s something crucial for me, yet it’s my first time hearing it!!

“Two weeks, you mean… 14 days, no, 14 dates, right?” I lowered my voice and asked Carbuncle.

“Yep,” Carbuncle nodded.

This time, we barely made it before the so-called time limit for my body to withstand!

W-what happened if we were to spend 10 dragon days in Dragon’s Heritage?

Wouldn’t it be dangerous for me?

Ah, but I trust that Carbuncle wouldn’t harm me out of her negligence… right?

…Right?!!

[Lyra’s Life Journey – Achievement Unlocked: Barely Saved! T__T]