Chapter 119

The lab looked exactly the same as we had left it — perfectly set up and ready to start work anytime.

I really liked this place.

Geron moved to the herb shelf beside him and began neatly organizing the herbs he had brought.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

“No.”

“But your face says otherwise.”

Today was Geron’s treatment day.

Compared to Viola — whose “vessel” was shattered into pieces — Geron’s condition was much better, so this would be easier to treat.

When I said that, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“I’m not nervous,” he said quietly.

“Then what are you?”

“…I’m scared.”

He bit his lip after saying that.

Actually, Geron’s treatment wasn’t that difficult.
Even with the test potions we’d used before, I could have improved his condition a lot — if only he hadn’t refused treatment.

(Earlier, I had said):
“Let’s just treat you completely now. No more small steps.”
(But Geron replied):
“No. I’ll wait until Viola is cured.”
“That’s ridiculous! If we can heal you now, we should!”
“I said no.”
“Why not?! You’re driving me crazy…”

He had decided that his treatment would come after Viola’s.
No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he wouldn’t change his mind.

But now, there was no choice — we had to treat him first for Viola’s sake.

“What exactly are you afraid of?” I asked.

Geron’s lips trembled slightly. He tried to smile, but then spoke the truth he’d been hiding all this time.

“…If I’m cured, how will we test Viola’s medicine?”

For a moment, I couldn’t respond.

I had never really understood the source of his fear before — but now I did.

His refusal to be treated wasn’t stubbornness; it was because of this deep, painful worry.

Was this what people meant by noble love?
Was this what family love looked like?

In the Siklein family, I had never experienced anything like it. His selfless heart just felt unfamiliar to me.

From the herbs came a clean, fresh energy. My ether stirred, reacting to my emotions.

Empty potion bottles rolled across the table. I grabbed one tightly and looked at him.

“I told you,” I said,
“I’m a very talented healer, remember?”

Geron laughed, lightening the heavy mood like morning sunlight melting frost.

“So stop worrying and just let me treat you, okay?”

I scolded him in my usual tone while preparing the herbs. He stood up quickly to help, setting out the tools I needed.

Without any signal, the treatment began.

I threw the measured herbs into the boiling potion water and checked Geron’s ether and vessel.

I saw many cracks — his ether pulsed like a heartbeat, and the broken vessel trembled in response.

“One more root of Hwaran grass,” I said.

“That much?”

“Yes.”

I put on my glasses and double-checked the recipe. I needed to adjust the dosage to fit his current condition.

“Go sit over there. It’ll be ready soon.”

“It’s always amazing, watching you make potions,” he said.

“Then sit and enjoy the show.”

I began pulling out ether and weaving its flow together.

The way the ether moved and intertwined exactly as I intended always thrilled me — moments like this reminded me that I was truly alive.

With a whoosh, golden ether swirled around and quickly sank into the pot.

“…Done,” I said.

After all the worrying and planning, it had ended quickly and simply.

When I looked up, Geron was watching me intently. One corner of his lips curled upward.

“Do you trust me?” I asked.

“I don’t trust you,” he said, “but I trust your potions.”

“That’s enough. Drink it.”

I tossed the cooled potion bottle to him. He caught it easily.

His eyes reflected so many emotions — fear, relief, shame, and hope — all mixed together.

I waited silently until he was ready.

-5
-3
-6

Geron hadn’t been drinking the medicine I’d given him before — not properly, anyway.
Sometimes he secretly drank a little, but never enough.

So his condition had kept getting worse, even though he hid the pain so well that nobody in the Duke’s mansion knew he was suffering from ether over-sensitivity too.

Click.

The sound of the lid opening filled the room. He seemed to have made up his mind at last — no more hesitation.

He closed his eyes and drank the potion all at once.

I stepped closer and took his wrist to feel the ether flow inside him. I had to check with my own eyes how his ether was moving and whether his vessel was healing.

A faint blue light flashed before my eyes.

-6
+2
-9
+8

The vessel melted, hardened again, and tried to keep its shape. The herbs’ energy was working hard to rebuild it — just as we had hoped.

+13
-4
+21
+5

Geron still had his eyes closed. I let go of his wrist. There was no more need to hold it.

+7
+29
-3
+4

His eyelids trembled. Slowly, his golden eyes opened, glimmering with tears.

He was going to be okay — better than before — maybe even able to live a normal life again.

We hadn’t known each other that long, but somehow, I’d grown attached to him. The realization made me quietly happy.

Geron looked straight at me.

“…It doesn’t hurt,” he said softly.

“I told you it wouldn’t.”

“Really, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

His voice was shaking with emotion. I pretended not to notice the wet lashes or trembling brows.

I took the empty bottle from his hand and set it down on the table with a thud.

“How is it? Pretty amazing medicine, right?”

Geron laughed again — a bright, relieved laugh.

* * *

Night had fallen.

I gave Geron enough medicine for the days ahead. He cried and laughed over and over, letting all his emotions out.

I stayed and watched him quietly the whole time. He didn’t seem embarrassed at all.

“If you need anything, tell me. Anything.”
“Say that after everything’s done. It’s not over yet.”
“Then what about a thank you?”
“You can say that now.”
“…Thank you. Truly.”

He looked lighter, freer.
It wasn’t the first time he’d thanked me, but genuine gratitude always made my heart flutter a bit.

I was really weak to praise and kindness.

Maybe that’s why I couldn’t sleep that night.

I got up from bed, dragged a chair to the window, and sat down.

Outside, a full moon shone brightly, and a few faint stars glittered in the vast black sky.

It was peaceful and quiet — yet my mind was restless.

All the thoughts I had pushed away crept back in during the night.

What was wrong with Cedric’s vessel?
Why did his heart contain multiple kinds of ether?
And what kind of poison had tainted the Dragon’s Heart?

They were all connected somehow — but I couldn’t find the exact link.

My mind filled with those scattered questions again and again.