The council meeting had come to an end, and the high humans were now given the anatomy to be self-sufficient. While the journey ahead would be long and challenging, as they couldn't abandon their responsibilities, their children would have the freedom to choose a different path outside of the public safety order into other less dangerous professions. Ray was still confined to his bed, recovering from his injuries, but in two short weeks, he would finally receive the treatment he needed and be discharged.

The extent of his injuries prevented his body from healing on its own, and the current political climate made it nearly impossible to find a magician with medical expertise. Healers and medical experts were different. One was battle oriented and the other was a literal doctor that used modern magic and science. Both were rare so their demand was very high.

Ray was alone in his elegant room, surrounded by books, as the morning sun cast its warm rays through the windows, bathing the space in light. In the past two weeks, he had devoured countless books, learning about history, different races, and cultures from all corners of the kingdom. He owed it all to his mother who never failed to bring him any book he requested. As he read, he found himself lost in thought.

"I had a suspicion that my mother wasn't hostile, the same goes for my sister. She's a sweet and innocent little bunny, and her playful antics never cease to bring a smile to my face. But I can sense that she's carrying some sort of trauma," He said with a melancholic smile.

"I wish I had opened up to them sooner."

Ray was still plagued by fear, worried that his family wouldn't accept him for who he was, but he was slowly breaking free from his shell. After the encounter with his sister and mother, he had grown close to them. They would visit him every day, and eventually, Hans stopped bringing him food. It was now Ullie, his mother, and his little sister who brought him meals and kept him company, filling his days with laughter and joy.

"I will always cherish these moments," Ray said with a heartfelt smile, his eyes misting over as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

He was so consumed by his emotions that he didn't even realize how broadly he was smiling. It was as if his wish had finally been granted.

"Knock, knock," a voice called out, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'm coming in, Ray dear," his mother said in a warm and loving voice.

The door opened, and Ray quickly wiped away his tears as he saw his mother enter, The door slowly creaked open, and Ray's eyes lit up as he saw his mother enter. She carried a plate of steaming food in one hand and in the other, she held his little sister, Lilly, who was no bigger than a toddler. The sight of them was enough to bring a smile to Ray's face.

His mother sat on the edge of his bed and placed Lilly beside him. Lilly asked

"Brother, are you okay?"

She asked, her face creased with worry as she looked at him. She reached out with her tiny, paw-like hands and gently touched his legs.

Ray's face still held the remnants of his emotional outpouring, but he did his best to hide it, not wanting to upset his young sister. He wiped away the last traces of his tears with a gentle touch and smiled down at her.

"I'm okay, little one," he said in a soft, reassuring tone.

"I just woke up, that's all." He picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

"So, tell me, how was your day?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and gazing down at her with a warm smile.

Lilly chattered away, her words tumbling out in a stream of childish excitement. Ray listened intently, making silly faces and telling jokes to keep her giggling. His mother watched on, her heart overflowing with love and joy as she took in the sight of her two children laughing and playing together. She thought to herself,

[In the past two weeks, even when Lilly was bedridden and unable to leave her bed, she always asked to come visit Ray as soon as she heard I was going to see him. She loves spending time with both of them and nothing, not even being sick, can keep her away.]

As Ray held Lilly in his arms, her coughing became more and more intense, until she spat out a few droplets of dark blood. Ray, horrified by the sight, immediately began patting her back in an effort to ease her pain.

"What's happened to her?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with fear as Lilly passed out in his arms.

Ullie was quick to respond, turning her attention to the situation and placing her hands on Lilly's chest. She began chanting mystical-sounding words, and as she did, her hands glowed a vibrant green. For several minutes, she continued this process, her eyes focused intently on the small figure in Ray's arms.

"She will be alright, Ray," Ullie said softly, her hand gently caressing Lilly's hair and temple. "She was already sick, but she insisted on coming to visit you anyway."

Ray was filled with a mix of anger and frustration as he cried out, "Why didn't you stop her? Her life is far more important than this visit for my well-being." He had grown to love Lilly like family and was torn by the sight of her suffering.

In a fit of anger, Ullie delivered a sharp slap to Ray's face, causing a loud sound to echo through the room. Her hand was filled with the emotion of anger and sadness. Ray was taken aback by the sudden attack, stunned and unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. He brought his hand to his cheek, feeling the sting from the slap. He couldn't bring himself to look at Ullie, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Don’t ever talk like that again.” Ullie scolded him, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness.

“She loves you. You should respect that feeling. She is willing to suffer from her illness just to see you.” Her eyes were twitching as she gazed at Ray, filled with a deep sadness. This was the first time she had ever raised her hand to him.

Ullie then embraced Ray in a tight hug, her voice softening as she whispered in his ear. “Ray, learn to love yourself. Life can end in the blink of an eye.” She held him tightly, conveying all of the love and affection she had for him in that moment.

Cherish those who love you for who you are," Ullie spoke, tears streaming down her face as she hugged Ray tightly.

"I know you're concerned, but think about Lilly's feelings too. She's doing this despite her illness because she loves you. Love and cherish her, Ray. Spoil her silly."

Her hints were subtle, but Ray understood what she was saying. A look of pure terror and helplessness overcame him as he hid in Ullie's embrace.

[This can't be. Will she die from this illness? My god.] He thought to himself,

Wiping away her tears, Ullie composed herself to not worry Ray further. She then picked up Lilly gently and said,

"Eat your breakfast, Ray. I'll be back to give you lunch." Her voice was still filled with a hint of sadness as she left the room.

Ray was now alone, watching as Avan stood near the door with his eyes closed, leaning against the wall. But Ullie didn't think much of it. She left to care for Lilly in her room. He also left after a few moments.

Ray was now consumed with the thought of saving Lilly. He opened his drawer and retrieved that special stone that was invisible to the naked eye. Clutching it tightly, he spoke to it with a determined voice.

"You were able to heal my body before, and I know you can restore Lilly's health if you could save a dying body. I won't lose her. Not now, not ever," he declared with a fierce determination in his voice and a fire in his eyes. He was determined to do everything to save his beloved sister.

The day passed and night approached in the city of Aquanus. After dinner, Ray was summoned by Hans to accompany him to the medical ward. The renowned magical doctor had finally arrived at the estate and was greeted by Ivan at the front door with utmost courtesy.

"Thank you for taking the time to come, despite these tumultuous times," Ivan said as he welcomed the doctor with a warm smile.

The magical doctor returned the smile, "You always know how to make me feel special, old friend. I would make time for you, regardless of my commitments," he replied as he hugged Ivan instead of shaking his hand.

The two of them made their way to the medical ward, where all the wounded were treated. As they walked, the doctor asked about Lilly's condition, "How is little Lilly doing?"

Ivan's silence was a clear indication that her condition was not good. The doctor immediately apologized for asking such a sensitive question.

“I’m sorry that I asked something like that.”

The doctor dropped the subject entirely and tried to shift the conversation

“I hope rays condition has not worsened” he said to himself.

The doctor approached Ray's bedside, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room. He gazed down at the young boy, noting the serenity in his eyes despite the circumstances.

"How are you feeling today, Ray?" the doctor asked in a gentle voice.

"I'm doing alright, thank you," Ray replied, his voice calm and measured.

The doctor smiled and placed a hand on Ray's forehead, closing his eyes as he focused on his patient. With a soft glow, the doctor began to work his magic, carefully examining Ray's condition.

"You're a brave kid. You saved your sister from a dark rift walker and lived to tell about it," said the doctor with a smile, looking at Ray in the eyes.

The doctor prepared himself to operate, taking off his gloves. He appeared as a normal male human, but Ray's height was bigger, standing at 6.2 feet in his teenage years. The doctor, who looked to be in his mid-30s, was 6 feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, appearing as an average individual.

"People in the suburbs are talking about your feat of courage," he continued, laughing. "Still, you need to know your limits, little one."

The doctor put on his goggles and continued,

"You've hurt yourself far too much. I know high humans are resilient and have a great healing factor, but your case is different, Ray. Your entire body has been filled with out-of-control magical energy. Your body can't heal with something disrupting it from within, especially when you have no magical energy of your own."

The doctor paused, considering that the information he was about to give may be too detailed for a young boy like Ray. However, Ray was eager to learn and had a smile on his face.

"Thank you for giving me a glimpse into my condition," Ray said.

"Of course," the doctor replied with a smile. "First, let's get you comfortable. Lie down on your stomach for me."

As Ray complied, the doctor prepared the bed and made sure Ray was lying comfortably on his stomach, naked. He then focused on his hands, and strings of white, energy-like material manifested from his palms. The strings varied in size and shape.

"Now, let's take a closer look," the doctor said as he filled his eyes with mana, allowing him to see the unusual energy that was like a web jolting around within Ray's body.

"Alright, I've found the source of the magic fluctuations," the doctor said as he continued with his task. One of his energy strands linked with the energy strands in Ray's body, and he began to extract them.

Ray was in agony, feeling as though his skin was being peeled away. Despite the pain, he gritted his teeth and remained still. The doctor continued speaking as he performed the operation.

"Magical energy is truly something else. I firmly believe that it has a form of sentience. Even after the source of the magical energy has died, it continues to persist, as if it were overruled by the consciousness of the being that possessed it."

The strands of magical energy were slowly but surely being extracted from Ray's body. Despite the pain, he focused on the doctor's words, trying to distract himself.

"Even after countless millennia, we still have not unlocked all its secrets. Centuries ago, we believed that magical energy was a force that existed in everything, whether it be inanimate objects or living beings, but that is not entirely the case. There are beings that cannot interact with magic, unable to harness its power, but still affected by it. "

"I have often wondered why this is so. You, Ray, are one of these beings. From my years of experience, it appears that magic responds to emotions and evolves based on the world's understanding of the user. Some religions view people like you as omens of dark times. We are fortunate to be in this city, Ray. If we were in any other part of this kingdom, the consequences would have been dire."

Ray pondered the doctor's words.

[So even religions dislike people like me. I'm not surprised. Magic is mysterious and interesting, just like the doctor describes it. Maybe I could teach someone if it follows realistic physics to some extent,] he thought to himself.

The doctor successfully extracted the last strands of magical energy, which looked like strands of red light, from Ray's body.

"It's done," the doctor said as he picked up his bag and rummaged through it.

Ray was in awe of the doctor's skills. It only took ten minutes, but he felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his body.

"Aha! I found it! My ultimate cure!" The doctor exclaimed with delight as he retrieved a canister from his bag.

"Ray, don't tell anyone about this, I mean anyone. If word got out, I would be in a lot of trouble," the doctor warned as he opened the canister. A pungent odor wafted toward Ray, making him feel nauseous.

"This is a special cream that I won't disclose the name of, but it will help with your burns and speed up your recovery tremondously. You should thank your father for this," the doctor explained as he applied the cream to Ray's injuries.

The doctor applied the cream to Ray's left hand, torso, and other areas affected by burns. It was like a green transparent gel-like substance that had a very unsettling pungent smell.

"That's done," he said as he packed up his briefcase. "Now my work is done. I need to check on your sister."

Before he could leave, Ray called out to him, "Thank you, sir. I have one favor to ask, and it's honestly too much after all you've done for me, but please hear me out."

The doctor smiled at Ray's honesty. "Sure, I can at least listen to you."

"Can you just infuse as much magical energy as you can spare for the moment into my hand?" Ray asked as he presented the doctor with an invisible stone in his hand.

“The doctor furrowed his brow, intrigued by Ray's request

"That's an unusual request, Ray. But I'll give it a try. Just keep in mind, you won't be able to use magic, no matter what happens," he warned.

Ray nodded eagerly, eager to see what would happen. "This is just to confirm something," he explained.

The doctor closed his eyes, focusing his energy. His hand started to emit a soft white light, growing brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. Then, he placed his hand on Ray's, and they both watched as the light spread from the doctor's hand to Ray's.