Chapter 33

Naro sat in his home, hand inches from a plant as he practiced his magic, but his attention was focused more on the furry ears sitting a few feet away. Nefi was counting coins on the other side of the room, the youth had been visiting him often lately to handle simple affairs. Aeli had told him to ‘get out more’ as he was being extra cautious towards her lately. He always argued when he met with Sika so he was the only other option.

He felt his concentration slip when he thought of Sika, ever since her warning a few days ago she’s been avoiding him. Aeli recommended just giving her some space, and he trusted her advice but it was still weird to be doing everything alone again. He didn’t realize how used he got to her just being around.

“If you’re going to stare that hard you may as well just ask.”

Naro was pulled back to reality by Nefi’s voice, he didn’t realize the Beastkin was glancing at him.

“Sorry…I didn’t realize I was staring…but can I touch them?”

“It’s fine Za’lovo.”

Naro arched a brow at Nefi, especially seeing the youth suddenly went tense all of a sudden, even his ears and tails growing pointed.

“If you don’t want too Nefi it’s fine. It was rude of me to stare.”

“No it’s fine really…go ahead.”

“Okay…”

Standing up Naro walked over to Nefi, and waited for him to relax before he reached forward.

“Here I go.”

His finges wrapped around Nefi’s ears, the boy twitched for a moment but didn’t move. Naro waited a moment before he started petting the ears. It had been a long time since he had pet any animals, the few that showed up on Campus tended to avoid him and any of the monsters with fur in the forest were generally trying to kill him.

Thus being able to actually come in contact with soft fur Naro ended up losing himself.

“It’s sooo soft…way softer than I imagined.”

“...why were you imagining it,” Nefi said his eyes twitching.

It really felt like he was petting a dog back home, he found himself ruffling Nefi’s hair lost in his personal dreamland, when his ears twitched immediately raised his hands.

“Ah sorry Nefi.”

“...it’s fine, it just tickled,” he said. “Do you feel better now?”

“Huh?’

“You’ve been off since you and Sika stopped talking.”

“Ah…was it that obvious?”

Nefi nodded petting the fur on his ears back down.

“Just keep doing your own thing, sister is right she just needs time. I mean you are bonded with the Shade Empress of all people. That’d be shocking to anybody. She’s annoying but reasonable.”

Nefi noticed Naro’s wide eyed stared and looked around before noticing it was focused on him.

“What?” He asked crossing his arms.

“I just…never thought you’d compliment Sika.”

“I mean it is hard to find redeeming qualities with her…but I can say that she’s never insulted me as a Beastkin. She’s called me little, brat and all that…but not once as she insulted me or sister about our heritage, so I consider her tolerable.”

Naro smiled knowing that was a pretty big compliment, Nefi was right, he just needed to wait.

“Oh right Nefi, I almost forgot, come with me for a sec.”

“Okay?’

Standing up Naro left his home with Nefi following behind him.

Naro headed to the New District and stopped in front of the bathouse, Nefi stared up at the large building then looked over at the grinning Naro who held up a pouch of coins.

“You mentioned wanting to do the private bath right…well I earned enough coins for two! Today we’re going to bath like kings!”

“You…how did you earn enough?”

“I’ve been saving a little from every job since you told me. I’m E rank now and they pay more. I earned enough recently and figured I’d pay you back for all you do.”

Nefi stared at Naro his ears flicking slightly as the older youth grinned.

“Thanks for all you do Nefi.”

The Beastkin looked back at the bathhouse, his tails flicking from side to side showing his excitement which caused Naro to smile, but seeing his ears and tails droop the smile on his face faded.

“Nefi?”

“I…can’t go.”

“What? Why not? They shouldn’t stop a Beastkin.”

“It’s not that, it’s-”

“Naro! Nefi!”

The two’s interupption was caught off guard by Sika running towards them, Leona right behind her for some reason.

“Sika….and Mentor? Why are you here, what’s-”

“Aeli’s in trouble!”

“Sister?! What happened?!”

“I’ll explain on the way!”

The two quickly ran back to the siblings home with Sika telling them what she could on the way.

She went to visit Aeli and upon entering noticed she seemed worse than usual. She immediately left to get help seeing her current state when she ran into Leona on the way, their teacher managed to locate the Naro and Nefi’s Mana and apparently also knew a way to help Aeli.

Nefi entered the room first and fell to her knees next to Aeli. The rest entered after and Naro flinched seeing the Dragon Beastkin.

She was lying on her back, drenched in sweat her cheeks flushed. Her breaths came in short bursts and her eyes were shut as she clenched her covers tightly.

“She’s never looked like this…what’s happening…” Nefi said taking Aeli’s hand.

Her hands were clammy and cold, she could barely feel the warmth in them.

“It’s a magic disease…” Leona said. “I know this…it comes from overflowing Mana. Beastkin with an extreme sensitivity to Mana can gain this sickness being around someone with Potent Mana.”

“That doesn’t make sense! Sister said she gained it from her own Mana.”

“Kid I know this disease, it’s Mana Poisoning, it came from yours.”

“My Mana, but I don’t have any Mana I can’t use magic!”

“Mentor I can’t sense any magic from Nefi, I never have,” Naro said walking closer to the two.

“Because Aeli’s been suppressing it. That’s where the sickness comes from.”

“You’re lying!” Nefi screamed towards Leona. “You don’t know anything!”

“...Nefi.”

“Sister!”

Nefi noticed Aeli’s eyes open slightly, she smiled at his Nefi trying to assuage his worries. With some effort she placed a hand on his cheek.

“...that lady is tellin the truth.”

“...what?”

“I’m sorry…I didn’t want you to blame yourself. Your Mana…it’s so beautiful…but it’s so vast. I worried Monsters would attack us out in the wilds…and here I worried Beso or someone else with ill intentions would sense your Mana and find you.”

“Even suppressed I can feel the kids Mana,” Leona said. “That much Mana would be ‘valuable’ to the wrong kind of people. Put simply it would fuel the Gale Conditoner for at least a decade on it’s own.”

“That’s almost on a Deity’s level…” Sika mumbled.

Nefi’s gaze focused on the floor, her words came out in a whisper barely audible to the room.

“Wait…then it’s my fault sister is…”

“No Nefi…it’s not your fault. Nothing is your fault. I-”

Aeli cut herself off as another coughing fit hit her causing Aeli to grip her hand tighter. Aeli took in a deep breath and looking at her sibling found her voice.

“Nefi…can I speak plainly?” Aeli asked.

“...yes. Go ahead it’s fine.”

“Naro…Sika. I know I can trust you two. When I’m gone…please look after my sister.”

“Aeli you’re not….wait sister?”

Naro looked over at Nefi, she didn’t turn to look at the two but she nodded her head.
“...my real name is Mila. Sorry I didn’t trust you before so…”

There was little time to explain as blue cracks started to form along Aeli’s skin, Naro’s eyes widened and Sika knelt down next to them. The cracks slowly started to move along her body, pulsating blue and slowly turning green, each time they glowed a pained cry escaped from Aeli.

“What is this…” Naro mumbled.

“Naro,” Leona said drawing his attention away from the scene “We can help her but I need you to do what I say, we don’t have time for a lot of questions.”

“Okay.”

“Your Void Spell is able to drain Mana. Mana Poisoning in this case comes from the outside Mana, infection the Poison Mana. If you focus and locate the ‘green’ Mana and drain only that, she should return to normal over time. I’ve already started suppressing Ne…Mila’s Mana so no more should be going through Aeli anymore.”

“Mentor how do you know-”

“Naro, there’s no time.”

“R-right. Okay, the green Mana. I can feel it. I’ll find it. I’ll save Aeli.”