Chapter 05 - Vengeance [In the Courtyard...] Tauran Tiaca: ...........His Majesty really is a pitiful sight... Lklein Manni: Doctor. Tauran Tiaca: Oh. You waited for me? You could've gone back to the hospital, you know. Lklein Manni: I missed my chance to slip away. A lot happened after you left. Right, Airio? Airio Sis: Yeah. Airio Sis: Nice to meet you, I'm Airio. Tauran Tiaca: I'm Tauran, the physician. My pleasure. Did you and Lklein hit it off? Airio Sis: Yep! Lklein Manni: We did not. Tauran Tiaca: You two seem like a good match to me. Woman: Dr. Tauran! Tauran Tiaca: And you are...? Woman: I'm the sister of the patient with the injured arm. Thank you for saving my brother’s life. Tauran Tiaca: Ah! You're his sister! Lklein Manni: Forget waiting at home, you came all the way to the palace to see him. Woman: I saw him while he was sleeping. The nurses told me about his arm... Woman: Um... would it be possible to have him undergo Echo Fusion? Woman: I heard Dr. Tauran is a renowned expert in that field. Airio Sis: ...Echo Fusion... Lklein Manni: Airio, you probably don't know this, but it's a treatment method using life-forms called Echoes, born from the darkness. Lklein Manni: No one knows exactly why, but Echoes try to fuse with the body of a badly wounded person or animal. Airio Sis: I do know about that. My dad underwent Echo Fusion once, a long time ago. Lklein Manni: Huh...? Airio Sis: People from the Empire came and were recruiting for something called "Echo Fusion surgery test subjects," or whatever. Airio Sis: My dad was always sickly, they promised it would make his body stronger, so he volunteered. Tauran Tiaca: ...........And then what happened? Airio Sis: At first it looked like it worked. He seemed healthier than before, and we even talked about my little brother getting the surgery someday. Airio Sis: But then something went wrong out of nowhere. He started screaming, thrashing around, he wasn't like the dad I always knew anymore... Airio Sis: And then he just stopped moving. He died. Lklein Manni: ........... Woman: No, that can't be... Tauran Tiaca: ...It's just as he said. Echo Fusion is entirely unpredictable . Tauran Tiaca: It might go well if it's performed for a powerful Echo Master, someone accustomed to handling Echoes daily, but... Woman: ...I understand... Tauran Tiaca: I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Woman: No, please... Keeping him alive is more than enough. I'm sorry for asking for too much. Woman: Thank you very much. Airio Sis: (A renowned expert in Echo Fusion, huh... I wonder if he's the same doctor who used my dad and the others as test subjects...) Airio Sis: (He seems like a kind person, but if that's true, I don't think I can ever like someone like him...) Lklein Manni: ...So your father passed away too, Airio. Airio Sis: Yeah. Wait, "too" implies yours did as well? Lklein Manni: Yes. Airio Sis: How did he die? If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me? Lklein Manni: He was killed by those Asheria Federation people. Lklein Manni: The name of the criminal is Euro Gallu. Airio Sis: Euro Gallu... Lklein Manni: Yes. If you ever meet him on the battlefield, do not touch him. I'm going to kill him with my own hands. Tauran Tiaca: ........... To be continued...