{YOU HAVE STEPPED ON A MINE}

{WARNING: YOU HAVE STEPPED ON A MINE}

“What is it..”

I was just about to make my way out to visit Lia when I stepped on yet another mine. Do submarines have infinite mines? If that was true then aren’t I screwed?

That would make me no different from Pu’er’s prisoner, be it the Greenwood one or Julis one. Since xe holds the right to release or trap me.

“Where did you go just now?”

“I need to go meet my etler.”

“I mean just now. You went to meet Mister Cain, right?”

“Yes. And?”

“Are you going to meet him again later?”

“No. The training session is currently limited to a Friday. Today is a Tuesday.”

“Alright.”

This elf is an absolute paranoid.

“And don’t just drop mines everywhere. The nausea is hard to bear.”

“S-Sorry.”

The mine was released, I did my best to keep myself upright and hopped my way to Lia’s classroom.

“Not again.”

“Yes again. I need to tell you something.”

“Is this your brother? He’s so tall.”

“So you had friends after all.”

“Who do you think I am?!”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lia’s brother, Avner.”

“I’m Tabbie, nice to meet you.”

An elf with grey hair just like me. Eyes a shade of dark green.

“Are you going to invite me out for lunch this time around?”

“If you want? I’m just here to tell you that something came up. I have a project I need to do and I’ve informed father to pick me up at 4. So you can go back home first.”

“Oh. What project?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“So are we going for lunch together?”

“Let’s go then.”

“You can join too if you want, Tabbie.”

“Sure thing.”

Xe’s a male-oriented elf.

===

Here’s a little known fact about elves. Previously I said that there are two orientations to them, male and female. So it is entirely possible for an elf with a male orientation to possess ample breasts.

The converse, that being an elf of a female orientation with a flat chest is more commonly seen.

The ratio of obvious breasts to flat chest in elves is 3 to 7.

And, as you can imagine, having breasts is an advantage. Those that don’t envy those that do. The culture of this world really blows my mind. Novelle, good job.

On that note, Pu’er and Lia are on the luckier side of the spectrum.

“Is there any cover for me because I skipped class?”

“I hadn’t reached out to your teachers, so no.”

Lynda slammed her head against the window of the ELRT, legs kicking her school bag on the floor.

[Avner, I suggest you report her condition to the health authorities once you reach the hospital.]

“I’ll do it when the need arises. For now, don’t try to hint anything to them, Randell.”

[I understand.]

“I-It’s nothing Cuue, I’m just going on a trip.”

Lynda fumbled, eyes chasing the cube AI.

“No, this isn’t a date, don’t misunderstand. I’m going to do a check up, that’s all, and don’t tell anyone about this. Yes. Thank you.”

“Cuue is the name of your AI?”

“Yes.”

“Mister Cain, how about you? What’s the name of your AI?”

“I didn’t set up my AI.”

“Oh.”

“Avner, you sure this will work right? Mister Cain, who will pick us up later? We’re going to Alska General Hospital, right?”

“Xe goes by the name Nyill. I’ve never met her before, but I do have an inkling of what xe looks like.”

A familiar sounding name. Can’t recall.

I then noticed Lynda looking at me like I was some delicious beef jerky. A second later, realizing that I was returning her gaze, she froze and lowered her head.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine..”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Yes. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine..”

The trip took around 30 minutes. Considering the time, I’m questioning if 2 hours is enough to settle everything.

“This way.”

Instead of entering the hospital’s main entrance, Cain directed us to the garden annexing it. He brought us to the second entrance. Close to the sliding glass entryway were a group of nurses chatting with each other. They had their AIs set to public display so it was rather cool seeing them interacting with each other outside the influence of their main users.

A short distance away from that group was Nyill, the elf observing a vending machine which sold drinks and onigiris.

Ah, no wonder xe’s so familiar.

“Excuse me.”

“Hm? Oh, you must be Sir Cain, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

“A pleasure to meet you too. Thank you for attending to my call, with all due respect, it’s him who’ll pass on the message.”

“It’s.. you.”

“The coincidences really,” I sighed. This makes things much easier, “Nice to meet you, again. I’m Avner.”

Short spiky bright green hair, hirs emerald eyes reflected a lot of complex emotions.

Come to think of it, xe’s should be a submarine. Which meant xe had noticed that I was a demon the first time we met.

“Is this place being surveillanced?”

“We’ll go somewhere else.”

We followed Nyill and came to a pavilion overlooking the park. Vending machines everywhere, really, business must be good around these places.

Xe examined the corners of the ceiling before turning to me.

“How did you know drinking blood would work?”

“I just know.”

It seems Nyill was able to convince the doctors. From there, the information was relayed to other hospitals all over the world.

I began explaining what I knew about NtBM. How there are two stages, and the possible complexity behind how it affects the myeloid cells or the production of erythropoietin..

“The nanomachine don’t only affect the myeloid cells and kidney function. It’s much more complex than that. Even though I believe in your explanation, I don’t think the process behind it is as simple as releasing the virus’ suppressive function.”

Medical researchers already have the basics on how NtBM affects people. But, the correlation between the different problems isn’t something that simply ends at stem cell mutation. There were things that scientists still don’t understand like how people with NtBM could enter a state of depravity, or why it causes abnormal rates of wound recovery.

Nevertheless, that’s not the important thing here. Crucial is the information about feeding NtBM infected blood to NtBM infected people. And the difference in blood volume required for the feeding needs of vampires in the two different stages.

“So 200 ml of blood in one go.”

“Around that, if not more. “

“I don’t know how NtBM blood or the digestion of hemoglobin in the stomach plays into this, but I’ll do my best to persuade my colleagues to try this method.”

“Thank you.”

{Karma: +8}

“Telling me this is not the only reason why you came here, correct?”

I nodded, and turned to Lynda who looked blank as paper.

“She’s a first stage NtBM patient. I’m wondering if we could get her some blood to drink.”

“Then she’ll have to follow procedure. She’s an unreported case, correct? I can go ask a doctor for help, but that requires that you too, cooperate with regulations for everyone's safety.”

I was naive to think that we would be able to get away with things. Looks like Lynda would have no choice but to be reported as a positive case.

“Lynda?”

“My life is more important, no question. I’ll do the test. Then should I tell my parents about it now?”

“They don’t know?! You shouldn’t keep these things to yourself. Yes, you should tell your parents. Follow me, I’ll bring you for a test. Sir Cain, as they’re minors, you’ll act as their guardian.”

“I understand.”