Imminent Death (1)

Cough. cough.

I turned to Liliath.

She was coughing.. it had been what? Two days now, and it only looks to be getting worse by the day. Her complexion was pale, and she was tired all the time.

She was reading a book talking about productivity. Thinking fast and thinking slow. She asked me about it so I borrowed it to her.

Actually, if I really think about it, having Liliath study the normal educational material like mathematics and science is itself— a pretty bad thing. I mean, it's not like it provides many benefits. If another person tells me that it would help her learn the common sense of this world— I would reply with how she asked me: why balls? Why were balls used to represent planets and atoms and…

I couldn't reply to her question. Ask the scientist— I'm totally clueless alright? And why balls? There were so many different questions she could have asked me so why something so suggestive?

The eight wonders of Liliath's mind— it shall forever remain a mystery.

On the topic, I found out that the school that has to be attended by troublesome students like me and Liliath is called Mondai High. And as you can probably tell, it literally translates to 'Problem High'. Greeeat naming sense.

Sigh.. it's not like everyone invited to that school has a bad or problematic TALENT per se so..

Again, thinking about it, I wonder how they would go about Liliath's education? I mean.. since everyone in Mondai high is technically 16 years old and above because that is literally when TALENTS manifest in the individual, Liliath is only 14 years old.

Or at least— that was what I would like to think. She said she lost count due to the unknown amount of time being locked up, but that was a rough estimate.

But age isn't really the issue because Liliath has absolutely no foundational knowledge of how this world works. In the end, we decided that Liliath would have to eat the 'Common Sense I' skill book when the time comes.

Well.. at worst, Liliath can become a doctor and heal everyone with a single touch— or at scale with an AOE spell.

Cough. Cough.

Liliath's coughing spells.

She started taking medicine when we came back from the open-air market, but it didn't seem all that effective. In any case, we'll be visiting the doctor again today for Liliath's second vaccine jab.

"Liliath."

"Yes?" Her voice came out weak and kind of rough.

"Remember to tell us if your condition is getting worse alright?"

Liliath nodded her head, smiling slightly with her sleepy eyes.

*

"This is to be expected since the vaccine would cause the body to react. She needs a few days of rest," the doctor said, with the big egg glasses, Doctor Trisha. "But— if her condition gets any worse, bring her to the hospital right away," she stressed.

"I understand," my father replied in response.

Liliath who had gotten her second dose sat on the chair staring blankly at the wall. Every now and then she would cough or yawn.

"Paracetamol can help with the symptoms but don't take antibiotics. It'll reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine."

With that as the last advice, we returned home, Liliath in tow. She slept in the car. I'm worried, but— the doctor said it was a normal reaction so..

I held my hands up to her forehead and as expected, it was abnormally hot. Even her breath was rather feverish. Her once pale complexion was now flushed.

I don't have much knowledge regarding disease so I can't help but think of the negatives. Liliath is going to be alright.. She's going to be alright.

Back home, my mom made porridge for lunch, Liliath drifted off to sleep while sitting with her back straight mid-meal, quite skillful at that.

"Liliath, how about you have some medicine and take a nap?" my mom shook her shoulders to wake her up.

"S-sorry. I-I will do as proposed," Liliath said, coughing again.

Taking the medicine in the 'appropriate' way, which was swallowing it with water rather than chewing it like the first time she did, my mom brought her upstairs.

"Don't you find it odd?" my father said.

"Odd what?" Novelle questioned.

"I don't know if it's normal for demon lords to get sick," I said. I think this was what my father is referring to. I do find it odd myself.

"That's one thing, another thing is that Liliath came to this world without immunity. So it's a weird time to be sick."

"Maybe it's because we went to the hospital last time?"

"Maybe.. I have a hunch. Honestly Noel, I think your TALENT is a lot more profound than you think. Try to learn what exactly it is, maybe it is related to this 'event'— from a drama point of view.."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"Don't you think the coincidences are weird? In the first place, falling for each other in such a short time makes no sense, you know Noel?"

"Yeah, that's right! You two are so lovey dovey the moment you met!"

Hearing my father speak about his opinion, and the little devil's crappy summary of my relationship with Liliath, I couldn't find the words to reply.

Yeah, like he said, it's too weird. Ever since Liliath entered my life, it has become like a fictional world. Coincidences here; coincidences there. And most importantly, my interactions with Liliath..

It's too unrealistic…

I hadn't ever considered what my father had said at all.

'You can't trust me.'

Those words rang in my mind again.

What did she mean by that?

Also, my TALENT. It's true that I still don't really understand what it actually is..

*

Squeeze. Drip. Drip.

Dipping the cloth into the bucket of water, taking it out and then squeezing the excess water, I folded it again before placing it down on Liliath's forehead.

"Thank you," she muttered in a sleepy voice, her eyes closed.

Rolled up in a blanket and on top of my sister's bed, her face was flushed and she was sweating.

Can demon lords become sick? How about magic?

"Liliath, when was the last time you got sick?"

With an exhale she replied, "It waas a rather.. long time ago. I think it was back when I was 4 years of age."

"Hm.. sorry if I'm asking the impossible here but— you can't use healing magic on yourself?"

She shook her head, "It would be nice if I could. Cough. Healers can heal everyone besides themselves, that's why. Cough. It's common for them to form a group of two in a party.."

"I see.."

If Liliath could cure herself with magic— that would be amazing wouldn't it now? Too bad it's not possible. I think I've heard somewhere in a light novel a quote that said healing oneself is like picking up oneself and then throwing oneself, which is impossible… though in most cases, characters in novels should be able to heal themselves using magic. A weird world she came from.

"Can I. Cough. Ask for some water," Liliath said, trying to get up.

"Here," making sure she doesn't fall, I supported her as she drank from a bottle.

"Thank you," Liliath made no effort to look at me since she was already struggling to keep her focus and just laid back down on the bed. "I'll rest a little longer.."

"Alright. Take care, have a good nap."

I left the room.

*

I helped my mom in the kitchen. In a small pot was some leftover porridge from the afternoon, reheated with extra ingredients to hopefully improve the taste. Well.. the portion wasn't a lot, about 2 people's worth but it's mainly for Liliath.

With the table cloth, I brought the pot to the kitchen table, settling it onto the metal coaster.

"Novelle, can you check on Liliath? Can she eat?" I looked at the little devil, with two hands on her chin while she looked at me withupturned eyes.

"A-okay," hearing my words, her expression turned to a serious one as she left for her own room where Liliath was.

Father came into the dining room, stretching his arms up into the air. He had probably just finished work in his office, seeing his languid but satisfied expression.

"So what's for dinner?"

"Leftover porridge or a new batch of rice with some stir-fried meat in soy sauce and bitter gourd with salted eggs."

"Okay," nodding with a smile, my father went into the kitchen where my mom was.

After a little while, Novelle's footsteps came rushing down.

"Big brother, I think there's something wrong with Liliath," she said with a grim expression.

Something happened?

"I'll go check, call father just in case.. I don't know if we need to send her to hospital.."

I have a premonition..

Rushing to the room Liliath was in, I saw her struggling to breathe. Sweat all over her forehead while moaning as if in pain.

"Are you alright?" I asked, a little flustered. She doesn't look alright at all..

"H-help…" her words hit like a truck.. quite literally.

Yeah.. she's seriously in pain. What the hell.

"Her condition is worse, isn't it?" my father who came into the room asked.

"Yeah."

"To the hospital it is then." sighing, he added, "Novelle, help me open the car door, Noel, help me support her."

Following his instructions, with her arms around me and my father, we descended the stairs and then laid her down in the car.

"Take care," my mom said with a worried tone as she sent us off.

Liliath continued to moan as if in pain. I sat in the back seat together with her, father driving in front.

"We're almost there.. just bear a little longer.."

I honestly had no idea what to really say. I'm not the one sick here so.. I can't really say I understand the pain she's feeling.

"Noel.." Her small hands grabbed mine.

Cold.

This.. was too sudden.