Maybe the people in the tower wasn't just able to get information about him?
"Lady— No! can I.. call you sister?" A look of anticipation was evident on his eyes. "I mean, you look nice and all so I was hoping.."
"You can."
His eyes lit up, "Really?! I don't have a sister and you're a Trovis so that works out!" Kiel's smile is so wide and bright, I'm getting blind.
'So dazzling, cute!'
To think a few stories would get us hang out like this is fascinating. I didn't expect anything at all.
"Wait, so what if I am a Trovis?" I suddenly stopped and realized his words.
Kiel's purple eyes blinked innocently, "My brother said you should keep people on par with you so I'm keeping you with me!"
I was dumbfounded at his answer. This child had been taught socializing tricks with benefits!
'That brother of his is seriously worrying.'
"Actually.. you're my first friend aside from brother and father."
Friend.. huh? How mysterious. Aside from Lucas and a few acquaintances during my first life, I didn't have much genuine friends either.
"Why is that?"
He fumbled on the daisies at his hand that he picked out earlier. "I'm not allowed to go out very often and even eat deserts at least a bit." Kiel's voice was sulky.
"For what reason? Aren't you supposed to make friends at this time? You're a kid." I pointed out the obvious.
Besides, I heard it's a custom to socialize with young children at six— ah wait. I completely forgot, the Grand Duchess had died from childbirth.
"No it's not like that. I can't go out at all, sister. I'm always sick."
I froze at his words. He's always sick? Is that why his eyes and skin are like that?
"That's why I can only learn swordsmanship every now and then. I'm not great at studying because of it. Whenever I would push my self, I ended up in bed."
Kiel's almost complaining tone was so hard to take. It's like he's taking out something he had been hiding.
"I'll never make a lot of friends, drink tea and eat deserts with them, even go to Wolstice-hic!" A sob came out. I was flustered when he started to cry.
'Oh dear. Oh dear. How can I make him stop crying?!'
"Maybe it's just your body's immunity that's weak? Don't go that far, Kiel." I wiped his tears using the sleeves of my dress.
"Hng… I'll always take that bitter medicine.. waahh! Hic! The doctor said.. if my body didn't stabilize and can't take it anymore.. I'll die in three years."
My mind went blank. His words as he confessed everything put together the pieces of puzzle I've been trying to figure out since earlier.
Three years.. I was still free and still heard news about him. When I got locked up, a while later, mentions about him stopped. Kiel's sick right now and only has three years.
This child, Trykiel Lavrins will die in the future at this rate.
That's why news about him stopped. It's because he died at an early age!
"My father always.. stays whenever I would get bedridden no matter how busy he was. I want to get well so I won't get in his–heuk! way.."
I stood up and crouched in front of him. My hand went to his head as if comforting him this way could ease his pain.
It's all too unfamiliar. A child crying in front of me because he wanted to live and get well for the sake of his family.
'Should I do something then?'
"Kiel, please stop crying.. okay, let's do this. Is there anyone else around here?"
Kiel who heard my question, blinked his eyelids still wet from tears innocently. He shook his head. "No, I don't like being followed around."
"Good. Then from now on, everything you will see and feel should be our secret only. Promise me." I extended my pinky finger in front of him.
He stared at it for a while. Is the concept of pinky swears not known here?
"Intertwine your little finger with mine. That will consolidate our promise." I said while smiling at him. Finally, he intertwined both of our fingers though hesitant.
Using my right hand arm where the crest is, I gathered mana around it and a green light poured out.
"W-What?!"
I let the light flow inside every part of Kiel's body. Closing my eyes to ensure every focus I have is concentrated.
'There it is.'
Using my mana, I examined Kiel's body. It is dangerous to pour someone's mana inside another but it is a different case for people with mana that has healing properties on their magic or ability.
Besides, my expertise of enphysis had already gone beyond.
Kiel's body is already weak. The doctor really was telling the truth that he wouldn't live long. Both his heart and lungs.. we're already giving out.
It's already a miracle he can still walk around like this. Ordinary healing from my mana wouldn't solve or fix his already withering body.
"What was that sister?"
I smiled at him, "It's my ability. Keep it a secret, okay?" He slowly nodded.
"Lirion." A golden light appeared on my hand as the yellow lily bloomed beautifully.
My feature ability, «Lirion». My lilies each had different uses depending on their colors.
Red for poison, blue for hallucinogen, white for purification, and.. yellow for healing. They were all used for wide range and effective usage like now.
"Inhale all of them, Kiel. It's for your own good." I said to Kiel as the yellow lily poured out golden particles that looks like pollen.
"I-Isn't it da-dangerous?.."
"It's not. Take it, all of them." My sudden strict voice cause Kiel to immediately breathed a long inhale.
Bit by bit and every second of it, he took them.
"H-Huh?.. sister, it's weird. I'm getting drowsy.."
I didn't say anything. I watched him forced himself to stay awake while the yellow lily lose its light slowly.
"Sister…?"
I catches Kiel's head as it fell down. I sat on the bench again and place his head on my lap as he immersed in his sleeps.
'He's still young so the effects of the pollen caused him to sleep as it slowly fix his body.'
Patting his head, I ran my hands on his soft silver hair while wondering. Saving a child that I only met today.. how strange.
"But I can't ignore people who wanted to live so desperately."
Or maybe I'm mirroring my self to every children I would meet, even then. I did probably hoped that I would meet someone like my self back then.
"Haa.. haa.. lady! Where are you?!" A shout was heard from the door that just opened.
As someone who was near the door, Vincent spotted me easily and came up to me while catching his breath.
"You looked stressed, Vincent."
"Don't tease me, lad–huh?" When Vincent came closed, he clearly saw the now sleeping Kiel. "Why is the young master here?!"
"Hehe, we talked about flowers and such. We're friends now."
"What? Oh, young master Kiel has been missing for two hours now!" Vincent looked so haggard, "I had to find the two of you simultaneously!"
I just pouted at him and place my forefinger at my lips, signaling him to shush.
"He looks like in pain earlier so please have him, can you? Also, don't wake him up." That was a lie. I just want for a doctor to look after him and verify his status.
Vincent was shock and immediately check on Kiel gently. He confirmed that the child didn't have any fevers but he's still frantic.
"Lady, I'll take the young master so please head to the office now."
I tilted my head in confusion, "Headmaster's office? Why?" Vincent looked at me, dumbfounded.
"The Duke and Grand Duke had already arrived, Lady. You need to come immediately!"