"Kadi…?"
"...?"
Only when teacher Mivoress called out to it, and the snake fae flinched and looked at her, did it realize that it was no longer resting its head on her shoulder, but instead was coiling back as if backing away and preparing to escape from a predator.
"Eh…!?"
Its own subconscious behavior, once noticed, caused the fae to let out a baffled hiss.
"Kadi… is he…?"
"I… No… I don't think so…"
Teacher Mivoress asked her contracted fae cautiously, openly on guard from the boy seated in front of her, but the snake shook its head and denied... although sounding quite unsure.
"A…! I would like to clarify, by saying my kind, I meant humanity. Just so we're on the same page."
"..."
"..."
Looking at the pair, Rotsard's eyes suddenly widened, and he raised his hand and spoke up, causing the two to glance at each other.
"My issue with fae is personal. Nothing more. You can call in reinforcements first if you don't feel comfortable now..."
The boy added with an awkward expression.
He was certain that he made it seem as if he had a connection to a deofol, there was no doubt in his mind, the problem was, that it was kind of true…
He wasn't a deofol nor was he a deofolized human, but a deofol did read him the story of the future of his world, and Rotsard could never forget it.
Would that count as influence large enough to accuse and persecute him for gedwyld…?
While even checking it carried a risk in case of a positive reaction, it was also a bandaid that was best ripped as early as possible.
"Here."
So Rotsard reached his hand in a non-threatening manner and waited.
After a brief moment of hesitation, teacher Mivoress exchanged hesitant glances with her fea but eventually ended up taking the boy's hand and using a spell.
Her's was on a completely different level than the spells enclosed within magic stones that both the other nurse and Miss Commoner used. Rotsard could feel foreign mana sip into every cell of his body...
…although the process appeared to take longer and longer the farther within him it went…
"...ghh…!"
"!?"
Rotsard wouldn't even consider that occurrence to be unusual, if not for the fact that after a few minutes of silence, teacher Mivoress winced and let out a pained gasp.
As the boy stared at her in utter confusion, the woman let go of his arm and then clutched her bright-red hand close to her body.
"B-by any chance… am I in the presence of the patriarch of the Archducal house Vallhall…?"
"...pardon…?"
Taking Rotsard by complete surprise, teacher Mivoress asked in a pained voice.
"I understand… I will forget all about this matter. Please forgive this one. I wish you success in your endeavors."
"...wh-wha…?"
As if she found some deeper meaning in the boy's words, both the woman and her contracted fae bowed their heads, and she started backing off until she reached the door and left in a hurry, leaving Rotsard stare after her with his mouth agape.
"H-hello…?"
The boy stood up and followed after the teacher, but she was already gone from sight.
"Student Vallhall, is everything alright?"
Luckily, the same nurse who brought teacher Mivoress showed up and asked with a worried expression.
"I don't know. Teacher Mivoress seemed to have some misunderstanding about me and wished me the best without using any spells...? Did she say something as she left?"
"Only to never get on your bad side and be respectful… And she looked troubled…"
Rotsard asked anxiously, and the equally anxious nurse responded, rubbing her arm awkwardly.
"She looked troubled? What about me, though?"
"..."
The boy let out a worried scoff, staring into the distance over the nurse's shoulder, in the direction where he believed the teacher Mivoress went... Which, interestingly enough, made the nurse compose herself.
"I was… worried that it's something serious… like… maybe… deofol or…"
"Pffft…! Ekhem! Khem, khem…"
Rotsard lowered his head and mumbled under his breath, anxious to even say the name of the creatures that were the scourge of their world, but he was met with a snort before the nurse hurriedly tried to mask it as clearing her throat.
"Natural barrier everyone possesses is something that blocks deofol's mana from leaking out. That's why dofolized humans trying to conceal themselves never allow medics to treat them. It's similar to those polluted and corrupted by gedwyld… In your current state, your mana barrier doesn't work. If you were affected by gedwyld even the tiniest bit, everyone would be able to notice."
The woman breathed out and explained, finding the boy's worries rather adorable... although she would never voice that out loud.
"Student Vallhall, I believe that if Lady Mivoress didn't leave us with any instructions, it means that your state, although abnormal, isn't life-threatening. She would NEVER leave someone to wither and perish, even if it was a lost cause!"
"...are you certain…?"
The nurse perked up and declared, making the boy fidget in unease and ask in an uncharacteristically timid manner.
"~!"
Something in the boy's expression made the nurse want to assure him further, and she puffed out her chest and raised her head with confidence.
"Of course! No instructions must mean that the issue will resolve itself with time! But, just for your peace of mind, I can treat you with healing crystals. Healing crystals aren't capable of harming any living being! Unless you're undead, they can only aid you! Please, return to the private room, and I'll be right back with some!"
The woman declared confidently and smiled at the boy encouragingly, even going as far as placing her hands on his shoulders, turning him around, and giving him a little push.
"O-oh…? Okay. Please do. Thank you."
Rotsard's face showed a vulnerable expression, and he glanced back at the nurse before nodding and obediently going back to the room he just left.
"...oh, Grand Fae…! I finally understand why a mother hen like Lila wanted to help him out so much…! But then… What made her leave…?"
The woman put her hands on her heart and breathed out as something akin to a maternal instinct was telling her to take care of the boy, before a sudden thought caused her to furrow her brows and wonder…