Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“So, how is it?”

With a scraping sound, Iberis pulled a chair towards himself and sat down. Even as he asked the question, he had no particular expectations, but the answer he received was indeed the worst.

“I’m not one for beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct. Honestly, it’s very serious. It’s a wonder you’ve held out this long.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I can understand why the doctors you’ve seen gave you a terminal diagnosis.”

Lucas’s expression darkened as he rechecked the various readings on the monitor, including internal mana contamination levels and physical damage rates. He didn’t want to speak this way, but he had no choice. No matter how positively he tried to phrase it, all the indicators were bad. It was no exaggeration to say that it wouldn’t be strange if Iberis collapsed tomorrow.

“Hmm…”

Momentarily overwhelmed, Lucas unconsciously let out a sigh. He had never encountered this with any patient before, and for the first time, he found himself pondering how best to treat someone.

“I see.”

Unlike the serious Lucas, Iberis was remarkably calm. Having heard that there was no hope several times already, he wasn’t greatly affected.

Rather, it was Lucas who felt strange. He slightly frowned at Iberis, who sat there calmly as if it were someone else’s problem. He had seen countless patients before, but this was the first time he had seen someone so serene after receiving a terminal diagnosis.

While thinking that Iberis might not be particularly shaken due to having received terminal diagnoses from several doctors already, Lucas felt an uncanny sense of discomfort at Iberis’s expression and voice, which were as calm as a still lake. The desire to live should be a human instinct, but Lucas couldn’t sense much despair about his situation or will to live from Iberis.

“…I’ll conduct basic examinations once a week from now on. It may be troublesome, but I request your cooperation.”

“Alright.”

“For detailed examinations… we’ll need to either borrow facilities from the nearest military hospital or request support from headquarters. I’ll take care of this part, so please just adjust your schedule accordingly, Major.”

“Understood.”

Lucas was once again overcome with a strange feeling as he watched Iberis respond readily, unlike a few hours ago. Although he didn’t want to jump to conclusions, it seemed as if…

“…Now, I need to palpate, so please give me your hand.”

Lucas extended his hand to Iberis, trying to push away the speculation that had formed in his mind. Only then did a tiny crack appear in Iberis’s frozen lake-like eyes.

“Huh? My hand?”

“Yes. I want to check the condition of your mana circuits. Ah, please don’t wear gloves for accurate palpation.”

Iberis showed reluctance at Lucas’s additional request. His gaze shifted to the black gloves neatly placed on the desk.

“It might be better for you to wear gloves…”

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m rather insensitive to pain. Don’t worry and give me your hand.”

Remaining calm even after hearing that his physical condition was the worst, yet hesitant about physical contact. Lucas observed Iberis’s expression while lightly wiggling his fingers. It was a sign asking for his hand.

“…”

Iberis hesitated, staring at the outstretched hand. He knew Lucas’s reaction had been different from others when they shook hands earlier, but it was still difficult to comply readily.

“If it hurts or feels cold, tell me immediately.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Iberis carefully placed his hand on Lucas’s palm. At that moment, long, firm fingers curled inward, enveloping Iberis’s hand as if embracing it.

“…!”

Iberis’s shoulders jerked noticeably as Lucas grasped his hand. It had been a very long time since his bare skin had touched someone else’s. The unfamiliar warmth of another person seeping into his skin made him unconsciously tense up.

“There’s no need to be tense. It’s similar to guiding…”

Lucas explained in a gentle tone, sensing Iberis’s tension. Perhaps because of the bare skin contact, he could definitely feel a sharper chill than when wearing gloves. The mana flowing from the other’s body also pricked his skin.

But it wasn’t unbearable, so Lucas calmly drew up his mana. As he did so, his golden eyes seemed to absorb sunlight, taking on an extraordinary hue. Simultaneously, Iberis’s mana, responding to the guide’s mana, spread out widely.

“Hmm.”

So this is why he was so worried. Lucas raised an eyebrow as he felt Iberis’s mana greedily sucking in his own. The temperature in the examination room seemed to drop by a few degrees in an instant. Undisturbed by the freezing sensation in his hand, he focused his mind calmly. Soon, he could see the silvery mana circulating endlessly through Iberis’s body.

“Huh…”

Lucas inadvertently let out a sigh as he observed the mana circuits spread throughout Iberis’s body like blood vessels. Just as blood clots impede blood flow, Iberis’s mana circuits were blocked in many places. It was the result of contaminated mana residue accumulating without being purified.

And that wasn’t all. Like internal bleeding from torn blood vessels, mana was leaking from various points in the circuits. With his body in this state, there was no way his internal mana could be properly controlled.

How could headquarters let an S-class esper deteriorate to this extent?

Lucas looked at Iberis with an incredulous expression. Of course, he knew how difficult it was for an esper to find a compatible guide with a high matching rate. Not just Iberis, but countless espers were struggling even at this moment because they couldn’t find a suitable guide.

However, cases like Iberis receiving a terminal diagnosis were rare. Usually, before it got to that point, the military would either assign a somewhat compatible guide exclusively or transfer them to a unit with a high-ranking guide like Lucas. That’s why the current situation was even more incomprehensible.

Shouldn’t the Defense Force try to retain talent like Iberis at all costs?

Lucas’s eyes hardened as he recalled Iberis’s past in his mind. If the leadership had neglected him as political retaliation, it was truly foolish.

It seemed they had finally come to their senses and assigned an S-class guide like himself, but it was like closing the barn door after the horse had bolted. Iberis’s condition was that serious.

On the other hand, it was somewhat understandable that he had deteriorated to this extent. As far as Lucas knew, Iberis had never formed a pair with a guide since awakening as an esper. Far from having a dedicated guide, he had rarely received proper guiding throughout his career as an esper, so it was no wonder his body was in such a state.

Considering that even a few months, or even weeks, without proper guiding could damage an esper’s mind or rapidly deteriorate their physical condition, Iberis had actually endured for a very long time. Though it seemed he had now reached his limit.

“Your expression doesn’t look good. Is my condition that bad?”

“…Yes, your mana circuits aren’t circulating properly. They’re blocked, torn, it’s a mess.”

“You’re quite harsh.”

“Providing accurate information to the patient is also a doctor’s job.”

“I appreciate the honesty, but I sense some emotion in your voice. Or is it just my imagination…?”

Iberis trailed off, looking directly at Lucas.

“I apologize. I’m a little, no, very surprised at your condition. If my attitude offended you, I apologize.”

“No need. All the other doctors had the same reaction at first.”

Iberis finally let out a chuckle and pulled his hand away from Lucas’s grip. He then opened and closed his hand with a strange expression. Quickly composing himself, he lightly provoked Lucas.

“I know my mana circuits are damaged. I’ve had it drilled into my ears by doctors for years… So, after all this fuss with examinations and palpations on your first day, is there anything new? You said you came to treat and guide me, right?”

“Well, since I’ve only done basic examinations so far… I’m not confident I can give you a satisfying answer. But to continue explaining, your body right now is like a cracked vessel.”

“A cracked vessel… That’s accurate.”

Iberis agreed with Lucas’s words, showing interest. Come to think of it, he had never been examined in this way by the doctors he had seen before.

“Do they all palpate like you at the central headquarters?”

“No, it varies by doctor. This is a diagnostic method I personally developed a few years ago…”

“You developed it?”

“Yes. It allows for more accurate measurement than machines, but it involves overlaying mana on the eyes to see through the other person’s body, so it requires at least a B-grade and hasn’t been commercialized. It’s still a method used by only a few.”

“They said you were a genius, and indeed you are.”

Iberis was genuinely impressed by the diagnostic method Lucas had developed.

“Let’s set aside talk about me. Anyway, I think these symptoms have been present for quite a while…”

“You’re right. I’ve had issues controlling my mana after using my ability for several years now. I was never good at mana control to begin with, so I didn’t think much of it… But since last year, the lack of control became noticeable enough that I suspected something was wrong.”

“Then why…”

“Why did I neglect it? Well, my body being strange wasn’t a recent development.”

Iberis shrugged, answering before Lucas could finish his question. A bitter smile played on his lips.

“You know, when you’re constantly sick, at some point you lose perspective on how serious it really is.”