ZigZagkers

Geli gave a cheerful nod and said, "It'll be completely fine~ I'm an experienced doctor, you know!"

Nki gave her a skeptical stare and quickly grabbed Enix by the back of his collar. "Then why don't you check this guy first? He's already pretty messed up."

"Wait, what—!" Enix yelped as Nki shoved him forward.

He stumbled, arms flailing, and landed on the floor with a thud. "My dignity..."

"Sure! Not a problem!" Geli chirped.

Enix looked up with fear in his eyes, his whole soul trembling as Geli stepped closer. "Y-You're not gonna chop me open, are you…?"

Geli simply smiled, and then, with zero effort, picked him up in both hands like he weighed nothing.

"EH?!?" Enix and Nki both made identical stunned expressions, their mouths hanging open.

"She's so strong..." Enix whimpered.

Geli placed him gently on the bed and sat cross-legged in front of him, facing him directly. "Don't worry, don't worry~ It's totally safe."

Nki leaned in from the side, curious despite herself.

Geli plucked a single strand of her own brown hair, held it between her fingers, then closed her eyes. The hair began to glow with a soft green light… and then it grew longer and longer until it reached Enix's chest.

"W-What are you doing?" Enix whispered.

"Shhh," Geli hummed.

The glowing strand touched Enix, and in an instant, his entire body began to shimmer. Above his head, a strange hologram flickered into existence. It was translucent, shining gently, and it displayed Enix standing in a T-pose like some kind of 3D video game character model.

Nki stared, completely stunned. "What the hell?!"

Enix stared up too. "Is that… me?!"

Geli puffed her chest proudly. "Now then… time to check your condition."

She waved her hand left, then right.

The hologram split into multiple layers, one showing muscles, another bones, one showing blood vessels, and another for skin. Each layer hovered slightly above the last, separated in neat floating panels.

Both Nki and Enix screamed.

"Why am I in pieces?!" Enix shouted, his soul visibly leaving his body.

"Did you just split my man like a sandwich!?" Nki gasped.

Geli calmly observed the muscle layer, zooming in with a little flick of her fingers. Glowing red patches appeared on the chest, cheeks, stomach, and thigh.

"Hm… your bones and blood are fine, but you've got some damage to your chest, cheeks, gut, and leg." She poked the air at each spot. "Looks like you were… hmm, punched? Brutally?"

Enix's mind instantly flashed to Aaru. In his imagination, Aaru had glowing red eyes and devil horns, laughing with an echoing, "MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!" while punching him into the sky.

"That demon..." Enix whispered in despair.

With a flick, the hologram disappeared into tiny particles, and the glowing strand of hair faded away.

Geli stood and placed her hand gently on top of Enix's head.

She whispered softly, "By the grace of Green Divinity, may pain be eased and balance restored."

A gentle green glow enveloped Enix's body. He floated slightly above the bed for a moment before slowly settling back down.

The light faded.

Enix's eyes widened, and a strange expression crept across his face.

His body relaxed, his lips trembled, and in a shaky voice he moaned, "F-Feels sooo goood~"

Nki stared at him from the side with a disturbed look. "...Why do you look like you just got a full body massage from heaven?"

"I think I did..." Enix mumbled.

Geli turned her attention toward Nki. Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint. "Alright, now it's your turn, come here~ Let me check you, too!"

Nki gave her a strange, crooked smile. "Ohoho… aight, come at me, doc."

Meanwhile, in a quiet dark room, a single candle flickered, casting gentle shadows across walls lined with intricate paintings. Some were portraits, fierce faces of past warriors and graceful silhouettes of priestesses. Others were landscapes, painted in vivid color, telling about ancient battles, crimson skies, and ethereal beings. A warm glow from a corner lantern glowed across golden scrolls and ceremonial masks resting upon shelves.

In the center of the room sat a lone figure, positioned beneath a domed skylight that allowed thin rays of light to gently fall on his shoulders. His back was turned to the door, posture relaxed as he moved a brush carefully across a large canvas propped before him. He wore a flowing black and indigo kimono tied with an embroidered sash, elegant yet modest, resembling traditional robes of old Japanese nobles. The fabric shimmered faintly in the candlelight. His light black hair was loosely tied at the back, strands slipping over his shoulder as he focused on his painting, brush strokes calm and deliberate.

Aaru knelt quietly near the door, sitting properly on his knees with his head bowed, his hands resting neatly on his thighs. He remained still, respectful and silent.

The man, without turning his head, spoke with a deep, old voice.

"I see…"

Aaru lifted his head slightly and said, "They are currently resting in Miss Geli's place."

There was a pause as the man moved his brush across the canvas again.

"Everyone who needs me," the old man said slowly, "are my children… Keep them safe, my son."

Aaru's back straightened slightly as he nodded deeply. "Yes, Lord Father. As you wish."

The brush paused mid stroke. Then the man resumed painting again in silence.

Back in Geli's little hospital room, two figures lay side by side on the bed, grinning like fools with bright red faces.

Nki stretched with a yawn and sighed, "That was sooo goood…"

Beside her, Enix mumbled, "I feel like I'm floating in heaven…"

Geli stood nearby, her white coat swaying slightly as she leaned forward with her hands behind her back. She smiled, her brown eyes filled with quiet warmth.

"Didn't I say? I'm a professional doctor after all."

She gave a cheeky wink.

But as her eyes softened and she looked at the two teens, relaxed, smiling, peaceful, her mind wandered.

("…Even after all of these things that happened to you… you're still alive… You're strong kids, aren't you?")

Her mind flickered to a memory. A painful one.

In her vision, she stood in the center of a large hospital ward, the lights flickering above her. The air was heavy with sobs and coughs. People, young and old, lay across every bed, crying out in pain. Children clung to their stomachs, some crying, others whimpering.

And she stood there… trembling.

Her hands clutched clumps of her own hair, long strands tangled in her fingers. Her scalp was patchy. Bald spots showed. She had pulled out her own hair, helpless.

Tears streamed down her face. Her knees were weak. Her coat stained. Her voice gone hoarse from screaming for help.

She stood alone.

"Doctor…"

Geli blinked.

The vision faded.

She looked down and saw Enix, smiling up at her with half-lidded eyes, still laying down with his arm over his forehead like he just woke up from a heavenly nap.

"Thank you very much," he said in a dreamy tone.

Geli stared at him for a second… then smiled again.

"…You're welcome."