Last Gun Alchemist

"But there isn’t any visible cure available right now."

Vera’s voice broke the short silence inside the hospital room.

She stood a small distance away from Ezra’s medical bed with her arms folded beneath her chest, her plain black eyes resting on him without revealing much of what she was thinking.

Ezra looked back at her.

"Yes."

Veda nodded before Ezra could respond, the worry that had remained on his face since Ezra collapsed still refusing to disappear.

"I know Blood Alchemy could cure Ezra’s cold intolerance, but that’s where the problem is."

He glanced toward Ezra before turning to the doctor, as if hoping she might have another answer that hadn’t already been explained to them.

"The Duchess of Derlis isn’t even an Alchemist Sage, and that’s the Alchemist rank needed to permanently strengthen his red-blood-cell-generating system."

The doctor gave a slow nod.

"Yes, that’s correct."

She adjusted the Zphone tablet resting on her lap again before briefly looking over Ezra’s medical report again.

"Although the Derlis can create a blood pill capable of helping his body generate red blood cells."

Lucy, who had remained close to Ezra’s bed throughout the conversation, immediately focused on her.

The doctor continued.

"Depending on the quality of the pill, a single intake could remain effective for a month, perhaps even as long as a year before the effect eventually wears off."

"A year..."

Lucy quietly repeated.

Her expression brightened slightly at the possibility, although the worry hadn’t completely left her face.

"But is it even possible to get one?"

She looked between the doctor and Veda.

"The heat pills are working, but from what you said about this blood pill..."

Lucy turned toward Ezra.

"Wouldn’t that be better for Master?"

The room became quiet for a moment.

Veda’s brows pulled together as he thought.

Then his expression changed.

He seemed to have made a decision.

"I’ll talk to Willow."

Veda straightened.

"Maybe I can..."

"Please don’t do that, Young Lord."

Ezra cut him off before he could finish.

Veda stopped.

Ezra remained against the hospital bed, his expression showing no sign that he had just rejected what could possibly make managing his condition much easier.

"I’m fine."

He said it calmly.

Almost too calmly.

Vera tilted her head slightly.

Her black eyes remained on Ezra.

"You want to handle your own problems yourself."

She didn’t ask it like a question.

She simply said what she had understood from his reaction.

Ezra glanced toward her but didn’t answer.

"You can’t say you’re..."

Veda started dismissively, clearly unwilling to accept Ezra’s usual I’m fine as a proper answer.

He stopped himself and thought of something else.

"Okay, then what about better heat pills?"

Veda raised his hand slightly.

"I can get higher-quality ones specially made by the top Flora Alchemists of House Casper."

"Young Lord..."

Ezra looked at him plainly.

Veda stared back.

"Don’t trouble yourself too much about my condition."

Ezra’s voice remained calm.

"I’ll be fine."

He shifted slightly against the pillow supporting his back.

"I can buy better-quality heat pills with my own money, so you don’t need to worry too much."

There was no hesitation in his answer.

Ezra understood why Veda was trying to help him, but he didn’t want the Young Lord of Ash running around asking other noble families for medicine because of him.

Especially when he could still manage his condition himself.

And majorly, because he didn’t like others concerning themselves because of him.

No...

He stopped wanting relationships like that a long time ago.

Vera watched Ezra for another second.

Her eyes narrowed just a little.

"Idiot."

The single word came out in the same plain tone she used for almost everything else.

Lucy blinked.

"Huh?"

Vera didn’t explain herself.

She unfolded her arms, turned away from the medical bed, and walked toward the door.

Her hand wrapped around the handle.

She opened it.

Then, without another word, Vera stepped outside and lightly closed the door behind her.

Click.

Lucy continued staring at the door.

She looked genuinely confused.

Veda, on the other hand, released a helpless sigh.

He understood Vera’s reaction a little better.

"Okay."

His shoulders dropped.

"I won’t press you too much."

Ezra nodded faintly.

That was enough for him.

"Doctor."

He turned toward the woman sitting beside his bed.

"Yes, Mr. Ezra?"

The doctor responded softly.

"Can I leave now?"

Ezra asked.

"I don’t want to miss class tomorrow."

"..."

Lucy stared at him.

Veda stared at him too.

Then both of them slowly shook their heads.

Small smiles appeared on their faces despite themselves.

This boy had collapsed in the middle of a shopping complex, bled from his eyes and nose, been brought unconscious into the Royal Academy Hospital, discovered that he had gone through Silent Enlightenment and unexpectedly advanced into the Adept Alchemist rank...

And apparently, one of his main concerns was still getting to class tomorrow.

The doctor didn’t look particularly surprised.

"Well, your body is currently stable."

She glanced toward his medical report.

"I’ll prescribe you new heat-stimulating pills, but aside from that, your condition is good enough for you to leave."

She looked back at him.

"So, if you really want to go home tonight, you can."

Ezra gave a small nod.

Then something else seemed to enter his mind.

He leaned slightly closer toward the doctor.

"And all of this is free, right?"

His face remained as plain as before.

However, one eyebrow rose slightly.

The tiny movement was enough to make it clear that he wasn’t joking.

He genuinely wanted to know.

The doctor stared at him.

Then...

"Hahaha..."

She laughed lightly.

Lucy lowered her head.

Veda’s lips twitched.

"You aren’t the first student to ask me that."

The doctor regained her composure.

"But yes. The treatment you’ve received here is free."

Ezra relaxed slightly.

"But..."

His eyes immediately returned to her.

Of course, there is a but.

The doctor maintained her calm smile.

"If a student breaks an academy rule badly enough to be expelled from the Royal Academy, one of the punishments that can be imposed is repayment for hospital services previously provided to that student."

Veda blinked.

"Damn."

His eyes briefly moved around the hospital room.

The equipment surrounding Ezra’s bed alone looked expensive.

And that wasn’t even counting the examinations, medical staff, medication, and whatever treatment Ezra had received while unconscious.

"That would be a hefty amount considering the level of treatment you’ve given me."

Ezra said plainly.

The doctor nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

Her smile remained.

"Yes, it would."

"..."

Ezra silently added another reason to his already long list of reasons not to get expelled.

Not that he had been planning to.

Still...

It was nice to know.

After their conversation ended, the doctor stood from the wheeled chair and organized Ezra’s medical information.

The nurse gathered the remaining equipment.

"We’ll have your medication brought to you shortly."

The doctor said before leaving.

"Thank you."

Ezra responded.

The nurse followed her out, leaving Ezra with Veda and Lucy.

Since his academy uniform clothes had been dirtied during the earlier incident, Lucy and Veda had already brought another set of clothes for him while he was unconscious.

Ezra changed into them.

A few minutes later, the nurse returned carrying the heat-stimulating pills the doctor had prescribed.

She explained the medication briefly before handing it to Ezra.

Once everything was settled, Ezra was finally allowed to leave.

He, Lucy, and Veda made their way through the Royal Academy Hospital until they reached the reception center.

Ezra presented his Student ID.

The receptionist scanned it, confirmed that he had officially been discharged, and registered his departure.

Only then did they leave the hospital.

By that time, night had completely settled over the Royal Academy.

Lights from the surrounding academy buildings shone across the roads, while street lamps illuminated the pathways between them.

The number of students outside had dropped greatly compared to the daytime.

Veda’s Royal Steam Carriage was already waiting nearby.

The three boarded.

Veda first had the driver take Ezra and Lucy toward the East Wing.

The carriage moved steadily through the academy grounds while Lucy remained close to Ezra, occasionally glancing at him as though she expected him to suddenly collapse again if she stopped watching for too long.

Ezra noticed.

He simply chose not to say anything.

Eventually, the Royal Steam Carriage stopped outside Ezra’s residence.

He and Lucy stepped down.

Veda remained inside.

"Get some rest."

He pointed toward Ezra.

"And I mean actual rest."

Ezra looked at him.

"Alright."

Whether Veda believed that answer or not was another matter.

The carriage door closed.

Veda then left for his own residence, which was located farther away in the South Wing.

Ezra and Lucy entered the house.

The familiar quietness of their residence greeted them.

Ezra stretched both arms above his head.

"You should go and rest now, Lucy."

Lucy looked at him.

She didn’t move.

Her face made it clear that she wasn’t convinced leaving Ezra alone was a good idea.

Ezra lowered his arms.

"You heard the doctor."

He tilted his head slightly.

"I’m fine."

Lucy continued staring at him.

Ezra stared back.

Several seconds passed.

Finally, Lucy released a small breath.

"Okay."

She reluctantly gave in.

Then she raised one finger and pointed directly at him.

"But please go to sleep immediately."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Your classes start tomorrow."

Ezra looked at her raised finger.

Then at her face.

"Alright."

Lucy remained suspicious for another moment before finally lowering her hand.

"Good night, Master."

"Good night."

Lucy turned and headed toward her room.

Ezra waited until she disappeared from sight.

Then he headed toward his own bedroom.

Once inside, he freshened up and changed into his nightwear.

The doctor’s words were still somewhere in his thoughts.

His condition.

The blood pill.

Blood Alchemy.

Finding a cure.

His unexpected advancement to the Adept Alchemist rank.

There was plenty he could sit down and think about.

But it was already late.

And Lucy had specifically told him to sleep.

So naturally...

Ezra sat on his bed and reached for his Starlix 11.

"..."

The device lit up in his hand.

He only intended to check his messages.

That didn’t count as refusing to sleep.

Probably.

Several notifications were waiting for him.

Ezra first opened Gena’s chat.

As usual, she had sent him several messages throughout the day.

Some were simply about what she had done.

She talked about her training and how seriously she had been working to become stronger.

Then came the complaints.

Her courses were apparently becoming difficult.

One message complained about the amount she had to study.

Another complained about a particular academic problem.

Then several questions followed.

Ezra read through them.

He didn’t reply to everything.

For the messages that were simply Gena talking about her day, he mostly read them quietly.

But whenever she asked something related to her academics, Ezra typed out advice where he could.

He also responded to several questions she had asked concerning Gun Alchemy.

Once he finished, Ezra backed out of Gena’s chat.

His thumb moved down the screen.

Then he opened Blake’s messages.

The conversation there was completely different.

Most of their recent messages revolved around one thing.

Blake’s invention.

The Steam Engine Bicycle.

Ezra had already started giving Blake several methods he could use to redesign the compressed Steam Engine needed for the bicycle.

He had also given him suggestions for improving the exterior design so the machine wouldn’t simply look like someone had attached an engine onto a bicycle and called it finished.

Blake had apparently been busy applying those suggestions.

Ezra scrolled through the messages.

Then he reached the newest ones.

***

’Sir Ezra... good evening."

Blake_Inventor

Another message followed.

’Don’t know if you’re still awake, but I’ve been working on all the pointers you gave me, and I’ve finally been able to finish a full design of the whole Steam Engine Bicycle.’

Blake_Inventor

Numerous images attached appeared beneath the message.

Then...

’What do you think?’

Blake_Inventor

Ezra tapped the image.

The screen of his Starlix changed immediately.

A holographic projection materialized above the device.

Ezra’s black eyes focused on it.

The Steam Engine Bicycle slowly rotated in the air.

Blake hadn’t sent only one view.

The design contained several angles, allowing Ezra to examine the bicycle from the front, sides, rear, and upper sections.

Ezra expanded the hologram slightly.

His fingers moved through the projection.

The view changed.

He examined the exterior first.

Then he moved toward the compressed Steam Engine.

Blake had included notes throughout the design explaining the different components, what had been changed, and which additions had been made according to Ezra’s previous suggestions.

Ezra continued looking through everything.

The frame.

Engine position.

Mechanical layout.

Exterior.

Several smaller details.

Blake had clearly put effort into it.

Ezra spent some time reviewing the design before finally closing the expanded view.

His fingers moved toward the keyboard.

He typed.

’It’s okay.’

Ezra_Ashenlocke

Ezra looked at his reply.

Simple and direct.

Yet enough.

He sent it.

No answer came.

Ezra waited for a moment before remembering the time.

Blake was probably already asleep.

Considering how long he had apparently spent finishing the design, that wasn’t surprising.

Ezra didn’t send anything else.

He switched off the Starlix 11.

The light from its screen disappeared.

Ezra leaned toward the small table beside his bed and placed the device into his space bag.

The room became quieter.

He reached toward the lamp beside him, leaving its softer light on while he settled properly beneath the blanket.

His body finally relaxed against the mattress.

Today had been much longer than Ezra had expected.

He had gone to the Central Library simply intending to study Essence.

Instead, he had experienced Silent Enlightenment, advanced into the Adept Alchemist rank, collapsed in the shopping complex, woken up in the Royal Academy Hospital, and received another warning about the condition of his body again.

And tomorrow...

Classes continued as normal.

Ezra closed his eyes.

Whatever else he needed to think about could wait.

For tonight, at least, he finally listened to Lucy.

He went to sleep.

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