Rade's Demon Elimination Service

Chapter 33: Kalleid's Condition

It was hard to cover Carys' presence on his apartment and to keep this matter from his friends, that was what Kalleid later found out as he was waiting the arrival of Carys from his hunt.

This waiting was postively killing Kalleid, feeling as though he was a mother hen waiting for his chick to go home when everyone (that meaning only him and Carys) was aware that absolutely not the case at all.

For five whole days, Kalleid was able to co-exist with Carys in such a normal way that Kalleid it was incredulous how he was able to managed it. There was those prolonged silences and awkward glancing at each other that Kalleid was sure won't ever disappear as long as Carys would keep him at an arm's length of distance but, as surprising as this would sounds like, there was no blood that spilled on the floor of his apartment. It was a great relief for Kalleid who has a bleach ready under the kitchen sink in any case that Carys would bombard him with the Cuare holy weapon (this was not to say that Kalleid thought of Carys as someone who was extremely violent or that he was physically aggressive by nature, he was just making sure in any case).

Carys was still rather weak, that was why Kalleid could not even help himself wince as the other boy was pushing himself to his own limits. Despite those, he carried the Cuare with him after his fifth day of recuperating on Kalleid's apartment, his barely healing body was being dragged with his own will which Kalleid was certain would not be enough to keep him alive for a day longer. Each day, he would come back with more injuries and so his recuperating would be longer and stretched to the point that Kalleid thought those injuries of his would not be healed because he was abusing his own body too harshly. At first, Kalleid was certain that Carys would not come back to his apartment, but after he came back at the middle of the night on the first day that he went out hunting for demons (Kalleid was actually ashamed to admit to himself that he was uncertain what Carys could possibly be doing), Kalleid was relieved.

He was relieved, partly because Carys was still not well enough to roam about on his own, specially in the kind of condition that his whole body was currently in, and partly because it was apparent to him that Carys would have no place to run to once he indeed did not come back to Kalleid's apartment.

Kalleid worries that if Carys sustained a fatal wound, there won't be anyone who would be taking care of him. It was not like he could say casually to anyone that there was someone living with him, everyone would freak out and one person in particular would even go berserk, Kalleid could already imagine the kind of chaos admitting this whole affair.

Though it was not like Kalleid was really having an affair really (he knew he was already being too defensive on his own head).

And so, it already became a routine of Carys and Kalleid. Kalleid would unlock the door and let Carys have his way around the apartment. He would also started on cooking more food and would leave them on the table for the boy in any case that he has not eaten yet but on the second day of eating Kalleid's cooking, Carys begged him to stop, saying that he could cook (and that his cooking skills were all better than Kalleid's which oddly made Kalleid felt as though they just got close with each other). By the third day they were living together, Carys went home earlier and indeed cooked for them both. Kalleid almost wept (he, of course, restrained his tears) because it was the first time that his kitchen has seen real food which was to say homemade food and not something out of plastic or fast food packaging.

They lived in harmony just like that. Most often, Kalleid would not even catch Carys moving about his own apartment. He would only looked down at the floor and would see that Carys has spread a blanket on it and would sleep.

At mornings, Carys would sleep late and would only cook for Kalleid right before he leave.

"You're distracted," London remarked while Kalleid was unintentionally spacing out of the reality, his eyes were looking as though his soul was not with them. "Wazzup?" he even asked him, but his gaze pointed to where Kalleid was looking. "That's just my brother, my friend."

Kalleid blinked, getting out of the daze he was in. His gaze shifted from New York who was diligently training with his scythe, the holy weapon of Aztle. Its long handle was expertly handled by New York and with the holy weapon, New York danced elegantly. The dark obsidian blade of the scythe that made it so deadly was swishing back and forth but if Kalleid was being honest to himself, he was not even aware where he was exactly looking at.

"I haven't seen anyone around," London suddenly stated. He drank from his glass which contained a very fruity almost transparent drink that made Kalleid scared to also ask for the same drink from one of the servants. He did not know what kind of sorcery and ingredient London asked for the drink to be made out of and Kalleid was also not ready to risk his sanity to find out

"Not even Ai?" Kalleid asked. He reached for his water and drank deeply. When he looked up, the sun was high up in the sky and it was so hot that after just a little while out of the doors, Kalleid was already sweating and his eyeglass was slipping on the bridge of his nose. He diligently pushed it back on its proper place, thinking that at least he would not wear any troublesome winter clothes any longer though he also does not enjoy this kind of heat.

Although he has a weak constitution against the cold, the weather was just too hot to bear for Kalleid. Even with the high temperature, London remained sitting prettily, not even a drop of sweat stained her face that made Kalleid envious. The three of them, New York, London, and, finally, Kalleid were all on the garden of the Aldeia clan's manor. Initially, they were supposed to be training while Kalleid would try to exercise until it was only New York left who was actually training and the other two went to sit down on the patio of the manor's back, refreshing themselves with cold beverages and sweet snacks.

Although he did not like being outdoors, Kalleid does not really have much choice. It would be too boring to just wait on Carys to get up, leave the apartment, and wait until he get home. What would he do while waiting? Read his manga collection? Reread some wuxia novels and rewatch the same old dramas since nothing good would come up?

Kalleid's prospects were pathetic and he felt even more pathetic as he thought of it.

"Specially not Ai," London responded to him, emphasizing on Ai's name. "Hhmm," he hummed lowly then said in a nonchalant tone, "not even Miss Megumi. "If I knew that summer here would be this boring and botheringly hot, I should have gone to Siberia or in Romania, at least I could get some juicy fruity gossips while I'm training. What could be better than that?"

Kalleid only smiled at London who started her complains about how the hot and humid the country was and that he could not do anything else just because of the stupid stupid Spatial Void that was hovering above them, settling at a turtle's speed. London also complained about not being able to take out Latka and feeling vulnerable about not having her own holy weapon around him. Because of the hot, London was forced to hide Latka, the long piece of white cloth that was also his own personal holy weapon, within the Aldeia clan's manor.

That put another smile on Kalleid's face.

At least with London, he could get entertained with just his ramblings about some random things.

"It will only be natural that Ai and Miss Megumi wouldn't be around, London," Kalleid soothed her while her head flopped on the table before them, pouting her lips while they both watched New York training. "It's the time for the Spatial Void and it would be too dangerous for them both to be around and about."

With London's head suddenly banged on the table, the whole contents of the table shook and spilled some of the liquid of their beverages. London's face turned to Kalleid's direction and his eyes suddenly turned into little slits. He reached a hand to touch Kalleid's face.

"Is it just me...?" he started to say in a low voice. "Or you're really be sweating so damn much?" he asked while his eyes roamed around Kalleid's face, scrutinizing and analyzing which resulted on Kalleid more profusely.

Kalleid unconsciously touched his face and there was indeed a disgusting concentration of sweat on his skin. He smiled awkwardly at his friend and just waved it off, discreetly wiping his face though the subtle panic on his movements did not escape from London's keen eyesight.

"It's the weather," he reasoned pathetically though he still felt extremely hot. "I think this summer would be hotter than the previous ones."

London retracted his hand that touched Kalleid's cheek and looked at the tip of his finger, spacing out just a little. His gaze was focused on his hand with a frown on his face.

"Your skin is so cold though," London said in an almost whispering voice. He looked like he was alarmed by something. "Are you okay, Kal?" he asked with concern, leaning dangerously closer to where Kalleid was sitting at. "You're sweating so much, but your skin is so damn cold."

London finally stood up from where he sat as though she could not just help himself still and went over to where Kalleid was sitting on. Kalleid shook his head and tried to refuse, but he was already cupping his face with both of his hands. The commotion made New York stopped from practicing his scythe, his scythe immediately turned into a necklace that returned and wrapped around his neck smoothly.

New York, after seeing the sudden changed on the atmosphere between the two, walked towards them and raised his brows in askance. He leaned at the back of Kalleid's chair, his brows knitted when none answered his question.

"What is it, idiots?" New York asked and pinched the skin of London's hands that were still cupping Kalleid's face.

"You selfish d**k!" London cursed at him and almost spit, taking a step back as New York lowered his chin on Kalleid's shoulder. "I'm just concern about my friend."

"Too close, butcher," New York said offhandedly. "Get your paws off him, London." Then he turned to the person below him, feeling that there was a certain literal coldness on his skin. "Are you okay?" he whispered to Kalleid who nodded weakly. New York's brows knitted further at the confirmation. "You're not, are you?" he asked again, more firmly.

Kalleid sighed, his breathing was unsteady and at the back of his lids was only fire and warmth that does not compliment too good with the current weather. Kalleid felt a pair of arms gathered him and he just let his head down on the chest of that person.

"Hey, i***t!" New York shouted at him, but there was an evident worry on his eyes. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, his feet were already moving along the grass of the garden.

"Hot," Kalleid said on New York's chest and tried to heave gulps of air to no avail. "New York... London, it's just my... demonic part acting up." He looked up to the serious expression of the person who was carrying him. They were already halfway across the expansive garden when he put a hand on New York's chest, halting him from moving and dragging him behind. "It's because of the Spatial Void, I guess," he explained.

"We'll bring you to Megumi to have a proper checkup," New York said seriously, grimness at the edge of his voice but Kalleid was already shaking his head at him. His eyes darkened while he was looking at the other boy, there was anxiety that he could not hide.

"And lead hunters right in the middle of their boundary while everybody is panicking because of the Spatial Void?" Kalleid asked weakly. "No, that won't do. Just get me somewhere cold and I will be fine."

New York's lips turned into a straight line and he carried the person on his arms closer to him.

"You're already so cold, you i***t!" he hissed at Kalleid who just laughed at him.

Kalleid sighed a contented one and let his head fell down. He has been feeling rather restless and unwell for the past weeks and although he hasn't consulted with Megumi about his condition, he has a certain suspicion that what was causing his body to react in such a way was the occurrence of the Spatial Void.

New York laid him down on the bed of his room and put a blanket over his body, but Kalleid shook his head and removed the blanket that was carefully put over him. Meanwhile, New York and London looked at each other. Although New York's words have been rather harsh and indifferent, it was apparent that he became jittery after noticing that Kalleid was unwell.

"He shouldn't have been moving too much," London said while still looking at the sleeping form of Kalleid.

"The Spatial Void, would it really..." New York mumbled to himself with great hesitation, he looked at his older brother seemingly asking for her help about something but it was not as if London could do anything to a force that he could not control.

"Don't say anything, stupid," London reassured him then patted New York's back quite hard that New York, who wasn't expecting an attack, was forced to take three steps forward and coughed brutally. "The Spatial Void won't do anything to Kalleid."

They both know that was pure lie though, empty words to assure New York's worries about Kalleid.

"What if this is a sign that he's losing his immortality like what his father told him?" New York asked and there was a drowning feeling within his chest that made him wants to shout in frustration and smash things on the ground.

New York never liked dealing with this side of things, the things he could not control and were out of his reach. When it comes to Kalleid, New York always thought that he was helpless, that he could not do anything to help him at all.

London did not say anything in response and that made New York closed his eyes as though he was tired and massaged his temples. Feeling that his knees got weak, New York sat beside Kalleid who still remained sleeping despite the noise around him.

It pained him to watch at him like this, as though he was slowly fading away right from New York's grasp.

Kalleid has always been full of vitality and life though he may seem delicate at first but he was by no means delicate. The smile that he will always prepare on his way was something that could give hope to people. He may always say that he does not care about certain things but, in reality, he actually does.

"I don't want to lose him," New York whispered, a tremble could be heard despite the pretend strength behind his voice. He did not want to feel as though he was weak when Kalleid was being like this, when it seemed as though New York could not do anything about it all. "Not like this. I just almost lost him, you know? It hasn't even been a few months and now this. London, it hasn't even been that long since I almost lost him, I just don't want a repeat of what had happened."

Yet again, London did not say anything but instead he looked at his wristwatch, swallowing a huge lump on his throat. His hand patted her younger brother yet again, as a reassurance that their current situation would turn in a more positive note despite going against the tide of the fate for no one can really stop the Spatial Void from settling over the whole city.

"I'll go and meet Geneva," London said, "maybe she could find a way. Get him out of the city or anything."

Which was an impossible feat since it was specifically said on Kalleid's certificate that he was not allowed to get outside of the regions of the Aldeia clan. HODE was extremely strict about their rules and regulations that even the Aldeia clan was wary and anxious about breaking them. It wasn't that long since the head of the HODE changed and a new ruler emerged, the same could also be said in the management of the Aldeia clan, so things were still being tested and the ground was still rather unstable.

"His body wouldn't be able to make it," New York instead said, "we might as well kill him already instead of drastically changing the nature where his body was adapting. Besides, you know that the Watchtower will never let him out of our territory."

London sighed, "I'll still tell Geneva if she could do anything about this. So shut it and accompany the patient." London made his way out of New York's room while New York remained and just looked at Kalleid.

Kalleid's condition has been bothering New York ever since hearing from Kalleid's own father his possible demise with the period of Spatial Void. Megumi and Lyu have both secluded themselves on their place, Megumi was powerful enough to lure ordinary hunters and Fannie was with them too. Even on his weakened state, Fannie could still fend for himself and others. It would be easy for him to take care or dispatch a few so-so hunters.

It would be difficult to reach the brother and sister tandem now that the Spatial Void was nearing its peak.

Meanwhile London walked with a purpose, his every step was heavy and purposeful, until he reached his sister's office. He knocked twice before a very indifferent tone let him in within the room. His sister was on her casual clothes, almost like an ordinary teenager, her very long hair was tied on a loose bun with some even falling on her shoulders. It doesn't seem to have bothered her at all and just raised an eyebrow towards the newly arrived person.

"He will lose his immortality, that's now for certain," he said but it was not London who faced the head of the Aldeia clan. Fannie was on the spot where London was supposed to be and the real London was already sitting inside the office.

They were both wearing the same set of clothes, but what once was an identical pair have finally broke up. Fannie flipped his golden hair and sat on an empty couch.

"He has to learn how to absorb human emotions," Megumi said while sipping her tea. All of the staffs in the Attic were present even Lyu whom New York thought was under the protection of the barrier on the Attic. "Or it would be a hopeless case for him."

"The Spatial Void would take at least a few months before it would descend all around the region completely, this won't be the most critical moment for us immortals. Besides that, while the Spatial Void is settling around, the demons inside the surrounding area would be stuck within until the Void open a way for us," Lyu explained. "This will be a hard adjustment for us and Kalleid is already being affected int his way. I hope he would be prepared for it, Lady Aldeia."

Fannie scoffed and looked at the scenery outside of the glass of the mirror. There was a grim expression on his face. Megumi saw that brief flash on his expression, but it wasn't seen by either of the other two people who were also in the room.