There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 691: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 26

"Let’s go and check the patient."

Joon’s doctor moved his team to enter the room and check Han Joon’s vitals. The Eastern Sun trudged out of the room, holding the white lantern with a sentient flame that only flickered weakly, looking more exhausted than when she faced the Fallen Star. Zein helped the Saintess return to the couch in the seating room, handing her to the priestess from the Temple.

"Saintess!"

"I’m...I’m okay," the Saintess held up her hand and smiled. "I’m just a bit shaken from the pressure of the mana, but it’s not harming me at all."

"What about your mental energy?" Zein asked.

"Half, I think..." the young Saintess muttered. "It’s just like guiding a Saint-class esper, Sir Ishtera."

"Mm..."

Zein glanced toward the room. As expected; the Night Star would have been able to advance if it weren’t for the imperfect core. Truly, the butterfly had been cheated on by his own father.

"I am...truly amazed that guiding could be used like this," the Saintess clasped her trembling hands. It wasn’t out of fear or exhaustion, but excitement. "There’s still so much more I need to learn from you, Sir Ishtera."

Zein would have thought it was burdensome before, but...this was the change he designed himself, so he should take responsibility until the end, shouldn’t he?

"As long as it’s about the magic system inside an esper, guides should be able to affect it to some extent," Zein said. "They just need to realize that and utilize it well."

"Yes, I understand!"

Well...perhaps one day, there would truly come a day when espers and guides could be seen as equal. If he kept using his authority to influence those with decision-making abilities, the world would surely change, wouldn’t it?

But that was a conversation for the future. For now, Zein returned his gaze to the bedroom, where the hospital staff had been busy checking on Joon’s condition. He did confirm that the man was alive; the pale complexion had receded, and his skin was no longer cold. Han Shin also said he had healed everything and his brother’s organs were intact. Still, a thorough medical examination should be done to ensure the complete success of the healing process.

At least, until Han Joon opened his eyes, they shouldn’t let their guard down. But well...for now, they could breathe and sleep easier now. Perhaps he could start taking the twins to the hospital, since they had been throwing tantrums every time their parents ’meet’ Uncle Joon without them. Kar would even stop talking to them as a show of protest--until he got hungry the next day.

As the doctor continued the medical procedure, Han Shim stayed inside to watch his brother’s condition closely. Meanwhile, Laurel and Ludya held Radia’s crouching figure, embracing the sobbing man.

"Dia, let’s take a seat first, mm?" Laurel stroked her son’s trembling back. "They will take Joon outside for an MRI and brain scan, so let’s warm you up now, okay?"

"Is he alright?" Radia turned toward her mother. Tears mixed with the blood on his palm painted his cheeks red.

Laurel bit her lips and wiped her son’s face with her sleeve. "Yes, sweety. We’re just going to make sure everything’s fine inside, but he’s no longer in a critical condition."

"Come," Ludya spoke softly, just like how she did to child Radia three decades ago. "You don’t want to get sick when he opens his eyes later, do you?"

Oh...Radia just realized then that he had blood on his palms; his skin was burning from fever, and his body was sore. He had traveled far, kneeling on the ground, and standing in front of falling snow for hours. Without changing his clothes, the cold had seeped inside and gnawed at his immunity. After the adrenaline waned, Radia started to realize that he had gotten dizzy.

Obediently, he let his mother and grandma take care of him; for a little while allowing himself to be a child again. Later, once Han Joon woke up, it would be his turn to take care of his darling husband.

* * *

While the doctor took the patient for further examination, the hospital staff returned the bedroom to its original state. The life support devices were moved out, the magic formation erased, and a bigger bed--one originally intended for a presidential suite--was placed. Any trace of cold and magic had vanished, replaced with a fresh scent of mint and flowers.

"Thank you," Radia bowed his head sincerely at the Saintess and the Eastern Sun. He only changed his clothes quickly before receiving treatment in the suite’s seating area. In a casual sweater and softer gaze, he looked just like any other man out there. "I’ll make sure to compensate you decently."

"No, no--it’s a great lesson for me too," the Saintess shook her head, glancing nervously at Zein.

Chuckling softly, Zein gave his final lesson for the day. "If you don’t take a fee after a job well done, you’ll set a precedent of free labor for the other guides," he said, smiling at the blinking Saintess. "Take from the rich and give to the poor. If you don’t want to use the compensation for yourself, use it for the charity program in the lower zone."

"Y-yes, Sir!"

Bassena pressed his lips to quell his laughter. Even though he knew it was a serious situation, he couldn’t help but be reminded of Zein’s troop of chicks in the past. Well, he still had them in the academy.

"I wanted to ask for the flame, but I reckon it will cause you some misunderstanding if the public sees the flame with me, so I’ll refrain," the Eastern Sun said, waving her hands. "Just talk about it later with my assistant."

She left immediately after, saying she was too exhausted for pleasantry. The Saintess also left with her entourage soon after, leaving the suite for the family and friends.

"Okay, it’s done," Han Shin let go of Radia’s palms, which no longer had the gashes from his nails. "Don’t get hurt just because I can heal you, okay?"

Radia chuckled; the first laugh he made in months. It still sounded a bit hollow and weak, but it was progress nonetheless. "Thank you."

Han Shin bit his lips because he felt like he would cry if he opened his mouth. He knew that ’thank you’ was not only for the small healing of his palms. Their beloved’s life was inside that thank you. Han Shin had seen the video of Radia kneeling for the artifact while the summoner changed his clothes and...he had no idea whether it was furry or sorrow boiling in his heart.

He had nothing adequate to express his emotions, so he just hugged Radia, pressing his face on the oversized grey sweater. He knew that sweater; he could still smell his hyung’s scent there. As his tears wet Radia’s shoulder, he felt a hot palm patting his head.

"You did well," Radia said in a hoarse voice--both from crying too much and his fever. "Go see your daughter now."

Han Shin did not let his brother-in-law go for another five minutes, until he heard Nari’s post-nap crying from the lounge outside the suite. Radia exhaled a slow, labored breath while leaning back on the couch’s backrest, waiting for the medicine in the IV drip to work.

"I’ll leave you to rest," Zein stood up, taking Bassena’s already stretched-out hand.

"Thank you," Radia muttered again, weak but sincere.

"As I said," Zein smiled and patted the summoner’s shoulder. "Joon is also family."

Radia laughed softly and closed his eyes for a bit. Or at least, that was his plan. But his mental and physical stamina had been drained for the past few months, so his body surrendered to a deep sleep. He didn’t even wake up when the nurse came to take off his IV drip, or when his father came to stroke his head and lift him--just like when he was a child.

When he woke up, it took him a while to realize he was lying down on a mattress. His eyes stared at the white ceiling with the reflection of a stained window shimmering on it.

Ah, he was still in the hospital. Radia closed his eyes again for a second, acknowledging that he must have been so exhausted yesterday. Thankfully, he did not feel sore or feverish anymore.

Still, how could he sleep before Joon returned to the room--

Radia blinked as his hand touched something--someone beside him. He had thought he was placed in a guest bedroom--which was available in the suite--but...

Swiftly, Radia got up and looked at the man beside him, and tears welled up in his eyes as if a button was pressed automatically. But how could he hold it in? The pale, gaunt face he saw yesterday was no more. Like magic, color had returned to that handsome face. Joon still looked thinner than usual, but he no longer looked sickly. Even his lips were no longer dry, cracked, and cold like the last time Radia kissed him.

More importantly, there was no machine or device attached to him. Not even an IV drip. His chest moved steadily without any help, and the calm heartbeat sounded so loud in Radia’s ears. He just looked like he was sleeping soundly, like how he was before he became sick, as if the illness was a lie.

Slowly, softly, he stroked his husband’s cheeks. Warm cheeks. Oh, he looked so beautiful, his darling husband. Radia blinked away his tears because he didn’t want his eyes to be blurry, before leaning down to plant soft kisses on the warm cheeks, warm forehead, warm eyelids, and ended it on the slightly parted lips.

He could do that all day, just basking in the warm heat he remembered from the teenage Han Joon, when their world still seemed to be made of rainbows and flowers. But the black lashes fluttered, and Radia stopped to watch the black eyes open, staring at him.

Smiling contentedly, Radia waited for those black eyes to blink slowly, stroking the black hair gently while Joon moved his eyes around, trying to take in the room. He had been asleep for so long, and he looked confused. Kind of adorable, honestly, because the man looked almost innocent.

At last, the confused eyes landed on the smiling Radia, and after blinking once more, an equally confused voice came out. "Umm...Uncle--I mean...Sir?" an innocent-sounding tone that did not match the low voice asked nervously. "Who...might you be?"