Lisa froze, staring at her father blankly, while he pointed at her while still holding the handkerchief against his face like he was disgusted by his own daughter.

"I told you to leave your mother and come with me, Lisa. But you didn't listen! You stayed with her—with that diseased woman!"

His voice rose higher, louder, until it almost echoed.

"You've also been touching her, breathing the same air—you're probably infected too! And now you dare come near me? You want to spread it to me too?!"

Lisa's breath caught in her throat.

"How dare you!" Rufus went on, his face twisted with fury. "Do you not care about your father's life?! Do you want me to end up like her—like that?!"

He pointed viciously toward Esme, who lay trembling on the bed, tears spilling silently down her cheeks.

"Stay away from me! Stay back you unfilial girl!"

Lisa didn't cry this time.

She just stood there silent, pale as snow, her hands trembling at her sides. Her tiny shoulders shook as her eyes filled with tears that wouldn't fall.

On the bed, Esme saw everything.

She tried to move, to reach out, to protect her daughter, but her body wouldn't obey her.

The only thing she could do was weep helplessly, tears streaming down her fragile face.

That was the final straw for Leona.

Her hand, still clenched at her side, suddenly began to glow a fierce, radiant green light pulsing from her palm. The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly as the air crackled with her power.

"Leona—" Nyx warned quickly, but it was too late.

Leona took a step forward, her eyes blazing like a raging tsunami.

"I've heard enough." She hissed. "That bastard—"

But before she could move, Julius quickly stepped between them, raising both hands.

"Everyone, calm down!" He said, raising both his hands. "This isn't helping anyone."

Leona glared at him, but Julius quickly moved between her and Rufus, smiling faintly.

"Please, Leona." He said quickly. "I understand your anger, truly, I do. But this...this only escalates the situation even more. There's no need to make it worse."

He then turned to Rufus with a measured expression.

"Rufus." He called out with a slightly strict gaze like what he did was simply a slight inconvenience.

"I know she's your wife, and I do understand what you're thinking right now. But it isn't right to talk to her like that. You'll only agitate her further, and that won't help your daughter or your wife. Calm yourself. Let's handle this properly."

Rufus looked like he wanted to argue, but the moment Julius's eyes met his, his confidence faltered. He sighed heavily and turned his face away, lowering his handkerchief slightly.

Julius then turned back toward Leona with a polite smile.

"And you too, Leona." He said gently. "Please. There's no need for hasty action. Whatever you were about to cast, let it go. Words can be dealt with—violence will only complicate things."

The light in Leona's hand flickered for a long moment like she was really struggling to hold back before fading, though her glare could have burned holes through the wall.

"Good." Julius said in relief, spreading his arms like a mediator who had restored order. "Now, I don't want to be involved in family quarrels. Whatever happens between a husband and wife, that's their own business. We shouldn't interfere in that."

"He's the one who started shouting…" Lulu scowled, muttering under her breath.

But Julius ignored her and continued, his tone turning back to that infuriatingly calm politeness.

"That said, I did come here for a reason. I came to help Esme. That's all. Once that's done, you can all argue as much as you want. But for now, let me work. The sooner I finish, the sooner you can...sort out your family matters in peace."

But the moment Julius said those smug words, Luna took a step forward.

The warmth usually present in her face was gone, replaced by the cold, steady authority of someone who was no longer speaking as a daughter—but as a representative of her people.

"Forgive me for asking this, Father." She began evenly. "But how sure are you that this method of yours will actually work?"

Her words immediately shifted the mood in the room. Everyone turned toward her, the tension already thick, now sharpening further.

Luna continued without hesitation.

"Do you have any evidence that what you're about to do has produced results before? Any records, reliable data, or proof from previous cases that we can verify?"

"Or at least something tangible that shows this is effective and not just another experiment?"

Julius blinked, caught slightly off guard. For a brief moment, his smile faltered—only for him to quickly recover with an overly cheerful laugh.

"Oh come now, Luna." He said lightly. "Must you question me like I'm a stranger? I'm your father, after all. Can't you simply trust me?"

"Not to mention that I used to be the Grand Healer, remember? No—I am the Grand Healer." He said with a hand over his chest, his grin widening.

"So, there's no need for all these numbers and records and methods you speak of. You can trust me, can't you?"

But Luna didn't flinch. She stared right back at him, her tone dry and cold.

"Trust?" She repeated. "Trust was lost the moment you abandoned this village, Father."

Her voice struck like a hammer. Julius didn't respond, though a faint muscle in his jaw twitched.

He still kept that artificial smile plastered on his face, but his eyes had gone cold and narrow.

Luna went on, her tone tightening. "And even if that weren't the case, when it's someone's life on the line, trust alone is not enough. Proof is what matters. Evidence, not promises. Especially when you've already failed several times before."

She turned toward the window, her eyes filled with controlled anger.

"Melta, the baker next door." She began, her words filled with suspicion. "You made her sleep on top of a tree because you said the moonlight would heal her. She caught a chill instead, and her condition worsened."

Julius's smile faltered slightly.

Luna continued coldly. "Then there was Belvie, the basket weaver. You covered her body with hot stones, saying it would draw out the ailment. Instead, you burned her—she's still covered in boils that sting every time she moves."

"And the most ridiculous one of all—Elder Tata." Her eyes narrowed. "You told her to smear that strange black tar over her entire body, claiming it would 'revive her energy.' Instead, it covered her in grime she can't even wash off."

"Even now, she looks like she crawled out of a coal pit."

Luna looked back at him before finally saying,

"So tell me, Father, after so many failed methods, what makes you think this one will work?"

Luca was honestly impressed at the bravery Luna was showing right now to be able to stand up to her own father, as he honestly thought she was someone who would struggle to go against her elders.

Lulu on the other hand snorted loudly in agreement, muttering,

"Even I could come up with better ideas than that…"

Julius, however, didn't lose his composure.

Instead, he simply smiled, almost as if he were proud of her defiance. Then he stepped forward slowly, looking down at Luna with faint amusement in his eyes.

"And what about Greeda, Tilfa, and Fifi?" He asked smoothly. "All three of them received my treatments and they got better, didn't they?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you have to say about that?"

Luna hesitated, as Julius clasped his hands behind his back and continued, speaking as though giving a lecture.

"You see, my dear, that's the thing about healing. It isn't a simple equation. Every person's body is different. Some accept certain methods, and some reject them. It varies case by case and that's how medicine works."

"So yes, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't—but isn't it better to try than to let someone die doing nothing?"

He spread his arms dramatically.

"Unless, of course, you know how to heal her. In that case…" He smirked faintly. "By all means, go ahead. Take my place. Heal her, if you can."

Luna's lips pressed into a thin line. She couldn't answer. She had no counterargument.

For all her doubts, she couldn't deny that she had no better solution. None of them did.

And Julius knew it.

But Luca's eyes glinted faintly.

He was quiet, but his gaze was steady, observant.

He already had suspicions about the illness Esme was suffering from. But he wanted to see exactly what Julius would do before acting and see if he really has healing abilities or if it was all a sham.

"Well then!" Julius clapped his hands together lightly. "Let's begin, shall we? Although…"

His tone brightened as he threw a friendly arm over the young elf beside him.

"This time, I won't be the one performing the treatment."

Everyone blinked in confusion.

"This time." Julius said proudly. "It will be my boy here."

He patted the young elf's shoulder, who stepped forward with a confident smile.

"This..." Julius announced. "...is Isaac. My new apprentice."

Isaac bowed slightly, his smile polished and graceful.

"I've recently taken him under my wing." Julius continued proudly. "He's shown remarkable talent in the healing arts. Quick to learn, eager to grow. I'd say he's already on his way to surpassing me."

"Oh, no, Master Julius." Isaac said modestly, shaking his head. "I could never reach your level. I only wish to make you proud."

Julius laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.

"Ah, so humble! That's why I took him as my apprentice in the first place. A healer must have both skill and virtue."

He turned back toward Luna and Lulu, his eyes gleaming. "In fact, he's the one who came up with this new technique we're about to try. Found it in an ancient medical scripture, didn't you, Isaac?"

Isaac smiled confidently. "Yes, Master. I studied one of the old texts you brought back from the Dryad lands. I believe this new method might actually cure her."

"Good, good." Julius said approvingly. Then, in an almost too casual tone, he added, "And to tell you the truth, I'm considering rewarding him soon for his devotion. Maybe even making him family."

The sisters blinked. "Family?" Luna echoed cautiously.

"Yes!" Julius turned to Isaac with a grin. "I've been thinking that perhaps it's time one of my daughters marries this fine young man."

That sentence dropped like a stone in the room.

Isaac froze, then looked between the two sisters before giving a nervous laugh.

"Oh, Master, I—well, I'd be honored, of course. Both of your daughters are...truly enchanting."

Julius chuckled. "Well then, Isaac, which daughter would you prefer?" He asked with faux cheer. "They're both beautiful, after all. I wouldn't blame you for having a hard time choosing."

The young elf's eyes darted between Luna and Lulu.

Luna's expression was chilling—her mother's icy fury reincarnated. And seeing this, Isaac instantly felt his throat dry up and looked away.

So he turned toward Lulu instead, forcing a charming smile.

"If it's possible, Master." He said, bowing slightly. "I'd like your younger daughter. Lulu."

He then didn't wait any longer and took a small step forward, holding out his hand in an overly polite gesture.

"I don't believe we've spoken before, but I've seen you many times in the village. You're even lovelier up close. My name is Isaac, though I suspect you already knew that and I already know your name as well."

"Still...may I have the honour of hearing your name from your own lips?"

Julius looked extremely pleased, nodding approvingly at his apprentice's confidence.

But before anyone could react further—before Leona, Luna, or even Nyx could say a word—Lulu's face changed completely.

Her lips curved into a sharp, irritated grin as she stared directly at Isaac, tilting her head slightly.

Then, in the clearest, most unapologetically blunt tone possible, she said:

"Piss off, you bastard."

"Piss off before I slap your shit-eating face and send you flying into another bed like the one Auntie Esme is sleeping on."

—

Illustrations of Esme and the others are in the comments and discord...Check them out!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.