01x09 - Lethargy Sickness: Treatment and Research

[bunniefuu]

-[SHION] I'm back.

-[ROSE] Good to see you, Shion.

[SHION]

Where's Mother?

She's taking care

of Marie right now.

I offered to trade places,

but she wanted to stay.

So that means

I'm on tea duty this afternoon.

Got it.

I hear you've started

researching a treatment

-for lethargy sickness.

-[slurps]

Right.

Sorry about before.

I'm doing better now.

You know, I'd feel better too

if there was something

I could do to help you.

I would like that,

but it would be too difficult.

You have your own

responsibilities back home.

You can't be traveling

to Istria

all the time just for me.

I suppose

that's a pretty good point.

BesidesI was assigned

three experts

to help with my research,

so I'll be fine.

[sighs]

It's just hard for me

to see Marie like this,

especially

when there's nothing

I can do to help

bring her back.

Hey!

That isn't true!

Helping mother with her

is just as important

as helping me with research!

I'm sure a job will pop up

that only you can do.

Hm?

[chuckles]

I hope you're right.

EPISODE 9: LETHARGY SICKNESS

TREATMENT AND RESEARCH

So, where exactly are we going?

[sighs]

[SHION]

Why did he even ask me to come?

Hello?

[COLE]

We're going to the clinic.

The duke ordered me

to bring you along

to sniff out clues

for potential treatments.

You might see

something I can't.

Right.

All these patients have

mild cases

of lethargy sickness.

[groans]

[SHION]

He's making noise!

People with severe cases

can't make a sound.

Is it okay if I touch him?

Sure, that shouldn't

do him any harm.

♪

-[groans]

-[SHION] There's a very faint

trace of magic left.

It's just as I thought,

this may have to do

with a reduction

of magical energy.

♪

Hm.

[COLE] You want to use

your magic on patients?

I won't stand by

while you experiment

on innocent people!

I wouldn't use it on them.

Magic transfusions

aren't the same thing

as magic reactions.

I want to try touching them

with my energy.

The most the subject

will feel is some heat.

Why do you think

your energy is the thing

that they need?

My strategy wouldn't work

on just anybody.

The sickness drains people

with a foundation

for magic of their energy,

but a transfusion

may restore it.

At least, in mild cases.

Well, I sincerely hope that

you know

what you're talking about.

♪

[SHION]

Notice anything?

[COLE]

His pulse increased slightly,

and I saw a reflex response.

There was also rapid

movement in his eyes.

[SHION]

I caught the reflex, too.

His fingers moved.

There was definitely

a reaction.

It's tricky to say

if that slight motion means

he's on the mend.

All we can do now

is continue monitoring him.

If he responds well,

we can up the dosage.

Are you finally

acknowledging my methods?

I wouldn't go that far!

There may be a bit of merit

to your experiments.

That's all this means.

-[DOCTOR 9A] Learn anything?

-Thanks for your help today.

We gathered some good data!

Well, what was it?

Nothing useful.

We'll leave you

to your work, doctor.

W-what? Cole!

[gasps]

[COLE]

Don't talk about magical energy

or your ideas for treating

lethargy sickness

in front of anyone

outside our group.

[SHION]

Why not?

Listen up.

The doctors in town

are just as motivated

to treat this sickness as you.

If you tell random people

you've discovered a cure,

you'll have the medical

community

breaking down your door.

You think if people

get details this early on,

they might try to interfere

with our research?

-That's right.

-What a shame.

If what we're doing makes

the patients' lives better,

then nothing else

should matter.

Sounds like you

and I finally agree.

[chuckles]

Just try to be careful!

Understood.

I can keep things quiet.

I sure hope so.

You've shown yourself

to be pretty reckless so far.

You think?

Everyone else says

I'm level-headed.

Maybe it's a kid thing,

but you shouldn't just

blurt things out

without thinking about

the consequences

of what you're saying.

While honesty is often

the best policy,

it should always come

second to protecting yourself

and the people you care about.

You follow?

You can try to hide it

but you're a really

good person.

Huh?

What is that supposed to mean?

You bend over backwards

for your patients

and even though

you don't like me

you still don't want me

to get in trouble.

You might not be

the friendliest guy,

but it's obvious your heart

is incredibly kind.

You're good, Cole.

As a doctor,

it's my responsibility

to keep my patients

happy and healthy!

And I'm giving you

advice because

we're on the same team,

and I don't want you

to screw this up!

Is that so "good?"

Yeah.

You're ridiculous.

I'm done!

Wait for me, nice guy!

No!

[crickets chirping]

[indistinct chatter]

Mm.

♪

♪

[SHION]

I can't rush this

or expect quick results.

I need to remember

what it was like

to develop magic.

Things like this take time.

[birds chirping]

[swords clanking]

[grunts]

[laughs]

Let's begin, Brigitte.

-I'm ready.

-[fighting grunts]

Go ahead.

[groans]

Gather.

That's 10, 15, 20, 25.

[groans]

We're at 30, and 35, 40.

[choking]

Forty-five and fifty.

[choking breaths]

[gasps]

[SHION]

Fifty, huh?

Regular kobolds and goblins

can take about 30.

I guess that means

the amount of energy

they can withstand

is based on strength.

Yes.

Whether you're applying

or transfusing magical energy,

it appears even

the smallest amounts burn them.

You described it best.

A purification of sorts.

I bet we'd get a different

reaction from humans,

but how could we know?

We've used small

amounts on people before,

but maybe

we should try a larger dose.

Just to see.

I think you're right.

-[sighs]

-[birds chirping]

Hey! This is no time

for leisurely conversation!

There are monsters

that need slaying!

Oh, you can k*ll those.

Then here I go!

-[grunts]

-[groans]

Hm-mm.

So, crew.

How did you like tha

[grunts]

[groans]

I should have guessed

that those cowardly kobolds

would lay a trap for me!

There's no trap.

So it was a vanishing trap?

Mysterious.

We must journey onward,

soldiers!

Just watch your footing!

[SHION] You do remember

we came out here

to conduct experiments, right?

[RAPHINA]

Uh-ha!

[indistinct street chatter]

We've used small amounts

on people before,

but maybe we should

try a larger dose.

Just to see.

[knocking on door]

Hm? Come in.

Here's that special delivery

you asked me to bring.

Hm.

[water burbling]

Here goes.

Right.

♪

[SHION]

Fifty.

Sixty.

Huh.

♪

[SHION]

Seventy.

Eighty.

Ninety.

[gasps]

Interesting.

Not what I expected.

It looked like you transferred

a good bit of magical energy

into that little fish.

Yeah.

That was as much

as I'm capable of releasing.

Well, it didn't bother them.

They're swimming along

the same as ever.

A magical transfer

purifies monsters,

but seemingly

no effect on trout.

How would a human react?

Maybe it would be

entirely different.

Do you mind if I

What's wrong, Shion?

Oh, hm

[ROSE]

It's fine with me.

What?

To figure out

how the transfers affect people

you're going to need

to conduct a test

on a human subject.

I'm the only other person

with magical energy

who's conscious.

So, you need me.

Did I get it right?

But-but, that's a lot.

If there's anything

I can do to help Marie,

I'll do it.

I'm just happy

to have the chance.

[sighs]

You're very brave, Rose.

[gasps]

[SHION]

I can't thank you enough.

I know Marie would

do the same thing for me

ten times over.

♪

If you start to feel any pain

or it gets difficult

to breathe,

just tell me and I can stop.

Please don't try

to tough it out.

The most important thing

here is tracking

what changes in your body.

I understand.

Good.

Ready?

-Yes.

-[inhales]

Gather!

♪

♪

[groans]

Are you all right?

It feels a little hot,

but it doesn't hurt,

and breathing feels fine.

Can I release some more?

Don't look so worried.

I swear I'm perfectly okay.

[SHION]

Then, I'll continue.

Hanging in there?

My body definitely feels

warmer than it did before.

[SHION]

Any pain?

[ROSE]

Actually, it feels quite nice.

Thirty, thirty-five, and forty.

♪

[gasps]

Huh?

Hm.

[sighs]

If you're sure.

Yup.

♪

[SHION]

Fifty and sixty.

Seventy.

Eighty.

Ninety.

[gasps]

[sighs]

Was that the most

you're able to release?

Yes.

I temporarily transfused

as much as I could,

and it didn't do any harm.

Transfers to those

with magical energy are safe.

You shouldn't be so certain

without trying

a sustained transfusion.

That was much quicker than

what you would need, right?

I would like to try it again.

This time, I'll transfuse

a small amount of energy

over ten minutes.

-Sound good?

-You have my full permission.

If anything feels strange,

just tell me.

Please.

Even if its small.

Sure.

I promise to speak up.

You really don't need

to worry so much.

After what happened

to Marie, I can't help it.

If you got sick, too.

I don't think

I could live with myself.

[ROSE]

Shion.

I'm going to be

completely okay.

Right.

Thank you, Rose.

-[both gasp]

-Uh. Next time I'll invite Cole

just so we have

a medical professional present!

There's a chance

he could pick up on things

that would go right

over our heads!

I think that's a great idea.

It never hurts to have

a doctor around.

♪

[clanks]

Y'know, I never really

got the point of these.

They're called lightning

lamps, right?

Now, that we've been

ordered to take them all down,

I don't think that it matters.

Good point. There's no use

thinking about it.

-[rumbling]

-[grunts]

It's been a month

since we saw the wraith.

Maybe enough time was passed

that they're not worried.

If it decided to appear now,

we wouldn't stand a chance.

Those silly clods will regret

not taking your word!

You only saw the creature once,

there's no guarantee

that it'll show itself again.

and I seriously doubt

those lamps of yours

would do anything if it did.

-[gasps]

-You dog!

How dare you have

so little faith in Shion?

He has sacrificed sleep

night after night

to serve his mother,

his sister,

and the people

of his community suffering

from a sickness

your kind thought uncurable!

-Hmm. -And he has slayed

many a monster!

The boy has certainly

proved his wit!

If it was not

for his lightning lamps,

we'd have no countermeasure

I don't know

if I'd go that far.

You have witnessed

his greatness,

yet you do not trust him?

What a fool!

Hey! I appreciate him

as much as you!

He's the reason research

into lethargy sickness

is progressing!

We doctors haven't been

able to elicit so much

as a response

from a single patient!

Well. I am glad

we're on the same page.

Huh?

-Say, I meant to ask

-[birds chirping]

Heard any monster-related

news lately?

There hasn't been

anything noteworthy

besides the wraith,

and all wraith sightings

reported have come

from within our region.

So, there aren't wraiths

popping up any place else?

I wonder why not.

It's hard to say.

Maybe the wraiths

are a lasting

result of the Legreh Wars,

or maybe not.

The Legreh Wars?

Are you not familiar?

A thousand years ago,

all nations put aside

their differences

to take on demon kind

in the legendary Legreh Wars.

Huh? What does

"Legreh" even mean?

I will allow you

to explain it, Brigitte.

Though of course

I know the answer myself.

No one is quite sure.

Some speculate

it's the name of a leader

or it's the name

of a lost nation.

So much time has passed,

we don't know.

How interesting.

[BALFE] A red curtain of light

that rises in the night.

I call it the night menace.

Within these pages,

I shall summarize

our findings

on lethargy sickness

and the monster

that has since appeared.

Day 90.

A magical energy transfusion

was given to a man

with a mild case.

The patient reacted.

Researchers witnessed

blinking,

trembling in the fingertips,

and movement of the mouth.

This progress is significant.

Day 135.

It was confirmed

that transfusing

too much magical energy

triggers lethargy sickness.

It is possible the sickness

is not a lack of energy,

but the result of being

exposed to large amounts of it.

General concern about

the invisible monster

has subsided.

Though the production

of lightning lamps

continues on my authority.

Day 201.

We have confirmed that

one's own magical energy

is displaced when receiving

energy from another.

Day 209.

Shion Ornstein's energy

is frequently exhausted.

He's looking for a method

to increase his capacity.

Day 350.

No progress.

Day 380.

No progress.

Day 400.

No progress.

Day 440.

No progress.

Day 562.

No progress.

We must hope

that Shion Ornstein,

with his brilliant lineage,

yields results.

We remain unable to verify

the wraith's existence.

I cannot prove it's one

of Legreh's Revelations.

I shall pray

my theory was mistaken.

Signed the Duke of Istria.

August R. Balfe.

[wind whooshing]

[birds chirping]

2 YEARS LATER

[SHION]

It's been two years.

I'm now 12 years old.

[indistinct hospital chatter]

[CAMILA] Look!

He's smiling!

I haven't seen that in years!

Thank you so much,

Doctor Shion!

I really haven't done anything

worthy of your thanks.

You're the reason

my husband can smile,

and a little bit of happiness

is much better than none.

You've made our lives brighter!

Hm.

[COLE]

Shion!

Hey, Cole.

Have you been getting sleep?

You look pale.

I'm fine.

I've been sleeping, eating,

and even taking

a few more breaks.

[inhales, exhales]

You're doing good work.

Let me know if you need help.

Well, that's kind,

but odd coming from you.

[gasps]

Is it odd for someone

to be worried?

I'm so sorry

I care about your wellbeing!

[laughs]

I promise I'm fine!

But thank you.

♪

Oh. Hey, Raphina!

Hey, Brigitte!

[chuckles]

The big doctor's finally home!

-Ah!

-Oh!

-Good evening.

-Good evening.

Hope you don't mind

I decided to visit.

No!

Of course not.

♪

[SHION]

Yeesh!

Should've seen that coming!

I'm back!

And I'm crashing!

This is my house after all!

-Very funny.

-[all laugh]

-[chuckles]

-What do you know?

♪

♪

[sighs]

[GAWAIN]

Shion.

You should rest

after your long day.

It's not that

I'm feeling sleepy.

I just don't have very much

magical energy left.

Shion.

Your mother and I are worried.

If you keep stretching

yourself so thin,

you'll collapse

before you can heal her.

Listen to me,

it's all right to rest.

[RAPHINA]

I must agree with Lord Gawain.

I've known you

for the past two years

and you have been researching

this sickness every day!

-[chomps]

-You don't sleep, do you?

Cole just accused me

of the same thing

at the clinic.

I'm okay,

and I like being busy.

Everyone here has witnessed

how hard you work,

and your many

accomplishments prove it.

So, listen, you've done enough.

We're very proud of you,

Shion, and that won't change.

Even if you decide

to slow down a little bit.

[chair clatters]

We've relied on you

too heavily for too long.

You should enjoy

your childhood.

We can shoulder

our burdens from now on.

We're so sorry.

We know it's been painful.

I don't know what you guys

are talking about.

I should've expected

this from you.

You don't have to protect us!

Please, Shion.

Don't worry about

our feelings right now.

I enjoy what I'm doing

and nothing is painful.

It's true that

I want to cure Marie

as soon as possible.

I think about it every day.

But I understand that

these things take time.

And I know

how important rest is.

But, Shion,

isn't the constant research

a huge burden on you?

To tell you the truth,

it doesn't feel like

a burden at all.

I've always chosen

to spend my time

researching magic.

And back then,

I was looking for something

I wasn't sure existed.

It was a much bigger endeavor.

Compared to what I did then,

this is nothing.

I'm not quitting anytime soon.

If it takes my lifetime

to cure this sickness.

it would be

a lifetime well spent.

This is what I want

to be doing.

♪

I see.

So, that's how you feel.

Sorry, son.

I fear our speech

was a waste of time.

Don't worry.

I promise you

that I'll save her.

[both sigh]

Hm.

Hmm.

We couldn't have

asked for a better son!

[giggles]

Not a day goes by that

I don't think about how lucky

we are to have you!

Come on,

I'm just doing what I like.

♪

[crickets chirping]

I promise.

I'll never give up on you.

-[thuds]

-Huh?

[gasps]

[rumbling]

♪

I'll be back, Marie.

-Rose!

-What is this?

The sky!

I better go

and alert Duke Balfe

Let me come with you.

I need you to stay here

and look after Mother

and Marie.

Father is away

in the village right now.

If this gets bad,

you'll have to protect them.

I understand.

You can trust me.

♪

It's the exact

same light as before.

Night menace.

♪

[wraiths growling]

[wraiths wailing]