Previously: Zenos bid farewell to the Royal Healing Institute.
Dear Zenos,
I am currently writing this letter alone, having locked the door to my laboratory.
This is because the contents of this letter are something I would rather not have others see.
First, I would like to thank you for your efforts in the disappearance of Alfred.
Thanks to you, the truth of fifteen years ago has been revealed.
Tomorrow, at Professor Goldrun’s pre-election rally party, I intend to force him to make a certain choice.
Well, that is not relevant to the current topic, so I will omit it.
However, to be honest, I was initially hesitant to ask you to take on the job.
This was because I had a feeling that no matter what we did, Alfred would never return to the laboratory.
After Professor Goldrun’s dinner party last time, Alfred visited me, told me that Goldrun was involved in the incident fifteen years ago and that he was a victim, and then disappeared.
The atmosphere he exuded at that time felt different from the Alfred I had known.
He disappeared while I was still dumbfounded. There were many things I wanted to ask, and of course, I wanted to find him, but I had no intention of asking an outsider to do so.
What changed my mind was when I saw the black cloak at your clinic.
Yes, I thought I recognized that cloak. That cloak you were using originally belonged to the person you call your master, didn’t it?
—And so. That was a long introduction, but let’s talk about your master.
First, I want to apologize for one thing: I probably won’t be able to write about him in as much detail as you might expect. It’s not that our relationship was shallow; on the contrary, we were very close, despite that. I’ll explain the reason later.
First, there are currently seven Special Grade Healers in this country.
It may sound boastful to say it myself, but these are the people at the very top of the many healers in this country.
Four of them work at the Royal Healing Institute.
Myself, Professor Goldrun, and the current director, Lord Chalbard.
The other one was away on a business trip, so I couldn’t introduce him to you.
The remaining three are registered with the Royal Healing Institute, but are pursuing their own activities due to various circumstances.
I’ll go into more detail another time, but until a little while ago, there were actually eight Special Grade Healers. So, where did that one person go?
The short answer is that that person is your master. And he was also one of my few friends.
Even among Special Grade Healers, some, like myself, are recognized for their contributions to drug creation, while others, like Professor Goldrun, have gained their status through power, so their areas of expertise vary.
However, in terms of pure healing magic ability, I think your master was undoubtedly one of the top class even among Special Grade Healers. There are many eccentrics among Special Grade Healers, but he was also a caring, interesting person, and was loved by many.
However, during your stay at the Royal Healing Institute, I don’t think you heard any rumors about him. He was one of the few Special Grade Healers and was highly respected, so why is that?
It’s because at the Royal Healing Institute, records related to him are sealed.
The reason is that he dabbled in a certain kind of magic.
You may have heard of it, but among magic, there are those called forbidden spells, which humans must never touch. It is said that if you carelessly dabble in them, various curses beyond human comprehension will befall you.
What he dabbled in—if my memory serves me correctly—was the magic of resurrecting the dead.
However, I don’t know the details.
Probably due to the curse, my memory of him itself is fading.
The frightening thing is that even I, who should have been his closest friend, can no longer remember his name. A stubbled beard, a hearty laugh, the black cloak I last saw. I can only manage to remember a few fragmented impressions.
Therefore, Zenos, if you want to know the details, please look for his notes.
Despite his rough personality, I think he was surprisingly meticulous when it came to magic. I believe there is a high possibility that he left a record of the series of events somewhere.
However, it may be a Pandora’s Box that should not be opened.
After hearing your story, I realized that he is probably no longer in this world. It should be a terribly sad thing, yet I am terrified that even the sense of loss is somehow vague. It is a very, very frightening thing. While I want to hear the details about him after he met you, the core of my being is rejecting it. I shouldn’t know any more about him, and if I do, a great disaster will befall me.
One must never dabble in forbidden spells. Originally, I shouldn’t even be talking about this, but I trust you as a healer, so I will leave the rest to your judgment.
Finally, when I was talking to you, I felt a sense of nostalgia. Even as my memories fade, I may have still sensed somewhere the shadow of your master, who was once my friend. Something like a scent that naturally attracts people.
I wish you, Healer Zenos, good fortune on your path.
As a friend—
Ernard Becker
A/N: With this extra, the second Arc is completely finished. Thank you very much!