It was quite a scary thought.
Just as the child had expected me to teach him, I too had my reasons for accepting this particular commission. My intentions were clinical. I merely wanted to study terminal illnesses more closely, to observe someone else carrying a burden similar to mine.
Perhaps a third-person perspective on something I myself was living through.
But seeing that same boy, who only days ago walked beside me in the village, laughing, asking questions, now unable to leave his bed...
It struck something deep within me.
Something I couldn't quite explain.
"Can't we… have our lessons in the garden… like before?" Lawine asked, his voice soft, frail.
"No, Young Master," I said gently, shaking my head. "If you rest now and recover, you might have the strength to go out again later."
And that was how the days passed by.
