Chapter 51: Chapter 49: This Alone Is No Lie
The savagery of the Red Moon Fragment turned the White-crowned Crane [Walnut] into the most difficult magical creature in the zoo to handle.
Its fierce and fiery temperament held strong hostility towards other creatures, even its keepers.
It even killed another White-crowned Crane that tried to pursue it.
A year ago, this very Walnut, after being injured, accidentally ended up in the treatment group Chloe was responsible for.
Recalling the past, a slight smile appeared on Sean’s lips.
That treatment session was nothing short of a disaster.
When he heard that Walnut had mingled with the newcomers, he panicked and rushed over to try to stop it.
And then, in the animal hospital, he saw a young boy, covered in peck marks, carefully healing the wounds of the injured Walnut.
From struggling desperately, to gradually hesitating, and perhaps eventually sensing the boy’s goodwill, it no longer attacked.
It was not until the healing was completely finished that the boy started to gently stroke Walnut’s feathers, smiling as he treated himself.
At that moment, he truly thought Xiaoke was an angel.
Once a person realizes they can be hurt, they instinctively protect themselves.
But he overcame his instinct and prioritized healing, even though the subject of treatment...
Was merely a magical creature.
What an incredible feat.
Later on.
Xiaoke began to visit the zoo more frequently.
Walnut also regained its previous ferocity.
One day, as the boy helped heal the magical creatures, Sean was reminded of Walnut, who had again stopped eating and drinking, and the boy who remained unscathed by Walnut’s attacks.
He hesitated for a moment and said:
"Xiaoke, would you like to try becoming Walnut’s dedicated keeper?"
After a brief thought, the boy smiled and agreed, "Is there a salary?"
"Of course!"
From then on, Chloe often came to see Walnut, bringing it feed that nurtured its extraordinary traits, and played with Walnut.
One day.
He went to check on how Chloe was doing with the care and saw that the proud White-crowned Crane was dancing gracefully beside Xiaoke.
Afterwards, Xiaoke happily told him:
"Walnut seemed quite happy today, though I don’t know what it was, it danced beautifully."
At the time, he remained silent for a long while, heavily sweating, and said:
"That was its courtship display to you."
"Ah?"
This event became an amusing story about the zoo at the time.
My God.
A magical creature initiated a courtship display for a human.
What an absurd scene.
However, out of responsibility and passion for magical creature conservation, and his fondness for Walnut, Chloe responded unusually to Walnut’s courtship the next time he visited.
Thereafter, every time Xiaoke visited the zoo, Walnut would happily dance.
Xiaoke would awkwardly reciprocate.
But... thereafter Walnut’s possessiveness intensified.
It began to repel others and even other magical creatures from approaching Xiaoke.
One day, Xiaoke came to him and said:
"Mr. Sean, from now on I’ll visit Walnut first when I come over, and then help heal other animals once I’m done."
Such a gentle person.
He, too, was part of the Ethereal Emblem staff and had mentioned Chloe to the Treasure Elf.
"Mr. Sean, have you ever wondered why Xiaoke chooses to get injured saving magical creatures?"
At the time, Master Nini’s expression was somewhat sorrowful as she softly said:
"He knows he has no relation to magical creatures, yet he still saves them within his acceptable limits."
Sean was taken aback and was at a loss for words for a while.
He never pondered this question.
He merely assumed that every healer chose this profession initially to treat and save lives.
Chloe was just gentler, that’s all.
But thinking about it now, something seemed off.
The staff all knew Chloe was an orphan.
Abandoned by his parents in the slums, he grew up scavenging through trash.
Later, by chance, the Treasure Elf discovered him and brought him back to the academy.
Growing up in such an environment, kindness would only act as poison.
Never secretly taken away by slave traders, that child must have been very vigilant.
Would such a person really risk themselves just to cure magical creatures?
"One day I went out and was blocked by an old yellow dog, I recognized at a glance, it was a magical animal that had awakened its spirit.
It kept calling me, hoping I would follow it.
I later found Xiaoke passed out with a high fever in a small dilapidated wooded hut."
Master Nini gently said: "During the days when I hadn’t protected him, it was that dog that kept guarding him.
Sean, did you know? Even magical creatures cannot alter their lifespans.
The old yellow dog’s lifespan was about fifteen years, and Xiaoke that year was fifteen.
I only followed the dog because I sensed its life was coming to an end.
After treating Xiaoke, it quietly lay by the straw, never waking again."
Recalling the words of the Treasure Elf, Sean’s breath hitched, breathing became so painfully hard.
People will always be troubled for life by things unattainable in their youth.
But they will also eventually unravel the life-long puzzles because of a single moment or scenery.
Is this the reason the boy is more tolerant towards magical creatures?
Such a child is surely adored by many students in the academy.
Thinking of many past events, a smile surfaced at the corner of Sean’s mouth.
But not long after, his smile faded, his face full of bitterness as he said:
"If it’s Xiaoke, surely he’s noticed something’s wrong by now."
"Too late, ah, damn Red Moon Fragment..."
...
On the other side.
Chloe was feeding Walnut.
Walnut lay quietly beside him.
As Chloe fed, the White-crowned Crane nibbled its feathers.
"You’re leaving, aren’t you?"
The White-crowned Crane no longer danced like usual, only quietly curled in the boy’s embrace.
Red light flowed from its body.
That was the power of the Red Moon Fragment.
Chloe had seen it before, lying on a hospital bed, a lifeline that even a 9-ring magic couldn’t pull back, this was the divine power of the Red Moon.
It was a godly power capable of inducing chaos, beyond normal capabilities.
And this time, there were no top healing experts surrounding Walnut.
Beyond the scope of medical knowledge.
Before coming in, he already knew this.
"Law of Blessing."
"Law of Life."
"Law of Life."
"Law of Life."
...
The Law skill, reputed to have high determination, could only reduce Walnut’s pain.
No one could integrate the Red Moon Fragment into their body now, no one could help Walnut hold onto a lifeline.
So he could only burn the Vibrant in an inefficient attempt to seal the Red Moon Fragment.
"Optimize!"
With a bang.
The Vibrant shattered.
Walnut raised its head, gently rubbing against his hand, signaling him to stop.
Chloe looked at the already depleted Vibrant Fragment.
If he continued, he would lose an SR talent.
But no one ever said that just because he might lose an SR talent, he should give up treatment.
This alone was definitely not a lie.
So he unequivocally called out the third time.
"Optimize."
[You have lost Vibrant (SR)]
The once abundant life energy plummeted.
He looked at Walnut, still unable to reclaim life, and quietly said:
"Walnut, I’ve exhausted myself."
"It’s all right, Xiaoke..."
He suddenly looked up.
He had never heard Walnut speak before.
The White-crowned Crane gently leaned against his knee, the vast red light swallowing it.
"And thank you."
Again, he heard Walnut’s voice.
Not an auditory hallucination.
The red light consumed Walnut’s body, transforming into a life-force-filled red gem.
Sean stood quietly behind him.
"It finally spoke to you."
"Yes."
"Take the item; it belongs to you."
"Okay."
Sean’s voice was very gentle: "Chloe, starting today, I will relieve you of your keeper’s duties."