chsdbacks Chapter 16 - 16: A Surprising Revelation
Chapter 16 - 16: A Surprising Revelation
Lucas was taken aback by what the system had said. "What do you mean you can help me?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
[Isn't it obvious? Just make her cultivate.] The system's response was almost nonchalant, as if the solution was glaringly simple.
Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "If it were that simple, I would have done it already. The problem is that my sister has some unknown disease," he explained, a note of frustration creeping into his tone.
He paced the room, his mind racing with thoughts of his sister. "She can't absorb mana at all," he continued, his voice softening with concern. "She's already 20 years old. By this age, most people can feel mana and start cultivating. But for her, it's like there's a barrier she can't cross."
The system's tone shifted to one of mild amusement. [Ah, I see. Then why don't you diagnose her condition yourself? You have memories from a past life, don't you? Surely, you must know something.]
Lucas's frustration flared. "Do you think it's that easy?" he snapped, his voice tinged with exasperation. He began pacing the room, his hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to reign in his emotions.
"I
Lucas chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I had a really good sleep last night. I guess I was more tired than I thought."
Lucy laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, it's good to see you looking so refreshed. Breakfast will be ready in just a bit."
Lucas took a seat at the table, watching his sister work. The kitchen was cozy and filled with the comforting aroma of freshly cooked food. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over Lucy as she moved.
As they continued to chat about mundane things, Lucy expertly chopped vegetables. Lucas enjoyed the rare, peaceful moment. Suddenly, Lucy winced and gasped softly.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed, pulling her hand back.
Lucas's heart skipped a beat. "Lucy!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. He saw a thin line of blood welling up on her finger. "Are you okay?"
Lucy tried to smile through the pain, but her eyes betrayed her discomfort. "It's just a small cut," she said, though her voice was strained.
Without a second thought, Lucas grabbed a small handkerchief from a nearby drawer and rushed to her side. He gently took her hand in his, the warmth of her skin contrasting with the cold, white cloth as he pressed it against the cut. "You need to be more careful," he said softly, concern lacing his words.
Lucy nodded, her expression softening. "Thank you, Lucas," she said, her smile returning despite the pain. "I'll be more careful next time, I promise."
Lucas held her hand for a moment longer, ensuring the bleeding had stopped, before letting go. "Let's get this cleaned up properly," he said, leading her to the sink to rinse the wound.
Once they had taken care of the cut, they sat down to eat breakfast together. The kitchen table was set with a simple yet hearty meal, and the warm light made everything seem almost idyllic. Lucas couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for this moment of normalcy.
As they ate, Lucas's mind kept drifting back to his plan. He decided to stay home that day, wanting to use the opportunity to check Lucy's condition with the system. He needed to understand her ailment if he was going to help her cultivate.
After breakfast, Lucas excused himself and headed to his room. He took a deep breath, clutching the handkerchief stained with Lucy's blood. The room was quiet, and the weight of his intentions filled the space. He was ready to begin the analysis.