Chapter 20: Fake It Till You Make It
The morning after the chaotic events at the hospital, Asher and Kaspar found themselves in a quieter section of the building. The hallway was less frantic now, though there were still plenty of people moving, their faces lined with exhaustion and concern. The clatter of metal trays and the low murmur of medical staff filled the air as they passed rooms filled with workers injured in the factories or plagued by illness.
They were led to a small staff area, noticeably calmer than the wards. The beds were more neatly arranged, and the scent of antiseptic was almost overpowering in its sterility. Kaspar stretched, his movements languid, clearly more comfortable with the change in atmosphere. Asher, however, couldn't shake the feeling that there was always something urgent lingering just beneath the surface—an unspoken hum of tension that the staff didn't let show.
A nurse caught their attention as she walked past, nodding at them in recognition. Asher was still adjusting to the nature of their presence in the hospital—he had expected to simply observe, but being a fake spiritual guide was surprisingly exhausting.
I expected this place to be full of cold efficiency, but the exhaustion hanging in the air feels more... human than I anticipated.
Though he was tasked with praying for patients, Kaspar was the only one truly religious, making their heartfelt shows of faith awkward to endure.
He reached the ward where the young girl from the previous day was recovering. She lay in a bed, looking even smaller and paler than before, an array of tubes connected to her arms and chest. Her pale face was now flushed with the effects of the transfusion, the blood from her father circulating in a desperate attempt to save her life.
Asher's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he noticed the movement around her—nurses adjusting machinery, checking vitals, their faces drawn with concern. Her father, who had been so imperious the day before, stood quietly at her bedside now, his expression one of quiet guilt. His eyes rarely left her, but he didn't speak. He merely stood there, an imposing figure whose wealth and status seemed meaningless now.
Asher tapped his forehead subtly, letting his vision blur and shift, watching as the world around him pulsed in faint colors and shapes. Illness and injury stood out as dark splotches here and twisting patches there. The darkness overtaking her body was receding, replaced by a sprouting vibrance—her aura stabilizing.
Asher studied her aura for a moment, but something in his peripheral vision caught his eye. He turned his focus to a middle-aged man, who appeared to be struggling with chest pain. Asher's gaze shifted to the man's chest, where dark energy swirled in an unsettling way.
With little else to do, they could always use their spirit vision to help the undiagnosed.
The nurse, already engaged with the patient, didn't seem to notice. Asher cleared his throat and spoke up casually. "Don't heart patients sometimes end up with stomach issues, too? This guy's been talking about something growing in his stomach."
The nurse glanced at him, mildly distracted. "Just stress, probably. He's a little older. Probably indigestion or gas."
Asher shrugged, undeterred. "Sure, maybe. But I've seen it happen—heart issues can sometimes mask other problems, like appendicitis or a twist in the intestines. Could be more than just indigestion."
Asher was about to turn back when the nurse, clearly irritated, gave him a sharp glance. "Mind your damn business, alright?" she snapped, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "I'm just trying to do my job."
Asher raised his hands in mock surrender. "Just offering some advice," he said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Wouldn't want the guy to get worse if I'm right."
The nurse, her patience worn thin, glanced around for an escape from the argument. "Fine, fine. I'll go see the doctor. But only if you stop rambling."
She turned away, muttering something under her breath, clearly not pleased but unwilling to argue further. Asher watched her go, his eyes flicking between the man, the nurse, and the growing blackness in his intestines.
(three asterisks)
Asher noticed a young boy sitting on a freshly cleaned bench, his pale face and anxious posture immediately catching his attention. The child's vacant stare suggested more than simple nervousness. Asher crouched down in front of him, offering a smile, though the boy barely seemed to register his presence.
There's something off about him. Something I can't ignore.
Asher turned on his Spirit Vision, the flickering black splotch near the child's temples confirming his suspicions.
He stood up, motioning to a nearby nurse who was passing by. "This kid's acting a lot like my cousin did when he was younger," Asher said, keeping his tone casual. "He had a really bad episode once—headaches, dizziness, zoned out. Sometimes he'd lash out, like he didn't even know what was happening."
The nurse walked over, eyeing the boy's blank stare and twitching hands.
"You're probably overthinking it," she said, though there was a slight uncertainty in her voice. "Kids can get anxious sometimes, especially in strange environments."
Asher didn't back down. "Yeah, sure, but my cousin wasn't just anxious. His body would... react. He couldn't control it. He'd get violent when the pain was too much, and afterward, he couldn't even remember half of what happened." He took a slow breath, then added, "The symptoms match. This kid's definitely got something going on."
The nurse paused, studying the boy's distant expression. Asher's persistence had an effect, and she crouched down beside the child, gently feeling for his pulse. After a moment, her expression shifted, and she looked back at Asher, more intrigued than annoyed.
The nurse studied the boy for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "This behavior isn't typical. It could be inflammation of the brain, or even a severe infection. Children can sometimes act out when their brain isn't functioning normally, especially if there's swelling or pressure."
Her expression shifted to mild skepticism, though she didn't dismiss him outright. "There may very well be something to what you're saying. Kids can be unpredictable, and these things don't always look like we expect them to." She paused, her voice taking on a more professional tone. "I'll check with the doctor. We'll see what they say and get a proper diagnosis."
(three asterisks)
Asher wandered through the hospital's quieter hallways, the weight of the whispered conversations lingering in the air.
He couldn't help but notice the nurses and doctors stealing glances in his direction, their voices hushed when they thought he wasn't paying attention. There was something about it that felt off, like the atmosphere had shifted ever so slightly. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew he'd become the subject of some hushed discussions.
Ignoring the uneasy feeling, Asher found himself in another patient room, a place he hadn't intended to visit but had somehow drifted toward. The elderly man lying in the bed was visibly uncomfortable, his face pale, and his leg oddly swollen. Asher's instincts kicked in, and without thinking, he moved closer, examining the situation with quiet scrutiny.
The nurse, busy with the charts at the end of the bed, didn't seem to notice him at first. Asher's eyes flicked back to the man's leg, where the swelling seemed to be spreading in an unnatural way. Something about it didn't sit right with him.
"Hey," Asher said casually, his voice level but with a tinge of uncertainty, "that swelling's a bit strange, right? It seems like it's spreading a little too quickly. Could be something more than just a bruise or sprain."
The nurse didn't seem to acknowledge the possibility at first, continuing with her task. But then, just as Asher began to turn away, she raised her eyes to meet his. There was a subtle shift in her expression, a change he hadn't anticipated. Something in her posture straightened, almost as if she had suddenly become more alert, more attentive.
"Thank you for pointing that out," she said, her tone warmer than Asher had expected, tinged with a note of respect he hadn't asked for. "We'll make sure to inform the doctor immediately. It's good that you noticed."
Asher blinked, thrown off guard. He had expected the usual polite brush-off or at best, a distracted acknowledgment. But her response was different—she treated his comment like it was a senior physician offering valuable input.
He glanced over at her again, unsure of what to make of it. "Oh, uh, sure, no problem," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "I just figured it might be worth looking into."
He glanced down at the elderly man again, his mind still trying to comprehend the situation. The nurse was already moving away, heading toward the doctor's office, her every step marked with purpose.
Asher was left standing at the foot of the bed, a little aloof, still piecing together what had just happened.