[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 105: A Burial and a New Start

Chapter 105: A Burial and a New Start

It did not take long for them to find the place Xion had been looking for. It was the cemetery owned by the church. There were many graves holding lifeless bodies.

However, just one look and Xion decided not to pick this place.

Even though they had spoken only briefly, Xion could already sense the irony in those hazy gray eyes.

Minato sensei did not have much fondness for the church, especially for the pope, who had left him alone.

"Can we go somewhere else?"

Allen did not ask any questions. The older man remained silent, even when little Noxian curiously glanced at him for answers.

Honestly, he had no idea how to explain it. How did someone like him, who had never stepped outside the Marquis estate, know someone from the church? It all sounded absurd, almost conspiratorial.

Hence, Xion was grateful that he did not have to come up with some weird story.

He had already sensed Rael’s dislike for the churches, and after witnessing how they had treated Minato-sensei, he suddenly shared the same sentiment.

"There’s another place we can use, but it’s a bit far," Allen said, pointing to a location marked on the yellowed map.

Xion didn’t hesitate. "Let’s go."

And so, the trio made their way to another cemetery. Unlike the crowded and clean cemetery owned by the church, this one was quiet, as if forgotten by everyone.

Leaves blanketed the sparse graves, and tall trees cast long shadows over the worn tombstones.

"This is a local cemetery," Allen explained. "Hardly anyone comes here. Most believe that dying in the embrace of the Goddess guarantees a place in heaven, so they avoid burying their dead outside the church’s grounds."

Xion let out a short, humorless laugh. His lips curled into something resembling a smirk, but there was no real amusement in it.

"This will do," he murmured.

His fingers traced the blanket in his arms. Minato sensei preferred natural spots. This place was filled with trees and fresh air and to Xion, this seemed like a perfect resting place for the old man.

Allen was the one who talked with the owner of the place. After waiting for a few minutes, Xion was led to the already dug ground.

Then he was left alone.

Recalling the funerals he had seen in movies; he gently laid the blanket down and covered it with soil.

It was over in less than half an hour. Thirty minutes... that was all it took to bury the last trace of his elder.

Xion might have held on to the remains longer if not for his promise to hold a funeral. In his last world, he hadn’t needed to. He had died before Minato-sensei.

But this time he could not just ignore that request again.

He pressed his fingers against the cold mound of earth, letting them linger for a moment as the coldness seeped into his skin.

"Goodbye, sensei..."

-----

In the week that followed Xion spent most of his time in the laboratory. He had immersed himself in his experiments.

The scent of herbs, the sharp tang of metal instruments, and the flickering pages of the books stayed with him as he drowned himself in the study of mana rejection.

When he wasn’t in the lab, he was guiding Allen, and teaching him the subtleties of modern medical knowledge.

And, of course, there was Noxian.

The little boy was like a shadow, trailing after him wherever he went. If Xion was in the garden, Noxian was perched on a stool beside him, chin resting on his hands as he watched with wide, curious eyes.

If Xion was teaching Allen, the boy was nearby, clearly listening in.

At first, Xion thought nothing of it. Noxian had always been eager to learn new things, but it wasn’t until one evening that Xion realized just how much attention the boy had been paying.

The candlelight flickered softly in the room. Xion felt exhausted from spending hours in the lab and went to stroll in the garden.

Then, he paused.

Noxian was sitting on the ground. His brows were furrowed in deep concentration. In his tiny hands, he clutched a thin twig, trying his best to copy the complex lines of bones and muscles.

Xion stretched his neck and watched silently as the little boy continued doodling on the ground.

Noxian was biting his lip, struggling to replicate the detailed structure of a human hand. His strokes were shaky, and the proportions were slightly off.

It was then that Xion realized—somewhere between his grief, his work, and his lessons with Allen, he had completely overlooked something important.

Noxian was also very interested in human anatomy.

Not just in the way children were curious about things but with a genuine desire to understand.

Xion sighed, shaking his head with a small smile. He leaned down and ruffled the purple hair, making the boy yelp in protest.

"Brother!" Noxian yelped, flailing. "You messed up my drawing!"

Xion chuckled, withdrawing his hand. "You should’ve told me you wanted to learn properly."

Noxian pouted, crossing his arms. "You’re always busy with Sir Allen... I didn’t want to bother you."

Guilt pricked at Xion’s chest. He hadn’t meant to neglect Noxian, but now that he thought about it, the little boy had been unusually quiet lately.

There were no mischievous pranks, no constant pestering, just silently following him like a small shadow.

That wouldn’t do.

Without another word, Xion turned on his heels.

"Eh? Brother?"

"Stay there," Xion called over his shoulder.

A few minutes later, he returned, carrying a fresh notebook. Unlike the complex medical texts he had given to Allen, this one was simpler.

Its pages were filled with hand-drawn diagrams and explanations that were easier to understand for Noxian.

"This is for you," Xion said, handing it to him.

Noxian blinked, looking between Xion and the notebook in his hands. "Really?"

"Mm. If you really want to learn, just ask. Don’t stay silent, okay?"

A wide, toothy grin stretched across Noxian’s face as he clutched the book to his chest. "Brother is the best!"

Xion scoffed, playfully flicking Noxian’s forehead. "Don’t praise me yet. If you’re going to study, you better do it properly. Or I will punish you."

Xion tried to look serious but with the way a wide smile spread on Noxian’s tender face, it was obviously not working.

Noxian giggled loudly. "Got it!"

As Xion watched the boy excitedly flip through the pages, his heart felt a little lighter.

He had lost one teacher. But perhaps, in a way, he was becoming one himself.

The days passed until the evening of the fifth day fell.

It was subtle at first, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck, but the longer he stared at the clear sky, the deeper his brows furrowed.

Something felt off.

The last time’s tussle was enough to alert him. Hence, he had been staying inside the mansion, without taking a step out of the boundary.

However, even if he did not go to provoke others, many were eager to cause trouble for him.