Dr. Iris rolled her eyes and directly ignored Nero’s request.
"Shut up and get on that treadmill," she said, poking one of Nero’s shoulders and transmitting a cold yet refreshing stream of energy into his body.
Nero did as told, and climbed onto the treadmill that was slightly curved upwards, like a bowl, rather than being completely straight like the ones he had seen before.
Once the doctor confirmed he was ready, she turned it on, adjusting the speed as she wanted to. Nero had no problem jogging or even running, though he could already feel what Dr. Iris had been warning him about earlier on. His stamina for jogging should have been great, but barely a minute of jogging already had him running out of breath.
The constant use of healing spells had left his body fatigued, and to recover from that he could either only give his body time, or find another card or ability specifically designed to cure such fatigue.
That would be easier said than done, for this really wasn’t such an issue for soldiers at a higher level. Since Neophytes were hardly ever used in actual combat - at least in previous years it was so - there was hardly any preparation to resolve such issues.
After the treadmill the doctor conducted a few other tests, including having him lift weights, use various cards, channel his aether through his body over a long period of time, and a good old fashioned blood test.
"It is my official opinion that you are unfit to be deployed in any kind of combat situation in your current state," Iris said gravely as she looked at Nero. "Even if you want to continue the mission, you are simply unfit to do so. I will not let them deploy you at least for a few more days. You can, however, undergo a debriefing."
Nero was not going to complain, especially after experiencing the condition of his body. Worse still was that channeling aether actually hurt, regardless of how little he used. He had abused manipulating his internal aether during his escape, far more than he had ever before.
While that had not caused a rupture in his internal aether, fortunately, things weren’t good either.
When he told the doctor about the pain he felt while channeling aether, she put on a very serious face and warned him that if he didn’t take care he would be crippled for life. If she didn’t have such a terrible poker face, he might have believed her too.
Although a little while later Nero guessed that maybe what she was lying about wasn’t the severity of his condition, but about how she felt about his condition. With such a serious issue, there was no way he could be deployed at all.
The treatment wasn’t simple either. Apparently, the kind of medication that healed internal aether fields was very expensive, and needed to be concocted on occasion. Fortunately, Nero wouldn’t have to pay for it himself. The cost for it would come out of the mission’s budget.
After thoroughly inspecting Nero’s condition, she finally allowed him to leave, albeit on a wheelchair lest he strain his body. He had a sneaking suspicion that the wheelchair was to make an impact about the seriousness of his condition rather than actually to keep him from getting tired.
With that concluded, Nero was wheeled out of the field hospital and to the nearby office, the same one he visited last time he was admitted in the hospital, and led to a conference room where a number of people were waiting for him.
The scientist, Colonel James Carter was there, alongside Lieutenant Earl Berkins, as well as a number of other very senior officers. Nero saluted them without getting up from his wheelchair, as per doctor’s orders, though they hardly seemed to care about such formalities at the moment.
"Private Nero, we have already taken statements from the others about your last excursion into Perilith, and have an idea of what happened," said Lieutenant Earl, his expression completely stoic. His right arm was still in a cast, though by now Nero knew it wasn’t because of some injury. He’d heard the other soldiers mention how the Lieutenant’s right arm was abnormal, and a potent weapon at the same time.
"What we want to hear from you is what exactly happened, in detail, when you entered the sugarcane field. You can file a full report later on."
This was the tricky party. The most difficult part of his whole plan to enter cursed areas and rely on Virtuous Moonlight to avoid trouble was the report. It was standard procedure to make him swear to secrecy and so on, but he also knew that various methods would be used to ensure everything he said was true.
He also had to be extremely cognizant of what he said, lest he contradict it later on by accident.
"I covered myself in my innate ability and entered the field in the hopes that its aura would keep any enemies at bay. Of course, such a hope is entirely foolish, and I had already expected as much. Greater hope lay in deterring more attacks after a display of strength.
"As I expected, soon after I entered, I was attacked by a small pack of horned hares, though there was nothing small about them. I even brought back a piece of their horn as a sample - it was probably found among my belongings. The fights within the field were exhausting, but at least my innate ability succeeded in keeping cursed energy at bay - at least until I reached the center of the field.
"There, a barricade made of grey, cursed plants had formed all around the territory of the very target I was after. The cursed plants seemed extremely attracted to it, and yet could not enter its vicinity at all. I had to coat my body with my ability and run through it, but as soon as I entered the territory of the golden sugarcane, I felt as if my body was being cleansed of all cursed energy.
"In the center, I found the golden sugar cane, lather and thicker than a tree and filled with so much energy it was entirely unbelievable. I could feel that even though its level had also been brought down to the Neophyte realm, I had absolutely no hope of harming, or moving it whatsoever."
"If that’s the case, how did you get the sample?" James asked impatiently, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Although we have not yet unsealed the sample you brought, an initial assessment of it suggests that it is much smaller in size than what you’re claiming."
"Oh that’s simple," said Nero. "The plant talked to me, and proposed a trade."
James blinked, caught entirely by surprise. The others looked confused, and waited for Nero to elaborate. Yet when he did not, Lieutenant Earl asked, "what do you mean? Was the plant sentient?"
Nero shook his head.
"I can’t judge the level of the plant’s intellect, but it definitely had a level of self awareness. It asked me to clear the cursed energy around it, but I said I couldn’t manage that. Then I asked if it would let me take it away, to which the sugarcane responded that it had been imprisoned in that location, and that I couldn’t possibly move it even if I tried.
"It then proposed an agreement, and considering the circumstances, I agreed. The plant told me the specific environment it needs to exist, and how to create it. At the same time, it broke off a piece of itself and gave it to me, and told me how to nurture it.
"If I can plant the shoot of itself that it gave me, a new golden sugarcane might grow out of it. If the plant doesn’t take root, however, you will only have 48 hours before the plant withers entirely."
"Are you saying you learned how to farm a Sage level ingredient?" James asked, his voice suddenly becoming high pitched half way through the question. Without waiting for Nero to respond, the old scientist leaped from his chair and gave Nero a grand hug, hopping around like a young boy who just unlocked the innate ability of his dreams!
Nero wanted to resist, but he didn’t know if he should. At that moment, Nero couldn’t tell if the old man had genuinely lost himself in excitement, or he was using this opportunity to check his spell model once more by making contact.
At the very least, the old man was jumping with the full enthusiasm of a young kid.
Considering he was the highest ranked member in the room, the others also looked on awkwardly, unsure of how to get him to calm down.
"Colonel, we still haven’t completed the debriefing," Earl said after a moment, waking the old man from his stupor.
"Oh yes, yes, of course! Young man, quickly tell us! How do we plant the sugarcane? If this really works… my god, you better prepare your chest for all the medals that will be pinned on it!"