It was impossible for anyone to break this news gently, Mithos knew. He stayed silent and clenched his fist around the flowers in an effort to keep his feelings in check. Your sister took a turn for the worse. Those words struck a painful chord in him, and he stood nearly as rigid as Genis.

Although Zelos and Presea also remained composed, Regal continued to answer Genis. "The doctor in Flanoir was too busy to leave, so we had to return. The others were already here."

"We located the doctor in Meltokio and successfully retrieved him," Presea picked up the chain of events. There was an undercurrent of anger in her hushed voice, and she met Genis' gaze unflinchingly. "But her condition had become critical, and...he refused to resuscitate her."

Zelos' lips twisted into a humourless smile. "Said he was a doctor, so he couldn't risk catching the virus and spreading it to his patients and all."

"Bastard!" Sheena exclaimed again. Her eyes were red. "What kind of reason is that?!"

Before he knew it, Mithos began to speak. He said what they all must have suspected was the truth: "It's because she's a half-elf...isn't it?" It was rhetorical, though--of course that was the reason. Humans were always like that...

However, Mithos had noted a conspicuous omission from their story. "But wasn't Lloyd here?" he asked with what may have been a hint of accusation.