Niki hadn’t arrived yet, but he’d already given the heads up to the folks at the holistic heating center, so Collins and Leo found themselves ushered into the lounge to wait


    Collins fidgeted in his chair, casting anxious nces toward the door every few seconds. Ever since hisst hospital visit, he’d done his homework on this Niki character. It turned out that the guy was even more of a big deal than his friends had let <b>on</b>.


    A scion of a holistic healing dynasty <b>that </b>stretched back a century, Niki was renowned for his almost supernatural diagnostic skills. There were a few allments he couldn’t unravel. But a master of his standing rarely made house calls anymore, and snagging an appointment him was like finding a four–leaf clover.


    When Collins had reached out to Niki earlier, he wasn’t sure what to expect. However, the healer had agreed to see them without any fuss.


    Collins turned to Leo, reiterating his earlier advice, “Leo, remember to mind your manners, “okay? It’s a real stroke of luck to have a holistic healing guru like him take a look at you.”


    Leo’s face was partially obscured by a mask, and he mumbled an indistinct acknowledgment.


    At three on the dot, Niki finally made his entrance. An apprentice beckoned Collins and Leo into Niki’s private consultation room.


    As the door closed behind them, Collins nodded respectfully at Niki before gesturing toward Leo. “Niki, this here’s my buddy.”


    He hesitated before adding, “My friend, uh, he can’t really take off his mask…”


    Niki waved a dismissive hand. “No worries, let’s have a seat first.”


    Once Leo was seated at the examination table, Collins set down the stack of papers he’d been carrying. “These are all my buddy’s medical records from overseas.”


    Niki slipped on his sses and began perusing the documents. After a few minutes, he set. them aside. Without any preamble, he motioned for Leo to extend his hand. After feeling Leo’s pulse, Niki withdrew his hand, a slight frown on his face. “Your pulse is peculiar. You’ve been poisoned recently, haven’t you?”


    Collins paused, then said, “My friend hurt his bones a few months back. The docs said it was. nothing serious, but then they found severe spinal nerve damage. As for poison… well, they didn’t catch that.”


    Niki stroked his graying beard, pondering briefly. “Like I told youst time, some poisons don’t show up in the early blood tests.”


    Scratching his head, Collins asked, “So, you believe that poisoning caused his condition? If we treat the poison, he’ll make a full recovery?”


    Niki peered at Collins skeptically. “The poison has already been treated.”


    “Already treated? I’m not following.” Collins said, baffled.


    “If I’m not mistaken, the poison was neutralized quite recently, right?” Niki’s gaze settled on Leo. His tone was questioning, but his words were confident.


    Leo blinked, his mind racing back to the concoction Mirabe had insisted he drink that


    morning.


    Collins, catching on, ventured, “Could it be the medicine he was prescribedst time? He’s been taking it regrly.”


    He remembered Niki mentioning that the medicine was meant to detoxify and repair damaged nerves.


    Niki’s expression softened as he recalled Collins‘ earlier ignorance. With a deep breath, he avoided looking at Collins, his voice carrying a hint of gravity. “If he’s been taking the medication consistently, then yes, that would exin it.”