[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 179: A Ghost And A Puppy

The light scent of burnt earth lingered in the air as Noxian and Ray walked forward.

The distant embers were still smoldering like dying stars. The night was eerily quiet now, but Noxian’s heart was hammering too loud.

It was so noisy that, for a second, he thought he might go deaf.

His steps were uneven, dragging slightly as his injured foot struggled to keep up. However, he still moved with the same fervor.

He hardly noticed the pain. His dim eyes were staring straight ahead, searching for any sign of movement.

Any time shadows shifted in the distance, he would quicken his steps, only to be disappointed.

Nonetheless, that did not discourage him at all. Instead, all of it made him even more determined to search for Xion.

Then, just as his resolve hardened, he heard it.

A soft, familiar voice. Like a whisper brushing against his ear.

"What is wrong with my baby’s feet?"

Noxian’s blood-mated eyelashes trembled softly. But he didn’t stop.

Of course, he was hearing things. He might have hit his head too hard, and now he was going crazy.

Regardless of whether he was losing his mind, if Brother Xion were here, that’s exactly what he would have said.

But then it came again.

"Noxian? Where are you going?"

His feet stopped right then and there.

He rubbed at his eyes fiercely, trying to clear the moisture gathering there. No, no — he must be dreaming —

Just as he looked back, his racing heart stilled.

There, standing amidst the lingering ashes and ruin, was Xion. His brother Xion.

For a moment, neither Noxian nor Ray moved. They both stood frozen, staring at him as if they’d seen a ghost.

Although Xion, with his blood-soaked clothes and ash smudged all over his face, indeed looked every bit like a ghost, this was not the reaction he expected.

Xion blinked at them with mild confusion. "Uh... what’s with those faces? You two look like you’ve seen me rise from the dead."

Barely had his words fallen when Noxian’s still heart roared back to life with full force.

Then, in the next breath, the purple-haired boy broke into a run.

His injured limb was long forgotten. Without caring about the swelling and pain, he sprinted forward, barreling straight into Xion with the force of a small, desperate hurricane.

"Ugh —!" Xion barely managed to catch the boy as they both tumbled backward into the dirt.

A suppressed groan of pain escaped Xion’s pursed lips.

Noxian did not hear it, or perhaps he was simply unable to focus on anything other than the warmth of the person in his hold.

The little boy latched onto Xion, his small fingers clutching onto Xion’s robes like his life depended on it.

For a long moment, he just stared. His pursed lips trembled as he silently took in every detail.

His desperate violet eyes refused to blink, as if afraid the sight would vanish.

He whispered cautiously, "B-Brother?" Just from the tremor in his voice, it was enough to show just how much effort it took for Noxian to utter those words.

Even lying on the cold ground with a sharp stone digging into his back, Xion still found the mood to joke. His arms held the younger one in his arms, letting Noxian’s weight settle on him.

Xion’s lips curved into an amused smile. "Huh? Who else would I be if not your brother?"

That was all it took for little Noxian to bash his head on Xion’s chest. The force was enough to make it hurt.

However, rather than the physical pain, Xion felt his heart clench at the sight.

A sob tore out of Noxian’s pale lips as he buried his face into Xion’s chest, gripping him as if he might vanish again. His bony shoulders shook violently as his raw, heart-wrenching cries filled the night air.

"Brother, I — I was so scared..." His muffled voice cracked even more, and he clung to Xion even tighter.

Xion let out a soft sigh. He was really helpless this time. Even if he wanted to protect them all, his sudden actions still left trauma for Noxian.

He really was such a bad older brother. Was he not?

Xion reciprocated the intensity of the hug while his one hand came up to ruffle the purple hair. "I know, I know. I’m sorry, my child. But I’m here now, right?"

Even though his back ached from the fall, Xion neither flinched nor complained.

How could he when little boy was in such a vulnerable state?

So, he simply held the boy, letting him cry until his sobs turned into soft sniffles, and his breath evened out.

As for how long they stayed there, they had no clue, nor did they care.

Finally, when the boy lifted his head, his face was a complete mess. Red-rimmed eyes, puffy cheeks, and a nose so runny that Xion had to physically resist laughing.

He failed.

"Pfft — oh wow." Xion grinned, poking the red cheek. "You look like an abandoned puppy someone just fished out of the river."

Noxian sniffled. "I do not!"

"Yes, you do."

"No!"

"Yes. Puppy with a runny nose~"

"No! I’m not!"

Ray, who had been watching the whole thing, sighed deeply. As long as this person was fine, the knight was glad. But they should return now. He needed to tell his grace about this.

"Can you two stand up now? What are you guys doing fighting like kids?"

Xion just chuckled but said nothing. He gently wiped the boy’s face with his sleeve before finally standing up.

As Noxian’s feet touched the ground, he suddenly paused.

The pain in his foot was ... gone?

He blinked down at it in confusion, then looked back at Xion.

"Brother, did you?"

Xion dusted off his robe dramatically. "Yes, yes, I healed you. Now, where’s my thank you, oh mighty prince of puffy-eyed puppy?"

Noxian snorted, and yet he refused to look anywhere other than Xion. "... Thank you." Thank you for being alive. Thank you for coming back to me.

"Good boy." Xion patted his head.

Without another word, Noxian grabbed Xion’s robe, his tiny fingers clenched around the fabric until his knuckles turned white. He refused to let go.

Brother Xion had nearly lost his life just to save His Grace...

Noxian’s once-dim eyes now burned with something fierce.

Happiness shimmered in them, relief as well. But beneath it was a storm of anger.

At His Grace. At himself. At his own helplessness.

But then Xion’s hand landed on his head again. It was warm and gentle.

Noxian’s grip didn’t loosen, but the tension in his shoulders did, just a little.

Brother is here. And for now, that was enough.