Chapter Text
Aether didn't know how to say no.
All this chaos had begun innocently a year ago, when he joined the private hospital of Nod-Krai as a nurse. Initially, he was assigned to Doctor Baizhu, a gentle and quiet man who showed genuine concern for his patients in every action.
Aether was delighted with his new job. He had spent a long time looking for stable nursing work; after finishing his degree, he had mostly obtained indefinite contracts in nursing homes or caring for the elderly in their houses. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy it, but a hospital was definitely a different environment; it felt as if there was never an end to the things that needed to be done, and Aether loved that.
But then, his monster arrived.
The man was a doctor transferred from Snezhnaya, having served as the personal physician to the Tsaritsa herself. How he ended up in a Nod-Krai hospital was something Aether was not going to ask, not now, not ever.
The first time Aether saw the man, it was offensively mundane. Aether had to admit the man was handsome; perhaps more handsome than Doctor Baizhu himself, and that was saying something. The man introduced himself to the ward as the new Chief Surgeon, and despite not being on duty at that moment, he wore a black mask that covered almost his entire face, except for his piercing red eyes.
Aether thought the man seemed serious in that meeting. A hard-working man who was probably too tired to deal with everyday problems.
When he and his nursing team finished the presentation of the new addition to the hospital, Aether didn’t just see, but felt the Doctor’s gaze fixate on him for longer than what was considered normal. He couldn't identify the feelings behind that look, but Aether felt fear.
A month later, with no further news at the hospital, Doctor Baizhu brought word.
"I think you'll be transferred to another wing of the hospital," Baizhu said distractedly while reading today's patient list.
"Really? How do you know? I haven't heard anything," Aether said, surprised while tidying things in the office.
Doctor Baizhu let out one of his light laughs. "Well, I heard Mizuki mention that there aren't enough nurses in the operating room right now," Baizhu said.
"Eh? Why? Didn't an entire team just join along with Doctor Zandik?" Aether asked.
He didn't particularly want to leave Doctor Baizhu so soon, but he had to admit that working in the OR was much more fast-paced than an allergist's office.
"I heard two nurses disappeared a week ago. It’s a tragedy, but no one knows what happened to them. The police are still searching, but the hospital cannot stop," Baizhu sighed, as if the weight of it all pressed upon him. That was Baizhu; always trying to absorb the pain of others.
"Those poor men... I don't know how I hadn't heard about this," Aether said.
"The hospital wants to keep people as calm as possible; the news is only known by a few heads of staff and the police. They haven't even been able to contact the victims' families," Baizhu said.
Aether was happy that Doctor Baizhu provided him with such information; it meant he trusted him even though they had only worked together for a few months.
"How terrible. I know Nod-Krai hasn't ever been the safest place, but two missing at the same time? From the same area? It's strange," Aether said.
"It is, which is why the news isn't being spread... Anyway, I hope you aren't one of those being relocated; you are very diligent in fulfilling your duties." Doctor Baizhu smiled at him as he stood up, likely to speak to his secretary outside about today's patients. Doctor Baizhu liked to handle even that kind of work himself. His patients were his life.
Aether missed Doctor Baizhu.
Soon enough, Doctor Baizhu was proven right. Shortly after, the head nurse, Sigewinne, informed Aether that he was being transferred to the operating room; specifically, he would now be on the neurosurgery team with Doctor Zandik. He remembered how Doctor Zandik had looked at him that day, and a shiver ran down his spine.
At least Doctor Baizhu would be fine, as an equally capable nurse was relocated to him. Qiqi was a small and forgetful girl, but definitely very kind to her patients; they would get along well.
His last day with Doctor Baizhu was strange.
"Aether, I wanted to tell you something," Baizhu said. Having finished with the day's patients, he turned suddenly very serious toward Aether.
"Of course, Doctor, what is it? If it's about the new nurse, I already have everything ready for her arrival," Aether said.
"No, no, not at all. I know you are incredibly responsible, though I must admit I will miss your presence in general medicine; your positivity helps the patients a lot," Baizhu said.
Aether felt a warmth spreading through his chest. Aether didn't usually doubt his skills, but hearing such validation from someone he admired made him feel even more self-assured.
"I just wanted to tell you to be careful," he began, Doctor Baizhu's serious expression returning. "There are many strange rumors about this new Doctor Zandik."
"Rumors? You've been talking to Barbara, haven't you?" Aether said, remembering his gossipy nurse friend.
"Haha, I wish it were just another piece of Barbara's gossip. It happens that I spoke with Doctor Zandik myself yesterday to coordinate the transfer. I'm not usually in the OR often, so I decided to go personally." Again, that serious expression; it was unusual for Doctor Baizhu not to have that relaxation in his face as he always did. "Maybe this was rude of me, but I overheard him arguing with one of his subordinates. It was... intense." Doctor Baizhu left it at that, but he looked uncomfortable trying to find a better word.
"Strict intense or maniacal intense? Don't worry, Doctor Baizhu, you forget I've dealt with all sorts of personalities in the nursing homes," and it wasn't a lie; Aether had experience dealing with all types of stubborn elderly people.
"No... it was more like..." then his gaze drifted, as if remembering something deep within his thoughts. "You know what? Forget it, I think I'm just imagining things. The fact that Nod-Krai has become so dangerous has me a bit tense."
Aether knew what he was talking about; he had seen the news this week with his younger sister, Paimon. They had caught a serial killer who called himself Rerir a few months ago, but it was reported last week that the man had disappeared. He probably escaped, and now the atmosphere in the whole city felt heavy.
After news like that, it's normal for everyone to be on edge. Especially Doctor Baizhu, who is a foreigner. He had never been to Liyue, but surely it was safer than Nod-Krai.
"Don't worry, Doctor Baizhu, I can handle this," Aether said confidently back then.
In a way, he could.
The next day, he finally headed to his new work area. It was impressive how Doctor Zandik could have an entire floor for his research. Before his arrival, it wasn't like this; the area was intended for severe burns, but they were moved to a more accessible location. The new neurosurgery operating room is in the hospital basement; even the morgue was located further up.
The place was dark despite being lit, but the lights were too dim.
Aether thought it looked like one of those horror medical wings; too many doors and a sterile smell. Was there even anyone there? There was supposed to be; he had to meet Doctor Zandik today to settle in.
Finally, he reached a door far from the operating room, and there he finally found life. Doctor Zandik was standing in front of a whiteboard full of small post-its and papers.
Aether knocked on the door despite it being open. "Excuse me, Doctor Zandik, I'm..."
Then Doctor Zandik turned quickly. "Aether, you’re finally here. I was waiting for you, take a seat."
Aether did just that. It had been a while since he heard the man's voice, and both his appearance and voice remained attractive. Though he still wore that strange mask.
"Please, there’s no need to be so formal, just call me Dottore."
Doctor Dottore? Perhaps Dottore is his maternal surname or something like that. It sounds a bit funny.
"You probably already know this, but you are now under my command. The neurosurgery area is somewhat different from the other hospital wings, and I personally requested you to assist me," Dottore said.
"Me? I thought it had been random. Why me exactly?" Aether asked.
"Oh, Jean told me wonders about you, and I am excited that my research is finally in good hands," Dottore said.
I suppose that makes sense; Jean and he get along quite well. Although it had been weeks since he last saw Jean.
"You see, Aether, what we do down here is of utmost importance and it is confidential," Dottore said, getting up from his seat and heading back to the whiteboard.
"For now, your tasks will be the usual ones. Most of the time we don't have to operate, and you won't be included in the research yet, but everything comes with time..." The man sounded melancholic, as if he were talking more to himself. Aether had to admit the man did give off bad vibes, like one of those people who live too far removed from others.
"A-alright, you can count on me," Aether said, trying to stay positive; he really didn't want to stay idle in such a gloomy space.
Dottore just smiled at him for a bit too long and left through the same door Aether had entered.
Weird. The man was weird. Doctor Baizhu hadn't wanted to say it that way, but he definitely thought it.
Aether sighed; dealing with this kind of weirdness wasn't exactly what he had in mind. It also disturbed him that Dottore already knew him.
In reality, it didn't matter; his job now was a bit simpler.
As he left the office, he caught a glimpse of Dottore's whiteboard out of the corner of his eye. For some reason, there was a photo of a man there. He looked familiar to Aether. Long, brown hair. Probably a patient or something.