Taraxacum

[Code Name] Taraxacum

[Gender] Male

[Combat Experience] None

[Place of Birth] Sargon

[Date of Birth] Aug 7

[Race] Kuranta

[Height] 166cm

[Infection Status]

Confirmed Infected by medical examination.

[Physical Strength] Standard

[Mobility] Excellent

[Physical Resilience] Excellent

[Tactical Acumen] Normal

[Combat Skill] Normal

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Standard

A native of Sargon, Taraxacum is a wandering medical apprentice with considerable experience driving burdenbeast carts. He is currently stationed on Rhodes Island for academic exchange and study, providing everyday medical services on a temporary contract.

Imaging tests show the indistinct outlines of internal organs, obscured by abnormal shadows. Originium granules detected in the circulatory system. The subject is confirmed to be infected with Oripathy.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 7%

No obvious Originium crystallization has been observed on Operator Taraxacum's body.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.2u/L

Operator Taraxacum's work frequently takes him into high-risk areas. While he has a fairly strong awareness of protective measures and medical knowledge, regular checkups are still recommended to prevent his condition from deteriorating.

Don't worry, he's got Number Ten looking after him.

—A certain warm-hearted person who showed up to watch the checkup

'Don't worry, Taraxacum is getting along quite well with the others. He brought some Victorian gummies for the kids when he came to Medical yesterday.'

Nian had talked about Taraxacum before he came to Rhodes Island, telling us that he was a student of her younger brother's, a highly skilled Yanese physician. Many operators from Yan assumed Taraxacum must be a native of Yan as well, and prepared 'homeland' treats such as spring tea from Lungmen and rock tea from Shangshu. It was thus a big surprise to everyone to see Taraxacum in the flesh.

While Taraxacum's appearance was obviously not Yanese, he spoke the language fluently, with an elegant if slightly archaic vocabulary. He knew the regions and seasons of all the teas, and had good knowledge of the associated local customs and traditions. When asked if he had spent a lot of time in Yan, Taraxacum said he had passed through the country, but never taken up residence there.

Though he was not a fellow countryman, Taraxacum nevertheless quickly became friends with the Yanese operators. After all, he could make authentic Lungmen herbal tea, and knew the recipes for all the traditional healthy snacks.

[Letter addressed to Nian]

I hope this letter finds you well, sister.

There is one more thing. I hear you have frequently visited Rhodes Island in recent years. I have seen their medicine on my journeys, and would like to pay a personal visit, but I am about to travel to a very dangerous area, so I have sent Taraxacum to Rhodes Island ahead of me. Look out for him if you have the time. If not... try to keep him in one piece.

Two pieces of equipment carried by Taraxacum caught the attention of other operators during weapon registration. An inspection revealed the detailed designs of their components: the core unit of the 'Medicine Pot' casting staff was sculpted in the style of ancient Sargonian jewelry, while the medicine storage equipment in the shape of a dandelion seed head is reminiscent of portable medical equipment used on the battlefield. The three decorative chimes seem to originate from a market near the borders of Yan, and the skateboard that can briefly fly while carrying a person was clearly inspired by trending Columbian flying machines. It took a few days for Engineering to ascertain the two weapons' safety—meanwhile, inquiries with local branches reveal an exact match between the parts' places of origin, and Taraxacum's self-report of his recent travels. Surprisingly, this young Kuranta boy has already journeyed across almost half of Terra with his teacher.

We were even more surprised by his statement that he carries his jet skateboard in order to deliver medicine to patients more quickly. We believed his story because he always seemed serious about things, until we saw him excitedly sign up for the on-deck capture-the-flag game, only to be forced to forfeit when his skateboard malfunctioned. The real kicker is that he snuck into the kitchen after the competition and devoured five servings of Yanese barbecue, paying no heed at all to the healthy eating that he normally preaches... Maybe the kid just likes to skate. Say, did he go off to take lessons from Aciddrop again?

[Rhodes Island Library Borrowing Log]

Date: Feb 16

User: Taraxacum

Item: Basic Principles of Flying Machines, Overview of Levitation Technology

Taraxacum? Yes, he's been coming into Engineering, but he really knows nothing about engineering... What's he doing there? You saw his jet skateboard and casting staff, right? They're pretty fine, alright. Apparently, both were gifts from his Yanese teacher, so he has to try to maintain them himself when his teacher's not around. Seems like a pretty trendy teacher, if he can make a jet skateboard. But Taraxacum also said his teacher was old... Well, he's probably a trendy old guy, like Chongyue.

—On-duty Engineering Operator

Taraxacum's favorite haunt is the hospital. Medical Department staff told us that Taraxacum was not particularly impressive when he first arrived: his medical knowledge was quite haphazard, causing concerns for the department head. But he demonstrated outstanding aptitude when it came to practical work, and was easily able to follow Dr. Warfarin's instructions, even when she was using technical jargon.

We learned that this was the result of his instruction under his mentor. According to Taraxacum, his teacher rarely spoke or gave him systematic instruction in medical knowledge, but always took him along on patient visits, giving him the opportunity to observe and learn. Taraxacum was also periodically given a thick stack of ancient Yanese medical books, telling him to study them himself and ask questions if there was anything he did not understand. Taraxacum gradually grew into the role of assistant, and accumulated considerable clinical experience, though his education was somewhat antiquated by the standards of modern systematic medicine.

It seems his teacher Fāng, younger brother of Nian's, shares a few common features with Dusk, especially when she first came to Rhodes Island. Was Dr. Fāng a reclusive hermit, just like Dusk?

'What's my master like? I guess he does sound like the kind of reclusive sages you find in Yanese dramas, but he's actually quite familiar with modern medical technology and equipment! Then why am I so unfamiliar with the medical department's instruments? Well... I don't get a lot of chances to see new stuff, always being on the road with my master! Besides—'

He strokes the beard that he does not have.

'Master Fāng said: You haven't even mastered the basic Yanese medical books yet. The newer stuff can wait...'

[From the Candleholder Archives]

July 1st, 9am

The proxy has entered Sargon, providing basic medical assistance to villages he passed. No unusual activity.

July 21st, 9pm

The proxy has entered the northwest desert, where a small Catastrophe had recently struck. Fāng is looking for survivors...

July 22nd, 5am

A young boy around the age of seven ran into the village carrying a handful of herbs. He had gone into the hills after the Catastrophe, in search of medicinal herbs known to the locals through oral tradition. Fāng said the herbs might soothe the pain, but would be of little help in saving lives.

The boy himself is in serious condition.

September 21st

Two months have passed since the last entry. The boy has recovered. As for the others... there is little time left for them. Fāng has done all that he could, giving the boy a chance to say goodbye to his family.

September 23rd, 6pm

The proxy has left the village, but the boy continues to follow and cannot be persuaded to turn back. It is not my place to judge their actions... but Fāng has seen the same scene too many times, even during my tenure as his Candleholder alone. He must not allow his compassion to run unchecked. He cannot help everyone... On the other hand, there are no other survivors in the village. Could the boy really survive in this desert, if he does not follow Fāng?

October 26th

The proxy has tacitly consented to the boy following him. His true intentions are unknown at this time.

'I've consented to you following me this far.' —Comment in a corner of the page

November 7th

Fāng has given the boy a Yanese name—'Feng Xu', a nickname for the plant Taraxacum, otherwise known as dandelion. He has permitted the boy to observe him at work.

Despite his youth, the boy seems to have experience in operating vehicles. It was his suggestion that helped us avoid a spot of quicksand this morning...

'Verify the boy's identity, and his intentions for coming into contact with the proxy.'

Verification complete. No irregularities were found. Feng Xu's personal statement is attached:

I... I just didn't know what to do. I simply wanted to survive, no matter what... I'll drive carts and pick herbs for you and Master. I'll do anything... anything that I can help with!

...Are you Master's bodyguard? You follow him all the time, but hardly ever talk to him... 'Sui Regulator'? Master said the word 'Sui' means time... an organization that regulates time? Yan is such a strange land.

[Final Page]

Many years have passed since. It is almost time for me to retire, though my heart is at ease, knowing that there will be someone there to take care of Fāng... Feng Xu is almost as tall as Fāng now.

'Thank you for everything.' —Comment in a corner of the page

'I want a Yanese name too!'

'What's that? Cart Boy is not good enough for you?'

'That's not a name!'

'Why not?'

'Fine, I'll call you Old Doctor from now on.'

'...Ahem.'

The night wind through the desert was chilly. The gaunt doctor gazed toward the northeast where Yan was. The snow must have fallen a few times already.

'...Feng Xu.'

'Feng Xu?'

'You didn't want to stay in your homeland, and insisted on wandering the land with me. 'Feng Xu' means the dandelion seeds drifting in the wind, and it describes you perfectly.

'Doesn't that make the name sound sad?'

'It could also be a name that represents freedom.'

'Freedom... did you come to Sargon all the way from Yan in search of freedom?'

'I read a Yanese poem this morning.'

'Tell me about it.'

'Life is like dandelion seeds in the wind; all the joys and sorrows scattered. It's like the poem was talking about my name!'

'...Has there been more joy or more sorrow in your life?'

'Joy, of course!'

'...Why do you say that?'

'I'm standing here listening to you talk about difficult things, rather than sleeping under the sand, or being turned into a rock by Oripathy. Am I not the lucky one? That means I have so much more joy in my life than I have sorrow!'

'Ahem... it seems you have too much time on your hands. Have you memorized all the medicine books?'

'I'll get to it right now!'