Chapter 5 : Family

« I'm home, honey. » Said Clovis, after crossing the threshold of the house.
A woman hurried down the stairs and jumped into his arms. She kissed him and said:
« Welcome back, wolf. Have you met Herbert? How is he? »
« Good, but I don't want to talk about him. How's Louis? »
« He's fine, today he had a little allergy but it's normal. »
Then, in a more gray and dark tone, he asked:
« Can I see Freda? »
« No, the doctor is still with her. » Her sad, shining eyes held back the tears as they could. Clovis's wife tried, as she could, to pretend a smile but it was difficult to behave as if nothing serious was happening. Clovis hugged his wife and murmured:
« Everything will be fine. I will make sure to put things right. »
« How? »
« I will find a way. »
Clovis did not want to tell his wife that he intended to participate in the Holy Grail War. Such news would surely have destroyed her, so he just comforted her and lied to her.

Shortly after, Clovis decided to go up the wooden stairs to reach his daughter's room, opened the door, and saw the little sleep. Her delicate appearance was abnormal for a five-year-old girl. She had stopped coughing. "This is a positive side." Clovis thought.
He saw next to her the doctor who was preparing to leave. Clovis asked:
« Dr. Meyer, how is Freda? »
« Oh! Excuse me, I didn't notice. » Exclaimed the doctor, whirling around in a slightly surprised voice.
« So? How is my daughter? »
« Freda is … »
« Now she is sleeping well. So that means she's getting better, isn't she? »
« Mr. Wolff … »
« Please doctor, tell me you can cure her! » Clovis exclaimed, desperate.
« I gave Freda some sleeping pills so she could sleep. You started the treatment two months ago, right? »
« Yes, exactly. »
« Have you given her all the antibiotics I had prescribed? »
« Yes. »
« Sticking to the right doses? »
« Yes, damn it, yes! » Clovis exclaimed, unnerved.
« So … » The doctor lost his words. He didn't know what to say.

« So? » 

The doctor took off his glasses and squinted his eyes, perhaps trying to dry them off. He sat down. Clovis didn't know how to interpret his reaction. He was afraid. His body was shaking and his vision was clouding. He needed to be reassured, he needed to know that his daughter could have been saved. If there had been even minimal hope he would not have been forced to take part in the Holy Grail War. A small ray of light would have been enough.

The doctor murmured:
« I'm sorry … »
« No ... please, don't say it. » Clovis was about to collapse.
« There is a possibility that she has a form of tuberculosis that we call TDR-TB or totally drug-resistant tuberculosis. »
« No … »
« I did not say that she has that form of tuberculosis but it could be a possibility. »
« I beg you, doctor … » Clovis was about to cry.
« Tomorrow I'll come get her, Mr. Wolff. We will do other exams and try to find out what it is. Don't lose your hopes completely. »
« Okay. »
He turned to see his daughter's face. Such a sweet, kind and pretty little girl slept like a little angel but she had a disease that was killing her slowly. Clovis could not accept it. He could not accept standing still, passive, waiting for the terrible news that the child could not be cured.
« Okay. » Clovis murmured again.

The doctor left the room and Clovis remained alone with his daughter Freda. He went over to the little girl and took her warm hand. He cuddled her and whispered:
« Dad will save you, I promise. »