After several days later, the Xylan child, once near death, was a vibrant burst of light and energy, its crystalline skin shimmering with renewed vigor. The sonic bath had done its work, allowing the delicate "light-shunt" to seamlessly integrate, and the child's own primary bioluminescence regulators were showing promising signs of self-repair. The Xylan mother returned daily, her melodic clicks of gratitude a balm to Chen He's soul.
His clinic, once a quiet refuge, was now seeing more patients. Word had spread through the Xylan city, carried by the grateful mother. They came with ailments he was still learning to understand – crystalline fractures, atmospheric allergies, resonance imbalances. Each case, however minor, honed his [Holistic Insight] and provided new data for the Modifier.
One cycle-day, a family arrived, their faces etched with a profound, almost silent sorrow. They were from the upper spires, evident by the intricate etchings on their crystalline robes. They carried their child, a young Xylan no more than a few cycles old. Unlike the other children Chen He had seen, this one's glow was almost imperceptible. Its crystalline skin, usually vibrant and faceted, appeared dull, almost flat, like unpolished stone.
Kael, seeing the family, clicked softly. "The Lumina family. Their child, little Solen. They say it suffers from the 'Stillness of Light.'"
Chen He's [Pediatric Vulnerability Assessment] trait, now at Level 2, instantly activated. As he gently examined Solen, data flowed into his mind with astonishing clarity. This wasn't an injury; it was a congenital condition. He saw the microscopic structures within Solen's developing bioluminescence regulators, not damaged, but simply… incomplete. They hadn't fully formed, and the connections between them were weak, preventing the vibrant, healthy glow that marked a thriving Xylan child.
The system provided a name: [Congenital Trait: Crystal Stagnation - Detected. Primary bioluminescence regulators underdeveloped. Secondary spectral pathways occluded. Prognosis: Severe developmental stunting, limited lifespan, increasing fragility of crystalline structure.]
"Crystal Stagnation," Chen He murmured, articulating the system's diagnosis. "It's not an illness that can be caught. It's… how Solen was born."
The Lumina parents flinched, their faces falling further. "Our healers could not find the cause," the father, a tall, imposing Xylan named Velin, stated, his voice a low thrum. "They only know the light fades, and the body stiffens too soon."
Chen He understood. The child's core life force wasn't developing properly, leading to a cascade of problems as it aged. The [Pediatric Vulnerability Assessment] at Level 2 wasn't just identifying the problem; it was projecting Solen's future. He saw years of declining energy, increasingly brittle crystalline structures, and eventually, a premature and static end. But the trait also offered something more: early intervention protocols. It hinted at pathways to stimulate the development of these nascent regulators, rather than just repair them.
This wasn't a quick fix like the "light-shunt" he'd devised for the Energy Bloom trauma. This was about re-writing a life's blueprint, guiding natural development where it had failed. It would require sustained treatment, a deeper understanding of Xylan growth, and perhaps entirely new forms of biological manipulation.
"I believe I can help Solen," Chen He stated, his voice resonating with a quiet confidence. "But it will be a long process. And it will require techniques that are… unconventional, even for Xylos."
Velin Lumina looked at him, his glowing eyes filled with a desperate, cautious hope. "We have exhausted all other avenues, Human. You are our last hope. Name your terms."
Chen He shook his head. "My terms are only to see Solen thrive."
As the Lumina family made arrangements for Solen's treatment, Chen He felt the familiar surge of a new challenge. The Modifier system hadn't yet offered a direct path to a cure, only the advanced diagnostic capability. Treating Crystal Stagnation would demand not just his existing traits, but likely new ones, pushing him into areas of Xylan biology even he hadn't fully explored. It was a developmental defect, not a trauma, demanding a different kind of intervention. He needed to understand how to *ignite* the core of Xylan life, not just mend it.
The stakes were higher than ever. The Lumina family held considerable influence in the city. Success could cement his place on Xylos; failure...failure was not an option he could afford, not after all he'd lost.