Kian's POV
If I knew Xal before, I could have saved Xehelya.
For better or worse, he knew exactly where this conversation was leading and could predict two to three endings that were not favorable for Xal. He was careless enough to speak about Khem out loud, and he knew that Xal must be suspicious that his sister might have become a victim of Khem.
Now he wanted to confirm.
He should stop meeting new people.
Xal was a bodyguard by choice.
He was more than capable of hurting people as much as protecting them.
Judging by the condition Xal was in, how loving his parents are, how much love he had held for his little sister to seek out the truth so desperately, even after so long, Kian knew that he would only select one path.
Revenge.
He couldn't let this kind man's life be destroyed chasing after an entity that he didn't even have a way of finding.
So he decided to do what he does best and hates the most to put an end to this.
Lie.
I'm sorry Xal. You are too kind to be dragged into this.
"I'm sorry about your sister." Xal lifted his head when Kian spoke after a brief silence.
"Shriveled skin and black veins are symptoms of spirit illness. Um… so, it's like this: when souls linger too long in the dimension, unable to move on, they become hateful. Their touch is filled with negative energy and incompatible with people's core energy. So, it leads to the corruption of the body which we call the spirit illness. Unfortunately, your sister must have been touched by one. There was no way any doctor could have helped."
Xal's POV
Gaze deepening, he stared at Kian for a bit longer before speaking. "So, she died because of the spirit illness?"
"Yes." Kian stood up, as if his work was done here. "I know it doesn't make things better, but I hope you got your closure and can move on. I'm sure she already has."
Xal straightened his back, "You dare fucking lying to me?" His voice boomed.
"Hey! I didn't lie…"
"Oh…so scratching the side of your nose before looking directly at my eyes is a habit you have forgotten till now?"
"Obviously. It's a habit. I don't always do that." His voice was perfectly steady. Too perfect in Xal's ears.
"You are good at lying, but I'm better at observing!"
Silence.
"Tell me the truth."
Xal wasn't sure why he was asking when it was crystal clear that Xehelya didn't die from an illness. Something stirred inside of him, and it was spreading slowly, fiercely through his veins.
"You promised not to think about the spirit world." The voice dripped with regret, "I'm telling this for your own good."
"Does it LOOK like I give a shit about ANY OF THAT!!!? Don't make me ask again!"
Kian winced, arms hung lifeless beside him, and he slumped back into the chair.
"Don't blame me for any decision you make after this. Whatever happens to you after this will be none of my concern. I have warned you."
Xal didn't bother to respond; he was too busy to keep himself restrained.
He sighed, "Spirit illness doesn't kill people unless they are too weak. Since she had shriveled skin and all, the spirit illness your sister had most likely came from a Neitouloum."
"A what?" He seethed.
"A Neitouloum. It's a black, ugly…Uh… long story short, it is a type of spirit enslaved by Khem. He or she or it binds them. Those things, when they touch, they don't let go. They transfer the spirit illness to a person; the illness spreads inside, creating negative energy, and the Neitouloum keeps on collecting that energy until the person dies. Then it offers that energy to this entity named Khem."