REVERSE: 1999 STORY LOGS

Prologue | A Forgotten Place

Vertin: This is …?

Vertin: It’s empty.

Tooth Fairy: Thank you … At least the pouch is still there.

Horropedia: Wow … the size of the pouch … That’s not a good sign!

Sonetto: We didn’t apply for a terrain sensor for this mission … So it’ll be 63.5% more difficult to find it.But the camp is limited in scope. All things considered, the chances to retrieve the teeth are not too low.

Sonetto: Ms. Tooth Fairy, if convenient, could you please describe the appearance and quantity of your collections as detailed as possible? We can …

Horropedia: Ah!

Sonetto: …?

Horropedia: I remembered.

Horropedia: “The bad kids’ teeth will be hidden by Tooth Fairy. The bag on her waist is seen as her trophy” …

Tooth Fairy: That is a complete fabrication.

Horropedia: Just some gossip to scare the kids. No one knew the author … Not me anyway!

Vertin: That’s new to me.

Horropedia: Of course! They wouldn’t be that stupid to trick THE Vertin with such a lame story. Only good kids get scared …

Sonetto: I am sorry. I don’t think I am familiar with the story, either?

Horropedia: Oh. I forgot you were from the other extreme.

Horropedia: Forget these nonsense … Now begins the activity more meditative than looking for a needle in a haystack!

Horropedia: Let’s go …!

Sonetto: Ms. Tooth Fairy, we will do our best to keep an eye on those scattered teeth for you.

Vertin: … Mind the gap between your feet and the branches. Beware of those who slumber in the middle of the road.

Stage 01 | Brake Failure

Stage 02 | Hold Your Breath

Stage 03 | Reckless Driving

Route 66

Horropedia: 10.5 inches, fresh root, slightly decayed… Oh! The saliva … presumably it’s from a … or say, that giant carbuncle.

Horropedia: But it could also be another speciality of Green Lake! For my personal taste, though, monster horror is obviously of a lower class. Hm … If I remember correctly, Ms. Tooth Fairy’s pouch is about 5 inches long.

Horropedia: The size of the tooth is almost twice that of the poor flannelette bag … and it’s a bit too conservative to call such a deadly weapon a tooth.

Tooth Fairy: Excellent point, Mr. Horropedia. That is the case.

Tooth Fairy: Although I don’t mind expanding my collections … As I said earlier, it’s not common to see a critter of this size. So thank you very much for getting me this, Ms. Blonney.

Blonney: Ugh … In terms of the results, yes you should thank me.

Blonney: In fact I just fancy its sharpness … Before you make it one of your collections, could you ask Freddie to break the stupid wood into pieces with it? …

Blonney: We’ll give it back to you as soon as we find the axe. Immediately!

Horropedia: Whoo! The more reliable team came back … Hey, this way!

Sonetto: Ms. Tooth Fairy, I am very sorry … There are much more teeth in the area than we thought.

Sonetto: Most broken teeth of the critters are excluded. There are fifteen remaining. They belong to different kinds of carbuncles, lindworms and olitiaus respectively … and quite a few baby teeth of humans.

Vertin: Considering the age of some of the Zeno Youth Force, it’s not really surprising.

Sonetto: If the human teeth are all excluded, there are another three unidentifiable … Well, in fact, I cannot confirm if they are teeth or not … but I guess the collections will always be special.

Sonetto:Ms. Tooth Fairy, you could spend some time carefully screening …

Tooth Fairy: Ah.

Tooth Fairy: It’s here.

Sonetto: Um … sorry? You mean it’s among the baby teeth over there?

Sonetto: … Do you need to double check? As far as I know, these are all baby teeth of children aged around 12. They have something in common that …

Tooth Fairy: I understand your concern, Ms. Sonetto. But as you said, the nine teeth in the pouch are all my unique collections. I know every pattern, every inch of wear and tear on them … Without even a glimpse, by touching alone, I can easily distinguish them from hundreds of teeth.

Jason: Hey. This is much more like an arcanist in my knowledge. Some quirks … you know, compared to those who aim at heads or toes in the stories, it’s kind of less weird to collect your own baby teeth.

Blonney: … Shut up, Jason. If you have time talking nonsense, you’d better give me a hand!

Tooth Fairy: As I know, over 40% of humans incline to collect their baby teeth as a record of their growth. Though their purpose is different from mine, it demonstrates that collecting baby teeth is not something exclusive to arcanists.

Tooth Fairy: My college mate had an elaborate brass box. It was filled with her own teeth.

Blonney: Your college … mate? That means .. you studied at …

Tooth Fairy: It’s the college for humans, Ms. Blonney. It’s located in Rochester, Minnesota. From my analysis of the information, I was the only arcanist admitted to Mayo Medical School that year.

Tooth Fairy: However, please allow me to make one thing clear.

Lies in her palm is the baby tooth that is stained with blood, like a sugar cube that tastes weird.

Tooth Fairy: … This is not my baby tooth.

…

[Route 66]

Route 66 starts from Chicago, Illinois, and runs west across to Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California. It’s a highway that has developed rapidly since the war was over. On Route 66 ran Wills Jeep in the past, and then Cadillac. Countless families from the east hummed tunes as they sped towards the beach, just like rockets roaring to the universe.

However, the introduction of Interstate Highway Act marked its drastic decline. Now it’s barely known.

Car Radio: Welcome to Eastern Tornado! This is your old friend …

Even though the car has long been a necessity for every American now,

Car Radio: The first song is from Whitney Houston …

But for someone who had just turned 18, a lonely road trip was fresh experience indeed.

Tooth Fairy: Huh …

Tooth Fairy: Hopefully this meeting with Professor will go smooth …

That’s right─a sudden call from my mentor set me on this brief journey.

…

[Campbell’s Home]

Tooth Fairy: Yes. Thank you very much for this. Father said I wouldn’t have completed my studies at Mayo without your help. However, as for the conference …

Tooth Fairy: Approximately, it takes at least five days to drive from here to Arizona. Father has been quite busy these days … I’m sorry. Please allow me to …

Professor: Hahahaha, don’t be uptight, kid! Like I said, it’s just a casual family call, a small talk … I haven’t seen you for a long time since I quit working as a visiting professor.

Professor: How’s Mr. Campbell doing? Oh! He loves you pretty much … Of course, I must say, you never let him down.

Professor: A Subaru SVX, the red one … It’s your graduation present and birthday gift, right?

Tooth Fairy: Oh … yes.

Professor: Welcome to adulthood! Now you’re 18 years old, a big boy … oh no, an adult!

Professor: The talented student I tutored in person. The most impressive one in the history of Mayo. One month? Or two? Maybe we haven’t seen each other for a long time …

Tooth Fairy: If you mean the last time we met, I think it was over six months ago.

Professor: Oh, six months … quite a long time!

Professor: *sigh* I still remember the first time I saw you, the textbooks you were to read was even taller than you …

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: Thank you for thinking of me, but …

Professor: Hm?

Tooth Fairy: … Fine, fine. I’ll bring that Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon … Mother has been keeping an eye out for it when she heard of your interest.

Professor: So you’re coming, right?

Tooth Fairy: If I can make it, Professor … After all, I haven’t tried driving across half of the continent yet.

Professor: Oh! That is … fantastic! Take your time! Thank Mrs. Campbell for the wine for me, kid.

Professor: I’ll see you in a few days.

…

Tooth Fairy: Hah … Hah …

The screeching of the brakes yanks me from my thoughts.

Tooth Fairy: *coughs* Damn …

I swerve to the side right in time, but the figure that suddenly appears from the side of the road …

…

Route 66 runs across the American continent. By then it has long been one of the loneliest highways.

Tooth Fairy: *cough*

Tooth Fairy: …!

Tooth Fairy: How … could there be … a child here?

…

When I think about it now … I wish I had never got this blood-stained baby tooth.

Stage 04 | Secret Operation

Stage 06 | Wailing Wall

Stage 08 | Under the Surface

Empty Glass Jar

Tooth Fairy: Huh … Huh …

…

Tooth Fairy: … Humerus … and pelvis, fracture deformity …

Tooth Fairy: Ankle, open fracture.

Tooth Fairy: Blood loss … estimated to exceed …

From the looks, the unfortunate boy I hit at that time was probably under 10 years old. He was thin and small, and quite tan. Within only a few seconds, he was almost entirely weltering in blood. The tiny baby tooth was soaked in the blood, too white not to be noticed.

Tooth Fairy: … Damn.

Hands trembling. Dizzy … That’s all I felt at the time.

Tooth Fairy: … Hello. Emergency Service? I’m on …

No one would have ever expected a child to suddenly appear on the empty highway. But things just happened beyond my expectation, and it happened very quickly without any signs.

Emergency Services: According to your information, we’ll arrive as soon as possible within 50 minutes. Please be patient.

Tooth Fairy: He’s in a critical condition and can’t wait for 50 minutes …

The warm rock formations within my view and the agave of a man’s size, both demonstrated an undisputed fact - -

that in the Platinum 10 minutes, and in a desert where there was no hospital nor any medical resources, I could barely save his life with any human medical treatments.

Tooth Fairy: … Hey!! Hey!!

Tooth Fairy: Can you hear me!

Boy: *cough* Ouch …

Tooth Fairy: Oh … shit.

Pints of blood was pouring from every single wound. If it went on like this, in less than 30 seconds, he would go into shock from blood loss.

I do have a better idea.

Tooth Fairy: Damn … damn it …!

Because of the blood, my fingertips kept slipping uncontrollably on the glass jar that I carried, and I could barely open it.

Tooth Fairy: Look up, boy, look up …

Knock on the area three fingers from the lower jaw. Hold the nape gently. Stretch the throat muscles.

For the first time I was so unconfident about the dosage … and also the first time to try to heal a human with tooth fairies. My arms were moving like a machine, stuffing the boy’s body with these little monsters that were dropping golden powder.

Tooth Fairy: The fifth …

Tooth Fairy: Yes, right … good boy … go on, swallow it.

Boy: *coughs*

Boy: Huh …

Tooth Fairy: Hah … Hah …

…

Tooth Fairy: … Thank goodness.

[Motel]

Boy: Um …

Tooth Fairy: Please do not move. The wound on your ankle is expected to heal in thirty minutes. We’re in the motel near the highway. I will ask you a few questions. Please answer as quickly and accurately as possible.

Tooth Fairy: How many fingers?

Boy: Uh, hiss … you are … two?

Tooth Fairy: Please do not move. Is it day or night?

Boy: Day …?

Tooth Fairy: Good boy. Do you remember your name and age?

John: Jo … John. John Garcia … 13 years old. I lives in the Mare Town nearby.

Tooth Fairy: Thanks for the cooperation. You could call me …

John: Hm? What’s covered around my feet …?

Tooth Fairy: …! Don’t!

John: Wow … ah! What … what are these?! Are they … wings? My God! The ointment has golden powder on it …

Tooth Fairy: … Please don’t worry. It’s not harmful, nor will it make you feel painful. If it’s hard to take, just close your eyes and don’t think about it.

Tooth Fairy: This is a motel. You could call me Tooth Fairy. It’s their name, and mine too.

John: No, this looks COOL … I’m not afraid. It feels amazing on my ankle.

Tooth Fairy: …

John: Did you save me? With that amazing … ointment?

Tooth Fairy: In fact, I caused the accident. Fortunately, I know how to heal in some way.

John: I’m sorry … Mom once warned me to stay off the highway. I just … I … my beetle … it went out to the middle of the road.

Tooth Fairy: No. You should not be the one to apologize.

Tooth Fairy: Your Mom is right. Please keep her words in mind.

John: I will! I just … hiss!

Tooth Fairy: …Take a deep breath … Open your mouth.

John: Hey! It … it’s alive … Wow, a flying granny …

John: Shall I just put it in my mouth?

Tooth Fairy: If you want the best healing effect, I suggest you swallow it.

John: Ugh … hmm! It’s sour. And a little sweet! Hmm … huh? The loose tooth in my mouth is gone!

Tooth Fairy: … It’s here

John: … Are you taking it back?

John: Oh, not really. I’m surprised you didn’t throw it away! Hmm … and, the granny, can I have one more?

Tooth Fairy: I’m very sorry, John. This is the last one. But if you behave well, I’ll give you some other snacks.

I searched in my pocket, trying to find something other than a tooth … anything like a toffee, or sea salt flavoured chocolate, or a caramel kind of thing … Kids need it.

Tooth Fairy: Like … a candy?

John: Awesome! I’ven ever had candies before!

John: Wow! In your pocket … Why are there SO many teeth?!

Tooth Fairy: It’s my personal hobby.

John: Hobby …

John: Ah! I get it! Is it just like I love the beetles?

Tooth Fairy: … Probably.

John: No wonder you didn’t throw that baby tooth away! In that case, I’ll trade you this for a candy … Huh?

John: Ah! It’s here!

John: It’s Toto’s tooth that fell out this morning! It always loves it when I rub its belly.

Tooth Fairy: …Thanks.

John: You’re welcome … Hey, wait, it’s amazing! I don’t feel any pain at all! Not even hungry anymore! You’re even better than Grandma Susie!

Tooth Fairy: … Grandma Susie?

John: Her cabin is right next to my house! People in town said Grandma Susie is an arcanist … She really didn’t have a good temper, as she always drove me away with a broom, and never allowed me to catch beetles in her doorway …

John: But she would secretly give me a few pieces of corn crisps every time, and I haven’t tasted any good crisps since she moved away …

John: Grandma Susie could turn an apple pie out of nothing, and she even moved a huge palace. Although people said that was just illusion, but … can you do it too?

Tooth Fairy: I’m sorry. I can’t do any of them.

John: But you saved my life! You must be an arcanist, too!

Tooth Fairy: Have a taste?

John: It’s … toff … toffee! Oh, I tuned out just now … Here’s Toto’s tooth!

I looked at the tiny tooth in my palm, and guessed it might belong to a bloodhound whose bloodline wasn’t pure. Apparently, the owner of the tooth was also malnourished.

John: Mmm … so sweet!

John: …Ms. Tooth Fairy, is it that whatever the pain, you could drive it away?

Tooth Fairy: I wish I could. But the truth is, there is no one who could cure all diseases.

John: But you are powerful … Arcanists are all very powerful …

Tooth Fairy: Powerful doesn’t equal all-powerful, John. If it hadn’t been me who caused the accident … or if I had hesitated even for a second, it would be a completely different story

John: … Now, you should get some rest. Feeling no pain doesn’t mean you’ve recovered. Tuck in, and get some sleep. Then I will take you back.

Motel is not a good place to rest, but sometimes we don’t have a choice. Fortunately, John was so skinny that even the smallest quilt was way adequate for him. Gradually he’s breathing well, and my nerves finally relaxed for a moment.

John: Ms. Tooth Fairy …

Tooth Fairy: …?

John: If I may …

I saw him turn over with difficulty under the quilt.

John: Can you please … meet my Mom later …?

Stage 09 | Fierce Competition

Rearview Mirror

John: Mom!

…

John’s Mother: John! Why did you …

John’s Mother: Are you …?

Tooth Fairy: Nice to meet you, ma’am. You may call me Tooth Fairy.

The new car was still marvelous … How could a child who looked and really was malnourished ever damage it? From the motel to Mare Town, it only took three minutes driving, and it didn’t even need to be at full power.

Despite the name, it’s a stretch to call this place a town.

John’s Mother: Hiss … *cough* … John, help me up …

Tooth Fairy: No, don’t bother … just lie down, ma’am.

A few families scattered in the wilderness. The cracks in the wooden doors were once filled with layers of sand and gravel, and turned into a board of pinkish yellow.

On the way here, John told me about how the family was stricken with poverty. Indeed, it’s not difficult to tell from his figure.

John: Mom! Look, my tooth fell out!

But the reality was still much worse than I thought.

John: You sit here, next to Mom!

The house was not bigger than the stables I had seen. Lights were the only electrical equipment. Time seemed to cease here. John’s mother was lying on the only furniture in the room, like a solitary raisin on a plate.

John’s Mother: If John did anything wrong, I am very sorry …

Tooth Fairy: No, ma’am. I should be the one to apologize …

John: Ms. Tooth Fairy is a doctor. She’s also an arcanist, just like Grandma Susie! There’re a lot of flying grannies in her jar …

John’s Mother: John.

John: Okay, Mom … I’ll go get some water!

Tooth Fairy: If you don’t mind, please allow me to do a few simple checks for you. Please don’t worry … I am an arcanist, and also a medical student.

John’s Mother: You … *cough*

John’s Mother: … Okay. *cough* … Good, good …

Tooth Fairy: If you feel painful, please do not hold back.

John’s Mother: …

Disease is cruel. It takes the unfortunate by the throat without distinction of any kind, and gradually squeezes the necks of the weak.

John’s Mother: Uh … ah ah … it hurts … ah ah …

Then the pain was there to deprive them of the dignity … making their decease more naked than their birth.

Tooth Fairy: Ma’am, please close your eyes, and open your mouth.

No need for more professional instruments. The shape of death is clearly palpable in the horrible surroundings and through her descriptions. For the incurable diseases, death is never the most frightening part.

Tooth Fairy: John …

Tooth Fairy: Come here. Hold your mother.

…

The boy was swift and experienced. His behavior revealed a sense of indifference that he himself barely knew

… Children were not supposed to be more of an expert of these than toffee.

During the whole day there, almost all the tooth fairies I brought were consumed.

…

Tooth Fairy: Your mother is sleeping for now.

John: Well … It’s not just today … She suffers like this every day. In the evening, especially late at night.

Tooth Fairy: … I’m sorry.

John: It is that nothing you can do either?

Tooth Fairy: John, doctors aren’t omnipotent

Tooth Fairy: … Nor are those little things with wings. No delay, adequate dosage, and no complications … All the three are equally important.

Tooth Fairy: I think your mother probably knows about her illness better than me … and she knows you better. That’s why she allowed me to do the checks for her.

John: …

The sunset glow tinted the sky with a pinkish hue that matched the color of the rock. The temperature varied greatly in Texas and was often difficult to adapt to. The heat of the day had long faded. The breeze with silver sand even felt a little chilly.

John: Can you wait for me here?

Tooth Fairy: No problem. I will sit here until the sun goes down.

The boy returned much faster than I thought.

John: This is for you.

…

Tooth Fairy: This is …?

John: I traded two packs of Toto’s hair for it from Grandma Susie. She said it was the tooth of a rare beast. And she also said … if you prayed to it devoutly, all requests would be granted.

John: I prayed to it every night for my Mom to get better …

John: But it must be because I caught the beetles twice and didn’t pray … so it didn’t work.

Tooth Fairy: Well …

Tooth Fairy: This is a Ropen’s tooth.

John: A Ropen’s tooth …?

Tooth Fairy: It’s indeed very rare. Ropen is a type of pterodactyl that inhabits the rocks of Umboi Island, with a long beak and sharp claws.

John: Whoa …

Tooth Fairy: They also have huge wings, and will glow like phosphorescence at night …

The Ropen’s tooth that the boy held possessed a rough enamel and an abnormal size. Apparently it’s an artificial toy.

However, even if this is real, it’s impossible that all requests would be granted. It’s probably just a psychological comfort to a child given by a kind senior.

…

John: Have a safe trip, Ms. Tooth Fairy!

…

I saw the boy’s figure in the rearview mirror getting smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared into the exhaust.

That fake Ropen’s tooth is still a treasure among my collections.

Even for a while after that, it was worth more than anything else.

Stage 10 | Castling

Babyteeth & Wisdom Teeth

Motel is not a good place to take a break. In my experience, dreams that faithfully rebuild reality are no better than nightmares.

…

16 years old, or 15? For me at that time, the sense of belonging has been strange … and dispensable.

Female Classmate: Hey!

Tooth Fairy: Hello.

Female Classmate: Oh, are you doing this because … you care a lot about your teeth? Or are you just trying to make your face look good?

Tooth Fairy: Hm … the latter, I guess.

Female Classmate: Oh. Cool!

Female Classmate: It’s just a little weird, you know. Too weird in a crowd!

…

During my college, I suffered a lot from wisdom teeth.

…

Female Classmate: Hey, Campbell!

Tooth Fairy: Lena.

Lina: Why didn’t you come yesterday? Everyone wants to meet the Campbell girl!

Tooth Fairy: I was occupied. Attending arca … a gathering of friends.

Lina: Friends? Arcanists? Or humans?

Tooth Fairy: …Arcanists.

Lina: Oh, well. Poor little Campbell, it must be hard for you! Be sure to let me know next time! I’ll think of excuses for you.

Lina: I’m not prejudiced, but look … most arcanists are really not nice to be around.

Lina: Well, not you! You are the exception …

Tooth Fairy: … It’s fine.

Lina: Fine, fine … Don’t forget the other academic salon this Wednesday. You have to come this time!

Tooth Fairy: Yes. I’ll be there.

…

The dull pain deep in the roots of my teeth tormented me day and night. I always had the illusion … that it wasn’t a tooth, but more like a knife that my body made for itself, trying to cut me through internally into two separate parts.

Tooth Fairy: Um … Hiss …

At that time, my flannel pouch was still empty.

Tooth Fairy: …

I always fumbled for my only collection late at night on the bed … that’s my first baby tooth, with a tiny hook at the root. It left my body with a twinge of toothache in my childhood.

Mrs. Campbell: My girl, you should remember … that humans and arcanists are siblings. We form a community.

Mrs. Campbell: We should get along with them.

It doesn’t sound difficult, does it? I tried as much as I could, however, it was far from satisfactory. At the birthday party of a little girl arcanist, I almost got turned into a groundhog.

…

Little Girl: That idiot who mingles with humans!

…

During the joyful group activities in kindergarten, I was pushed into a dirt pit.

Little Boy: That arcanist monster with iron fence!

…

From this point of view, there is really not many differences between humans and arcanists.

The evil of the children is as naked and pure as their good. The difference is that as they grow up, the kindness is gradually worn out, while the malice is carefully disguised … things have obviously became worse.

Just because there is no longer blatant hostility, it doesn’t mean that hostility doesn’t exist.

…

University Lecturer: In this situation, we should be careful to examine the injuries …

Lina: Hey, Campbell! Is it that nothing would work for this injury? First aid words …

Tooth Fairy: (Two tooth fairies will work… )

Tooth Fairy: Yes. There’s no first aid treatment in terms of human medicine.

Lina: Uh, excuse me? Human medicine?

Tooth Fairy: Sorry … I just thought that would be more precise.

Lina: Oh, yeah … I almost forgot.

Lina: You are an arcanist after all.

…

But it doesn’t matter. You’re not like them.

Something just kept lingering in my mind from childhood until the night my wisdom tooth fell out. Maybe an arcanist is just an arcanist, while a human can only be a human. To earn your own place, you need to be aware that people are entirely different.

Maybe one day they could live in peace, but it wouldn’t be because of me, or Campbell, and it wouldn’t be now.

I don’t intend to spoil the adult’s caprice. Although it would be too much to ask a child to take the mission on.

That night, lying on the tiny bed in the dormitory, I listened to the humans breathing around me. I closed my eyes tight, and as usual, I tried to get through the dull pain at the root of my tooth. The tiny wisdom tooth almost broke through my toothbed, growing stubbornly in my mouth.

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: Um …

I used tooth fairies for myself at the end.

The whole process was quick, complete, and painless, along with the sweetness of plums. At that time, I decided on my own path, though not able to understand if it’s right.

But undoubtedly, it saved me from myself.

Stage 11 | Steeplechase

Stage 12 | Desperate Struggle

Mellophine

DING RING …

…

Tooth Fairy: Hm … Hello?

Reception: Madam, this is the wakeup service you reserved. It’s 7:30 in the morning. Time to get up!

Tooth Fairy: … Oh!

Tooth Fairy: Damn nightmare …

Tooth Fairy: Thanks.

…

[Tuscon]

Car Radio: Welcome to Tucson! It’s a beautiful day …

Tooth Fairy: Still too early for the conference? That’s great, professor. I just parked my car.

…

[Conference Hall]

???: Hey, kid, here!

Tooth Fairy: …? Oh!

Tooth Fairy: Professor Evan.

Professor Evan: Oh! My girl! I’m so glad you come.

Professor Evan: Hopefully it’s not too tiring to drive here these days. Alf arranged everything. The hotel he booked is to the north of the University of Arizona. I promise it’s no more than 500 meters away … on the third floor, the perfect Duke’s Room.

Professor Evan: You wouldn’t get this treatment if you were not my student.

Tooth Fairy: Thank you very much. Five days are indeed a bit long, but fortunately Subaru performed well and saved my life.

Professor Evan: Oh, sure, a classic! Who would not love it? A great design when east meets west.

Professor Evan: Appropriate combination always generates new lives. When the good and the great come together … and then, Boom! Something fantastic is born … Something well received in the market and performing fairly well.

Tooth Fairy: … In fact, Professor, I met Sanchez when I parked the car.

Tooth Fairy: I had the pleasure of attending a banquet organized by the arcanist academy with my father. If my memory serves me well … I think I met him at the banquet … Of course, there’re quite a few familiar faces beside him.

Tooth Fairy: This is somewhat different from what I heard before. You led me to believe that this is at least a human-led …

Professor Evan: Oh, you still have such a good memory … I’ve always loved you being agile.

Professor Evan: But look, there are a lot of humans … just more familiar arcanists!

Tooth Fairy: …

Professor Evan: Did you get your booklet?

Tooth Fairy: … You mean this one?

Professor Evan: Oh, that’s it! Let’s see … on page three: Mellophine. It’s a potent analgesic opioid, especially for moderate to severe pain …

Professor Evan: And the focus of the conference.

Tooth Fairy: “... extracted from Winnipogo …”

Tooth Fairy: This is …?

Professor Evan: Haha. Sounds familiar? The independent research between you and me in college. Speaking of this, I have to thank your parents. Since then, I had the initial idea for the project.

Tooth Fairy: The regulations on opioids are very strict. The restorative power of Winnipogo may not be necessarily applicable to humans.

Professor Evan: That’s exactly what we’re trying to overcome!

Tooth Fairy: So what you’re saying is that … with a reasonable combination of the two, theoretically you could make a prescription drug with perfect medicinal properties.

Professor Evan: And a market that no one has ever ventured into before.

Professor Evan: Listen, Tooth Fairy …

Tooth Fairy: … What did you call me?

Professor Evan: Oh, I’ve already knew that name! But I know you and we don’t use it often … Listen. I know your family, and I know your aspiration. Nothing is more important than life, my kid.

Professor Evan: We are doctors. Our first priority is always … life and health. That is why the boy from the Sanchez is here.

Professor Evan: Because this is a war that requires us to come together, Tooth Fairy.

Tooth Fairy: …

Professor Evan: Disease and pain always treat us equally. So does death.

Tooth Fairy: Professor, you know, I’ve been …

Professor Evan: Oh, of course … since my tenure at Mayo I’ve always been watching you … You were my favourite student!

Professor Evan: I understand. You have, um, the kind of what you call … your own ideas, right? They’re different from the Campbell’s … from your parents’ views.

Professor Evan: But I’m sure that you’ve witnessed how your father and mother make continuous efforts. The Campbells have always been committed to this. Arcanists and humans share the same origin.

Tooth Fairy: …

Professor Evan: You are a smart girl …

Announcement: Dear guests, please enter the hall and take your seat quickly …

Professor Evan: It won’t hurt to listen!

Professor Evan tapped me hard on the shoulder as he always did.

Professor Evan: Come on! This way.

…

Host: Thank you very much for coming today! The reception will be held in the auditorium …

…

Professor Evan: What an inspiring presentation!

Professor Evan: Tooth Fairy. What do you think?

Tooth Fairy: As you mentioned, if the project is guaranteed to move forward properly, and is successfully approved by FDA … the prospects are indeed immeasurably prosperous. It could even save tens of thousands of cancer patients.

Tooth Fairy: I will consider …

Professor Evan: Eh. Let’s not talk about that.

Professor Evan: Like I said. Let’s just meet for dinner, and have a casual talk.

Professor Evan: And .. look at this.

Professor Evan: Welcome to adulthood, Tooth Fairy!

Inside the crimson velvet box lied a Ropen’s tooth quietly. In terms of value, it was a world away from the one I had seen.

Its enamel was smooth and delicate, and its size moderate. Apparently it’s of high quality and had been carefully maintained. With just a small piece like this, John’s family would be able to live in decency for decades.

Professor Evan: Come on …! Take it!

Professor Evan: It is my sincere expectation that the Campbells could join the research. The equipment and personnel are actually all ready. You just need to …

…

I am sorry to say that I was not concentrating on what Professor Evan had to say. The conference hall at the University of Arizona seeme to become a stable, and I was standing there where I could hardly tell day from night.

The child, without a hint of malice or prejudice, and his mother were supporting each other in the gravel that rolled year round.

Tooth Fairy: …

With them, for the first time, I was recognized as an arcanist.

Was it a hint given by fate? How else could everything have pushed me forward so smoothly, just as the gears in mesh?

…

Professor Evan: I hope you could really think about it when you’re back. I will wait …

Tooth Fairy: No …

Professor Evan: I’m sorry. What?

Tooth Fairy: I don’t think I need to think about it.

Professor Evan: Ahem, Ms. Campbell, I would like you to…

Tooth Fairy: I’m in.

Professor Evan: Wh-what? Wh … I mean, for real?

Tooth Fairy: I’ll submit the application to join the project as soon as possible. Probably … by tomorrow afternoon.

…

I heard the rough sound of my baby tooth rubbing against my wisdom tooth in the flannel pouch.

Stage 14 | Trepidation

Volunteer

Tooth Fairy: Good … No. 2 is in good state.

Tooth Fairy: Healthy teeth.

Professor Evan set up the project earlier than I expected. For most of the time, I was preparing the formulated reagents, and working on taking care of the lab animals.

Mice, rabbits, beagles, and multiple species of carbuncles and olitiaus. Give regular injections, and make records accordingly.

Researcher II: Ms. Tooth Fairy, it’s all recorded here.

We didn’t really treat our animals with great care, but I still did what I could to make sure they wouldn’t have to suffer beyond the experiment.

Tooth Fairy: Good. Make sure to check the ventilation before you close the door.

…

Researcher I: Hey, Ms. Campbell. You’re just in time! Good news! The IND application came through!

Tooth Fairy: … Already?

Researcher II: I can’t believe it’s only been a month! I thought it would take at least six months.

Researcher I: Professor Evan is right. We’re not the only ones waiting for the new drug to come into use. And thanks to the repute of the Campbells, approvals are quick on both sides.

Researcher II: That is to say, once the relevant documents are ready, we could start the Phase I clinical trials.

Tooth Fairy: If the clinical application is not rejected by FDA within 30 days …

Researcher I: That’s right. Then we’ll be able to recruit volunteers! Actually we will definitely make it. I suggest we start drafting forms and contacting patients now.

Researcher I: From 20 to 100 … I’m sure there will be quite a number of people willing to apply. The requirements for volunteers also need to be drawn up.

Tooth Fairy: I think we need a certain number of both arcanist and human volunteers.

Researcher I: Uh … then it seems two test sites will have to be prepared. The further away from each other the better.

Researcher II: Brilliant! But if any side rocks the boat, it will still cost just as much to solve.

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: I think we should provide some grants for the volunteers, and expand the range as much as possible.

Researcher: Good point … Our target group might have exhausted all the money for treatment long ago.

Tooth Fairy: …

Researcher II: *sigh*

Tooth Fairy: …

Researcher II: …Ms. Tooth Fairy?

Tooth Fairy: Sorry. I’d like to ask …

Researcher I: What’s going on?

Tooth Fairy: I seem to remember that there’s still a volunteer application form for the previous project in the institute?

Researcher I: That’s true.

Researcher II: Let me see … Oh! It’s in the drawer.

Tooth Fairy: May I have it for a while?

Researcher I: Of course! Why do you need it, Ms. Tooth Fairy?

Tooth Fairy: Just take a look.

…

The hotel was about fifteen minutes away from the institute, and it took about ten minutes to walk from the institute to the lab. It took me only five minutes that time. Not until I picked up the phone and felt out of breath did I realize I had just trotted all the way here.

…

Tooth Fairy: Hello … yes. Could you please put me in touch with …

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: Is that John! It’s me … Tooth Fairy. Listen. For your mom’s issue, I have an update …

The call was answered very quickly and the communication was as smooth as the project. The arrangements for John’s mother were soon finalized. All the worries seemed to never exist from the very beginning.

I had never felt so happy … Never so relaxed and careless.

The animals in the lab were drifting asleep under the effects of the drug. I noticed the white carbuncle twitch slightly out of the corner of my eye.

It was No.12. I leaned over, trying to find out what happened.

Beneath its white fur lied a tiny tooth that came from nowhere.

Tooth Fairy: …

Now I might have had a million premonitions and suspicions.

But back then I simply hung up the phone, and put it in my pouch.

Stage 16 | Crucial Choice

Voice Mailbox

Crowd: Whoo hoo …!

Crowd: To … Mellophine!

BANG …!

The Bollinger R.D. was opened with the sound. The bright golden liquor rose into the air lavishly. The institute was alive with the scent of plums, dried apricots and fresh hazelnuts.

The Phase III clinical trial was supposed to be the longest and the most difficult challenge to take. Even after that, the thick documents of the new drug had to be submitted again, and waited to be approved for at least six months.

Researcher II: Hey! Don’t touch my steak!

However, it took only three months for Mellophine to get the marketing approval. Soon, a legendary drug that could rewrite the history was ready for the world in just one year.

It all went incredibly fast, yet creepily smooth.

Professor Evan: Hahahaha! To the Campbells!

Crowd: To the Campbells!

Tooth Fairy: Thank you all.

Researcher I: What’s wrong? The champagne’s not to your taste?

Tooth Fairy: … Not really.

The golden bubbles in the glass rose slowly along with a bit of aniseed aroma.

*bubbles break*

My uneasiness was like the bubbles in the glass, gradually rising and hovering on the edge of breaking.

Tooth Fairy: … It’s 9:35 p.m.

That was the third time I’d raised my wrist. Unfortunately, the hour hand of my watch had only sluggishly advanced three notches.

Tooth Fairy: …

But I had no intention of staying any longer.

Tooth Fairy: No worries. I’ll let you get on, never mind. It’s a bit muggy. I’m getting some fresh air.

Professor Evan: …

…

Tooth Fairy: Huh …

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: I should go and …

As I moved, there was a slight crashing sound coming from within the flannel pouch I carried.

Tooth Fairy: …

I didn’t understand where the inexplicable uneasiness came from … Was it because it’s going too well?

Tooth Fairy: Huh …

Or was it because at that moment, I did not believe wholeheartedly in the possibility that humans and arcanists could work together?

…

*door opens*

The lab was dark, and although the lights were not on, I could just smelled a sense of foreboding.

Tooth Fairy: … !

Tooth Fairy: This, it’s …

Mice, rabbits, beagles, and multiple species of carbuncles and olitiaus, I had taken care of every single one of them. And now, they were, without exception, limp inside the cages, dying.

Tooth Fairy: How could this happen …?

If the carbuncles and olitiaus were still barely alive, those poor animals without arcane power were in unbearable miseries.

Obviously before they died, they had been subjected to much torture. The wounds on their bodies were mostly left when their struggled.

Tooth Fairy: …No. 12.

The white Carbuncle lay in the deepest part of the cage. Its teeth broken by itself were scattered around. It would break up into pieces by the slightest touch.

???: Ms. Campbell.

???: Don’t hide there.

Tooth Fairy: …

Everything turned out to be clear. The conference, the tooth, the approval that’s too fast, the list of people about to join the pharmaceutical company …

I didn’t look back.

Tooth Fairy: Professor Evan.

Professor Evan: … It rarely happens.

Tooth Fairy: Rarely?

I just felt like my voice was barely heard.

Tooth Fairy: Did your sustained release formula really work?

Tooth Fairy: How many milligrams does one single tablet contain? Have the extracts been approved by the arcanist side?

Professor Evan: Most pureblood arcanist volunteers haven’t seen any serious undesirable effects.

Tooth Fairy: Pureblood … Great.

I turned around to face my former mentor, who looked even strange to me at the moment.

Tooth Fairy: 5mg? 10mg? How many did you put in? How about you taste it, and see what happens to humans? You sent me the fake treatment reports of the volunteers.

Professor Evan: FDA has approved it for marketing. There’s no point of questioning me.

Tooth Fairy: That’s a bribe.

Professor Evan: It does work wonders. There is no other drug in market that takes effect faster and lasts longer than it does.

Professor Evan: It’s a basic human right to get rid of pain. The side effects are the price that must be paid for dignity.

Tooth Fairy: Now, your hypocritical propaganda doesn’t work for me.

Tooth Fairy: Please move.

Professor Evan: Ms. Campbell …

…

Tooth Fairy: Get out of my way!!

I almost ran madly back to the hotel. Nothing was more important than terminating the clinical treatment experiment … before it’s too late.

It did work, yes, as long as I was quick enough, and as long as there’s no delay, with adequate dosage, and hadn’t cause any irreversible complications…

*door bumped*

Tooth Fairy: Hah … Hah …

Tooth Fairy: …!

I kicked the hotel door open. My calves felt like two taut bows. I almost got the telephone receiver with both my hands and knees.

Phone: You have a voice message. It will be played after the beep.

Tooth Fairy: …

Beep …

Phone: Hey … Ms. Tooth Fairy. How are you?

Phone: You … I really appreciate your help, and my Mom …

Phone: I, I …

Phone: Mom passed away yesterday … I’m sorry I can’t give you the address of the cemetery.

Phone: When I get back to Texas, I’ll have a simple funeral for her at home … I wish you could come.

Phone: Oh, right … this is … this is John.

Phone: Goodbye.

Stage 21 | The Search is Over

The Story Just Begins

Professor Evan: You’re the one who submitted the interception application?!

Professor Evan: It will come into the market soon … with not even an objection from the head of FDA.

Tooth Fairy: Each tablet contains a minimum of 10mg tibaine derivatives, and over 50% of its ingredient is Winnipogo extract. If not a pureblood arcanist, the patient won’t stand the first course of treatment, but will be sent directly to a psychiatric hospital under the effect of it.

Professor Evan: …

Tooth Fairy: Not only does your so-called sustained release technology take no effect at all, it also makes the two ingredients reject each other.

Tooth Fairy: Put something like this into production? I think you’re insane.

Professor Evan: You! Phew … fine …

Professor Evan: Listen to me, Campbell.

Professor Evan: It works …

Tooth Fairy: It works? I’m sorry. I can’t laugh at this joke as many times as you say it.

Professor Evan: …

Professor Evan: F**k …

Professor Evan: Most pain, will … all … be … im-mu-nized…!

Tooth Fairy: Most profit will come to your pocket, too. Professor Evan, I’m stopping you in my own name.

Tooth Fairy: No doubt it will be a phenomenon, be sold to the streets and blocks, to the poor and the sick who have been suffering from disease for half their lives. It works at the cost of extremely severe addiction and morality risk.

Tooth Fairy: If the arcanists would become ridiculous addicts in the end, have you ever thought what would happen to those humans!

Tooth Fairy: Death. They would die after a mental breakdown!

Tooth Fairy: There’s no way I’m letting Mellophine come into the market.

Professor Evan: Haha, you won’t let it? What the hell do you think you are!

My tutor who was gentle in the past showed his true colors in front of me. In my college life, I had never seen such a shameful attitude from him.

Professor Evan: No matter how you Campbells pretend to be human, it’ll not change your crazy stupid arcane gene in your bones and blood.

Professor Evan: Two … Take two f**king tablets a day and these losers will eat, drink and shit like a f**king normal people. No pain at all! What’s wrong with death? Huh?

He gnashed his teeth like a rat, his cheeks red and his fists clenched.

Professor Evan: Sooner or later they will die. And they are better off dead that way!

Professor Evan: Surviving like a mad dog, feeding cash to those life-sustaining machines every day. I’d rather they give it to me, and I’ll give them back peace!

Tooth Fairy: …

Tooth Fairy: F**k …

…

But me, I was the same.

I was just as messed up as he was, just as angry, as if I was standing on top of a red-hot iron, trembling shamefully.

*chair falls and hits someone*

…

Tooth Fairy: There’s no doubt. You are scum.

Professor Evan: Wha-what? Ah! Oh … Oh God! Oh!

Professor Evan: My … my tooth! Damn it, My tooth!

…

I got the tooth that I hated the most.

A dog tooth protruding from the stinking mouth of a middle aged man. The tooth was rotten to the root, just as his heart. It was punched out of that damn mouth by me, and reeked of an uncontainable stench.

Tooth Fairy: You’ll never fix it in your life. You will always have to live with this shame.

Tooth Fairy: Me and my tooth fairies promise you that.

…

After the drug scandal came to light, Evan, who lost a tooth, buried it as fast as he could. The money that hadn’t even been earned yet were mostly put into public relations. I’m sure he was tossing and turning in the middle of the night hating it.

But I was not able to stop the launch of Mellophine.

…

Tooth Fairy: …

An arcanist is just an arcanist, while a human can only be a human.

Maybe one day they could live in peace, but it wouldn’t be because of me, or Campbell, and it’s not now.

The tooth is a reminder of the price I will pay for choosing the wrong path on impulse.

…

[Campbell’s House]

Mrs. Campbell: Tooth Fairy.

Tooth Fairy: …

Mrs. Campbell: *sigh* It’s been almost three months.

Tooth Fairy: … Em.

Mrs. Campbell: Your father and I have worked out the solution. FDA will require them to place a boxed warning on the label. It should come to the market officially in three months.

Tooth Fairy: What about the ingredients?

Mrs. Campbell: The Winnipogo extracts have been removed. The tibaine derivative is retained, but limited to 3mg per tablet. The addiction problem is hard to manage. Their patent for sustained release formula is just a sham.

Mrs. Campbell: But as long as the prescription is reasonable, all can be avoided.

Tooth Fairy: … Em.

Mrs. Campbell: …

Mrs. Campbell: I shouldn’t suggest you go for a walk, should I?

Tooth Fairy: You could. But I’m not doing what I’m told.

Mrs. Campbell: …

Tooth Fairy: … ?

Mrs. Campbell: I was contacted by St. Pavlov's Foundation. They are currently seeking an experienced physician. A gentle and patient young woman to serve as their school physician.

Tooth Fairy: … School physician?

Tooth Fairy: Huh.

Tooth Fairy: Are you asking me to take care of a bunch of kids?

Mrs. Campbell: You’re not doing what you’re told.

Mrs. Capbell: But I’ll put it right here … in case you change your mind. Take it any time as you wish.