Chapter 13: Distress

Five days ago......

-----

"Sir Glenville,"

A man with an upright back and the solemn, submissive eyes of a man entered the space. He stood in a saluting position.

The other man was sitting on a chair. He was working nonstop despite the another presence in the room. He was rather aware but his eyes and hands were too busy to care.

Still, the man uphold his position until the man in the chair commanded him. He was there to deliver a report about the four days ago events.

Four days ago was when they infiltrated an illegal auction selling beastmen slaves. They have been keeping an eye on it since a month ago because they received a report about the kidnapping happening in the villages of beastmen.

The guildmaster appointed him and his men to take care of it. The mission was a success, they were able to wrap the individuals behind the illegal selling. They also took back the beastmen in their villages.

Now the man on the chair was processing all the documents and reports he needs to compile to submit to Bishop.

Casimir suddenly stopped his busy hands from working, he blinked and blinked again.

'I'm so tired'. He thought.

Then only he gave attention to the other presence in the room.

"Sir," the man once again saluted.

"Oh, Dain, it's you. Are those reports I've requested? Put it under the table near the auction authority documents, I'll see it later. You may go now." Casimir pointed to the table with neatly organized documents unlike his study table full of scattered papers and unfinished paperwork.

Casimir, then, resumed his work as the man named, Dain, obediently hand down the papers on the table and prepared to exit the room.

"Oh, sir, before I forgot Sir Raffael would like to talk to you. It seems important." He said as he halted on the doorsteps.

"Raffael? I'll make time, where is he? Is he outside? Make him go inside."

Dain felt a cold sweat on his face.

"U-uhm, Sir Raffael requested you sir to personally go to him in the Northern Hileo."

Casimir upon hearing it, his back began to ache. "Hah?!" He frustratingly yelled.

Casimir trembled in distress.

First, he's still not finished. Second, he is dealing with demands ought to be finished, and then goes Raffael.

Casimir tiredly pinches the bridge of his nose. That Raffael rarely requested something like this. He prefer to execute his missions alone.

His asking for him which he only did once before. No matter what danger he was in, he never asked anyone for help or just a little assistance.

He is not being arrogant though. That guy is too kind to burden others with his own problems. That's why he does things on his own. It was hard to understand his actions at first but Raffael clearly doesn't want others to be involved in danger.

Casimir didn't expect Raffael to call on him though.

But isn't he too heartless? Casimir once again felt crying in his seat.

'I want to sleep! My fingers numb already from writing continuously.' he thought.

"Alright fine, prepare the carriage, I'll leave early."

He arranges the papers accordingly before leaving. Sitting in the carriage, he saw dark clouds forming on the horizon.

"Now that I thought, the weather these days are seemly bad, the winds are cold too." Casimir sighed. He leans his head to comfort his aching neck.

Maybe I'll just take a nap? Hmm. Sounds good.

A knock on the door made me flinch. It's the horseman knocking outside. I opened the window.

"Oh sir, were you sleeping? Please pardon me, but sir Raffael wants to see you immediately."

Here already? That was quick.

I look at the sky in the window, it's dark and cloudy. It's not going to be a good afternoon.

I got off the carriage while walking inside I heard the overlapping conversation from the room ahead of me.

I'm sure it's Raffael and--Crisis? He is here? Oh, I thought he was busy with his research.

From the tone of their voices, it seems serious. I'll will not disturb them.

"I have anticipated that you'll ask me about this."

"The bodies we found in the underground Casimir subjugated are tortured to death, similar to Evyterr's case." Raffael stated.

They're talking about the bodies we found while investigating the auction. It was a disgusting sight. The dead bodies are scattered, abandoned to rotten.

I rest my fingers on my chin. It's a given Raffael won't sit still about it. That guy after all......

I sighed between my words.

"The guards there told us that they were tortured and starved for a month, due to the trauma they received, they will likely die quickly. It wasn't the case of Evyterr."

Oh? I was taken aback when I heard. Going back to the accident, the kid was in the brink of death when we saw him but thanks to Crisis's effort he was saved somehow.

To compare, it does not make sense, I agree. The case of this incident and Evyterr's.

"He was trapped in that small container for three months, he even received numerous injuries. The blood that came from his wounds is still fresh when we saw him even though he was trapped there for three months. It doesn't make sense unless it's something else." Raffael's voice was raspy. He sounded confused from his tone, he wants answers to his doubts.

"Something else...." Crisis repeated.

What's something else they're talking about? Now, this makes me confused too.

"That day......months ago, we rescued your brother in his unimaginable state. As a doctor myself the moment I saw your brother lying helplessly there I thought he is dead if I didn't sense his faint breathing. I had a hard time healing him. His body declines the magic I'm transferring to him because there's a presence of curse around him."

Curse?

The atmosphere went cold. I was too, standing behind the wall, unmoving.

It's been a long time ago when learning about curses was banned throughout the world. Getting involved in curses is a grave sin, a sin worse than killing someone.

It was forbidden magic. Curses are taboo. Since it was a long time ago people forget the existence of curses through the efforts made by rulers of this world, now only a few knew.

I never heard nor learned about the curses until I joined Iris. Guild Master was adamant to educate us about the existence of curses even though it was an act of disobeying the law.

He said, "Behind the silent hum of the wind, there's the symphony of chaos."

Guildmaster words explain that the curses are still there, and they will cause the cries of humanity someday.

"He was starved for three months, for a normal person they will die without reaching a month without food or water even. You're curious why he was still alive despite his circumstances?"

Raffael meekly nodded.

"That's because of his rigil, the energy that supports the flow of our mana and heals the disrupted part of our mana is feeding him off. That's the reason our magic never ruptured. Out of a hundred percent, five percent of that case will likely to happen."

"Our rigil for us humans must be maintained by maintaining well our mana. It's an active and independent force that works when our body feels threatened. For Evyterr, the rigil present in his body took action for keeping him alive by feeding him off mana. That caused him to corrupt his rigil and can't use magic for now. The rigil fights back the evil essences the curses create that are trying to take his body, which also made his rigil collapse from supporting the flow of mana. That'll be the reason why his wounds are fresh because the rigil is also healing the flow of magic and fights back the evil essences, the reason why it creates excessive wounds itself."

Even behind the wall I still feel Crisis sigh deeply. Poor guy.

Learning about the process of mana and rigil in our bodies was akin to learning another language. It was hard to understand at first, and it takes patience to comprehend it.

"You're brother is not normal." addendum to his explanation.

This makes up all the answers to his doubts I hope.

"Crisis, is there a probability that he can recover his mana by now?"

"Yes, but they'll be complications. Though it will cease if he will continue to recover from now on. If he pushes himself in the middle of his recovery his rigil will not recover perfectly, thus he will be prone to sickness. That's why it's best to let him rest and away from stress."

"I...... understand." Raffael softly said. Crisis studied Raffael's actions and entirely scratched the back of his head. I can only sigh too.

We knew the relationship with his brother is beyond bad. It's terrible.

Then, when can I go inside now? I feel awkward if I just go inside in that atmosphere.

I look out the window, raindrops are falling and it rained loudly. I can also see my reflection in the window.

It's a heavy eye bag I'm carrying under my eye. This is what I get after ignoring sleep for three days because of paper works. In times like this I wish to return to dust, my paper works only increasing! I bet it's piling up again after I left.

Ah, I badly need a vacation after this.

"When are going to step inside, Casimir? Aren't you done eavesdropping?" The nerves in my body suddenly rise. I can feel the cold sweat on my face.

Raffael caught me. I slowly peeked in the door and the two of them already sat looking at me.

I fix my face and greeted them normally.

"You idiot, you should've gone inside if you're here already," Raffael said.

"I wouldn't want to ruin the mood, I'm not oblivious."

"Glad you're here, Casimir. Now we can start." Crisis greeted me and handed out a paper.

I took it and read what it contains. It was all about the auction. We talked about the progress of our investigation. The auction was now Iris's property and is still under investigation. I never bought the topic up about what they talked about that I heard. I'm already caught, I have no excuses.

Our meeting lasts a bit longer, before we knew it the rain already was gone and it was nightfall. We wouldn't notice if not for a servant who came for our dinner.

Raffael requested me an important favor. He never looked so serious but I saw it today. He might have attitude issues but despite that, he is a kind man, a lone wolf though.

"You're going to the central plaza?" I asked.

"I'm going to accompany Evyterr after his recovery."

"So, you want to him good places to relax? Is that it?"

"Yes..."

Ah?

Hm?!

-----

Five days later......

"Evyterr,"

Raffael has been reaching out his hand to Evyterr, supporting his way outside. Evyterr was reluctant at the very moment but his action after surprised Raffael. The young master took the other door instead. He opened the opposite door and get off it there.

Raffael's eyes widened. The young master's action made him realize the extent of the young boy's hatred considering how he refused his hand and took the other door.

He retreated his hands.

The servants hurried to attend Evyterr because they were restricted to not making the young master act on his own with his recovering body.

His doctor only permitted him to take a little walk outside the mansion to enhance his mood, which will be good for his recovery to have a different environment like taking him out to the central plaza.

The central plaza is where both nobles, commoners, and other ranks intercommunicate. It's a lively place. There are tons of shops and stalls to enjoy and visit. You can see tall buildings and a lot to discover. It is called the central plaza because it is not only located at the center of the kingdom but it is popular with different kinds of entertainment and you can find everything you want to find.

Evyterr stared at the busy people in bewilderment. His anxiousness earlier ceased upon laying his eyes on the people everywhere. He has the urge to step foot in every store and see what the best they could offer. He was trying to enjoy it for the first time which is why he was stunned to move.

Raffael's eyes rested on Evyterr's deemed delighted face. For some time there was some glow in glass-like skin.

He handed out a piece of paper. Listed here are some good places that his friend, Casimir, recommended, though he doubts it will be useful since Evyterr wants to explore on his own.

In the first place, he never expected that Evyterr will come with him. Evyterr's withdrawal from him made him sensible.

In other words, Evyterr despises him. He doesn't need to ask him or talk about it.

Evyterr's little endeavor started by going inside each store he find fascinating with evident glimmers in his eyes.

When noon came, Raffael instructed the servants to let Evyterr rest. The noon day's heat can't be taken lightly especially since Evyterr is in the process of recovery.

He ordered the servants to guide Evyterr to a particular shop. Raffael holds out a piece of paper to a servant telling them to go there as he will attend something and he'll won't be long.

After he talked to the servants he ordered a knight to come to him.

"Young master," The still knight bowed.

"I'll be attending something, I will leave Evyterr's safety in your hands. I'll be quick, therefore, protect him at all costs."

"As you ordered, young master." The knight again bowed.

On the other hand, Evyterr was guided to a shop by the servants. Telling him to rest for a while because he's been walking until noonday. He must be tired.

The shop that the servants guided Evyterr to is a dessert shop. The shop has small customers but the desserts are undeniably delicious.

Evyterr is seated at one of the tables. He saw multiple types of sweets in the shop. The excitement painted his eyes. The variety of desserts made him crave to eat.

Oh, is it already lunch?

The customers were mostly lower nobles and people of high class though not in the aristocracy just telling by their clothes.

A minute later, the waiter and waitress of the shop delivered four trays of desserts to Evyterr's table.

Evyterr gulped at the sight. Is he able to finish all of that? He seriously thought.

He thanked the workers and began to eat. Evyterr took a spoon of vanilla ice cream when something crossed his mind. Though he admit he doesn't care, Evyterr still wanted to know.

"Ceras," One of the maids accompanying his step forward. Theseus introduces her to him as a substitute for his place.

"Young master," she bowed.

"Where is my brother? I thought he was accompanying us. Did he leave us here?"

"His grace attended some matters, he'll be back after he's done with it." She explained.

I will still understand if she said he ditched us. I don't understand.

"Young Master, please don't be disappointed. His grace will certainly return." She said. I didn't bother to reply and continued to taste the desserts in delight.

***

I'm treating you sweets just as I promised, baby. I hope you enjoy it.～⁠(⁠つ⁠ˆ⁠Д⁠ˆ⁠)⁠つ⁠｡⁠☆

How's everything going on, my dear, Descendants? I'm glad to update today!

I have no further news to talk about, maybe if you guys have time, check messages in my announcement board(⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠).

Regarding to that matter I announced, I have plans to discuss someday as I update.

I was really eager to update today since it's my birthday! So, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Hope you all doing well! See you again!

Lovelots(⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~