Moving to the door he sees mist pouring in through the bottom. A thick stream of mist culminates inside the room from outside the door. He gazes in confusion just before pulling the door open. To greet him is Walter keeled over on the ground just to the right a little way down the hallway. A bloody stab wound in his chest, just to the left missing his spine.
"Walter are you alright?" Orpheus asks the obvious question, proceeding to step out into the hallway.
Just as Walter desperately lifts his head, speaking with all the energy he can muster. "Behind... You..." He collapses, his wound bleeding even more as if that one action caused more harm than good.
Hearing his distorted words, Orpheus lifts his gaze, and realisation dawns on him. The mist pours out of the room, accumulating behind him. The gaseous form morphs into the size of a man. Condensing together, transforming into a person. The man is slightly taller than Orpheus wearing a black hooded cloak and cloth covering the bottom half of his face. Wielding a steel dagger in his right hand, preparing to plunge it into the nearest neck.
The assassin prepares to attack, and Orpheus's eyes dot to the right as if he can feel his enemy's presence. The assassin flips his dagger, the blade facing downwards as he gestures a stabbing motion. The blade descends towards his target.
"Contego." Orpheus chants, forming an ethereal barrier behind him. The barrier forms in the shape of a rectangle, the height and width of his body. The barrier repels the blade as it bounces off the hard surface. Propelling the assassin back a few feet before dissipating as Orpheus turns, speaking to the would-be assassin. "Hey, that's my move. I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but in this instance, I'm not very flattered at all." He states, disappointment in his voice before becoming enraged.
The rising emotions compel even more violent thoughts to pass through his mind. "Hmm another foolish head to be taken... Excellent." The thought of beheading his enemy grants him a malevolent smile. He prepares himself to do so, but before he can attack, he looks behind to see Walter. The man is slowly dying of blood loss, his breathing becomes ever-shallow. "Ah damn that stupid heroic prerogative." He thinks to himself, turning to his enemy he raises his right arm against him. The assassin witnesses this and prepares to lunge forward, but just before he can reach him Orpheus chants. "Veni Forth Elementum Ventus." A gust of wind springs forth in a spiral shape. Impacting the attacking assassin and propelling him back. The assassin is thrown into the air, he performs a backflip and lands on his feet a few metres down the hallway. "Impressive!" He remarked out loud, amazed at his own enemy's feat of gymnastics.
Lunging forward with both his hands outstretched. His fingertips aimed at the ground with both palms facing each other. Separating his hands in opposite directions, his palms cross the hallway and then up towards the roof as he chants. "Contego Murus." He rips his hands to the ground, and a large ethereal shield manifest, encompassing the entire hallway and creating a barrier between them. He turns to Walter, picking him up by draping his arm over his shoulder. Lifting up the exhausted butler groans in pain. "Don't worry you will be fine, now come on Walter." Turning around, he proceeded to move in the opposite direction, before he steps away his gaze is drawn to the assassin.
The assassin is standing just behind the barrier, his pensive eyes on the barrier, lightly caressing with his right hand. His eyes gaze directly at Orpheus before he slowly transforms into the mist. His body begins to deteriorate into a sentient mist, from the left side of his body to the other until he is gone.
Observing this with awe, Orpheus proceeds to leave. Turning to the left and down the hallway, he comes upon the dead body of a brunette woman. The woman is laid next to the left side of the wall, her throat slit and dead eyes staring back at him. "Well, she's dead no helping her." He thinks to himself as he continues to drag the injured Walter towards the foyer. Eventually reaching the door he pushes it open with his free hand. Once through the door and to the foyer, he yells trying to attain the attention of the guards. "Help... Help me!" He yells at the top of his lungs, setting down the wounded Walter in the middle of the room.
Alerted, the guards outside open the front door and make their way inside with haste. "Sir Orpheus!" Four guards enter the room and one of them responds to his calls.
"You, come here and help me place pressure on his wound. You get a healer here quickly and the rest secure this room!" He commanded and the soldiers acknowledge his request. One of them moves quickly towards them, kneeling down and placing both his hands on the wound.
Others run quickly to the opposite side of the room, open the two doors and quickly proceed down the hallway. The last two draw their swords and spread out in the room, remaining alert and focused. "What happened?" The guard pressing the wound asks.
"An assassin has infiltrated the palace; I suggest you stay alert he possesses some form of transfiguration magic; He can turn himself into a mist." Orpheus frantically explains before applying more pressure onto the wound, causing Walter to grunt in pain.
"Oh my god... You sound the alarm!" The guard assisting points to the left-most guard. He quickly leaves through the front door. The guards panic as more blood seeps through his fingers. Orpheus still remaining calm presses even harder to prevent further blood loss.
"The blood is coming through... Can't you do anything Sir Orpheus?" The guard yells in a panic, his gaze fixed on the strained hero before him.
"This is not really my area of expertise, slay a monster I'm your man but playing doctor... No." He responds with an aggressively sarcastic tone.
"Orpheus... Orpheus please... If I die..." Walter desperately says, struggling to remain conscious.
"You're not going to die here Walter; you're going to die in your bed when your old and grey or... Older and greyer." Orpheus replies with a mildly humorous tone as if to lighten up a tragic situation.
"Haha... I admire your optimism but... Please tell the king... It has been an... Honour..." Walter's breathing becomes slower, his eyes close and his body becomes weaker.
"No, you will not die!" Orpheus roars angrily, placing both his hands on top of each other. His hand formed a triangle, lifting them up a few centimetres above his heart. "Instigo." A wave of energy resonant from his palms as he chants the spell. The energy appears as a reddish hue surrounding them. Building up to move forward whilst covering Walter's chest and with a sudden jolt of energy, he springs to life.
His eyes once closed, his breath shallow and his body approaching a lifeless corpse is suddenly revived. His eyes open wide as a wave of confusion passes across his face. Dotting back and forth, Orpheus and the guard continue to treat his wound. His breathing becomes heavier as he lets out a loud cough. "You're going to be fine, just hang in there." Orpheus says with a sincere tone as the sound of footsteps can be heard behind him. Alerted to the presence he turns his gaze towards the doorway, leading to the king's meeting room. Witnessing the king, four of his guards and Leila emerge from the corridor. King Artuiel approaches his injured friend, fear and panic emitted from his eyes. His gaze ever fixed on the gushing wound of his dear friend.
"Walter!" The king yells with an uneasy tone, sadness and fear have culminated into a single word. He moves forward with Leila and the guards behind them. They swiftly walk around to the opposite side of Orpheus and kneel down beside him. Walter turns his gaze to his king, sadness in his eyes as if this was his last night on earth. Looking down at him the king grabs his left hand tightly, with both of his. "You're going to be fine Walter... Leila please can you do anything." The king turns to Leila with a hopeful gaze.
"I'll do what I can." Leila returns the gaze, sparking a glimmer of confidence within the fearful king's eyes.
"Your majesty... I... Am sorry." Walter desperately tries to convey his words while the king looks down with compassion.
"You're going to be alright Walter, please... Save your breath." The king comforts Walter while Leila turns her gaze to Orpheus.
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"Orpheus, I need to see the wound." Leila remarks and Orpheus responds, removing his hands from the wound, it gushes with blood. She inspects the stab wound closely, diagnosing the injury. Raising her palms towards his chest, both hands on each side with the wound in the centre. She focuses her gaze and starts to chant. "Percuro Vulnere." A wave of energy emanates from her palms, raining upon the wound. Her eyes squint as she strains at the sheer amount of focus the spell requires. The energy surrounding him moves towards the centre as the wound heals ever slowly.
Orpheus's gaze turns to the straining Leila, concern in his eyes. The wound continues to close until it is completely healed and with a sigh of relief, everyone present is put at ease. "There that should do it." She states, withdrawing her hands as the energy vanishes.
"I feel..." Walter states with an improved expression, before grunting in pain as if the injury still existed.
"What... but how I just healed him?" Leila questions, gesturing her hands to each side in confusion.
"He could have internal injuries that the spell couldn't reach, that spell allows you to heal that which you can see. Making it good for superficial and external injuries." Orpheus chimes in, observing Walter's agony and then drawing his gaze to Leila.
"You need to do something quickly Leila!" The king states with a loud but sincere tone of voice.
"I don't know, how can I heal what I can't see?" She pleads while panicking at the lack of solutions available,
Witnessing her panic, he stares at his blood-soaked hand. "I've got an idea." He announces as the others look on with panic. Lifting his hands up to his eye line, his left and right palms facing each other. He closes his eyes as the others gaze at him. He commits some unknown action; he concentrates for a moment. "Remotis Visum." Concentrating on the blood dripping from his right hand, picturing the flow of energy. A tether comes to view in his mind, linking the blood upon his hand to the injured Walter. Focusing intently, he moves his right hand to the centre, gripping the wrist with his left. "Sanguis." His mind drifts, perceiving the blood flow throughout Walter's body. Soon every single blood cell becomes known to him. Moving his gaze through the chest he spots a small tear in his lungs. Within that tear, blood gushes from the internal wound.
Swiftly he opens his eyes and moves his left palm towards Leila's face. She becomes even more confused as he chants an unfamiliar spell. "Translatio Auspectu." Energy emits from his palm as what he sees, is passed on to her. With this sudden change of perception, she is able to see the wound buried deep within Walter's chest. She perceives them in awe and fascination, able to see within his entire body. "Can you see it now, the tear in his left lung?" Orpheus asks, maintaining the spell with intense concentration.
"Yes... Yes, I can." She replies, placing her right hand over his chest and chanting once more. "Percuro Vulnere." Focusing on the internal trauma, the mystical sight blessed unto her shows her visions of his wound slowly closing. The gushing wound spilled blood into his lung's sutures together. With her work done, a smile crosses her face as if a miracle just occurred. "There that should do it." She remarks, now relaxed as Walter's painful grunts cease while they drift into unconsciousness. "Your majesty he is healed, he requires rest... I'm sure he will recover soon." She further states, her gaze shifting to the king who reciprocates an expression of thankfulness and joy.
"Thank you... Leila and Orpheus, truly both of your magic, are treasures this kingdom is grateful to have." King Artuiel states with a smile on his face. Carefully he lifts Walter to his feet with the assistance of his guards. Turns to the open doorway leading to the corridor and to his meeting room. Slowly shuffling towards it, through the door and down the hallway.
"Well, that was something." Orpheus chimes with a short sigh, exhaling a deep breath before turning to Leila.
"What kind of spell was that I... I have never seen it used that way?" She asks.
"Huh well, it's a simple spell, a combination of clairvoyance and blood magic. It allows you to perceive blood flow within the human body, I adapted it from a method that mages of the Dreburg Empire use in surgery." He explains after reclaiming his calm, reflecting on his past dealings with the mages of his past.
"Dreburg Empire... Surgery what are you doing dealing with them, the conflict between the empire and the Theavalon Kingdom is well documented in history?" She asks, sceptically with an almost disapproving expression.
"Huh well, I have no quarrel with the Dreburg Empire and have no part in their centuries-long conflict with the kingdom." He replies with a smug look on his face. "And in regards to your question... Surgery is a form of advanced medical magic, similar to what we performed."
She nods as her curiosity is quenched, but still possesses her disapproving air. "Well, I suppose you can do as you please." She gives a quick sigh before her gaze drops to the ground with her left hand caressing her neck.
"Thanks, I appreciate your understanding." Just as he replies, sounds can be heard from the front door as they swiftly fling open.
Through the door emerges Queen Lysia clutching Susanna in her arms. She holds a cloth to her bloody face, red staining the fabric. She flashes a look of concern towards Orpheus who stares back with an unfamiliar expression. His eyes grow ever wider at the mere sight of her injury, the fear in her eyes seems to transport instantly to his, as his gaze meets hers. "Orpheus." Susanna states as if not expecting his immediate presence.
"Susanna, what happened?" Shocked at the consecutive situations, requests an answer to another unforeseen event.
"She was attacked by a thief... Please, Leila, we need your assistance." Queen Lysia chimes gesturing towards Leila with a commanding tone. Leila spirits to her side just as Orpheus moves as well. He turns to her right side opposite the Queen and places his arm around her. The embrace brings a wave of comfort to Susanna as if healed by a simple touch.
"Don't worry I'll heal that right up, please let me see." Leila reaches forward.
"Please... No, don't touch... I just want to go to my room." Susanna recoils with a fumbling voice striking away Leila's hand.
"Susanna, you need healing." Leila insists with a little force behind her direct but caring tone.
"Don't worry I'll take care of her." Orpheus chimes in, carefully cradling her in his arms. The others are confounded by her choice. He mildly strains while cradling her, Susanna floating in the air gazes at him and gives a short smile.
"But you don't know any healing spells, I know that for a fact from your behaviour in Frederick's classes." Leila interjects, reminiscing on his past behaviour, giving concern to his actions.
"Leila let Orpheus be her hero, I'm sure it will be alright." Queen Lysia speaks, assured of the welfare of her new and now dear friend.
"Yes, no need to worry and I have seen you use the spell three times now, I think I'll manage. Thank you, your majesty, for bringing her to me." Turning his gaze to the Queen, she nods in response.
"Okay, then but your majesty you must know, Walter has been attacked... He is recovering with your husband." The Queen's eyes widen, fear noticeable on her face at the news given to her.
"Oh, dear please lead the way I must see him... I will leave Susanna in your care Sir Orpheus. Guards escort them to their rooms, the rest remain at your posts and be alert!" The queen commands, her posture straightens, gesturing to the guards. She and Leila move to meet with her husband.
Orpheus on the other hand carries Susanna to their room, escorted by two guards behind them. "It's going to be alright." He comforts them with a soft tone while they continue through the left door and down the hallway. The group traverses the hallway and the corpse of the fallen maid is still laid out against the wall. Immediately a guard inspects the body, visibly sighing at the lack of a pulse.
They turn the corner and make their way to the room. Walking through the opened door, the guards close it behind them and stand guard.
Orpheus moves towards the bed and lays her carefully down amongst the sheets, her head caressing the pillow, he moves her to a more comfortable position. Looking down at her with caring eyes, he carefully reaches for the cloth clenched to her face.
"No." Susanna snaps, moving her hand to counter his.
"It's okay." He replies calmly and with sincere eyes. She responds by returning her hand to her chest and allowing him to move further. Slowly he lifts the blood-stained cloth from her face, revealing a deep wound on the right side. The slash mark is vertical from her right temple down to the bottom of her cheek. It is surrounded by blood, though no longer bleeding as much.
"Well, that looks bad, let me take care of that for you." Orpheus's eyes emit a strange sense of compassion, she has never seen before. She shuts her eyes as he directs both his palms towards her face. Surrounding the wound in a similar fashion to what Leila did with Walter.
Focusing on his mind, his gaze becomes more poignant and direct. He draws from the energy within and unleashes it to surround the wound. "I'm not much of a healer Susie, I'm more of the opposite, But I guess I can make an exception for you." He continues to focus more and more; Susanna relaxes her posture and becomes more comfortable despite her injury. The wave of energy with a reddish hue surrounds her wound, covering it with a translucent glow.
Orpheus starts to chant a spell he has never before uttered. "Percuro." The wave of energy vibrates rapidly, his expression turning to concern. Twisting his neck, he focuses with greater intensity. "Vulnere." The chant finally ends the magical energy seeping into the wound. He continues to focus, witnessing the wound slowly repair itself. The wound heals at a slow rate until it is no longer an injury but a faint scar.
The cut vanishes and the scar stretching from her right eyebrow down to her cheek appears in its place. He retracts his palms as the energy dissipates. Taken aback as if his stamina had significantly been reduced, he falls back to the chair, strategically placed near the bed. "Oh wow... That... That took a lot out of me, more than I thought. Remind me to congratulate Leila on her skill." He remarks, leaning back in his chair.
"Thank you." Lifting herself up and turning her gaze to the side. She peers at the exhausted man, whilst supporting her torso with her right arm, planted on her left. Her gaze drops to her knees, her expression morphs into depression.
He witnesses this, his concern showing just before he asks a question. "Now tell me what happened?" He asks, waiting for her to muster up the energy to reply.