Chapter 193 - Katherine Makes a Promise
My 'dragon wife' had finished scolding me and was now asleep in a nearby armchair. She had mentioned not wanting to disturb me or risk bumping into any of my bandaged wounds while sleeping.
My body ached intensely, and I admit that forcing myself to hug Cylla was a painful decision. My muscles were injured, and most of my bones were likely broken internally.
During the fight, I used electrical induction to move my body. It was similar to that phenomenon where a person’s muscles contract involuntarily after receiving a shock, causing their limbs to jolt suddenly. I was using it to propel myself after breaking a few bones. The situation worsened when I had to apply force to hold back the creature's jaw, which was trying to slice me in half. I nearly rendered my arms useless in that moment and had to create a wind burst in my palms, reinforced with electricity, to generate enough momentum to break the giant salamander’s jaw.
The presence of that soul golem complicated matters. The creature was incredibly powerful.
Soul golems are genuinely dangerous—monsters not to be underestimated, as they possess tremendous physical strength and access to immense magical power. A single golem like that could devastate an entire city if unleashed. Fortunately, they have a mana limitation and disappear when it runs out. But the truth is that I could have been killed by that soul golem if I had made even the slightest mistake.
Chloe and my mother are rare summoner mages, meaning their talent in magic is exceptional. This was one of the reasons why my mother attracted the attention of so many nobles when she was a soldier, besides her beauty. Anyone knew that a child she bore would be a talented mage.
I let out a small laugh, recalling how we made it back home.
“No one would believe this…” I murmured, still chuckling.
I waited for at least two hours before finally engaging in the fight with the assassins. This interval gave me enough time to move away from the city and follow an isolated road that wound through a dense forest. There was still a chance that someone, even from a distance, could have heard the explosions and deafening sounds of the battle, increasing the risk of scouts being nearby.
To ensure a safe and discreet return home, we adopted a less conventional approach. But first, I decided to cover up the sounds of the explosions and create some setbacks for the scouts. I conjured a massive storm cloud, bringing heavy rain and deafening thunder that covered the entire area. Immediately, the heavy rain began to hinder any potential investigation, while the thunder drowned out any suspicious battle noises.
With a series of clouds created, I used the wind to guide them toward Apsalon, ensuring that the storm not only concealed our tracks but also created a natural barrier to slow down any scouts, as I caused some flooding.
Sorry, merchants, but the flow on the roads will be tough... it’s for a good cause.
These intense clouds, combined with the river overflow, would buy us enough time to prevent anyone from investigating the area for a few days.
Yeah, looks like I ruined the students' weekend… Apsalon is facing a storm like never before.
These are the perks of being the only mage with the Storm element in the world.
As for our return, we got even more creative. We decided to travel by carriage, but via the river. Chloe conjured a large block of ice and placed the carriage on top of it, controlling its movement with the Wind and Water elements to increase speed. We navigated along the river until we exited into a forest, where I used Earth magic to level the terrain and make it easier to reach a completely different road that would lead us back to the city.
Once we reached Apsalon, Martha presented the documents as an employee of a high-ranking noble. As usual, the documentation ensured a smooth passage, without any questioning or need for a queue.
“I guess this will make for some stories during the end-of-year holiday…” I said, laughing, and then closed my eyes.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I was beginning to surrender to exhaustion. After hours of being treated by Martha, with all the dressings and bandages applied, the adrenaline that had kept me alert had finally dissipated. I had to drink two liters of a disgusting tea to help my body deal with the lingering poison in my veins. In the past, whenever my family poisoned me on purpose to strengthen my immunity, I’d drink this tea and spend a week peeing in different colors.
Poison... I was poisoned by that mage. Who would have thought that, in this life, it would mean almost nothing.
Still, I couldn’t help but think bitterly: if Icarus had been immune to poison, maybe that tragic event would never have happened.
Since my rebirth, poison had become a common part of my life, something routine in my everyday reality. Yet, for a brief moment, a painful memory from my past surfaced, one that still lingered within me as a scar from a lost battle.
I sighed deeply.
"Ah, little sister, you know how sad I am," I murmured, sensing the presence of the carnivorous plant approaching, its 'face' curiously tilted toward me. It sat in a pot next to my bed, a silent but constant companion.
"You and I have been through a lot over the years..." I said, extending a finger toward it and gently touching one of its fleshy leaves. The plant shifted back to its initial position, as if understanding my words.
It was more than just a plant. Created by my mother, it had been with me since the day I was born, protecting my crib from mosquitoes and unwanted insects. During the long journey to the castle, my mother, the plant, and I shared the same cramped carriage, until the phoenix arrived.
“You and I are great siblings,” I joked, creating a small water sphere in my palm and watering it. The plant's leaves opened with a soft crackle, accepting the water.
After that, I lay back down.
“Finally… some peace,” I murmured to myself, feeling the weight of sleep overtaking me. “I’ll let the adults decide the next steps. I just want to sleep for a few days…”
‘Knock, knock.’ The sound of knocking on the door made me open my eyes again, and the door slowly creaked open.
“Lord Nathan,” two voices said in unison. It was Natty and Catty, the synchronized maid sisters.
The two entered the room, each carrying a tray. Without saying much, they moved precisely to the dresser beside the bed, placing the trays there.
“We'll change your bandages later,” Natty said calmly, with a professional tone.
Catty approached, filling a jug with water and placing it on the bedside table. “And tomorrow, we’ll start your physical therapy in the afternoon,” she added, as if it were part of a routine.
I nodded slightly, feeling the weight of sleep returning but knowing that the coming days would be filled with intense recovery.
Natty sat beside me, holding a bowl of soup and a spoon.
“Don’t worry, I’ll feed you,” she said calmly.
“I can eat by myself,” I tried to protest.
The two shook their heads simultaneously, perfectly synchronized.
“We cannot allow that. You mustn’t move your arms unnecessarily,” Catty said firmly.
I sighed, realizing it was pointless to insist. I glanced at Cylla in the armchair, who just gave me a half-closed, disapproving look.
It's their job, you idiot... Martha has done this for me many times when I was hurt during training.
A soft knock echoed from the door. ‘Knock, knock.’
“Let me take care of him, girls,” my mother’s calm voice called as she entered the room.
Natty and Catty stood up and silently nodded. Cylla, upon hearing my mother’s voice, closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
Saved by the bell…
“If you need anything, Lady Katherine and Lord Nathan, just call,” they both said, bowing before leaving the room and closing the door carefully.
My mother sat at the edge of the bed, looking at me with a mix of concern and love.
“My son...” she began, but her voice faltered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She moved closer, now sitting beside me. “I wanted to hug you so much, but you’re all hurt. So, I’ll just pamper you a bit instead.”
She gently cradled me.
“Wait… Mother…” I mumbled, embarrassed.
Ignoring my protests, she settled on the bed beside me, placing my head in her lap. As awkward as it felt, I couldn’t refuse that affection. She was the one who had taught me to love again, the one who had cared for me when I needed it the most. No matter how old I got, she would always be my mother.
While stroking my hair, she murmured with a determined tone, “Don’t worry, we will find out who ordered this attack on you. And when I do, for every wound you suffered, I’ll take one head.”
She kissed my forehead softly.
I let her pamper me a little more. As we talked, she carefully inspected each of my injuries. At one point, I noticed she was quietly counting, truly determined to fulfill her promise of one head for each wound.
Even though she said she wouldn’t hug me, she eventually wrapped me in a gentle embrace, covering my cheeks with kisses.
“Time to feed you now,” she announced, getting up to retrieve the bowl of soup from the tray. She stirred it, making sure it wasn’t too hot before bringing a spoonful to my mouth.
“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“You remind me of when you were a baby,” she said with a nostalgic smile. “You were so curious, never staying still. I had to tie you down to a chair just to take care of you.”
Sorry, Mom… Back then, I was just trying to explore the world I was reborn into…
She leaned closer and kissed the top of my head gently.
“I will always be here for you, Nate. You’ll forever be my baby,” she said, her voice warm and affectionate as she fed me another spoonful.
I swallowed, trying to hide the embarrassment that was growing within me. But then, in a more serious tone, she added:
“But once you’ve recovered… I might pull your ears a bit as punishment for not letting Chloe help you in that fight.”
I chuckled at her words.
“I figured this was coming.”