Time crawled by slower than ever. Every second stretched more and more, dulling my senses numb. A mere week felt like a year instead.

I brought it upon myself...

It was nothing but pure torture, and not in a figurative sense. I was tortured for that whole week.

And worse yet, even Helios couldn't do much to lessen the pain.

Obviously, he tried to increase the dose of the painkiller to make my life easier, but even that had to be controlled after a while, and he strictly banned me from using magic.

His exact words were, Any more of this, and you'll die before the week even passed. And unless you want to extend this 'Vacation' of yours, you'd better forget about magic for this entire week.

So I gritted my teeth and screamed out the pain, making do with what I had.

And speaking of what I have, losing my vision again felt so frustrating and depressing.

I knew it would be temporary, but placing myself in that world full of nothing but pure darkness for the second time was seriously something else. I thought I would be fine, but you never got used to something like that. I thanked myself for offering only my vision and not my other senses, too.

It was scary to even imagine myself stuck again in that situation...

Anyway, the week had passed...At long last.

In the end, I persisted through the seven days of constant misery and have recovered.

Now, after wearing the clothes with Renata's help, I floated gently into the wheelchair she prepared.

"Hm...Sure feels nice..." It had been a while since I felt so liberated.

"Let's go, Renata." Elated, I rested comfortably on the chair while she pushed me forward.

The bedroom door creaked open, and the sight of my office greeted us. There were several figures waiting for us.

There was Clara, who sat at my desk while playfully checking the documents. Then there's Helios, who stroked his beard while smiling excitedly as he talked to the frozen-looking Trodin. And the last one was the concerned Margareth.

A little side note. Both Trodin and Margareth got here a couple of days ago.

From what I heard, it took some long hours and a couple of rounds of debate and interrogation before Renata and Clara were able to convince the two newcomers that Shepherd they knew was indeed the sick, pale kid in front of them.

Couldn't blame them, though. It was easier to think that we were tripping them rather than processing the truth, after all.

"How do you feel? I think it'll be better to be careful. From what I find, a mana dissonance is a serious case...Shepherd..." Expressed Margareth anxiously, though it got a tad bit awkward when she forced herself to refer to me by that name.

'Seeing me as a kid might've made her maternal instinct kick in.' I pondered quietly.

"Without the mask on, it's if you call me Alexander, Margareth." I smiled lightly at the slim and frail woman.

"...Okay..." Returned Margareth lost, still a bit unsure of how she should act.

"Don't worry, madam. By my Honor, as the priest of the great goddess White Serpent, I can fully declare that Alexander is as fit as a fiddle." Smooth as heck, the old dwarf suddenly had Margareth's fair hands on his own, kneeling while landing a soft kiss.

"Hm...!" Before anyone could even afford a word of response or reaction, Trodin, out of the blue, pulled the old dwarf by the scruff of his neck away from the confused Margareth.

"Hey, Trodin! What are you doing!? Don't you see how taken aback Lady Margareth is by your behavior?" Scolded Helios, frowning.

'Lady?' I tilted my neck.

"Oh, ho~ A laaady~?" Teased Clara, still sitting in my chair, seemingly oblivious to the bloodlust emanating from Renata toward her this whole time.

"Hm..." Hummed Trodin.

As for Margareth, the one at the center of this short yet eventful story, she was timidly standing to the side.

Fortunately, she didn't have to wait too long, for her rescuer was nigh on time to fetch her away.

"I didn't peg you to be such a ladies' man, you lecherous dwarf. Come here, my sweet Merchant. I'll save you from the bad guys~" Leaping like a cat from my chair, Clara landed and took Margareth in her arms with a dramatic gesture.

To be honest, I think she enjoyed this kind of thing the most. I mean, it was obvious to anyone there...

"Sure are lively, huh?" I giggled.

"Not as much as you, though~ Why look at you looking all dashing and gallant just because you lost a few pounds off your belly? After suffering a bit for a week, now you'll get to break all the woman's heart wherever you go, Shepherd~" Teased Clara.

"No, thank you." My response was short and simple.

"Her tongue is crass and filthy as always, but there is some truth in her words. Milord's visage must've been sculpted by the gods themselves." Added Renata passionately.

"Okay, okay...Jokes aside, let's get down to business. We don't have much daylight to burn." I rolled my eyes and brushed the nonsense away.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Shadows." Shadows appeared in the next second, answering Renata's call.

In their hands lay intricate masks, similar yet different in each of their motifs.

Following my lead, the Seatholders reached out to theirs and put them on. All except Helios, who had yet to decide whether he'd take the black or white mask.

"We are the House of Light and Darkness. We tread both the righteous and luminous path of the Light. And we'll never shy from the murky and treacherous path of the Dark. The masks represent our name, our vows, and the burden that awaits us..."

"I, Shepherd of The Council, vow that I will save the world from its forthcoming doom, and I will have no designs whatsoever on your life nor your fate. Tell us...Helios Uumkarth Remera...What is your vow?"

Helios closed his eyes and calmed his breathing.

"I, Helios Uumkarth Remera, Priest and child of the Great White Serpent, vow to never abandon the weak and pledge my life to follow the same path as the Chosen Child. I will walk the path of the righteous and luminous with compassion and conviction, just as how the Great White Serpent follows the Holy Light."

He took the white mask and put it on his face.

"From now on, you shall be known as the Doctor, the owner of a Seat of Dawn. You shall not abandon the weak and pledge your life to follow me and the House to save the world. You shall not walk the path of the dark but one with compassion and conviction. Like how the White Serpent Goddess before you..."

'Bind our vows in my soul...' I willed with the word magic.

A thin and warm flux of mana intertwined around Helios and me and washed us whole.

"May the Light shine brighter," I chanted.

"May the Dark grow deeper..." He finished.

"The council has bear witness and accepts your vow. Welcome to the House of Light and Darkness, Doctor. May Fate smile kind on your path..." Closed Renata.

"May Fate smile kind on your path..." Followed by all of us.

***

"Are you really fine?" I questioned Renata.

"Yes, Milord. But should you wish otherwise, I will oblige." Answered Renata determinately

"No, don't get me wrong...It's just a bit odd. Knowing you, I never thought the day would come when you choose to leave my side by your own free will." I shook my head.

"...It's because this servant of yours is far too weak as of now, Milord. I've known for a long while that there will come a time when I'll meet my limit should I follow you. That day had come sooner than I expected, but I thought, maybe the dwarf and his potions have the answers I seek." Explained Renata bitterly.

'It seems that the whole thing with the Saint has impacted not only me...' I thought inside.

"Hm...Then I'll respect your decision. Get as strong as you can. Push yourself to the death and overcome your limits. Considering how careful and serious Helios is about someone's health, I'll say you're in good hands...I will put my trust in and wait for you, Renata..."

"Thank you, Milord..." Replies Renata tenderly.

"Hm..." And I nodded.

The day burned bright, with little to no clouds among the blue, vast horizon. We left the mansion and entered the city of Germund, heading back to my home.

As Renata pushed me with the wheelchair, we shared a delicate and comforting silence between us. No more words were needed.

The closer we were to the Dawson's castle, the rowdier the people were. True to how the report stated, the people Father sent were everywhere. They stopped anyone and asked everyone the same question over and over again.

Especially to the two of us, a woman and a boy in a wheelchair. If not for our disguises, things would have gotten way more troublesome than I wished.

After passing several checkpoints and being questioned by the knights and magicians alike, we arrive at Dawson's castle at last. We were at the front gate, and there was still some distance away, but that was as far as two questionable strangers could get.

"We're here, Milord." Declared Renata.

"Yes, back at home...Well...Go on now. I'll see you later, Renata." I found her gaze and felt some discomfort welling up inside me.

"By your will, Milord."

She bowed deep and traced her steps back without breaking posture.

'Hahaha...She never changes...' I shook my head in disbelief at such a sight.

Thanks to her odd and dramatic exit, though, one of the guards at the gate approached me, saving me the time to call them.

I undo the concealment magic that altered my face and greeted the coming guard with a smile on my face. "Hello, Sir. Can you escort me back to the castle?"

The man dropped his spear and stared dumbfoundedly at me; his jaw gaped open as though he had seen a ghost.

"Y-Young...Master...Young Master is here!! Send a word to the His Grace!!!" He yelled back at his colleague as loud as he could and rushed to meet me.

Then he stayed a couple of feet away, fearing that he might break me or something, while scanning me from top to bottom, left and right.

"Are you hurt, Young Master?" Voiced the guard when he found nothing unusual.

"I am not, Sir," I answered him politely.

"Thank goodness! What about the captor? Did you see their face? How did you get here?" He bombarded me with question after question.

"Um...Sir? I think it's best for me to meet my family first. They might be waiting for me..." I smiled dryly.

"By the gods! How stupid of me! Of course, Young Master. I shall take you back...Hey! You!! You're planning on walking the whole way!? You're shitting me, brat!!? Run!! Go and tell His Grace now!!!" Barked the man loud as hell at the guard he screamed at earlier.

So, that's that...

With the guard's remarkably loud voice, I was escorted back home. And just as I arrived at the mouth of the huge castle, several familiar figures could be seen storming out of the front door.

Father, Mother, Sister Alyson, Adam, Howard, Byron, Hannah, and even Sir Lodrick were there, standing elegantly like the gentleman that he was.

Everyone was there...Except for someone...

"Alex!!" Cried Mother, hugging me tight.

"Alex!" My Sister soon followed after her.

'Oomph, tight...' I had to tap them in surrender before they loosened their hugs, albeit only enough so that my airflow wouldn't be obstructed...

"Brother! Waah!!" Seeing his Mother and Sister crying, the small Adam couldn't contain his tears for too long.

He cried while holding tight to Howard's hand, and the latter gently stroked his head soothingly. Howard then guided Adam to me, followed by both Byron and Hannah.

The blonde maid sobbed silently while gripping Mother's hand hard, while the butler offered words of gratitude upon seeing me still well and healthy.

It took quite a while before things finally receded. Taking my Sister's hand, Mother brought her to the side, and so did the others.

I knew what it meant...

It was finally my Father's turn.

His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles. Despite still appearing neat and stylish as usual, I couldn't help but notice the fatigue that hung stubbornly in the shadows of my Father's face.

He took a deep breath, sighed long, and winded to calm his quickened breathing.

"You will explain everything to me, Alexander...But for now...Go to your room." His tone was cold and sharp at the start, yet towards the end, it turned meek and tired for some reason.

"There's something you need to do first..."