Chapter— 22

Diantha spotted Iris's lifeless body hunched over the bathtub. She gently placed Winny on a dresser and rushed to Iris's side. It was hard for her to maintain focus in this overwhelming stench of rot; the scent was unbearable. She could feel her body being affected by it just from standing.

"Iris!" Diantha called as she shook Iris gently. She assumed it was the episode Natasha had explained. Just from observing Iris and the information she had on her from the time she came to this city, she could tell—Iris was in the same condition as Winny. The fact that she had not even drunk a sip of water since she came to this mansion, was sign enough.

She had an inkling of suspicion Iris was not alright when she did not ask about Hecate’s medication. Iris was a gentle soul; she should’ve been worried about Hecate unless something else had occupied her mind. Diantha berated herself in her mind; she should’ve checked on her earlier.

She placed her hand on Iris's back to feel if the heart was still there, beating. It was. Slow and very laborious but it was still intact. Diantha called again as she pushed her hand in the gap between Iris and the bathtub.

Only an inaudible pained moan was the reply she received. Diantha pushed Iris off and laid her on the floor. And picked her up and escaped the bathroom. Diantha realized she had left Winny in the bathroom. With a sigh, She laid Iris on the floor, walked out, opened her room’s door, and returned took Winny and Iris and escaped. Diantha could not breathe in that room; helping Iris was impossible.

She wondered what would be the best course of action as she placed Iris on her bed. Calling a healer should be a good idea, but beyond healing the wound on her forehead, they are useless. She needs to call Ilona.

Diantha took off her gloves as she pulled open a drawer in her desk. Inside, there was an artefact called Voice; she should be able to connect to Ilona telepathically through this. It required mana to operate, where the red gemstone ring on her finger would come in.

"Di..ntha..?" Just as she was about to call, Diantha heard Iris's voice.

"You're awake?" Diantha's attention shifted to Iris. She approached the bed.

"I thi...nk... So," Iris weakly replied. Her chest shook as she took a breath in.

"I'll call Lady Ilona. Just stay calm," Diantha whispered gently.

"I'm all right."

"You're not," Diantha picked up the device; it was a flat plate with a circle in the center that had yellow divides.

"It is… nothing, there is worse to come," Iris tried to push herself up and failed, falling on her back.

"Worse? You mean this is not the episode?" Diantha asked, half curious, half dreadful. If that dreadful filth was not an episode, then what would be?

"O-of course not, if I have an episode just like that— then this whole city would have been shredded to dust. The episode is far worse than this; this is just my body trying to adjust to the mana of the outside world— it is quite different than Labyrinth."

Diantha nodded as she wrapped her mind around the implication. If that filth was her body adjusting, does that mean her body did not find the outside world’s mana suitable? No, more importantly, Iris was talking about the Episode as if she already had one. That should not be the case. Natasha said her heart would burst if it happened. Or was it only the case for something like the cat?

It is a miracle that Winny never had an episode.

It was not a miracle. Winny should also be having the same reaction as Iris. She was from Labyrinth and had mana. Yet, Winny was completely fine. That shouldn't happen unless… ‘You found a way to stop Winny from having Episodes and to stop your heart from bursting..’ Diantha stared at Iris, She frankly did not know about the episode to know how impressive it was, but the need for the Tree of Eve to solve the issue added weight.

“First, I’ll call a healer to heal the wound on your forehead,” Diantha thoughtfully added; there was nothing for Ilona to do immediately. And the fact she was still not back meant she was occupied with something.

“N-no… I can fix it myself,” Iris tried to push herself up. This time she succeeded. Diantha could not believe her eyes; to think this fragile little girl lived in the Labyrinth, she, without the use of mana, lacked the strength to sit. Diantha stepped closer to help her.

"NO!" Iris screamed, making Diantha step back. "S-sorry, I can walk by myself."

"If that gives you peace, where are you going?" Diantha asked calmly; she was ready to grab Iris the moment she fell.

"Bathroom, to wash off my blood," Iris replied.

"In that case, use mine. Your room is more or less ruined. I'll have someone clean it tomorrow," Diantha said, noticing Iris walking toward the exit.

"Thank you… and I'll clean that room myself. Black blood is acid; it will rot everything that is organic."

"I see… regardless, you don't need to worry about it. I'll have someone handle it."

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Iris slowly dragged herself to the bathroom door. Yet, she failed to open it. She could not twist the knob.

"Why are you not using mana?" Diantha had a guess.

"I am not in control of myself; my mana's very nature is Rend. If I slip for a second, everything in this place will be as fine as dust," Iris tried again, with all her strength. Diantha could see her tightened jaw and quiver.

"Let me help you." Diantha slowly stepped closer to her; she was expecting Iris to lash out. Yet she did not; she just stepped aside and leaned on the wall. Her pale complexion and haggard breathing were signs enough that she had overexerted herself.

Diantha twisted the knob and helped her to the sink. Diantha noted—the cloth Iris wrapped around her eyes was still completely clean. No stain of blood and completely dry.

"You should take a bath," Diantha advised, mostly for the fact her body was covered in blood. It would be better to sleep after cleaning.

"I… was thinking about the same."

Diantha turned on the shower head and pointed it toward Iris. The pressure was just enough to wash off drying blood.

Iris let out a startled cry at the sudden attack. "W-wait."

"What is it? Don't tell me the almighty Lightning lord is scared of water," Diantha chuckled.

"I-i'm not," Iris whined, her words failing to make a stand.

"I see, then," Diantha turned off the shower and picked up a towel, "let me dry you."

"I can do it myself."

"I'm not denying that."

..." Diantha could imagine Iris staring at her with big round eyes hidden beneath that piece of cloth.

"How will you fix that wound?" Diantha questioned as she dried off her hair.

"That's easy, this bandage on my eyes can heal," Iris nonchalantly replied. She was much more like her usual self.

"They can?"

"Yes, this is what I used to heal myself, after… after Winny lost her identity."

“How did that happen?”

"I… when I fell into the Labyrinth, my hands were infected. Winny could heal my injuries but not the infection— we found a way. If I could eat Lihn, the Stormborn's core… I could heal."

"Then," Diantha asked softly.

"I was too weak to even make a scratch. He captured me and tortured me for hours—destroying my body beyond what was possible to heal; however, Winny used the Magic of Eve to revive almost dead me. Magic of Eve always asks for a price. For Winny, the price was the Curse of Self—she lost her Identity."

"Did you take revenge for her?" Diantha asked as she wrapped the towel around Iris's body.

"I did. I killed him in the most painful way I could find. He was begging for death, for weeks perhaps. Only when the worms completely ate him alive did he find death."

"Did that lessen your pain?"

"It did,"

Diantha smiled at her answer, "You can heal yourself now."

The wound on Iris's head was a wide cut, but it had stopped bleeding, most likely due to how little blood she had.

Iris sat on the edge of the bed and tried to open the knot on the back. Usually, she used the strings to find the strength to do so. Right now, she did not want to risk it.

In the end, it was Diantha who untied the knot.

"T-thank you," Iris said, her voice high-pitched.

Diantha unfolded the cloth. It was feet wide, like a handkerchief but made of something akin to soft silk. Diantha had never felt a cloth so soft yet thin.

"What… even is this?" She said in shock.

"This is called the 'Gift of Arachne Empress,' or you can say it was the mother who weaved it to heal my eyes," Iris said in a voice that was revering, filled with respect and fear.

"Mother? Mother of Mana?"

"No… She said she would be my mother and created this healing item to help in the Labyrinth."

"Who said that?" Diantha spoke; she could feel a hollowness in her voice.

"Arachne Empress."

"Arachne? Are they not a myth?" Diantha could believe that that species still lived in the Labyrinth. Just the name was alarming enough. Iris did not know how dangerous Arachne were. If a single one is spotted—every great power would put aside their differences to hunt down one.

"No, she is real, though I cannot meet her again. She rules over the Seventh floor of the Labyrinth," Iris replied. Diantha could not make out if Iris was afraid or fervent. Was she under the influence of something?

Seventh? It made sense. Greater Labyrinths had eight floors, and there is no known information that someone has reached that deep in the Labyrinth.

“I just need to wrap it on your forehead, right?” Diantha asked and received a nod. She tied the cloth on her forehead, “You can look this way.”

“N-no,” Iris had her back turned toward her. Iris did not allow her to take off the cloth from the front.

“You don’t want to show me your eyes?”

“Y-yes, no, I mean I don’t have eyes. You’ll find me hideous like.”

“I won’t… Iris, look at me. I care little about your appearance.”

Iris hesitantly turned. Diantha blinked as she stared at her. She, of course, did not find her hideous. Yet, she was confused as to why she even thought of that. Her eyes were closed and sewn shut with thread. They were painful to look at. Painful in the sense of imagining how it would have felt to have your eyes sewn.

“How did this happen?” Diantha asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Her voice was pained and apprehensive.

“That’s all right; you should rest. I have a few arrangements to make.”

Iris climbed up onto the bed and fell face first. Diantha stared at her, and her only thought was—she needed to teach this girl about the need to wear clothes and other things.

Winny slowly crawled beside Iris and laid down.

Diantha smiled as she looked at the peacefully sleeping girl and the cat, and closed the door.

Now to the arrangements.