Laura paused outside her father’s room, the door slightly ajar, allowing a faint light to filer to the dimly lit corridor. Squinting through the opening, she caught sight of two silhouettes, one being her father who was seated on the chair behind his table. She had come to change her attire before she was drowned in a cauldron filled with crawling worms, but curiosity got the better of her. She pushed open the door enough to grant her an unobstructed view of the cloaked silhouettes within.
“...borders. The skirmishes are just a reason,” Othwash said with his usual stern voice. “I’m grateful that you saved my daughter, but there is little I can do now without any army under my command.”
“I know it better.”
She recognized the voice.
“What was the reason for your invitation then?” Carthel asked with a sigh. He paced around the room, and Laura saw that he had noticed her at the entrance. His eyes hadn’t changed much, and she saw the black tunic on his back was wet as if he had come running to the manor.
“My wife,” Othwash paused and clenched his fist. “Could you take her ash to the Immortal Tomb of Cedentrin?”
“You believe in that nonsense, do you?” Carthel laughed. “Just because there is a mana pool near Cedentrin plains, it won’t offer any solace to her soul. You-”
“She was born in Berbaba,” Othwash's cold voice interrupted him, and Laura saw Carthel’s laugh turning to a dry cough. “I might as well bury her in the best place possible near Berbaba.”
“If only you were as much loving toward your troops, they wouldn’t have deserted your-”
Othwash grabbed him by the collar of his robe and pulled him toward his face, the table separating them. “Stop before I mash your face and break your teeth.” Veins popped out on his face, and Laura instinctively stepped back.
“Easy there, old man,” Carthel raised his both hands. “I’m already exhausted, so let’s not indulge in idle fights. For the days we fought side by side, I will fulfill your wish. I’m leaving by nightfall, the king’s order too stringent for me to wait around, so send your trusted aide with me. I can’t guarantee my safety, let alone your lad, so I need someone who can hold his weight.”
Osthwas walked to the shelf filled with conical and cylindrical flasks and tossed one to Carthel. Laura realized it was medicine of some sort. “Yeper salve, good for your wounds. The lashes must have been painful.”
“Ah,” Carthel shrugged and caught the small container. “Used to them by now. If you have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave. Hope you won’t get caught in the web of that suspicious manic.”
Osthwash didn’t reply and turned around, glancing at the lawns through the arched window.
Laura saw him walk toward her, and she placed a finger over her mouth, hushing him from speaking a single word. With amusement, he dragged her by holding her collar to a more silent place on the corridor, and Laura realized they were just outside her room.
“Are you spying on your own old man?” Carthel leaned against the railing lazily. “I’ve caught and killed many spies. What punishment do you seek, noble lady?”
“Many thanks for your help yesterday, Lord Carthel,” Laura curtsied politely. “And forgive my intrusion. I was just curious who was my father’s visitor. He rarely has them anymore.”
Carthel waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m drowsy right now, so can I use your room for a quick nap?”
“No way!” Laura burst out, her face flushed, before she composed herself. “No man is allowed to a lady’s chamber.”
“Is it so?” Carthel scratched his stubble and turned toward the stairs. “How old are you again?”
“Thirteen summers,” Laura said, wiping her cheek. “Is it rude of me to ask the same?”
“Nineteen,” Carthel sighed. “And I don’t care about etiquette, so spare me those gestures and that animate tone.”
“It’s ingrained in me, Lord Carthel,” Laura lied blatantly. “So, there is little I can do.”
“Eh…” Carthel dragged the syllable and yawned. “I’m sleepy, Lady Laura. So, I’ll take my leave.”
Laura pointed to the room on the right, downstairs. “The couch near the hearth can help you get a good nap. So, you can-”
“I’m fine,” Carthel chuckled and walked toward the stairs. “I’ll take my leave.”
Laura smiled when she noticed him walking toward the hearth after debating at the foyer for a while. He couldn’t help it, could he? Just how many sleepless nights did he have?
When Laura reached the paddocks, her brother and a couple of guards in chainmail were filling up the cauldron near the stables. More than ten ragtag pouches were lying around the stables, wiggling much to her dismay. A few of the servants had erected a tent made of linen and leather next to the enclosure of the paddocks, and Ana stood at the opening, adjusting the flap.
Laura walked toward her, ignoring the men indulging in humorous chatter with Byrak, and patted her back.
“You are here, my lady,” Ana got up and bowed politely. “I will be with you so that you can rest assured…” Her eyes slowly moved toward the wiggling worms in the cauldron, and she sighed. “Rest assured is not the right thing to say.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“I’ll be fine,” Laura said, her voice shaky. “I should be fine,” she convinced herself. “Brother was five when he jumped into the ditches filled with those worms, so it shouldn’t be impossible.”
“Let’s see if you’ll still say the same after today,” Byrak smirked as he gestured to the guards to move the cauldron. Everything was ready except her mind, but she entered the tent anyway as all the servants and guards dispersed.
The soft, diffuse light from the mana lamp in the interior made the atmosphere warm and welcoming. A tapestry of rug covered the ground, their colors muted, and a table lingered at the corner, a mirror and a few clothes placed over it. There were cushions in one corner, draped in blankets with thick fur that promised her a peaceful night if it wasn’t for the cauldron at the center.
“I’ll stand outside,” Byrak said, ruffling her head. “Strip and submerge yourself in the cauldron. Let your maid stay inside should you decide to come out.”
Laura took a few deep breaths and removed her robe before handing it to Ana. After much deliberation, she stripped all but her undergarments and walked to the edge of the cauldron. Within the dark depths of the cauldron, the writhing of countless worms created an unsettling, nightmarish scene for Laura. The squirms and shivers as Serpentgrubs rolled over made her take a cautious step back, her mind lingering around the comfort of the bed in her room.
Was it worth it? She wondered, but before long, she was inside the cauldron. Laura felt an overwhelming sense of discomfort and disgust. They crawled around her skin, the slimy touch sending shivers down her spine, the constant wriggling creating a prickly sensation. Her breath quickened, but she closed her eyes, her mind wandering to the happy memories with her mother, her brother, her mother, and her fluttering conversations with Tessia, Escheven, and Carthel.
In a short while, she started feeling queasy all over her body, as if something was being drawn out. It might been blood for all she knew, but the crawling sensation she was feeling disappeared amidst the numbness that washed over her. It became easier for her to close her eyes and focus elsewhere instead of the wiggling worms.
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 12%]
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 15%]
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 19%]
Every milestone made her feel better, but she dared not open her eyes. Ana was speaking, but her mind was too preoccupied to decipher her words.
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 25%]
[Mana Circulation Unlocked: Grants user the ability to circulate the mana in the conduits.]
After what felt like an eternity, her mind, devoid of thoughts, lit up again. She was slowly losing her strength and tiredness invaded all her senses.
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 50%]
[Mana Core Opened: The user can guide the mana into the Komar.]
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 75%]
[Mana Sink Unlocked: The Komar can store mana. The sink has been updated from conduits to Komar.]
[Mana in Conduits → Mana in Komar: Level 1]
[Mana Available: 50/50]
Laura lost her strength, and sleep invaded her senses. She had lost track of time, her body had become completely numb, and when the last thought popped into her head, she fell asleep.
[Ruptured Mana Conduits: Cured 100%]
[Magic Circuit Formed →Magic Circuit Reforming → Magic Circuit Deconstructing]
[No Definite Magic Circuit Found. Mage Class unlocked: Battle Mage →Wood and Fire Affinity.]
[Sedentary magic circuit found. Secondary class available.]
–
“Ma, I’m home,” Carthel walked toward the dark corner of the room, where Ishtia swung her chair to and fro, a book in her hand, eyes unfocused. Her greying hair had left her mostly bald, and the wrinkles made her appear a decade older than her age.
She raised her head, her dead eyes looking past him to the door he had just opened. The mana lamp on the table glowed dimly, casting his hazy shadow on the shelf beside her. The door creaked as her caretaker shut it, letting him spend some alone time with his mother. Not that he appreciated the gesture, but he hadn’t seen her in a while, so he decided to stay for a while.
“Who?” Isthia raised her right hand, fingers chopped off at some point in his absence, and rubbed her eyes. “Who? Where? The Gemini is here! Watching! Run!”
Carthel turned her rocking chair around and opened the curtains. She shielded her eyes, the bright light of the moon too much for her to just keep staring. Trees adorned the lawn, along with many rocks carved to represent the animals of the wilderness to the finest detail. The moonlit night illuminated the fountain that interrupted the curvy path to the imposing gates of Nakereich manor.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Carthel asked as he stifled a yawn. The wounds on his back burned, so he had hardly slept on the comfortable couch of Valecrest mansion.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Ishtia repeated, bobbing her head, and started humming a familiar melody. Carthel hadn’t heard it in a while but didn’t want to listen to it either. Reminded him of his torturous days before he ran to his uncle’s army.
“I have to leave tonight,” Carthel said, ruffling his hair. “Forgive me for not being a filial son, but I’ll make it up to you next time I’m home.”
He wouldn’t, and he knew the fact better. Some things couldn’t be forced.
“Leave tonight,” Isthia giggled like a little girl and put her left thumb in her mouth, moving it to the throat until she started retching. “Make it up.”
The caretaker opened the door as soon as Ishtia shouted like a maniac and nodded her head. Carthel sighed, leaving Ishtia to fend for herself as hysterical screams resounded in the dark room.
“She’s getting worse, young master,” Meina said, pushing aside her grey hair. “She can’t hold on much longer. Could you try spending more time with her?”
“Spare me the effort, Meina,” Carthel rubbed his temples.
Meina raised her trembling hand and touched Carthel’s back. He winced in pain and moved away from her. “Let me apply some salve, at least. It’s been a while since I last saw you, young master.”
“Only you still dare to call me young master,” Carthel chuckled and patted her hand, refusing her politely. “If anything, I’ll be sad to leave you alone in the manor. As for my Ma…” Carthel shook his head with a sigh. “My men are waiting to overwork me, so I must leave. Take care of her for me, will you? Otherwise, I won’t be able to face my father when I meet him on the battlefield of death.”
“Rest assured, young master. I will send you letters regarding the status of the manor and try to look for my replacement as soon as possible,” Meina said, her eyes damp. “It’s about time I retired. My body doesn’t move the same way anymore.”
“I’m always grateful for your help,” Carthel grinned and handed her the Yeper salve. “Apply it to your boils. They’ll hurt a lot less.”
“This servant is always grateful for your kindness, young master,” Meina bowed politely and didn’t raise her head till Carthel had walked out of the entrance.
He glanced at the stars in the sky and slapped his cheeks to stop himself from falling asleep.
“The horses are ready, Captain,” Lorence stopped beside him.
“Say,” Carthel glanced at his second in command, “How about we just retaliate? This life is weighing me down.”
“A step at a time, Captain,” Lorence said. “Patient man earns more gold than a thief.”
“You just made that up, didn’t you?” Carthel chuckled and patted his back. “Let’s move out, but keep me from falling off my horse. Can’t let the king’s men see us in the capital after midnight.”