Chapter Thirty-Four
_ The Traitor
" Because of me. "
"..."
" I used to make potions and I knew the uses of everything that reached my hands. The flower was there, but no one approached it—not out of fear, but because its shape was not inviting. A flower red as blood with small leaves, looking like a poisonous wild flower to some, so not many approached it. From the outside, it suppressed holy power, and from the inside, it destroyed it. When I reached the Brayo region and found it, I had heard about many things and about this flower that grew darker over time because many demonic monsters were still loose in the magical forests. In the outer regions, it wasn't as dark as in the inner, dark regions. I took from the flower and began to study it, and from it, I discovered that the effect of the unsaturated flower suppresses holy power even if it enters inside the body. It wasn't very dangerous. As for the bloody red one, it fights holy power, and the greater the holy power was, the weaker its effect became, if it was only consumed once or twice..."
Ariana looked in confusion at Karin, who took a sip of her tea to moisten her throat and continued...
" Your Majesty's medicine contained the bloody one, which made your body, with continued drinking for long years, reject holy power. It created immunity against holy power, and your body was damaged because it was in a constant war with its opposite... The medicine I prescribed for you long ago differs from the medicine you took throughout your previous years; I had put the light Red Fire-Wreath plant which suppresses your holy power so you could live smoothly. "
" The Red Fire-Wreath plant is a substance used in many things; food and medicine. How did it turn from a cursed plant into a plant of importance?!"
" Your Majesty is clever. As I told you, I am the biggest cause. After the death of the Marquis and Marchioness Lorisia and my subsequent arrest, they discovered the medicine. Some of it was taken to you, and some was taken by the Temple to be examined. I was forced to manufacture medicines. I always refused, but they took my books and managed to discover the secret.."
" So, the plague evolved?!"
" The flowers were submerged in the blood of monsters. "
" Lady Karin, is there a way?!"
" Burning them with holy power—a very great power. "
" If those with holy power approach, they will be harmed. But if the wizards help and create a barrier to prevent its effect, wouldn't that be appropriate? "
Ariana spoke in an excited tone after learning this, which made Karin smile and say:
" Your Majesty is right. This method is effective. "
" Lady Karin, I want to ask another thing of you. "
" I would be happy if I had the ability to serve Her Majesty. "
" Can you create a medicine for the disease?! I will help you; I have extensive experience in herbal treatment. "
" It is not hard... but it is also not easy. "
" It's alright to try. Let us try until we succeed. "
" First, I must see the patients, to know the symptoms and the degree of damage. "
" I will have His Majesty secure that for you. "
" Let's get to work then...."
Karin smiled broadly and spoke with enthusiasm, making Ariana breathe a sigh of relief. A new hope had dawned in the midst of despair...
Before Ariana rose to leave, Karin spoke with deep and mysterious thought:
" Your Majesty, may I examine you?!"
* * *
The streets were empty, and he sighed for the thousandth time during the usual patrol. The knight missed seeing his two fat-cheeked children and his beautiful wife. He had gone on the mission despite knowing the danger, but he was not one to leave people to die when he was capable of helping. After wandering the streets for a long time, he felt an ominous sensation and a strange sound, so he decided to dismount his horse, tie it to one of the shop pillars, and approach the source of the sound. When he reached the noise, he found a dead woman—or rather, the half-body of a woman—and a monster eating the corpse. When the monster sensed the man's presence, it raised its head with terrifying, hungry eyes. The knight tried to retreat to escape with his life, but he noticed fearful eyes looking at him from a gap a little distance from the woman's body. He realized that the woman had risked her life for the hidden child. The knight drew his sword; realizing the monster had seen him and that combat was inevitable, he fired a red signal into the sky. This made the monster more ferocious, and it attacked the knight. The knight parried with difficulty until he felt his hands would break, but he wanted to draw the monster away to make it easier for the hidden child to escape. He lured the monster outside and succeeded, beginning a fierce battle until he lost his left leg. When the monster threw him until he felt his bones shattering and the moment of death arrived, he prayed for his family and prayed for the child to escape safely. But the monster did not attack—no cutting teeth, no sharp claws. He raised his head and found that the monster had disappeared and that a man with platinum blonde hair and bright purple eyes shining in the pitch darkness stood firmly, holding the hand of a small, shabbily dressed girl. The knight swallowed hard and said with tearful eyes:
" Captain Cyrus, thank you. "
" Open your mouth. This is a healing magic potion sent by the Imperial Palace for emergencies. I charged some knights with providing all knights with it, and when I checked the situation, I discovered some had not received the dose. It seems I arrived at the right time. You acted well when you sent the signal, and this little girl told me what you did... I am proud of you. "
Kayn knelt to the knight's level and made him drink a pure golden liquid. When the knight drank it, his body recovered completely except for his severed leg. Kayn said sadly...
" I apologize that your leg did not return. "
The knight shook his head in denial and said:
" It is an honor for me to offer my soul for His Majesty the Emperor and for Cassian. "
' Raphael, how were you able to take the loyalty of these knights? Only months ago, not one of them was ready to work under your command. In the past, no one held on except those seeking honor or money. '
" His Majesty will be happy... we must bury the woman first. "
" Sir, the plague is still spreading. You are not immune. "
" I have a means of protection. "
"..."
Kayn pointed to a necklace on his neck and stood up calmly:
" Take care of the Knight, little one, until I go to your mother, alright?!"
The girl was trembling but nodded yes. Kayn moved and reached the spot. It was practically a corpse, and it was sad that the girl had seen her mother. He opened a door that looked like a house, pulled a clean blanket, covered the woman, carried her, and headed to where the knight and the girl were. He placed the woman on the ground and fired two signals: one green, meaning there is an injured person, and the other bloody red, meaning there is a dead person. After a short while, a group of knights arrived and took the woman, the knight, and the girl, then left Kayn alone to continue his patrol. He wandered for more than an hour, then leaned against one of the shops and sighed sadly, looking at his hands...
[" Blind revenge will lead its owner to nothing but loss and drowning in an endless dark swamp. "]
" Why do I remember my father's words now?!"
" Perhaps because you have begun to realize the truth... Kayn. "
Kayn looked at the source of the voice and found Ivan in his usual cloak, but his face was uncovered, looking at him calmly.
" Why do you think the truth is different from what I know?! Ivan. "
" It is intuition, and you know my intuition never fails. "
" How can I believe the words of a child whose mother has returned, and who does not leave her side. "
Ivan laughed sincerely and said:
" Loss is loss, but there is certainly profit in finding the truth. Trust me... haven't you seen with your own eyes what is happening? "
" The Temple has always been like this. "
Kayn sighed helplessly and said that, but Ivan looked at the sky and said in a deep voice:
" My mother still suffers from nightmares. Even when I was a child, my mother was afraid. I didn't know why... but after knowing, I decided to take the breath of those who made her suffer. But rushing to judgment can be worse than the catastrophe. "
" I don't understand you. I still don't understand you, Ivan.... Excuse me, I have work I must finish. "
Kayn left the place and teleported. When he looked around, he found that he had tried to escape from Ivan's voice, so he fled to the first place that occurred to his mind: the front garden of the Imperial Palace. In its center was a walkway connecting the palace to the training grounds. But he was in the middle of the garden and looked around, finding a small shadow moving toward him—or rather, a white shadow coming from the Imperial Palace. He hesitated to go to the palace because he didn't know what he wanted, but the person who wasn't clear at first appeared. It was a beautiful young woman with honey-brown hair, a small body, and pale skin. She was walking elegantly in simple clothes. When he realized who she was, he bowed as she approached:
" Kayn Cyrus greets Her Majesty. "
" Welcome, Count Cyrus. Were you going to the palace to see His Majesty?!"
" Ah, yes, I was headed to the palace. "
He spoke the first thing that came to mind. Ariana looked at him with a gentle smile and said:
" His Majesty is at the training grounds. I was going to see him. "
" Would you like to go together?!"
" Good, I have much to talk about with Count Cyrus. "
Ariana's expression brightened with an elegant smile, and he was puzzled...
' What does she want from me? Besides, wasn't it rumored she is very ill and cannot move? What would make her come out at this time?! '
" Count Cyrus! "
"..."
The deep tone of voice was what pulled Kayn from his deep thoughts. He looked at her, and before Kayn could start any conversation, Ariana gave him a meaningful look and took a deep, calm breath...
" How deep is your loyalty to His Majesty?!"
" What is Her Majesty trying to get at?!"
" .... "
"...??!"
" Will you betray His Majesty?!"
Kayn clenched his fist tightly and tried to control his impulse. Her look and tone were strong, making him feel she could see right through him. He felt her words were a confirmation, not a question. He said in a tone he tried to keep as steady as possible:
" Your Majesty, do you know how long His Majesty and I have known each other?!"
" For more than ten years. Cardinal Ivan Jerome, Duke Leonard Rathan, and Count Kayn Cyrus... if there is anyone His Majesty trusts and would place his soul in their hands without asking for the result, he would do it. Raphael trusts you more than himself. "
" If Your Majesty knows that, why are you trying to cast doubt? Are you trying to test me?!"
Kayn was flustered and spoke with the coldest voice he could find. This woman had shaken his composure and calm. He looked at her skeptically, but she sighed and looked at him with eyes carrying a great deal of distress and said:
" Why did you betray His Majesty?! Why do you sell his trust to the Temple?!"
"..."
" Why do you betray your friend?! What made you do this?!"
Kayn was unable to respond and tried to deny it, but he felt naked and that anything he said would be nothing but meaningless chatter. So he decided to push forward:
" You know nothing. You haven't lost what I lost because of the Emperor. "
" You are a coward. If you wanted revenge, then face him. Tell him about your hatred and pain. Tell him about your desire for revenge. Face him face-to-face; do not stab him in the back. More than ten years of deception and illusion—how could you do that?!"
She was looking into the center of his eyes with strength, as if telling him: you must confess your sin. But he held his head and said:
" I didn't know everything until less than a year ago. It was he who was deceiving me. "
" Really?!"
"..."
Her sarcastic tone made him angrier, so he clenched his fists and teeth. But she stepped two steps back and said:
" Go to him. "
"..??!"
" Go and ask him. Tell him what you want. I feel you will be disgraced. "
Kayn was shocked by her words and remained like a rock as she returned to the palace, leaving him with looks full of contempt as if confirming her words...
* * *
Raphael was moving his sword right and left so his body wouldn't lose its skill. Even though he was a powerful wizard, he had trained hard with the sword. In the past, he thought if he had the choice to leave his magic and fight without it, he would have agreed. After swinging it several times, he realized, then sighed.
' Despite my great and recognized skill in sword fighting, I will not reach Kayn's skill and ferocity in combat. His style is smooth and flexible. Without magic, I would lose to him. Even Leo is amazing; although he is a wizard specializing in one element, he has an incredible ability to control mana in his body. And Ivan is wonderful; despite his great holy power, his ability to understand magical formulas and geometry is amazing. My strength lies only in the massive amount of mana I have. I can fight for days without my mana reserves running out. Truly, sometimes I feel envious... a childish behavior. '
He was thinking with enjoyment when he was interrupted by the feeling of a presence around him. He turned instinctively and laughed when he found it was Kayn...
" It's been a long time. Do you wish to exercise our muscles a little?!"
" Aren't you afraid I'll scar your handsome face? Her Majesty might be afraid. "
" Are you trying to make me back down?!"
"..."
He nodded without uttering a word. Raphael felt strange but dismissed the feeling and said with enthusiasm:
" Let's play a little. "
Kayn drew his sword, pointed it at Raphael, and said with cold eyes and a deep tone:
" Let's fight to the death. "
The surrounding atmosphere changed, and Raphael felt that the air was not normal. There was an ominous feeling surrounding him. But he was not one to refuse a fight to the death, so he unsheathed his sword and said in an air of seriousness and calm:
" So be it. "
As soon as he said it, Kayn's sword struck Raphael, who parried the attack quickly but felt its intense strength. He realized the fight was not a usual one between him and his friend; he felt the amount of killing intent in it...
' Did something happen?! '
He didn't answer the question in his head except with another strike from Kayn. Raphael parried it, and his friend's strikes became even more powerful. Raphael reinforced his grip on the sword and began to attack instead of just defending. They exchanged strong, heavy blows with a powerful spirit. When Raphael wanted to parry one, Kayn cut Raphael's shoulder—a superficial wound. It would have been deeper if Raphael hadn't pulled his body back. Raphael looked with wide, puzzled eyes at Kayn's face, who renewed the attack, but he didn't expect Raphael's movement, which sent his sword flying away. He expected Kayn to stop, but he drew his long dagger and began attacking with it. Raphael realized the seriousness of the situation and that he must stop this. It was clear Kayn would fight him even if he harmed himself. So he reinforced his sword with mana and struck Kayn several heavy blows targeting his hands or feet, although Kayn was targeting his vital points. After a large number of heavy strikes, Kayn fell on his back and his dagger flew. Raphael realized that Kayn's fight against him was driven by anger and emotions, which made his focus weaker. Kayn placed his arm over his face and spoke quietly with a shattered feeling:
" Continue the fight. "
" Is your nonsense finished?! Get up, and tell me what has come over you?!"
" Raphael! You are strange. "
"..."
" Why do you trust me?! Aren't you afraid of my betrayal of you?!"
Raphael laughed, extending his hand to help Kayn, who didn't move for a moment. This made Raphael's laugh stop, and he said, trying to deny the feeling:
" You don't betray me, Kayn. "
Kayn laughed so hard that his laugh turned into a painful and tormented moan:
" Why do you always make me feel regret?! I have betrayed you... but I... why?! "
...... To be continued ......