Arthur's excitement grew as Charles slowly opened the box.
Inside was a necklace—a golden crystal that emitted a faint, gentle glow.
Charles gazed at the necklace for a moment and then said:
"This was a gift my mother gave me on my birthday when I was a child. My grandfather gave the same to my mother, and so it passed down through generations… until I…" He paused.
For a moment, Charles' expression shifted to sorrow and grief, as if recalling a painful memory. Then he spoke softly:
"Until I gave it to my daughter… but the world was too cruel to let her have it…" He looked into Arthur's innocent eyes.
Charles offered a faint smile and continued:
"But now… I want to give it to you."
Arthur felt his heart warm with the realization of how much Charles cared for him, but at the same time, he shivered with a twinge of pain, sensing the depth of Charles' sorrow over losing his daughter.
Arthur's hands trembled, and doubt filled him. He said hesitantly:
"I… I can't accept this gift… this necklace must mean a lot to you… I don't know if I deserve it."
"To give this to you means I deem you worthy, Arthur," Charles said gently, his eyes calm yet firm.
Charles smiled as he lifted the necklace from the box and carefully fastened it around Arthur's neck.
Arthur smiled with pure joy, but suddenly—
…
Khhhhh! Khhhh!
He started coughing violently.
Charles' face immediately shifted to worry.
"Arthur! Are you okay?"he called out.
Khhhh! Khh!
Arthur struggled to speak through his coughing:
"Y-yeah, I'm f-fine…" Then the coughing returned, more violent than before.
He looked at his hand—it was covered in blood. His coughs carried streaks of crimson.
Dizziness swept over him, and he lost his balance, knocking several books off the shelves.
Charles tried to steady him, but Arthur's condition worsened by the second.
Blood poured from Arthur's eyes and mouth, like a river…
Until he finally lost consciousness.
Seconds later, Charles hoisted Arthur onto his back and ran toward the academy's infirmary.
Hhhhha hhhhha!
Charles ran with all his might, as if his very life depended on it, weaving through crowds of students in the academy halls.
The students watched in shock and fear, astonished to see Charles carrying Arthur unconscious on his back.
At that moment, Yutab was walking through the academy hall, researching the series of murders. In his hand was a small book containing records of the professors and the academy director.
Yutab thought:
"Seven years ago… according to the reports in the organization's confidential archives, a terrible incident happened in this academy… The king ordered the information to remain secret… but there are many gaps…"
His attention was drawn to Charles running across the hall with Arthur on his back. He narrowed his eyes in surprise.
"What happened?!" he shouted.
Charles did not answer, as if Yutab didn't even exist, and continued running with all his strength.
Seeing this, Yutab immediately followed.
After several minutes, Charles reached the infirmary.
He gently laid Arthur on a bed, hands trembling, face etched with fear.
Yutab observed Charles' movements carefully, analyzing them. He found it unexpected how precise and calm Charles was, despite the overwhelming emotion. Looking down at the boy on the bed, he recognized him—Arthur, the same one Elizabeth had been bullying.
Tears welled in Charles' eyes as he implored the doctor:
"Please… save him…"
The doctor, an elderly man with nearly bald white hair, a small pair of glasses, and a slightly hunched back, approached Arthur and began examining him.
He then told Charles and Yutab:
"Please wait outside while I work."
Charles and Yutab stepped out. Charles sank into a chair, head in his hands, despair written across his face.
Yutab, curious and concerned, asked:
"What's happening to Arthur?"
Charles lowered his head, speaking with sorrow:
"An old illness."
"What kind of illness? I'm sure it's not ordinary…" Yutab pressed.
Charles lifted his head, closed his eyes for a moment, and then said:
"The Flower of Death… that's the name of his illness."
Yutab's eyes widened in shock.
"The Flower of Death? That disease?"
Charles nodded.
"Those who spend too much time in high-mana environments are susceptible to it… and… those who push themselves to break their own limits contract it. Arthur has been pushing himself since he became a student… and now he's fallen victim to it.
It's a disease with a very low chance of survival. The mana accumulated in the body gradually strains the organs until the body weakens, and ultimately… death occurs."
Yutab clenched his trembling fists.
"A cruel death…"
"How long has he had this disease?" he asked, curiosity and worry mingling.
Charles didn't answer, sensing he was showing too much emotion. He studied Yutab's reaction carefully.
Yutab watched Charles thoughtfully. "He cares so deeply about his students…" The thought repeated in his mind: "He cares about his student… Arthur… not anyone else…"
"Wait… if Elizabeth did that to Arthur… could it mean Charles wanted to punish her?" Yutab wondered skeptically.
He shook his head to clear the negative thoughts but still looked at Charles with suspicion.
"But it can't be that… maybe I'm overthinking… yet… he plays the innocent role so perfectly… it makes me doubt him even more than Marcus," Yutab thought.
Charles gave a faint smile, squinting his eyes for a moment, and thought:
"He's thinking about it… now is the time…"