Chapter 74
The lingering smell of morning rain filled the air. Curtains drifted in the cool breeze.
A priest moved briskly between beds.
Professor Sevile watched him as he examined the patients lying there.
"What is their condition?"
Bishop Elion finished his examination.
He exhaled slowly and shook his head.
Sevile's fingers tightened into a fist.
"Sevile, calm down."
A low, heavy voice cut through the silence.
He looked ahead.
Cardinal Magnus sat there, exhaustion carved deep into his face.
Sevile held his gaze for a few seconds, then let out a breath and loosened his clenched hand.
Magnus had been dispatched immediately by the Pope and arrived as soon as the news reached the capital.
They hadn't stopped even once—burning through their mana, pushing their bodies past their limits until they reached Solar City.
Princess Lyana Rotherham was in dire straits.
Azek Willowheart had bled out severely and still hadn't regained consciousness despite first aid.
Genevieve Valethorn's body had turned cold, his muscles and mana pathways shattered from within.
Professor Zain had yet to wake.
Only Emilene Westfall retained a sliver of strength. But by the time she was brought in, the poison had already ravaged her lungs, leaving her barely able to breathe.
She was the only one stabilized—and conscious.
What she recounted sent a chill through the entire investigation team.
There had been no pause since. Professor Albert and Sevile went to retrieve Serbian's team, while Magnus took charge of the healing.
But their bodies were reaching their limits.
Azek lay unconscious beside his companions.
The rescue mage had described his condition in detail.
A body pushed so far it could no longer stand upright.
And yet—
A will strong enough to hold on, even after burning through everything, even as delirium took hold.
Magnus closed his eyes briefly.
Sixteen.
Just a child.
He should have been out there living freely—not lying here, broken like this.
But…
This world was merciless.
And they had placed its weight on his shoulders anyway.
Magnus clenched his jaw and rubbed his eyes.
He hadn't slept since the dispatch.
Two days of uninterrupted healing had drained him to the core.
Yet rest brought no relief.
They were the adults. They were meant to protect the young.
Instead—
Everything had reversed.
Azek Willowheart had devised a reckless plan and dragged his companions back from the brink of death.
Because of him, Serbian and the rest of the team were rescued in time—unharmed.
When Serbian saw his students and Professor Zain, he said nothing.
And he hadn't spoken since.
"I think there is someone else who needs to calm down."
Sevile turned toward him.
Serbian sat beside the beds, unmoving.
The moment he had arrived and seen them, something in him had shifted.
Since then, he hadn't left their side.
No sleep. No food.
Now his grip on the armrest tightened until the wood began to splinter.
Magnus rose.
He approached quietly, stopping behind him, and rested a hand on his shoulder.
Serbian stiffened, turning with wary eyes.
Magnus said nothing.
A healing spell flowed into him—steady, gentle.
The tension in Serbian's body eased slightly, as if he had been sitting on the edge of collapse this entire time.
Magnus spoke calmly,
"Serbian, did you know the princess sent her personal guards with you?"
Serbian's eyes widened.
Tuk.
A precise strike landed at the back of his neck.
His body slackened, and his head fell into Magnus's hand.
Magnus had knocked him out cleanly.
He adjusted him carefully into a resting position.
Sevile leaned back in his chair, exhaled, then stood.
Mana wrapped around Serbian's body as he was escorted out.
Milborne family knights guided them toward the prepared lodgings.
Sevile's gaze shifted to Marquis Cedric Milborne.
Cousin to Queen Seraphina. Head of the Milborne family.
Everything had been arranged flawlessly. The entire household was on high alert.
Yet there was no chaos—no idle whispers, no unnecessary presence.
Retainers moved with precision, carrying out their duties without question. Servants rushed through the villa as the butler and head staff issued commands in firm, controlled tones.
Everything functioned—efficient, disciplined.
And yet—
The atmosphere was heavy.
The Queen had collapsed, and the palace had descended into turmoil over Princess Lyana and the students' condition.
The Willowheart family and other nobles had rushed to the palace in the dead of night.
Reinforcements were mobilized under His Majesty's orders, while the Blackthorn family supplied mana stones for rapid travel.
Because of that, they had reached Solar even before the Magic Tower forces.
The Milborne estate had sealed its gates, every knight summoned, every defense raised.
Sevile glanced out the tall window.
The barrier shimmered faintly beyond the grounds.
It had been erected the moment they arrived.
"Professor Sevile."
A refined voice sounded from behind him.
He turned toward it.
Cedric Milborne stood there.
A middle-aged man with dignified features.
But his blue eyes held something deeper.
Sevile addressed him respectfully.
"Marquis."
Milborne raised a hand, signaling him to relax.
He turned his gaze toward the window.
A green sheen surrounded the entire villa.
"I always believed things were worsening—that something had to be done. The world has changed from what it once was.
It has become far more dangerous… far more unstable.
But that was only a thought.
I never truly believed it had grown this dire.
But…"
He paused.
"Seeing the princess—and those young ones—lying there, fighting for their lives… it forces one to face reality.
This is no longer the time to stand back and merely think.
Now, we move.
The young are doing what we should have done long ago.
Tell this to Theodore.
He may use the Milborne family to its fullest extent, as he sees fit.
And from this moment onward, we will formally cooperate with the Willowheart family.
Our knights may not be trained to face monsters… but they can hold them back, if only for a time.
So I trust you will relay this clearly to the Ashford family as well."
He finished and turned away.
Without looking back.
Sevile watched him, eyes narrowing slightly.
He intends to pull the noble families into this.
Then he exhaled.
They had no other choice now.
"Sevile. Let's go."
Magnus stepped beside him.
Sevile gave a small nod and followed.
They made their way down into the depths of the Milborne estate.
A black mage was already waiting for them.