Chapter 801: Boiling Blood

Julia has been appointed as the Vice-Master instead of Oren, Arthur"s brother. The reason for that was simply, as Arthur stated because Oren lacked the experience, desire, and skills to lead a new guild.

Since Oren brought Arthur back, he refused to let anyone see him, let alone attend to his injuries. He even sat outside his room, guarding it against anyone who wasn"t Healer Princess Tiara.

"Do you know the reason for his actions?" asked Maryam while wearing her goggles. She was inscribing fine runes into a ring while Julia stood by her side reading the news about the incident.

"I have no idea. None of us managed to hear what Arthur said, but it seems to be the reason behind his belief that Arthur is possessed," Julia said while browsing the news. "There is nothing mentioned about the events of last night, and it"s already late morning."

"We disabled their communication, and the emperor wouldn"t report his loss," replied Maryam while taking the goggles off. "The ring is done. This should keep him alive without food, but only for so long."

"Is this for Arthur?" asked Julia with surprise, and Maryam blew at the ring before nodding. "I thought you hated him for leaving Oriole behind."

"I did, still do, but… I realized that he doesn"t have it easy, either," said Maryam with a frown as she stared at the ring. "Oren might be overreacting about Arthur being possessed, but I believe he is cursed with misfortune. Whatever he does, wherever he goes, misfortune awaits him. Is he a calamity?"

"Do you know how heroes are born, Mary?" asked Julia after a pause. The runemaster placed down her ring while staring in response. "Some believe they are simply virtuous, but what does virtue bring without strength? However, most strong people are evil and apathetic. So what makes a hero?"

"A strong and vitreous person?" asked Mary, leaning back in her chair and throwing the ring in the air before catching it.

"There are strong and vitreous warriors who never get labeled as heroes. And, sometimes, an evil person can be called a hero, given the circ.u.mstances. The secret is timing. A hero would be born when someone is present at a certain time, with a certain strength and a compa.s.sionate heart."

"Are you saying that calamities follow heroes?"

"Like a moon following its observer. As long as we don"t look at it, the moon is still irrelevant to us. However, once we set our eyes on it, the moon will haunt us no matter how much we travel."

"Then, Arthur Silvera is a hero," said Maryam as she rose and walked toward Julia, standing beside her to stare at the countless newspapers.

"Not by choice, at least. I was one of the first to realize his genius, but a mistake tore us apart. The world soon learned of his powers, and time and time again, Arthur Silvera proved himself the right man at the right moment."

"Do you think Ilios would be another Kera, Older Sis?"

"A calamity has descended, and their emperor is just as vile as the Yalen King. However, that coward merely stood by while a calamity struck his kingdom, but this one summoned it. The fight ahead will prove more difficult."

"And our Guild Master is unconscious and hated," sighed Mary as she slid through the news about Arthur being the Stealer of Elements and conspiracies about the rebellion. "Hm? What is this?"

Mary paused as she read a headline, which made Julia curious too. A small article in an unknown paper reported some rumors spreading. The newspaper seemed shady, but the article generated some interest.

"An Elemental Saint?" read Julia with a frown. "Why would you be interested in such a t.i.tle? It might be some plot from the emperor."

"I doubt it, but these rumors started right after the emperor framed our Guild Master. Is it possible that this is Arthur"s doing?"

"How so?"

"An Elemental Saint who appeared out of nowhere would raise questions among the common folks. In these times of doubt, the people need a hero, and this is the perfect timing to create one," said Maryam with a pondering expression. Julia eyed her.

"I never took you for a strategist. After all, the Amiens Family never partook in the politics of Runera," smiled Julia. "Your words made sense, but the affairs of Ilios are the least of our concerns. Without our Guild Master, Ascent is crippled."

"There is no need for worry since Yuran is already seeking the Healer Princess," said Maryam with some discontent that didn"t escape Julia"s notice.

"Are you sulking because she"s a better healer or because Yuran seems infatuated with her?" laughed Julia before closing all the newspapers. Maryam was silent, her brown eyes rolling at Julia before walking away.

"Just don"t like enemies who spend their vacation with us," said Maryam as she made her way toward Arthur"s room. "I"m going to give this to Arthur. How about you help me get past Oren?"

Julia sighed and walked behind her, following her toward the grand chambers. Since yesterday, Oren has been sitting beside the room, allowing no one inside. He didn"t even let them clean Arthur"s wounds, using potions instead.

And when the two reached the chambers, Oren sat against the door. His eyes were staring straight ahead, and he turned toward them as soon as they were close.

"I made a ring for Arthur," said Maryam, choosing to walk confidently without stopping. "It will grant him the vitality that replaces eating, at least for a few days. His body needs it."

"Then I will give it to him," said Oren as he stood and spread his palm for her. Maryam stopped and squinted her eyes at him. "I told you; no one should see my brother now."

"He might be your brother, but he is our Guild Master, and all of us are worried," said Maryam while folding her arms. "Let us in, Oren. There is no way he is possessed. Your actions are hurting him."

"Your ring won"t work on him."

"And when did you become a runemaster healer?"

Oren was silent before he glanced at Julia. She chose to meet her gaze because she was also worried about Arthur. Then, the young man turned around and pushed the doors open, but he stopped with them one inch apart.

"I didn"t want anyone to see him this way," said Oren as he stood frozen at the door, making Julia frown. "After all, my brother is not this."

Oren pushed the doors open, and the two women followed after him. As they stepped into the room, they doubted their eyes. The runic lines that used to engrave the chambers were gone, and the walls lost their color.

The room was dark, and the light arrays that transported sunlight into the deepest layer seemed to be disabled. Julia realized why the artifact wouldn"t work on Arthur as she walked into the room.

Their Guild Master was sleeping on the bed, surrounded by crackling black lighting. His body was covered with black cracks connected to a circle in the center, which seemed to hold a black fire.

"I thought that my sword would grant him peace, but it did nothing but calm him down," said Oren as he stood at the end of the bed, staring down at his brother. "Look at the sheets below him. I replaced them an hour ago."

Julia stared at the fabric touching Arthur"s skin and gulped down when she realized it was slowly burning. Arthur"s face was sleeping, but steam rose from the black lines covering his body.

"This black flame is his rage," Oren said, staring at him with sadness. "It boils his blood, and his skin would give a normal man some hideous burns."

"That doesn"t make sense. His blood shouldn"t even remain a liquid if it was boiling, and he should be dead," said Maryam with a frown as she stepped forward, but Julia held her back. "Sister?"

"There is something… different," said Julia with a frown as she stared at the black flame. "This is not Arthur, or at least not the one we know."

"His blood is boiling within him, but it seems that my brother"s body is fighting back, resisting the harm being done. I poured potions on them, but they turned to water. I used an Ice Runic Card that he gave me, but it wouldn"t activate. So I used it outside and brought the ice here, but it melted before it touched him."

"What is he suffering from, and what was that monster?" asked Julia with a frown before turning toward Oren. "You said that white being was the Sin of Pride, so what did he tell you?"

Oren was silent for a few more seconds before walking toward them. Then, finally, he opened the door and turned toward them, gesturing for them to leave the room.

Maryam stared at Julia, who nodded, and the two left. As they waited for Oren to answer, the man simply sat against the door, remaining quiet. Julia opened her mouth when a panel appeared in front of her. It was Yuran requesting access to the fortress alongside Tiara.