Chapter 865

"How do you feel now? Any changes in your body?"

"Indeed... the pain has remarkably subsided. It's astonishing, considering I've never had any painkillers for the internal pain."

Kishiar spoke indifferently, a humorless expression on his face.

"May I inquire about the herbs used in this?"

"There are things I can speak of and those I cannot. It's a bit complicated."

"I thought as much. After all, the medicine you gave me was different from the start."

In the midst of their conversation, Enon's busy hands paused momentarily.

"...But how could you tell? They were all taken from the same medicine jar."

"Even if they look the same and are mixed in the same jar, you can't completely hide the different ingredients used, especially if they're imbued with even a trace of magic."

The last part was uttered so softly that no one but Enon could hear it. Kishiar tilted his head slightly, continuing his words thoughtfully.

"It's best to hide a secret in plain sight, among similar things. But I must say, the method used for differentiation is quite exceptional. Frankly, I was astounded by such delicate manipulation, having never seen it before."

Enon's yellow eyes narrowed, a mix of incredulity, annoyance, and admiration in his gaze.

"Ha... To think that even the child who handles those jars daily didn't notice, and yet you discerned it after just one dose. Had you been born five hundred years earlier, you would have reigned as an Archmage."

"I've heard that a few times," Kishiar said, nodding slightly without a smile.

"But someone as wise as you must know that not everyone sensitive to magic makes a good mage. Magic is challenging. The strain it places on the body is too great. Even if I had been born back then, I might not have become a mage."

"..."

"Fear not. If I hadn't noticed the difference between the scent of the medicine given to Yuder and mine, despite being from the same source, it would have been difficult to detect the magic. If I could do it, it's unlikely others could."

Kishiar La Orr, as Yuder's tales suggested, was not an ordinary human. Even Enon, who had lived through many years, couldn't help but be slightly astounded upon witnessing his abilities firsthand.

In the days of yore, brimming with talented individuals, there had been none who possessed such a plethora of skills, who could use them so organically and yet not lose their sanity. At least, not since Enon had come into being and begun observing the world.

Kishiar had pieced together the true nature of the medicine from the slightest of clues, discerning Enon's intentions hidden behind it, leaving the other without a retort, his response too perfect. For anyone conversing with him, it was an incredibly, intensely, and immensely frustrating experience.

'So, to put it simply... I understand everything, but if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. Trust is already established since I took your medicine without question. That's it.'

To others, it might not seem unusual for a member of the Cavalry to speak this way to a mere apothecary. However, a closer listen revealed a subtle undertone in Kishiar's words and flow, perceptible only to Enon.

It seemed like condescension, but it wasn't entirely so. The look in his eyes and his demeanor were slightly different from how one would treat a true subordinate. It was evident he knew Enon was no ordinary person and hence maintained a certain line of respect.

‘You still have your wits about you despite being completely shaken up internally? You must be mad, utterly.’

Of course, when it came to the extent of madness, no one could surpass the man who now lay unconscious under Enon's care. However, Kishiar was not far behind in this regard.

It was said that humans are inevitably drawn to those who resemble them internally, and this saying couldn't be more accurate. Whether it was the man lying here broken and battered after fighting and sacrificing himself, or the one who seemed less physically damaged but was internally just as ravaged, yet stood upright and continued to think clearly, both were equally cursed.

Enon gazed quietly at the man who, under normal circumstances, would have either been dead or writhing on the ground in agony. During their conversation, Kishiar's gaze had remained steadfastly on Yuder. Though his mouth spoke of other matters, his eyes, unwavering and sincere, focused solely on one place, slightly easing Enon's irritation.

‘Damn it all. It's my own fault for getting involved.’

Enon turned his head sharply and spoke.

"You probably know this already, but the medicine you just took is merely a painkiller to suppress the pain temporarily. I can't do more in this situation, so absolutely avoid exerting yourself, and try not to move even a finger if possible. I'll give you two more pills; take one if the pain worsens."

Kishiar accepted the medicine offered by Enon and nodded as he looked at it.

"I understand. Just reducing the pain to this extent feels like a miracle, so I have no further demands. However..."

For the first time, the man hesitated in his speech. He asked Enon with a blunt face.

"What's next? What about 'that' which has spread through Yuder's body? Do you think it can improve?"

"..."

Enon looked silently at Yuder, who lay still, radiating an intense fever. Without specific mention, both knew that 'that' referred to the power absorbed from the Red Stone into Yuder's body. This power, which had permeated his blood and spread throughout his body in a dark crimson pattern, was something even Enon had always found difficult to conjecture.

The pure essence of the red stone's power. Yet Yuder had not only absorbed it into his body without dying but had also adapted and utilized it to some extent.

"Every time Yuder used the power of an Awakener, it would spread. Normally, it would extend to a certain range and then fade away, but occasionally, when he exceeded his usual limits and hit a sort of barrier... a wall, it would spread further than the usual areas."

"..."

"I've always observed that it was Yuder's own... a kind of 'choice' that led to this result. Knowing what would happen, he chose to break through that wall, accepting the greater burden it placed on his body and allowing 'that' to spread, but in return, he could exert a level of power that was impossible at the time."

Enon's eyes flickered in response.

"Tell me more about it."

"Just now, when it was the last moment to handle Hosanna, Yuder was in a state where he had no strength left, not even enough to defend himself. But in that moment..."

Incredibly, flames shot up along the sword, and Yuder pierced Hosanna with that power. Simultaneously, the dark veins that climbed Yuder's body spread to the widest range they ever had, seizing control over his entire body.

Kishiar was the one who had witnessed the process most closely, never missing a moment. He was also a being who, though not as much as Yuder himself, had clearly sensed and understood the process that others could not fathom.

In a situation where it made sense for no strength to be used, the question arose: from where had this surpassing power emerged? The answer surely lay in the dark veins that covered Yuder's body.

After finishing his explanation, Kishiar turned to Enon and continued.

“When everything was over, I asked Yuder if he had 'chosen'.”

Enon, slowly crossing his arms, looked down at Yuder and spoke.

“So, what did this guy say?”

“He said... 'yes.'”

Silence, cold and heavy, fell between the two for a moment.

“...Hah.”

Enon ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a short breath. The sigh, laden with irritation and anger, could not hide the profound emotion within.

“This idiot... what on earth... during all this time... what were they all…”

“It's partly my fault as well, that he made such a choice. I have no words.”

“...Ah!”

Enon, growing even angrier at Kishiar's calm admission of his own fault, clenched his fists and trembled.

“Right now, it's not a situation to be solved by blaming anyone, so let's not talk about that, okay?”

“...”

“Ha, if he could just open his eyes, I'd have pounded his head ten times over... But since that's not possible, let's drop it. Anyway, yes. Whether this spreading thing on his body will heal or not, I cannot say for certain.”

Kishiar’s lone red eye grew darker with his conclusive words.

“Then...”

“We also can't assume he's going to die soon. Anyway, this guy has always been like this, coming back to life after such episodes. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”