Chapter 23
GALIAN Manotant—his name was so famous there wasn’t a single person in any military across Aridol who hadn’t heard of him. He served as the Knight to Rvydom’s former king, Leuco Cahn Rvydom. Legend has it the combination of the God of Annihilation Cahn and the Machine of Calmness Galian was the sole reason the larger kingdom of Maruk struggled to conquer Rvydom before Cahn’s disappearance. Furthermore, Galian had been Vigo’s teacher and master at one point.
Thunderstruck didn’t even begin to describe the shock Vigo felt when Rifaenotis informed him Galian had escaped his imprisonment in Cele. Escaping meant he still hadn’t given up or lost the will to fight yet. He hadn’t given up on King Cahn or the Kingdom of Rvydom.
Is this what you were referring to, Rifaenotis?
Rifaenotis alluded to his own preparations upon discovering who Yuki was. Undoubtedly his preparations entailed supporting and backing Galian’s endeavors. Vigo tightened his grip on the bag he nearly dropped and walked to the bed in the corner of the dusty room.
“Is this child the patient?” he asked, formality stiffening his tone out of respect for the man he once called master.
A young girl no older than sixteen slept under the blankets. Anguish contorted her sleeping face.
She looks about the same age as Yuki.
He stopped at her bedside and briefly examined her. Pocks and pustules had appeared in various locations across her body. A high fever wracked a body already wasting away from a lack of eating.
“S-Say, Doc, will Tita get better?” Nasette grabbed the hem of Vigo’s shirt from where he laid at the girl’s feet. A ring the same color as Tita’s glimmered on the hand clinging to his shirt.
…Her husband? Debility has gotten him as well.
“Yeah. She’ll be okay. When was the last time she was conscious?” Vigo asked.
“She was conscious until this morning,” Dante answered. Sadness harrowed his features as he gazed at the girl lying in her sickbed. By his forlorn look, Vigo assumed she was his daughter.
Vigo hadn’t noticed him until he opened his mouth, but he knew Dante as well. He was the head of one of Rvydom’s noble families. Rumor had it he pulled in his fair share of military accomplishments during the war as well.
“She has been unconscious since then, I presume? Very well. I understand the situation. I am going to give her the medicine but require boiled water. Can you provide it?”
“S-Sure can. I’ll get it for you right now!” Nasette rushed out of the room. The quiet in his wake was broken only by the labored wheezes coming from the girl.
“…Is this girl his wife?” Vigo asked, checking Tita’s airway for any impediment.
“No, they are both my children,” Dante said with a tender, doleful smile. “I apologize for the misunderstanding. My son is an older brother who has issues separating himself from his younger sister.”
“I should apologize for my rude interpretation of their relationship.” Vigo glanced at Galian who stayed glued to his chair since he entered the room and returned his gaze to Tita. “…She will absolutely get better. After all, this child will receive our goddess’ blessing and not the Witch’s curse.”
Yes, if Yuki’s blessing has the effect I believe it does, all will end well.
Hurried footsteps sounded before Nasette flung the door open with a pot of boiled water in his right hand. Vigo poured the powdered medicine into the hot water and let it dissolve before waking Tita up.
“…Ngh,” Tita moaned.
“Sorry for waking you.” With Nasette’s assistance, Tita was slowly lifted into an upright position where she vacantly stared at Vigo. “Can you drink this?”
The fever put a haze over her. She looked up at Nasette like she didn’t understand what Vigo said.
“Tita, this is medicine. Can you take it on your own?”
Understanding when Nasette said it, she held her hand out to Vigo. Nasette placed his hand under hers and helped her bring the medicine to her mouth and wiped the small bit dribbling down the corner of her lip.