It was already 4 in the morning in the 'City of Life'. The streets of Clona was quiet as the people are still sleeping humbly inside their homes. They have no way of knowing what is currently happening just beneath their feet. 7 hours already had passed since they initiated destroying Amoth, but the people inside the depths of the Ischyrós Castle doesn't have a way of knowing it.
A group of men rushed at the man currently falling from high above. It was Xarth. The wind supporting him was slowly fading as he was exhausted and in agony after forcing himself to move the Mana inside his body. This caused his insides to twist strangely as the flow of Mana in his Mana core was disrupted.
'I'm...Definitely falling, I can't feel my body.'
*SWOOSH
Zero returned the Drunken blade to his scabbard and burst his way towards Xarth. He swiftly wraps his hands around Xarth's upper body to safely land on the ground.
They were able to descend successfully...
Everyone hurriedly waltzed their way at Xarth because they were quite worried. They could clearly see the blood, on Xarth's white shirt flowing out from his mouth.
"Xarth!" Harold gently pulled his little brother close to him from Zero, he then proceeds to move Xarth's arm around his neck to support him.
"You Idiot!" Harold uttered as he supports Xarth's body weakly holding onto his broad shoulders.
Xarth quietly scoffed at Harold's words. "Hey...Call...Soleis." he weakly mumbled as he leans against his brother.
Harold nodded his head before calling. "Soleis!"
'Huh!? Human, What is it?' The light elemental asked he headed his gaze upon the man whose head was looking down on the ground.
"...Soleis..." His complexion was white as a ghost, Soleis witnessed this and immediately flew to his Contractor.
'Art!?, Don't worry! I'll heal you right now!' The light elemental flew at the speed of sound towards Xarth eager to vanquish the pain his contractor is currently experiencing.
Soleis started to circle Xarth, surrounding him with a bright white light gently shining upon his body and handsome face. Xarth slowly feels his body getting better, the pain he had slowly deteriorated like it was nothing from the very beginning.
"Xarth, Do you feel any better? If not, I will immediately take you back to our territory to get you treated." Harold asked as he was quite concerned for his little brother since he's his older brother.
Someone other than Harold chimed in...
"Just tell me, And I'll instantly open a spatial portal addressed to your household." Lex offered as he was concern for Xarth's health.
"No, Thank you." Xarth smiled before slowly moving away from Harold, he then gradually stood on his own feet. As he stands still on his own he then started wiping the blood on his mouth with his white shirt that is already tainted by a great amount of it. 'Ha...I will definitely not do something like that ever again.' Xarth strongly promised those words to himself as he doesn't want to be further involved with Zero's stupid conquest.
At this point, Lee Son really had a change of view for the past 3 days he's been here in the world of "THE CONQUEST OF ZERO'. He even didn't know when it started but, he finally set up a goal for what he really wants to do in this otherworldly place. And that only goal inside his mind is to live peacefully at Count Barrow's Territory.
Genuinely, He doesn't really care much whether he gets back to his world or not. Because he'll just return to his old workaholic days if he were to travel back to his own world. Since he noticed that outcome happening he slowly started observing this world he's currently in.
As those 3 days pass that's when he thought to himself 'It's not bad. I stay at a mansion, I eat High-class restaurant food every day, I'm rich, I have generous and kind parents that I didn't originally have in my real world, I'm good looking, I have met great companions that can be truly called friends and I could even have everything that I could ever wish for except 'Modern Technology' which is something that I can live without off.'
Those thoughts pass through his head as he can see that it might be a way to get out of those hellish days and live his life here in luxury and comfort, away from all the pain he went through in his original world. But to get there he first needed to attend the King's Celebration to make sure that Harold won't be caught up with the Main Protagonist's actions.
Honestly, Xarth doesn't dislike Zero. On the contrary, He likes Zero very much when he was still your average reader. From Lee Son's perspective, he thinks that Zero is unmistakably perfect for the role of the main character. Why is that? From his viewpoint, he sees Zero as someone who is an upright man that can deeply and properly care for the people he treasures.
This really impacted Lee Son since he doesn't really know how to properly treasure someone counter to the way he did it before. Besides, he also thought that by continue reading 'THE CONQUEST OF ZERO' He could somehow learn something from it. And this feeling still stands the same as he can never really hate the guy since they are fellow Earthlings.
Harold looked at his brother with concern. "Can you stand now? You don't have to force yourself," he advised as he can still see Xarth's pale face plus him standing so stiff.
Xarth peaked at him before replying. "More or less..."
Harold lightly patted Xarth's back, "So, I have something important to ask you?" He whispered as he suddenly stopped patting Xarth's back. "How were you able to use Magic? And Why the hell did you do that!?" Harold was complaining because Xarth acted in a way that can affect his life.
Moreover, it is something that Harold couldn't just let go of.
Harold steps backward and stared right at him. Soon the other 2 men in the wide-area room paced their way toward Xarth. Lex's eyes were sparkling so brightly as he gawks at him.
"Xarth-nim, Are you alright?" Zero asked with a somehow worried expression on his supposedly cold face.
'I guess he really did open up to me. But how did it turn that way?' Xarth asked this to himself as he really doesn't know the answer to when and why is Zero suddenly opening up to him.
The Duke swiftly galloped his way and hugged Xarth. "Young Master Xarth, You're our hero. If it wouldn't be for your reckless actions Clona will definitely see the carnage this day. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." He passionately admitted as he believed that Xarth was the one who contributed the most to destroying Amoth.
-One of the Duke's reasons was Xarth's excellent field of knowledge and understanding in each scenario that played out that evening. He already perceived Xarth at the very first meeting, As there's something supremely a different vibe that he can only feel from Xarth than the rest of the group.
Xarth looked lost as the Duke is still hugging him tightly. 'Please, Just leave me alone. My stomach is still hurting!!' he was thinking these thoughts as he blankly stares at everyone currently focused on their interaction.
"Duke, I beg for your pardon. But, Could you please let go of me? My insides still ache so much." Duke Jidek eyes widen he abruptly withdrew his arms from hugging Xarth.
"Excuse me, Pardon me for my actions." he started to scratch his neck as he feels bad for doing that.
Xarth gloom his gaze toward the Duke with a bitter smile on his pretty face. "It's Alright, Duke," he commented as clutches onto his abdomen as he feels it still throbbing.
The Duke warmly smiled back at Xarth before he walked away from him. He then requested Harold's attention to discuss the things they had done that morning in his office. Harold took a glance at Xarth and they made eye contact. Xarth just smiled at him yet Harold looked at him expressionless before heading up the stairs with Duke Jidek.
Lex and Ezekiel sauntered their way closer towards Xarth with a pretty impressed expression on their faces. "Young Master Xarth, I didn't know that you can use Magic!" Lex mentioned as he never looked at Xarth to be that type of a person.
"How were you able to do it? and to do it to that extent all by yourself?" Ezekiel asked as he was quite fascinated and shocked at this surprising turn of events.
Xarth faked a smile as he was clearly displeased with all this unwanted attention. "Ah...I really don't know."
''Ha...I knew it okay! I know that there's a sword stuck on Amoth's Nape because when Zero was fighting him. The novel explained that he saw a sword on him, and it was also later revealed to be caused by one of the soldiers way back on Amoth's expedition.' He only replied to Ezekiel's question in his head since he knows that telling them the truth would only cause trouble.
Lex gasped because he was surprised."What!? Then, are you telling me you used Magic unaware of your Mana core!?" he was exaggerating resulting, in him misunderstanding Xarth's uses of magic.
Xarth noticed this and quickly tilted his head sideways as he denies Lex's exaggerated thinking. "No! I was aware of that, and I already awakened it In the past. " Xarth admitted as he was really telling Lex the truth.
"Then, Since when did you start using Magic? Lex asked once more.
Xarth let out a sigh. 'Do I really need to tell them? They might cause me some headaches. Though, Weirdly enough, Zero's keeping quiet.' he sneakily took a quick peek at Zero.
Zero was casually checking and scanning onto the Drunken blade with a serious gaze. Xarth quickly averted his gaze away from Zero, who seems to be thinking of something grave.
Xarth's heads his attention towards the two men once more. Lex's eyes were still glowing brightly as he stares at him waiting, for his response. While Ezekiel on the other hand has a serious look on his face as he also awaits Xarth's answer.
'*Sigh, I'll just tell them. Since I won't even get to meet with them again.' Xarth positively assumes as he assures himself that he'll never meet them again after this.
"Truthfully, I only used magic for the first time here today." He was really telling the truth. He himself even can't believe that he'd actually pulled it off and used Magic for the first time. Even right now he can clearly still feel the flow of Mana still lingering in his fingertips. Though, there's also the sharp sting he can also feel in his abdomen.
"Really!? Impressive! this is usually isn't a feat that can be done that easily." Lex commented as he was quite dazzled by Xarth's capabilities. Considering he was a Quintaple magician it's common sense that he has wide expertise and knowledge about it.
Ezekiel started to part his lips slightly. "I have never met so many gifted individuals in just a span of 1 day. It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance."
he mentioned as he smiles warmly at Xarth.
Xarth hearing their replies was pleased as the two didn't exaggerate his statement.
'Now that I think about it! Why does everyone seem to notice Xarth so much, Isn't he only a minor character? I mean, Xarth's initial character is oddly strange. He is very good-looking, has high mana according to Soleis his backstory is unexplained and remains a mystery. Then there's this with the 'Mirror of Adea' mentioning something about 'The Forgotten' that somehow may have a connection to Xarth. What is he really!?' Lee Son was astonished as he just noticed this only now.
"Ezekiel! Duke Jidek!" Harold screamed gaining everyone's attention.
To be continued...
(Decree_Woods)