Joshua was trying to ride his horse as fast as he could. But also, as convenient as possible. He watched Iris who seemed fast asleep in front of him.
And that calms him down.
Cold air hit them. Although Joshua didn't show his fatigue after the fight because he didn't want to make Iris worry. But it couldn't be denied that he also felt heavy sleepiness.
Unknowingly, Joshua's eyes began to close as well. Slowly until he fell asleep in his sleep...
zZz
zzZz
Bzzz
…How…
...per…fec….t…Mor…ri…gAn...
When Joshua opened his eyes. Joshua was startled when he was in a room that looked like a laboratory. With lots of canisters holding strange items and shelves filled with books that have creepy covers.
"How's your wound?"
A silver-haired woman Joshua recognized as Morrigan approached him. And just like before, he could only watch what was happening in front of him without being able to do anything.
Joshua or at that time more precisely Raul woke up from his sleep.
"Let me help you remove the bandages."
Morrigan then knelt in front of Raul. Patiently and gently, Morrigan slowly removed the bandages covering Raul's body.
Behind Morrigan was a long table. At a glance it looks like an ordinary table, but on it are charred marks and what remains of living things. The shape was shattered and it was almost unrecognizable that it was a human.
After Morrigan finished removing the bandages, Raul got up and moved his body.
"Perfect, Morrigan. This body returns to its original state as if it had never been injured. It even feels stronger than before."
"Good. When I found out you had a special mission from Priest Carlos to kill Priest Elias while he was on his way to visit the Peragon Empire…. it worried me. You just returned from a mission in the South injured and battered…."
Raul glanced at Morrigan who looked worried.
"It can't be helped. Priest Elias was Priest Carlos' rival in fighting over Archpriest Jerome's support. This was a golden opportunity to kill him. Aside from the weak security, the public will think it is the work of people who disagree with the visit Priest Elias made to that country."
Morrigan looked worried at Raul's answer.
Raul held Morrigan's cheek and looked at her tenderly. Trying to convince her.
"Don't worry. Your black magic makes me stronger against any enemy."
Raul took a deep breath as he looked around the room.
"I'm the one who's worried about you, sister. Father Carlos continues to make use of your abilities. I don't know how many black magic books he gave you and made you keep doing forbidden things…. and terrible."
Morrigan shook her head, smiling.
"It's okay, Raul. If it can help you and keep you alive, I don't mind doing anything. After all, black magic is interesting too. For the first time I felt I had power. Unlike before sinking into the feeling of helplessness that I hate."
Then Morrigan let out a black flame that played in her hands. She seemed to be smiling enjoying it.
Raul just silently watched Morrigan.
"Until when do we both have to be tools for Priest Carlos. We've been working on him for over two years now in the shadows. A priest who secretly uses black magic... When will we be free from all this?", Raul muttered in his heart.
"Oh yes, Raul I forgot to tell you. It is likely that in the near future Priest Carlos will take me to Lindheim to meet someone who needs my abilities. Someone important."
"Who's he? Should I be worried?"
"No need. I can take care of myself, Raul. I'm not like I used to be."
"To me you are still the same as before. My beloved sister"
Raul embraced Morrigan from behind.
Josh's eyes widened. Awakened from his dream.
"Joshua, are you all right? You're babbling in your sleep…"
Iris looked at him with worry.
"It is okay. I guess I just had a bad dream…."
Joshua looked around him. It seemed they had arrived at the mountain lake. He recognized a stone building not far away.
Joshua dismounted from his horse and guided it to the building. The building is a simple house that looks like it hasn't been used in a long time.
"We have arrived. This used to be where I lived.
Joshua helped Iris off the horse. They enter the house.
"Sorry, if my house is simple. You can sleep over there."
Joshua pointed at a room at the end.
"That's fine. I don't mind. Was that your room before?"
"No. That used to be my mother and sister's room."
Joshua replied as he walked into another room and closed the curtains.
"Oh…"
Iris remembered when Isabel had told her that Joshua had no family members and what had happened to them.
"Maybe it's too painful for him to come back here and remember them…", Iris muttered in her heart.
After closing the curtains. Joshua held his chest in pain. His breath was hunting.
"Cough…"
Joshua coughed softly. A splash of blood came out.
Joshua had been trying to hide his situation from Iris because he didn't want her to worry and…. sad.
Iris looked around the room where she was going to rest. A modest room. Iris sat down as she lay down on the bed. She put St. Varos book on the table.
DUM!
A loud sound of something falling made Iris startled.
The direction is from Joshua's room. Iris immediately headed there and opened the curtain
"Joshua?"
Joshua was seen lying on the floor in a state of pain.
Iris approached him in a panic. Joshua's body felt hot.
Iris tried to lift him but Joshua's body felt heavy against her tiny body. So, Iris has to try really hard. After successfully putting it on the bed, Iris immediately took the lake water and looked for a cloth to compress it.
But Iris could see that Joshua seemed to be suffering.
Things got worse when Joshua looked like he was having a bad dream and babbled incoherently. His hand swung sideways until it hit the compress basin next to it and it fell. Not only that, both of Joshua's hands also hit the bed hard.
"What can I do? His condition isn't getting any better.", Iris looked at him worriedly with teary eyes. She was confused about what to do.
Suddenly a greenish-white light radiated from Iris's hands. Iris was flabbergasted.
"This light…. Maybe this can help…"
Iris put her hand on Joshua's cheek while her other hand was holding Joshua's hand. The greenish-white light flowed and entered Joshua's body. Slowly Joshua's breath calmed down and the heat decreased. Joshua didn't seem to have any more nightmares and stopped babbling.
Iris breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that her efforts succeeded and Joshua seemed to be sound asleep.
"Joshua what exactly happened to you during these three years?"
=======
Isabel opens her eyes. It seems that it is already noon. The sun glares through the window blinds.
"Ugh…. my head."
Isabel's head ached from last night's hangover. But she still remembered what she did last night, namely she slept with Malcolm.
Isabel looked to her side. Malcolm wasn't in bed. She didn't find Malcolm either when she looked around the room.
The door was opened. Malcolm, still shirtless, enters carrying a tray of lunch.
"Hey, it looks like you're awake already? Feel better?"
Immediately Malcolm put the tray on the table and brought a cup of coffee to Isabel.
Isabel drank it slowly.
While Malcolm looked at her without blinking. It can be seen that Malcolm looks very happy.
When Isabel finished drinking her coffee, Malcolm swiftly took her glass and placed it on the tray.
"You want lunch already?"
"Later."
Isabel fixed her hair while biting her lip.
"So about last night…. Thank you for accompanying me."
"I love doing it. You know I would do anything for you, Isabel.", Malcolm said while kissing Isabel's forehead.
Isabel tried to hide her awkwardness. She glanced at Malcolm who was sitting on the bed like a puppy who was watching Isabel with a happy face.
Isabel's hand moved to touch the Secretglaives tattoo on Malcolm's left chest. Same as the tattoo on Isabel's left arm.
When Secretglaives disbanded, Isabel ordered the tattoo to be overwritten with a cross. But Malcolm's tattoo has not changed. No cross.
"You didn't make it?"
Malcolm nodded, smiling.
"Isabel, do you remember? When we graduate to be Secretglaives agents. We promised to put it on the left side of our body. You're on the arm and Roselle on the shoulder."
"Yeah, I remember…. Roselle and I tattooed it in a predictable part. And at first you didn't want to tell both of us where you put it. Until we set a trap so you get splashed with water and have to change your clothes."
"Hahaha yes. Because of that you know where my tattoo is."
"Sometimes I miss those days….", Isabel smiled with a nostalgic look.
Malcolm looked at Isabel with a gentle look.
"You know what, Isabel? Why did I put it on my left chest? At that time, I had a crush on you and decided to put it on my left chest as a declaration of my unspoken love for you."
Isabel was surprised to hear that.
"That's why when you ordered that. I secretly didn't do it. Because for me…. It's like throwing away my love for you."
Malcolm then reached for Isabel's hair and kissed it. Isabel felt her face getting hot. She didn't know that Malcolm really liked her.
Malcolm she knew was always a prankster, a mess and likes to joke. Because of that Isabel never took anything he said seriously.
"Malcolm, I-…."
Isabel's throat constricted. The words that were about to come out stuck in her mouth.
Malcolm put his finger to Isabel's mouth.
"Shhh. You don't need to give an answer now. When you looked for me last night it already made me happy."
Malcolm then lay down beside Isabel.
"Anyway, if we remember our past when we were still agent candidates, it was fun too. I still remember us guessing where our seniors put their tattoos."
Isabel gave a small laugh.
"You are right. The three of us were so curious that we stalked our seniors to find out."
"Hahaha yes. I remember how you and Roselle were curious about the location of Scarlet's tattoo so you peeked at Scarlet taking a bath."
"You too, Malcolm. You're trying to find the location of Dumar's tattoo. And God knows how many traps you have set for him."
"Unfortunately, until now, I do not know where that old man put his tattoo. The traps I set always fail. That old man took his secret with him to the realm of the dead."
Isabel was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"I know where Dumar's tattoo is."
"Where???"
Malcolm gasped in disbelief.
"On the right side of the lower abdomen."
"What? How can you yo-"
Malcolm didn't finish what he was saying. He could guess how Isabel knew.
"When?"
"You remember the mission when Dumar and I had to save the children who were being smuggled to Peragon? We failed. We lost those children and also our contacts. Then when we go to the tavern. Dumar…. he...drinks more than usual due to extreme stress. That night we ended up sleeping together."
"So, that old man got drunk and asked you to sleep with him?"
"Not really. He looks so depressed. I can't stand seeing him in that state. So, I approached him first. It was only a one-night stand.", Isabel answered while sipping her coffee calmly.
Malcolm was silent at Isabel's words. His beaming face faded. He stood up and put his clothes on.
"Are you leaving already?"
"I just remembered I have business. I will be right back."
Malcolm went out and slammed the bedroom door.
Isabel lay down on the bed and sighed.
"What are you thinking Isabel? It's obvious he'd be upset to hear that."