'Lucilius!!'
The adrenaline got me yelling and running at the same time. In normal circumstances, I wouldn't even be able to run that far. But I was excited to see Lucilius, hoping he would miraculously realize I have been keeping Leonhardt away from the discourse.
Elias informed me that he had to retrieve the hostage so I went without him. I ran to Lucilius and Archer standing by the wooden fence. The Alshain forces seemed to have left, including Leonhardt. He wouldn't be able to spot me.
'Lucilius!' I called again. It got his attention. The emperor turned his head and watched as I ran to him.
I halted. 'Are you okay?' I asked, panting. 'The explosion was really loud.'
Lucilius didn't reply; he continued staring at me with eyes full of emotions I couldn't identify. Was he mad? Was he touched? Was he sad? Was he happy?
I glanced at the base camps of the patrol officers. 'I heard there were a lot of injured soldiers here, I'll go have a look,' I said with a smile etched across my face.
But as I was about to leave, like the strike of a lightning too fast, I saw an arrow flying towards Lucilius. Archer was quick to grab his sword from its hilt and cut the arrow into two, breaking its momentum.
But whoever was shooting the arrow predicted his action, as another arrow came right after–but it was directed at me.
Why the fu–
I took one quick step to the left but I still couldn't beat the speed of the incoming arrow. Instead though, a hand pushed my body away from the targeted trajectory, and the arrow deeply grazed his shoulder.
Lucilius.
'Your Majesty!' Archer gasped.
His sleeve was torn and blood was oozing out profusely.
I reached out for him, wanting to heal but Elias suddenly appeared beside me and caught my hand. His grip was tight and his eyes full of anxiety, stared into mine.
'Someone's dying,' he said urgently.
I looked at Archer. 'Apply pressure on his wound, Archer! I'll come back in a w–' I said but was cut off as Elias teleported me.
***
Leonhardt glanced at his aide. 'Why did you do that?' he asked.
'His magician wasn't there,' said Ciaran quietly. He never spoke much anyway.
'And the two arrows?' Leonhardt raised a brow. 'You know your aim is perfect.'
'His aide is quick. The other one is for another person, which I know he would try to save.'
Leonhardt chuckled. 'In normal events, that could be a serious offense.'
Ciaran didn't say anything.
***
He was shot with an arrow on his chest 2 days ago and his body went into shock, as his wound got infected due to improper care. Elias teleported to his bed and Luna quickly approached to examine him.
High fever, shivering and shaking, and shortness of breath.
Okay, just this one huge wound on his chest, she thought.
Inhaling, she touched the injured area and waited.
The wound closed up, his pale face had colors again, and he stopped shaking. He was healed. The soldier breathed out sharply. He wanted to express his gratitude but his drowsiness got the better of him and he fell asleep.
'Over here!' somebody called out.
Elias tapped Luna's shoulder and she turned her head.
'He's having a seizure!'
'Here! The blood won't stop!'
'Incoming patients!'
All were yelling desperately, needing medical attention. The night went on with Luna attending each and every one of the injured soldiers.
***
I touched Lucilius' shoulder and the wound closed up immediately. It took me at least 45 minutes before I could get back to him. He didn't look pissed so I didn't panic much. Elias teleported me, Lucilius, and Archer back to the palace, at the white teahouse/gazebo, right after I was done. And then he and Archer went somewhere else.
'Good work,' said Lucilius, breaking the silence. I looked at him.
'It's nothing...' I replied.
He exhaled sharply. 'You tremendously increased the rate of the soldiers' productivity because they were healed,' he said. 'And because you have finally showcased your healing ability, make up your mind on anything.'
I raised my brows questioningly.
'A reward. I'm rewarding you.'
'Ohhhh.'
I hummed, thinking. Well... I've only eaten bland food for the last three days because I was "sick" so I'm kinda starving...
And asking for food is a simple request and it doesn't sound too demanding.
'Then... I want a meal,' I said with a grin.
He frowned. 'A meal?'
I nodded. 'Yes, a meal.'
Lucilius looked troubled.
I blinked. Is it too much to ask...? It's not like I'm asking him to cook.
Cook? Ah, now that I mention it, it sounds like a good idea. If he's the one coo–
'Alright,' said Lucilius quietly. 'We'll have dinner tomorrow.'
Hm???
We?????
'I'm leaving,' he said and began walking away.
Wait–we!?
***
When she got back to her room, it was nearing dawn and she thought she would make up for the sleep she had lost later in the afternoon. Helena had readied her bath and she had a nice, long shower after almost 4 days outside.
Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Luna wondered hard about Lucilius' words. What made him so sure that she was asking him to have a meal with her? She just wanted to eat.
'Luna.'
She gasped in surprise and turned to look. Right by the window, Elias had appeared.
'Elias!' she hissed. 'Don't scare me like that! And what if I was changing?'
He blinked. 'Oh, sorry. Are you free to talk?'
'Sure,' she said and went to light up a candle before sitting on the sofa in the middle of her room. Elias sat in front of her.
'Is it about that?' she asked.
Elias nodded.
***
The explosion of the mine. It was originally my idea. I told Elias beforehand that he would transfer the magic stones while I go and distract Leonhardt. Afterwards, we would head to the mine together and he would explode it with his magic.
However, after Elias fetched me from Leonhardt's camp, Elias noticed a trace of magic from the mine and he teleported outside of it for him to inspect first. Before he could approach to take a look, the mine exploded like an atomic bomb, shaking the grounds beneath and staggering us both.
We were puzzled but Elias needed to save the hostage quickly so we didn't question anything and split off.
But given that we've calmed down and all, we needed to discuss.
I tried to remember any other characters from the original novel I read that could have interfered, but Lucilius was the main villain in it and others were often those who had issues with Alshain; no magicians mentioned, and perhaps some bandits.
Wait, bandits?
'Do you think the bandits who tried to kill me had something to do with this?' I asked. 'Since they were able to, supposedly, weaken me before attacking.'
Elias thought for a moment. 'That makes sense but only if they're still alive.'
I frowned. 'They're dead?'
'Puppets,' said Elias simply. 'They were mere tools to carry out their mastermind's plan.'
Hmph... should've thought so.
'So it's not the bandits, but it could be the mastermind. He or she could've used someone else,' I said.
'If so, the mastermind would be a magician as well.'
'Anyone in mind?'
Elias shook his head. 'We need to investigate this,' he said.
'How are you planning on doing that?' I asked.
'The traces of magic, I'll go and have a look.'
I nodded. 'Okay, update me if something comes up.'
'I will.'
And he disappeared.
I stared at the rising sun out of the window. Guess a little nap would do.
***
'Your magic. It will be safe with me.'
'You're a devil. Only fools trust devils.'
'Oh, don't say that Luna.'
I was standing on a cliff, below me was a vast town filled with colorful houses. People were bustling here and there doing business, kids were playing around, and birds chirped happily in the bright morning.
As always, I was in a dream but was merely a participant.
'But who knows–you might be my last resort,' the body I was in, spoke.
The male voice accompanying me giggled. 'I'll be of service to you, Milady.'
'I must be losing my mind...'
'Luna, the world IS cruel. I agree with you on that. We're both suffering, so if only you would–'
'Stop talking, I might change my mind.'
***
'Don't be shy, Healer. Why do you look like I'm about to behead you?'
I tensed up. The atmosphere wasn't welcoming at all–I didn't feel like eating anything despite having tons of plates of food on the table between me and Lucilius. It was a little past dusk and I was invited to his residence, Orion, for dinner. Thankfully, he sent maids to help me get to the place or we would be having breakfast instead.
As seen in comics, his dining table was the refectory table and he was sitting adjacent to me.
I just can't get used to this image of Lucilius. In my mind, he's always been the usual cold, non-talkative final boss that makes people go mad.
'O-okay, let's eat!' I stuttered.
And we silently did so.
Lucilius only ate a few bites of this and that, then he poured alcoholic drinks into his glass and my glass. I pretended not to see and continued eating, keeping my eyes on my food.
All good things must end; I had the last bite of my meal and glanced up at the glass.
I'm not drinking that.
'Um, did Elias show you the magic stones he collected from the mine?' I spoke.
Lucilius, who was swirling the wine in his glass playfully, stopped to look at me. 'He did.'
'Oh, okay.'
Did Elias tell anything about all of it being my plan? If Lucilius is smart, he would have figured it out.
'Your face,' he said, tilting his head. 'You look like you want me to compliment you.'
'N-no!' I stammered. 'Not at all. Just want to make sure you've received what you should.'
'So it really was your doing?'
I stared at him. 'What?'
'Do you think I rewarded you only because you healed a bunch of people?'
I bit the inside of my cheek. 'Did Elias tell you about it?' I asked quietly.
'I don't need Elias to tell me that, it's too obvious,' he replied.
I reached out for my glass nervously and took a sip; but not without wincing at the bitterness.
'You want me to congratulate you?' he asked.
'No,' I quickly said. 'It's only my duty to do so.'
'So you do want me to say "congratulations"?'
'I didn't say that.'
'Of course you don't. But your eyes sparkle when I mention "congratulate"–there you go, those eyes.'
I touched my eyebrows instinctively. 'My eyes don't sparkle!' I argued.
'Congratulations, you did well with the mine,' he said.
***
Her face immediately went beet red and anyone could see that she was trying hard not to smile. In an attempt to hide it, she quickly gulped down the wine from her glass, and he saw the corners of her lips lifting up.
Lucilius looked away because it was funny to him. He was just extremely curious and amused at the same time at her change of behaviour. Back then, he couldn't even get more than 10 words out of her.
'Do you need desserts?' Lucilius asked.
Her eyes lit up at the mention of desserts, then she frowned. 'No, I'm going to get fat,' she said.
Fat? She looks like a scarecrow. Lucilius thought. The scarecrow itself would be embarrassed.
'What kind of desserts do you have?' she queried.
Lucilius chuckled. 'Just name it, the chef will do as you wish.'
Then, he gestured at his butler to bring the chef in and the servant quickly left the room.
The emperor never had dinner with his magician–now a Healer–but there they were. He didn't know Luna liked desserts that much but from what he had heard before, the girl barely ate from day to day. She was either busy in the Magus Turrim or outside doing missions.
He was partly to blame for the workload but that was to be expected, as she was the Official Magician at that time. Her missions were usually assassinations and stakeouts. She could kill in a blink of an eye; such was the power of one of the four families of magicians.
Her cousin, Elias, was comparable–although he seemed to lack a significant amount of mana compared to her. He had heard from the knights that he was a great guy to get along with, but somehow he kept getting on his nerves–disobeying his orders in a roundabout way, and the other day, dared to step in his business without being asked.
Since Luna was declared a Healer, Lucilius had to keep Elias despite his offense because he was the last Primeval Magician in Sirius.
He had to admit, Luna was like a puppet back when she was the magician. Soulless, followed orders without questions and without trying to influence him in any way. She was like an animal with no thoughts and opinions. Just living to serve.
'You know...'
His eyes met Luna's green ones. She had her forearm on the table and her chin resting on it.
Is she drunk? Lucilius glanced at her wineglass. It was almost empty.
'I so badly want to become Sophie,' she said. 'And live a happy life.'
'Who's Sophie?' Lucilius asked. He felt dumb asking her a question because she was drunk. She wouldn't be able to think straight anyway.
'But I ended up having to do the most work because I woke up in this body...' she sighed. 'Why would the robber even kill me before taking my stuff? I have a safe, he surely needs a password...!'
Whatever is she talking about...
'A Healer can only do so much...' she continued then sniffed and suddenly stood up straight, knocking her chair off to the ground, then squinted her eyes at him.
Lucilius frowned. This is one energetic drunkard.
'Since I'm bored anyway, I'll find out why!' she yelled with one hand raised. 'Why did I lose my magic, and how to save you!'
It got his attention. 'Save me from what?' he asked.
She giggled. 'From the Crown Prince!'
Lucilius scoffed. 'From Leonhardt? You better save him from me.'
'Noooo,' she wailed. 'I need to pee!'
He shook his head and stood. 'Okay, I'm sending you back to your room.'
'Why don't you send me back to my world instead....' she sniffed then turned around.
'Wait, the chair–'
Lucilius didn't even try to help her. She tripped on the chair that she knocked down earlier, and fell with her head hitting the floor. Then, she went silent, presumably having lost consciousness.
'That looks painful,' he muttered and headed for the door to call her maid.
But a hand tugged at his leg and he had to halt his movement. Looking down, Luna's eyes were wide open and her fingers were gripping his pants tightly.
She sniffed again then faked a loud cry. 'This life is too difficult for me!! Send me back home!! I want my mom!'
Her mom? Lucilius thought.
Eithne Seraphinus. Wife of Leveille Seraphinus, the previous Official Magician of Sirius. Both were remarkable and loyal but died of illness. It was said that those of Seraphinus blood do not live long due to their overwhelming magic mana, which could not be handled by ordinary humans especially when black magic is involved.
She must've forgotten about her parents' passing.
'Okay, get up young lady,' Lucilius sighed and pulled her hand in an attempt to make her stand. But she didn't try to help herself up; as Lucilius pulled her, she just slid along on the floor, her hair like a mop.
'I'll call Mavis if you don't stand up.'
She quickly sat up.
'Let's go,' he said and pulled again. Come to think of it, where are the maids? ... Oh, right. I shooed them all away before the dinner began.
Now, if I can just hit her head and drag her to Ophiuchus...
Too much work. Mavis, it is then...