"2 days left." Mr Walton murmured, his two hands clasped together while his head leaned on it. He had been sitting at the same position for hours on end. It was nerve wracking.
He had practically sent a kid who could barely be called a teenager to his own death.
Mr Walton knew Kai couldn't kill the snake by himself. It was impossible for a child to do it. He didn't have enough experience, magic and technique. Even if he was good for his age, he would never be enough.
The only reason why Mr Walton agreed to send Kai was that he knew a group of adventurers were lingering around Gia. Often seen asking around for the home of the Inetflutrious Flare.
Their team is composed of 1 S ranked adventurer and 3 A ranked adventurers. They were a solid team who completed many raids together successfully.
But such similar teams had also battled the ancient snake. All of them died and never came back.
But Mr Walton's eyes have never failed him. He honed it through multiple battles that nearly cost him his life. But it never fooled him.
He could see and feel the potential of someone within a few seconds.
The man in the black mask radiated a similar energy to a top tier assassin of the royal family.
Mr Walton gulped and knew he had committed a sin. He was praying on four's death to save one of his closest friends. He was greedy, but desperate.
For him now, the death toll didn't matter to him. He couldn't lose a close friend. Everyone has their limits for how generous they could attempt to be in their heart. And this event, Walton has surpassesed his limit.
Everyone had a sin of their own. No one ever lives guilt free.
All of Mr Walton's deep thinking and pacing around the house had made Claude nervous. Till the point that he had stopped eating.
Constantly starving but his mind wouldn't let him rest. He lost weight and his warm facial complexion lost its shine.
Even Luar was constantly on the brink of disappearing. It hasn't spoken or moved in days. It was like a stuffed toy, sitting on the shelf.
It didn't help that there was also a mass inspection in Gia. Knights with no insignia but claimed that they have the authority to check every single person in Gia came like the snow.
Their inspection was slow at first but they seemed to have picked up the pace along the way, resorting to slightly harsher methods.
And it didn't seem like they were going to rest anytime soon. They occupied all the inns, leaving the village in an uneasy atmosphere.
Mr Walton has also been fending the house off from intruders but on the second day it all stopped because of the knights.
If Kai didn't return now or any sooner, it would be too late.
Lithia's core had locked and contained itself. Her power was now undetectable as it blended in with her rotting body. White scales began to grow on her hands and face.
No matter how many times Mr Walton scratched and tore them off, they grew back as if they were a part of Lithia. It was highly disturbing.
Mr Walton felt inside his pocket to not find a sign of his pocket watch anywhere. And then he remembered, he had given it to Kai. As time passed by 5 times faster in the maze.
Magicians figured it out when they came by. But never dared the courage to lurk in. Cowards they are, but they're wise as they value their lives.
Knocks on the door became relentless. It got louder as Mr Walton struggled to pull himself up.
Mr Walton stretched and reached out for the set of keys, fumbling around with him as he attempted to section off his heavy thoughts. He opened the door and found a familiar set of faces.
"Here again for inspection?" Mr Walton asked casually, pulling up his shirt.
"Indeed. Pardon our intrusion." The knights walked in clumsily, their eyes dull. They had lost all hope of finding what they were meant to look for.
They just wanted to get the job over and done with already. But still having a fragment of pride, they straightened their postures and rampage through the house.
"Satisfied?" Mr Walton opened the door to Lithia's bedroom.
The knights didn't answer and continued looking around. They were even looking and peeking inside the cabinets. Seeing the same old dying lady on the bed, they thought nothing much of it.
The house was filled with equipment and showed signs of many people living inside, but most items had gathered dust.
A knight shrugged to his other comrades and shook his head as he wiped his sweat. "As said, if you find any boy with yellow eyes who seems to be below the age of 18. Contact us immediately."
"Even better if he has white hair. Though hair can be dyed with magic." A Knight chirped. He seemed different from the rest. Still moving around as if he was a pest sprayed with insecticide.
Mr Walton could also see great potential in that knight. It was unnerving. Even when that particular knight moves with so much energy, he makes no sound.
Seeing them leave, Mr Walton said his goodbyes and closed the door. Getting tired of the cycle that had started itself.
Just as when Mr Walton was going to return to his post, another series of knocks were heard. Why were the knights back again? Did they find anything suspicious here? A strand of white hair?
Mr Walton opened the door and smiled while his outgrown beard itched the sides of his mouth. But his smile dropped. Nobody was standing outside.
Then Mr Walton heard the sound of a window pane screeching in one of the rooms. He pulled out his sword and busted inside.
An intruder now?!
His hands moved faster than his eyes could detect and process.
The long blade stretches from one end of the room to the other. And the receiver was struck by surprise.
Slowly, Mr Walton lowered his sword and a feeling of relief filled his mind. "Finally. You're back. Did you get it? The cure?!"
Kai nodded solemnly and passed Mr Walton the void ring. "It's inside."
"Thank god!" Mr Walton held the ring and felt the warmness of the steel tingling in his coarse hands. He looked at Kai and wasn't surprised to see the injuries.
Kai closed the window behind him and looked at Mr Walton who had a strange expression on his face. He couldn't be sure though.
"You should take care of yourself more." Mr Walton reminded him, putting the ring in his pocket. He squatted down. "I'll-"
Mr Walton flinched. His eyes wide opened in shock now that he took a closer look. The injuries weren't normal. Cuts that seemed only bearing on the surface were deep. A hole was also punctured through the whole abdomen.
"What?" Mr Walton said in disbelief. "Sit down! I'll get you some more potions and I'll-"
Thump!
Kai dropped to the ground. His whole body gave up on him, brandishing the wrath of the conjured exhaustion and injuries. His eyes half closed.