Pygmy shrieked at the sight of her friends bleeding and Thenea who had fainted due to low mana. She dashed where she was and checked her pulse, it was faint but she's breathing steadily.
She's relieved.
Lance took off his cape and ripped a piece of it and tied it around Serene's waist to stop the bleeding. Her face had gone pale and her eyelids had gotten heavy.
"Try to bear it for a while," Lance said and wiped the sweat forming on her forehead.
She's getting tired but it's so painful, even if she wanted to, she can't bear it any longer. A little movement, the blood would gush out.
Ultimately, Serene passed out.
"Lance, carry her!"
Lance turned to see Pygmy who had already cast the exit, he tightened his jaw and carefully picked up Serene. "I have to use my ring to summon the portal after we leave here."
Pygmy, who has Thenea let out a small sigh, "I'll make a floating bedding for them to make it easier."
"Thank you, Spirit Guardian."
And as soon as they settled the two on Pygmy's bed when they exited the memory orb, she did what she promised and made two floating beds that were made out of flowers and leaves for the two patients.
"I can't express my gratitude enough, Guardian," Lance had his head down, embarrassed at how he can't be that much of service but Pygmy understood and felt his sincerity, "when all's done, and when you need me, I will be there and make use of myself."
Pygmy smiled, "You caring for my friend is enough for me."
Lance did not say anything after and concentrated on summoning the portal to the Land of Scorpio and asking for help. It would create chaos and panic if he tried to ask help at the capital when they are still doing mission for the region.
Lance turned to bid his farewell to Pygmy but to his surprise, Pygmy turned herself to human, she shortened her ears and her dress covered her elemental mark, she also copied Thenea's complexion. Even her eyes changed, from a light shade of pink to ocean blue.
"My Lady?" he blinked.
"I'll come with you."
"What about your domain?"
"This isn't a natural happening," she explained, "it's best if I explain it with a council."
Lance nodded and did not press, he knew it is better for her to involve someone with a higher rank, and he knew too well that those he can trust for this information are only Lady Edrei and Mistress Calla.
"Let's go," Pygmy said and they all stepped inside the portal.
Both Lady Edrei and Leon are both in the middle of discussion with a sudden light appeared near them and revealed the adventurer Lance with bruises and cuts and behind him are two beds with unconscious Thenea and Serene, but unlike Thenea who has small and minor injuries, Serene was bleeding.
Lady Edrei stood up to where she was seated and scurried towards those who had just arrived, "what's this?"
Leon was left speechless, it was awful.
'What could they possibly be dealing with?'
He gripped his hands together tightly, his mind went back to the book he found in the archives.
'Is her team safe?'
"Leon!" Lady Edrei turned to him and flicked her arm, "send someone to examine them!"
Leon immediately stood and reacted as quickly as he could without breaking courtesy, "right away, my lady."
"And who is that with you?" Lady Edrei looked at another blonde person behind Lance.
"My Lady, I apologize for the late introduction, this is Pie, she's one of the Elemental Guardian's apprentices."
"Very well, let's go back to the adventurer's manor," the lady council suggested.
At the adventurer's manor, everyone seemed busy as they had to hurry and find a solution to save Serene.
"Have you prepared the hot water to clean Miss Thenea and Miss Serene's wounds?"
"Has anyone washed and boiled the clothes that were used a while ago? Was it boiled?"
"I got the gauze here!"
"Anyone seen Brin?"
"She was fetching the misses clothes to change into."
"Ali, come with me, it's time to apply ointment to Miss Thenea's wounds."
The manor was shaken and not a single person was seen leisurely resting inside the servant's lounge, they all were helping one another to make sure both Thenea and Serene would recover.
'We had it easy, we all were kept safe and sound here and only had to sweep the floor and prepare meals, while these people, much younger than some of us here, are sent to such dangerous missions. There is no telling when and where they will face such difficult opponents as well.'
The head maid's mind was in chaos, she felt sorry for the adventurers.
Inside Serene's room, the atmosphere is much more heavy, the doctors summoned by Leon could not do anything. The arrow penetrated her isn't a simple one, and even with the arrow removed, the mana that covered it is still inside Serene, slowly penetrating her insides, sending her to slow agony, torturing her.
"Is there really not a thing you can do?" Lady Edrei asked again.
"It is beyond our ability, mayor." One of them admitted.
"What of the priest that's tending the children at this very moment, any news about him?"
"He was unable to pinpoint the cause of it, mayor. I apologize."
"Why are you apologizing?"
The doctor gulped, "for causing you this much stress for not being able to find a cure for the victims."
"Victims?"
Pygmy who was inside the room with them couldn't help but ask questions, "what about them?"
"So you were not told by the adventurers, well, it is possible as the mission is about the stone slate," Lady Edrei walked towards Pygmy and studied her, when she's done, she's decided to tell her about it vaguely, "the children's life force lessened and there were only a small bit of mana left inside them."
"So what the council is telling Pie is, the children were attacked and had their energies sucked out of them and now you need to figure out how to save them?"
Lady Edrei's brows raised, this was enough for Pygmy and she nodded, "very well," she mimicked Edrei, "I know how to cure them."
Every single person in the room blinked, they can't believe it is that easy for an apprentice to declare she has a cure for it without examining the patients.
"How certain are you?" Lady Edrei asked, she's skeptical, "you haven't even seen the children."
The servants and the doctors breathed in relief, they had the same thoughts as their council.
"Okay, I'll take a look at them. But I'm pretty sure I'd say the same thing."
Lady Edrei was irked at how cocky Pygmy acted, "to have such boastful personality for a mere aid," she eyed the guardian, "don't be cocky just because you worked for an elemental guardian."
"Oh, I wasn't."
It is true, Pygmy had always been proud of her herbal abilities. And although to others it seems she's pretty cocky, she just knew how effective her medicines are.
To her, there is nothing wrong with being aware how good you are at what you're doing, she wasn't going around boasting to others.
Lady Edrei personally escorted Pygmy to the hospital where the children were kept, not because she doesn't trust her, but to see with her very own eyes what Pygmy's capable of.
"This is where the children are," she opened the double doors of the hospital and revealed an array of beds with weak looking children on it.
"What's this?" Pygmy was surprised, "you said they were only sucked out of their energies, why is there an energy preventing natural energy to supply them?"
"What?" Lady Edrei couldn't believe what she was hearing, "what do you mean preventing?"
"Just as I said, that darkness is preventing the natural energy to enter the children. If only Thenea was well, I could have her help me dispel that energy so the flow won't be interrupted anymore."
"But?" Lady Edrei waited.
"There is no but," Pygmy went near one of the children and put a finger on her forehead, "as I have said, the cure won't change."
Pygmy closed her eyes, her finger still on the child's forehead, she then placed another finger on her own forehead and connected her energy to the child and passed it onto the others. When all of the children had her energy, she opened her eyes and pressed both of the fingers together, she then clasped her hands together, as if she caught something. Not a moment later, something exploded inside her palms and she dusted it all off.
Lady Edrei tilted her head.
"It's all done, I expelled the interruption," Pygmy went to Lady Edrei, "now, I need you to ask for a very skilled person that can carefully and gently extract juices from a leaf."
"A leaf?"
Pygmy showed her palm to Edrei but there was nothing on it, she then closed it and opened it again, it was a seed.
"Plant this tonight," she instructed, "at exactly six in the evening, this seed must be covered with dirt, and tomorrow morning by six, the leaves should be ready."
"How can it grow that fast? It's impossible, the children could die. I can't risk it."
Pygmy sighed, "did you forget who my master is?"
Lady Edrei opened her mouth but she couldn't seem to form words.
"You may not trust me as I am only a mere apprentice of an elemental guardian, but I can't have your doubt on my master."
As much as she hated pretending to be an apprentice of her own self, she had to. If one of then would find out, she'd be punished by the natural law and would banish forever, not even a single drop of her power would stay afloat on earth.
The priests who had been silent on the corner saw everything. They were both ashamed at how incapable they were, they were trusted by the region yet they couldn't cure the children.
"Lady Edrei," Pygmy stopped in her tracks, "why not have Serene checked by the priests? Maybe they have answers, I for one can't interfere with human affairs as what strikes Serene was a weapon made by humans."
"I will, but what you said, is it true?"
"I have spoken a lot of things," Pygmy can't afford pissing a council, "my lady."
"About you not allowed to interfere in human affairs," Edrei repeated and Pygmy nodded to confirm, "so that could only mean one thing."
"That what attacked the children isn't human?" Pygmy glanced at the children, "that is the reason why–" she paused when she was about to reveal she's the guardian, "--my master sent me here."
"Let's talk somewhere quiet."
"Of course."
Lady Edrei turned her tracks and faced the priests who were both innocently and curiously watching the two, "would you mind checking on one of our patients in the adventurer's manor? She's called Serene, the maids will take you to her room."
"Yes, my lady."
Back at the Adventurer's Manor, the two priests could feel enormous energy from the next floor, three of its rooms felt strong but it wasn't anything harmful. Still, it got them on edge.
'Is this the strength of a ruby rank?'
"Good day, welcome to the Adventurer's Manor, my name is Kai, the manor's butler. May I know the reason for this visit, esteemed Priests?"
"Lady Edrei asked us to check on a certain Miss Serene?"
Kai nodded and bowed, "my apologies for not being prompt, I will escort you to Miss Serene's room right away."
When they arrived, they were surprised at the state she's in, they each bit their lower lip, another dead end for the two of them. How can they face their Master Priest after two failures in one assistance?
Serene had lost so much blood and her wound had been long infected, if the mana inside her wouldn't stop penetrating, they can't ensure the others her life. Still, as Priests, they must make haste to at least prolong her life and lessen the pain she's feeling.
"Is she cured?" Leon asked, his tone is different. It was domineering.
The two priests looked at each other, "we could only lessen her pain and stop the bleeding."
"Don't hold your tongue!"
"Young Master, our abilities are not on par with the Divines and the Masters, I believe there is not much we can do unless we summon someone with a much higher level than us."
"So you're saying, you two are useless?"
The two had to swallow a lump on their throat. It is the first time they hear such words but they can't do anything about it. He's an heir and in terms of power, he's much stronger and more influential than them.
The two did not come from a well known clan.
"Leon, get a hold of yourself."
Lance overheard everything before he entered, they have finished cleaning his wounds and he's all healed up. The first thing he did was to check on Serene.
The guilt was eating him up, it was his arrow, it was his mana that's hurting her.
Leon let out a hoarse breath, "my apologies, I don't know what's gotten into me."
But he knew, he's worried about the person who has yet to arrive.
"Are there words sent to Team Hugo about today?" Lance asked.
"No, everyone has been busy."
Lance called for his green crow and it immediately appeared before him, "hey there Core."
"Core?"
"It's his name, no more questions."
Leon discreetly shook his head before sitting down.
Lance hurried in making a note for Core to carry and instructed him to be as fast as he could as it was an emergency. The bird cawed and went on his way.
"What was inside that note?" Leon pried.
"I only told them about the truth, about Serene."
Leon snapped and jerked up, "are you nuts? They would hurry their way here and panic! What about Viv? He'd definitely won't let this one go."
"I know my team and I don't want to get chaotic here, but what must I do? As a leader, I must inform them what's happening. It is their right to know about their teammates."
On the other hand, as worrisome as they look, each of them are well. Their injuries were healed and their mana had been replenished.
The eastern region's council, Eric, was kind enough to share some of his mana potion to them. And although they had to share two potions, their strength immediately got back and their body felt light. Their injuries had been healed as well, it was truly a remarkable potion.
It is no wonder why he only gave them two.
They were all resting inside the carriage when Lance's crow cawed and pecked the windows.
Strange, they have never seen such a strange bird before.
"What's this?"
Verin's brow was raised, he couldn't recall where he saw the bird.
"There's a note on him," Hugo opened the window and let it land on his finger.
He took the note and unfolded it and when he finished, without a second to spare, he asked for the carriage to stop.
"We must hurry!"
Hugo exited the carriage, Core is on his shoulder. The others caught the note he threw at them and when they read it, they ran after him.
Only Viv, who did not bother reading the note was clueless but when he glanced at the paper that's now on the floor, he saw Thenea's name along with the word injured beside it.
His stomach burned and he could feel the rage rushing through his veins.
Lithea sensed this and turned, "oh no."
Both Hugo and Verin ran back to the carriage to restrain him, luckily, before he could break anything, they were able to pin him down.
Lithea summoned her threads and bound Viv.
Hugo summoned the portal and looked at the coachman, "I'm sorry, but we have to go first. Something's happened that requires our assistance."
"I understand, sir Hugo."
"Let's go."
"Mhhhmmmmhhmmmh!"
Viv kept wriggling and screaming but because he was tied and his mouth was covered, he could not do much but give hassle to the one carrying him, Verin.
'I swear I knew I did not become an adventurer to become one's babysitter.'
"Fucking Hugo," he muttered.
"What was that?" Hugo asked before he stepped into the portal.
"Mhhhmm Mmhhmmoo," Viv tried repeating what Verin said to tell him, thankfully his seal was tight and they couldn't make up the words he was saying.
"Nothing, go!"
They arrived with the priests trying to do what they could for Serene but Lithea immediately noticed her condition and what they were doing.
"STOP!!"
The first thing she said as soon as they arrived was stop, and it has been the loudest they heard from her.
"Lithea," Leon wanted to ask why but he chose to stop. He knew too well of her ability, she's not like them.
"Pardon?" One of the priests, the one who spoke with Leon, was confused.
"You two are killing her," she said this without batting an eye. The two immediately stopped whatever it is they were doing and stepped back from Serene's bed.
"What were you doing? You used a method for soft injuries, this method could worsen the patient's condition if it had kept up."
Leon's piercing eyes landed on the two priests, they swore they heard a growl from him.
Lithea raised her hand and ripped all of the healing techniques they used on Serene's body.
"Wound closing technique on a penetrative mana?"
The two priests felt they have gotten smaller with each critique Lithea made.
The blood started oozing out of her body after Lithea dispels the wound closing technique.
Lithea closed her eyes and located the penetrating mana inside her, when she found it, used her thread to follow its flow and have it wrap around her mana.
She retreated her hand and asked for a basin with water, in there, she dropped her thread that's coated with Lance's mana, they can see how fast it spins.
"The density of the water would help it slow by time."
The two priests were amazed, they could recall it was taught to them but they can't perform it perfectly.
Lithea stopped the blood by patching it with the thread as she prepared herself with a spell to dismiss the infection and fully heal the stab wound.
Serene's face relaxed as the wound closed up.
Lithea felt her pulse and sighed in relief when she felt it slowly going back to normal.
"She's okay now."
The two priests looked at each other and nodded. They walked up to Lithea and asked, "Who are you?"
They took a closer look at her clothing, "a sun priestess?"
Lithea nodded.
"Why is your face like the good Master Tohan?"
Lithea tilted her head, has she heard of such a name before? "Tohan?"
The priest nodded, "we grew up in the temple together. At the Sol temple."
"Sol Temple, so you know Master Chi?"
The two only smiled, "pray tell, what's your name priestess?"
She looked down before looking at the priests before her, "I am called Lithea Sol Clanwing."
"Oh my goodness," the two of them clasped their hands and raised it to the sky before kneeling in front of her, kowtowing.
"Our sole heir, we finally found you."