Striding through the mana storm, the group led by Edwin and Trish finally reached the source. As they made their way through the mana storm, they could feel the strength of the mana waves deteriorating.
This could only mean one of two things: either the source was becoming stable or it was dying.
Unable to contain their anxiety, casting multiple defensive and agility spells, the group started rushing towards the mana storm.
As they reached the epicenter, they could see Emilia, Reynard, Luke and Edgar continuously using healing and body strengthening spells towards an oddly coloured ice statue.
Only at closer look, they realized it was Noah. With blood leaking from parts of his body, Noah was beyond recognisable. It was hard to find a limb in his body which hadn't turned purple.
Even the experienced knights couldn't bring themselves to believe that Noah would be able to survive this.
As if to prove the knights wrong, the flow of mana from the mana stones towards Noah suddenly stopped. Soon after, the storm of ice and flames subsided slowly.
The whole area grew deathly silent. Although the deathly mana storm stopped, there was no sign of movement from Noah. Like a statue, Noah continued to remain in the same position without moving a single inch.
Looking at Noah's unmoving figure everyone around grew increasingly nervous.
Covered in thin sheets of red ice, Noah looked incredibly brittle. The priests were scared to even use temperature regulation spells, as if the statue would melt and crack even with the slightest touch.
At the command of Edwin, all thirty gathered there, started to cast healing and support spells on Noah.
As minutes went by, more and more people started to feel disheartened. For the priests it felt like casting healing spells against a rock.
Surprisingly the first to stop casting was Emilia. With heavy steps, she started walking towards Noah.
With shaking hands, she slowly reached out towards Noah to caress his frozen cheek. Emilia couldn't believe that she was going to lose him once more.
There was a lot of emotions going through Emilia. She wanted to hug and hold him tight, but was unable to.
Feeling the cold cheek, tears started to flow.
Perhaps wanting to give privacy between the siblings or perhaps deeming it useless, one by one, the priests stopped the healing spells.
Edwin and Trish tightly held hands and slowly made their way towards Noah. Standing just behind Emilia, they were finally able to clearly see their long lost son.
Caressing his cheek, Emilia continued to weep unbothered by the people around her only to stop suddenly, "Noah..?"
As she felt the weight of his head slowly increase against her palm, Emilia hurriedly looked up only to see his eyelids slowly lift open.
Soon after, the sheet of ice that covered him started to crack into powder, causing Noah to fall on her.
Caught unaware, no one could believe their eyes.
"Noah?"
"Noah?"
Emilia kept crying out his name.
While Edwin helped her up, Trish carefully lifted Noah to check up on him. After feeling his pulse, Trish started crying while nodding at Edwin. "His pulse is steady, he is just sleeping."
Seeing the family embrace in happiness, cheers started to fill everywhere around.
With Noah finally safe and secure in Trish's embrace, the party made their way back to Aruk village.
===
"How is he?" Emilia solemnly asked, holding on to Noah's hand.
"He should wake up in a few hours… Although his body doesn't look good," Elma remarked.
After returning to the village, the Wytes and Ice temple priests gathered together at Edgar's home.
With the help of Elma and healers from the ice temple and the ducal house, they were able to assess the extent of damage that Noah had taken.
Hearing the number of bones that were broken sent shivers to even some experienced knights. The Wyte knights felt respect for the 10-year-old to withstand that much pain.
"I don't think he would have survived without having healing spells continuously casted on him." Inspecting his leg, she continued. "Just looking at his femur and tibial bones in his legs, you can see that the bones cracked and healed multiple times. Although the spells reattach the bone, I think it's best to be considered as a first aid. Let him heal for at least a year…"
Seeing the Wytes and Melissa distraught, Elma found it hard to continue.
"We also don't know the extent of mental damage he has taken. From being taken in by thieves, then by the altar and…anyway, just make sure at least one of you is with him during this period to make sure he is fine."
As silence continued in the room, Edwin finally spoke up.
"I think we should talk somewhere else. Let him catch some rest. We still have more to discuss."
"We can discuss in the other room", taking a sound stone from one of the drawers, Edgar placed it near the door. "This should absorb most of the noise. He should be able to sleep comfortably."
Approving, the group left the room quietly. Edwin had to pull Trish, Emilia and Melissa physically away from Noah to get them to leave.
"He should be able to sleep better if it's quiet."
"We'll be quiet." The three replied unanimously.
Sigh. "What are you worried about, there are knights all around the house. Nothing's going to happen to him. Besides, Emilia, Melissa, we need to hear from you both as well on what happened."
".."
"It'll be a few hours till he gets up. Are you all going to be here all day?"
After compromising, they decided to leave after staying for a few more hours.