Cough–
As blood started to fill on Noah's plate after he started coughing, the entire dining room became noisy.
"Kyaa!!!"
Maids started screaming, "there has been an assassination attempt. Someone call the doct–"
"Silence!," Edwin commanded the entire room. "Wilhelmina, see that this doesn't leak outside."
Seeing the calm expression of the duke while his son continued to cough blood confused everyone.
Earlier in the day, when Noah got up from the wheelchair, he looked fine albeit a little thin and pale. This was within the expectations of the staff as he was alone for the past five years.
Although he didn't seem to be the talkative kind, watching him quietly follow Emilia suggested to them that he was good natured, resembling his elder sister.
As Aruk village was cold, it also made sense for the overprotective couple to drape him in layers of blankets.
When the family sat together to have lunch with Noah, the maids and the other staff couldn't help but smile.
Watching Emilia cut the meat into smaller pieces, while Trish and Edwin continued to bombard him with questions and advice, made even the staff wanting to join in.
"Is the food to your taste, Noah?"
"Eat well Noah to grow up strong."
A little while later, even Maeve started asking questions.
"What were you doing at the village? What is your favourite food?"
As Noah answered each question, the tension among the maids lessened.
Only a few knights and officials among the staff had directly met with Noah. Although they didn't say much, their expressions were quite grave. From this, they had expected the prince to either be gravely injured or that his return was not welcomed.
Seeing the family having lunch peacefully, they put their worries away and wanted to question the knights.
But this all changed the moment Noah started to cough. Although it wasn't uncommon for nobles and officials to be targetted for assassination, there was never a time where someone could completely remain calm as time was of the essence to save the victim and also to catch the culprit.
When the duke commanded them to stop instead of following the normal protocol for any assassination attempts, they couldn't help but think that the Duke wasn't in his right mind.
Watching Trish and Emilia quietly support Noah until his coughing stopped, the maids understood this was part of his injury.
"Wilhelmina, are the medical arrangements prepared?"
"The rooms in the east wing have been modified as per their request. The doctors from the Imperial Medical Institute are waiting there as well."
"Good. We'll be heading there. Maeve, we will be back in some time."
"I am coming as well," Maeve got up.
"Let her come. You can't keep it a secret from her," Trish intervened, lifting Noah up.
"Ok.."
Led by Wilhelmina, they made their way to the medical room in haste.
===
[Name: Noah
Level: 25
Class: None
Title: None
Grade: F-
State: Weakend from Mana overload backlash. Mana poisoning state: Host doesn't have strength to maintain contracts. Health -1 every 5 minutes. Mana capacity +1 every 5 minutes. Level -1 every 5 days.
Affinity:
Fire: 12% Water: 5%
Wind: 7% Ice: 7%
Psychic: 3% Divinity: 1%
Health: 5,000/10,000 Mana: 14,700/14,700 ↑
Strength:41 ↓ Stamina: 45 ↓
Agility:36 Intelligence: 75
Dexterity:30 Charm: 50
Luck: 22
Stat Points: 14
=Skills=
— Goddess Aditi's Blessing
— {6}
— Ice Temple Self Defense Sword Style (F Rank)
— {5}
— Skadi Ice Spirit
— {0}
— Basic Ice Elemental Series
— {15}
— Intermediate Ice Elemental Series
— {15}
— Ice Temple Self Defense Spear Style (F Rank)
— {5}
— Ice Temple Self Defense Bow Style (F Rank)
— {5}
— Azeas fire Spirit
— {0}
— Surtr fire Spirit
— {0}
]
[Daily Quests failed. Stats will be deducted.]
"Noah"
'I can understand the mana backlash but why does it look like the blessing is trying to kill me as well. Aditi!!!'
"Noah? Can you hear me?"
"He lost a lot of blood…"
Opening his eyes, Noah found himself in a bed connected to an ECG machine. From the corner of his eyes, he could see a man with a large belly wearing a lab coat talking to his parents.
"I see. We'll get him sorted with the IV. How has he been holding up the past few days?"
"He has been coughing blood almost every day since. We have given him a recovery potion handmade by a herbalist each day."
"I see… Does he have any other -"
"Prince."
Turning his head to the other side, he could see a tall lady in a lab coat with grey hair and grey eyes.
"How are you feeling?"
"..."
Sterilizing Noah's hand, she continued,"I'll be inserting a needle near your hand here. It will sting a bit."
"..."
After setting up the IV, the lady called out to the duke and duchess, "the prince is awake now."
"Noah, how are you feeling now?" Edwin asked as they gathered around him.
"My throat feels a little dry but otherwise ok."
"Dr. Clara, can you get some water for him?"
"Yes, duke."
"Dr. Clara is the head of the medical team of the Wyte armed forces and this is Dr. Gablehauser, from the Imperial Medical Institute. He works as a senior professor there. You can get to know them in time. He has come here to help you recover. You are afflicted with mana overload backlash. They have found a way to safely cure you from this. Dr. If you would."
"Yes, Duke. Young prince, in short, a person affected with this will have their mana rise gradually over time. This may sound like a good thing, but in actuality, the mana paths in their body are forcefully opened, which causes their body to weaken. Once their mana capacity is over the strength that their body can hold, they will die a painful death."
"Prince, have this." Dr. Clara returned, handing a glass of water.
"Thank you."
"As I was saying, this is a very deadly condition. Only very few have survived. Recently, we found a very simple and safe solution to this and that is, Edtry herb."
"You want to feed the prince poison?" Dr. Clara sharply questioned.
"Poison?"
"Why isn't anyone saying anything? Am I missing something Duke? Duchess?"
"Clara, we spoke beforehand, this is the only way. Unless you have any other options. We can't afford to take a chance on this."
"What's the Edtry herb?," Noah asked softly.
"...Prince, It's a herb that inhibits mana flow in your body. It's used as a slow poison by assassins to weaken and disarm enemies."
"We'll be regulating the dosage over time so that his body has enough time to recover," Dr. Gablehauser interjected.
"How long?"
"10 to 15 years."
"Will I be able to recover my mana capacity after I take this?"
"Yes, in time."
"No, it will take years to regain even the mana capacity he has now," Dr. Clara strongly denied.
Looking around the room, Noah understood that Edwin, Trish and Emilia just wanted to protect him.
While Dr. Clara seemed against it for his sake, judging by her subtle expression towards Dr. Gablehauser, Noah deduced that either she was against him or the imperial institute. Although the latter was a guess, he felt it was still a possibility.
"What's the other option? Dr Gablehauser."
"The other option?"
"Do you have any other option besides this herb?"
"No…"
"What about you, Dr. Clara?"
"..."
"Noah, just because you lose your mana doesn't mean your life is over. There is an army of knights under the Wyte house and besides we are here with you. Nothing bad is ever going to happen to you again."
"Mum, it's not about that. I don't want to give up on something without even trying."
"Noah…"
"Dr. Clara, how much time do you need to develop another cure?" Noah turned his head and asked.
"A cure?"
The moment Noah asked this question, everyone turned their heads towards her.
Caught unaware, she could see Noah mouthing, 'one year.'
"A year?" Dr. Clara spoke out loud unknowingly watching Noah.
"Hah, Dr. Clara, mana backlash is something so many researchers have studied over decades. And you are claiming you can find a cure for the prince in a year?"
"...I" although her pride made her want to say yes, she knew how impossible the task was. As she was about to answer, she saw Noah mouthing 'yes'.
She couldn't understand where his confidence came from, but seeing his resolute expression she made her choice.
"Yes. I will cure Prince Noah in a year without relying on any inhibiting herb!"