Sanbiri's heart sunk. He raised his head and stared at his Master in a daze.
An obedient slave? He wanted an obedient slave.
So…in his Master's eyes, he was nothing more than a slave.
Bitterness oozed from the depth of his heart, spreading through his body and filling his mouth with the astringent taste. His years of service, his unwavering loyalty, his sincere concern…
This was how the prince repaid him.
"As you wish, Your Highness…" Dipping into a respectful bow, Sanbiri backed out of side hall, turned, and walked away. His stiff back exuded a thick aura of loneliness that made Ghazeyh frown.
"Sanbiri, I hope you don't go astray." If he learned something from this lesson, that would be giving servants more respect than their post entitled. He gave Sanbiri too much free will. The privilege for him to act according to his desire led to the current situation.
As a Master, it was his responsibility to discipline his servants. And for his future, it was necessary for Sanbiri to know his place.
As such, he was willing to give him a second chance. If he realized and admitted his mistake.
Shaking his head, Ghazeyh sighed and retracted his gaze. Something about his former servant's departing posture told him this matter wouldn't resolve or end as simply as he anticipated.
"I need a new right-hand man."
Time passed at an excruciating speed. Ghazeyh shifted from standing to sitting, then sitting to pacing as the door to his chamber remained closed without news or report of the girl's condition passing the walls.
After a period of time that felt like an eternity, a creak sounded from the side and the tightly shut iron door swung open.
Ghazeyh's steps froze in place and turned towards. The Healer stepped out with an unreadable expression that made his heart skip a beat. Gripping his wrists behind his back, he strode over with as much composure as he could muster. "How is it? Is she okay?" He asked.
The Healer didn't reply. Instead, she stared at him with a strange gaze, one so deep and unnerving, his brows creased in a deep frown. "Well, out with it!" He hollered. "Is she…okay?" His gaze drifted to the room. He had promised the girl nothing would happen to her.
He promised her…he wouldn't let anything happen to her. If the delay in treatment resulted in incurable complications…
The thought alone weighed his heart with dread.
"Your Highness, the girl is fine. Only…"
"Only?" Ghazeyh was so nervous about the girl's health condition, that he didn't even notice the catch in his voice. He glowered at the Healer, impatience brimming off his figure at her hesitation.
"Sigh. I did all I could to save her life. However, the dark magic she's afflicted with is nothing I've ever seen before. In fact, I can't even determine its origin or source. From the result of my diagnosis, it isn't a day or two, but years since she's been under this spell."
The dark magic of the Red Sha-jin. She'd been under its spell for years? From her appearance, the girl looked no older than 15 or 16 years of age. Her body and mentality couldn't handle the dark energy of black magic, unless…
She was a descendant of a dark magic user, or the spell had been cast on her from the second of her birth.
Either prospects weren't pleasant, painting only a bleak ending for her and anyone who had a close connection to her.
'And what if she's a host? A carrier for the dark magic she's afflicted with? Then the Red Sha-jin's attention towards Blossom Valley might more or less have a connection to her.'
Ghazeyh's heart chilled at the realization.
Whoever cast the spell knew her, had been planning for years, and without doubt, were now intending to reap the fruits of their labor.
The moment he saw her, something within him had changed. His behavior became unusual, and towards a female with the identity of a slave, he felt a strange protectiveness he should've only felt towards his female relatives.
If he had only suspected being under the influence of dark magic before, he was now certain he was under the influence of dark magic.
And if the girl was the medium and the Empire the perpetrators target…he had to find a way to break the spell!
Closing his eyes, Ghazeyh heaved a deep breath of air to calm his roiling emotions. When he opened his eyes again, a sharp glint flashed in his dark orbs. "I understand. Find a way to break the spell. And no matter what happens, this matter will stay between us." He commanded the Healer in an icy voice, his tone carrying an aura of authority the woman couldn't refute.
"Yes, Your Highness." The Healer bowed and stepped to the side, making way for him to enter the room. Ghazeyh frowned and stared blankly at the door for a second.
His heart was aching again, the deep throb akin to the gnawing bite of an insect. Before this discovery, the dull ache hadn't bothered him much. On the contrary, it gave him a sense of familiarity, as if he had a connection with the girl. Knew her from a time long gone.
However now…
He wondered if she had been aware of the fact that she was under the influence of dark magic.
If she knew and approached him on purpose.