Guided by Seraphine's support, Damian and Seraphine made their way toward the location where Marquis Adrain lay on the ground.
As they approached, they witnessed a group of healers and support personnel working diligently to tend to Marquis Adrain's injuries. Anna, with sweat on her brow, focused her efforts on healing the marquis's wounded stomach.
The bruise was extensive, causing his abdomen to turn a deep shade of purple. Although the injury was severe, it hadn't pierced through his body, sparing him from a potentially life-threatening condition.
"Will he be all right?" Damian, his weight supported by Seraphine, anxiously inquired of Anna, who was tirelessly attending to the marquis's wounds.
"Currently, he's stable. You can rest easy, young master," Anna replied, her voice carrying a note of reassurance, despite her evident exhaustion.
"That's a relief…." Damian exhaled, his worry momentarily eased. Fatigue from both battle and the potion's side effects began to overtake him, his eyelids growing heavy.
Closing his eyes, Damian felt sleep beckoning him, and Seraphine, too, succumbed to the weariness that enveloped her. They were on the verge of collapsing when the swift actions of the nearby knights and Henry prevented them from hitting the ground.
Henry approached, his expression filled with admiration. "Without their fight against that monster, who knows if we could've emerged victorious?"
He marveled at Damian's newfound swordsmanship abilities, a level of skill beyond expectation. The battle had raged on, beyond his reach, and he held a deep respect for what Damian and Seraphine had accomplished.
As Damian and Seraphine drifted into sleep, the knights carefully moved them onto field beds, making preparations to depart from the battlefield once all was attended to.
After the battle, Iris, despite her own exhaustion, took charge and led the remaining knights in executing the plan. The operation turned out to be a success, albeit not without its casualties among the knights and mercenaries.
The empire managed to avoid losing any nobles in the midst of the conflict. Nevertheless, the primary challenge remained: identifying the mastermind behind Count Gabel. Unfortunately, the use of the blood demon art had silenced his subordinates, leaving Iris in the dark regarding further information.
Days passed, and Seraphine found herself in a spacious and luxurious room, lying in a comfortable bed. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, gently touching her face and coaxing her awake. With a slight groan, she sat up, her hand instinctively moving to her head, which throbbed with a persistent headache.
"Ugh... my head," she mumbled, her brows furrowing as she attempted to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
Surveying her surroundings, Seraphine realized she wasn't in the same room she remembered resting in at Marquis Adrain's mansion. This space was far more elegant and ornate.
"Is everything over now?" she pondered aloud, her memory trailing back to the forest where the battle had left her unconscious. Concern for Damian and Marquis Adrain weighed on her mind.
Abruptly, Iris materialized through a dimensional rift, her head popping into view. Seraphine jumped slightly at the unexpected appearance.
"You're finally awake, Seraphine," Iris greeted with a smile, clearly relieved by Seraphine's recovery.
"Miss Iris, please don't startle me like that," Seraphine replied, a mixture of surprise and amusement in her tone.
Changing the subject, Iris produced a small iron bucket from the dimensional gap and placed it gently on Seraphine's bed. Confused by this action, Seraphine looked at Iris with a quizzical expression.
"Pick up that bucket. It will take effect in a moment," Iris instructed, pointing her finger toward the iron container.
Seraphine reached for the bucket in front of her without further question. As she took hold of it, an intense sensation suddenly engulfed her head. Nausea surged, and she found herself retching forcefully into the bucket.
The medication, which had initially numbed her emotions, now wore off, flooding her with a rush of feelings that had been temporarily suppressed.
Despite the overwhelming surge of emotions, there was no subsequent sense of guilt or retrospection. Instead, a mixture of intense emotions hit her all at once, triggering the physical reaction. When she finished, her face was a mess, and weariness radiated from her being. Seraphine glanced back at Iris, who waited patiently for her to regain her composure.
"Though it might be quite intense after the battle, the effects won't last long. Just bear with it for a little while," Iris reassured her, offering a handkerchief to clean her face.
Accepting the handkerchief, Seraphine wiped her face and carefully placed the bucket on a nearby table. She felt a touch of embarrassment over her sudden bout of sickness, even though the circumstances had been beyond her control.
"How many days have I been asleep, Miss Iris?" Seraphine inquired, curious about the passage of time.
"You've been asleep for a full four days, Seraphine. Damian woke up two days before you, so there's no need to worry," Iris replied, providing the information Seraphine sought. However, Iris omitted any mention of the marquis, leaving Seraphine to wonder about his condition.
Concerned, Seraphine pressed on. "And the marquis? Is he alright?"
Iris hesitated, her expression revealing a reluctance to speak. "His condition is uncertain... I've been doing my best, but finding a way to treat him has proven difficult." A heavy sigh escaped Iris as she shared the unsettling news with Seraphine.
"After you're done, I think it's a good idea to check on him. You might have insights into his condition," Iris suggested. She provided Seraphine with fresh clothes to change into and a washing basin to freshen up.
With that, Iris left the room using her magical abilities. Seraphine couldn't help but feel concerned about the Marquis's state. Hadn't Anna and the healers mentioned that he was stable?
Seraphine rose from the bed and began to wash her face. The cool, refreshing water helped chase away her lingering drowsiness.
"Feeling better after the nausea, Seraphine?" Alice's voice came, laced with concern, as Seraphine dried her face with a towel.
"Yes, I'm feeling better now," Seraphine replied, a sense of relief in her voice.
"Frankly, I suspect the Marquis's condition might be tied to the demonic energy. Given that he took a direct hit to the stomach from that man's attack," Alice shared her analysis based on the battle and the Marquis's current state. As Seraphine changed from her pajamas into more formal attire, she found herself agreeing with Alice. There had to be something wrong with his internal injuries.
Once everything was in order, Iris reappeared through her dimensional gap, seemingly aware of everything.
"Let's go, Seraphine. We can't afford to waste time," Iris urged, motioning for Seraphine to step into the gap.
With determination, Seraphine entered the dimensional gap. She steeled herself for whatever condition the Marquis might be in, ready to face the truth.