Chereads / My Infatuation With Death / Chapter 24 - One in a million

Chapter 24 - One in a million

Perspective : Conrad Garnier

Kyle asked,

"Are you sure ... will any healing potion work?".

Patrick said,

"No ... the severity is way beyond healing ... his skin needs to be repaired".

"It cannot be healed".

"the burnt has altered the primary composition of his skin ... It won't go back to normal".

Sheela pleaded Patrick,

"Please save him .... I will do anything... he is the only family I have left ".

She begged him with tear filled eyes.

Kyle remained silent,

No one was making any decision, we needed to keep moving, staying in the same position possesses the risk of being ambushed once more .

Ron wasn't going to survive, something had to be done, everyone knew that, but no one said a word.

I didn't care either.

(But I recalled something).

{ Past }

{Minor Glimpse of past}

It was a rainy day, before me was lying a woman missing the lower half of her body, despite being dragging herself in the pool of her own blood she appeared sane, she reached her hand and asked for my help,

"Help me .... help my child".

"Help me".

"Please".

Naturally I extended my hand forward to accept her plea for help.

I wonder why did I do that, the present me would have already realise that she wasn't going to survive.

As I was about to accept her hand, my Uncle Interrupted me,

He said,

"Nephew ... never give hollow hopes".

"Look at her, she is suffering ... a real man will put an end to her suffering .... thats the least we can do".

Amidst the pool of blood, the infant was crying, its stomach torn apart, but still alive, It was a miracle that they were both breathing.

Then he said,

"The child won't survive , and as the one entrusted with the responsibility, .... you must be the one to put an end to their suffering".

I resisted,

"No I don't want to .... can't we save them".

He replied,

"They are not deserving".

"Now put an end to their suffering .... they are your subjects afterall".

Then he handed a short sword in my tiny fragile hands, that never held any weapon before.

He gently held my hands, guiding me in the proper technique of holding a sword, and encouraging me to execute a swing with precision towards an actual target.

Come to think of it,

That was the first time I ever killed someone.

With two swings, splashes of red warm blood, drenched my face.

That day, he said,

"Suffering is the greatest punishment .... and letting an innocent one suffer while you watch is the greatest sin of all".

"Never be a sinner ....".

(His words still echo in my head... his will still lingers in my being).

{ present }

As those words repeated in my head,

"Suffering is the greatest punishment .... and letting an innocent one suffer while you watch is the greatest sin of all".

It started to hurt,

Voices on my head echoing,

"No .... I don't want to".

"Nooo".

(Never be a sinner)

(Never be a sinner)

"I am no sinner".

I didn't knew why?, but my hand itself approached my blade, Unsheathed it, and as my mouth uttered those words,

"If there is nothing to be done,

Only one choice remains,

we must end his suffering".

My hands were ready, my sword was stable, ready to end his suffering.

"I was the only one hesitating.

And,

I was the only one on board with it."

(Never be a sinner)

In the final moment, just when I was about to swing my sword to end his suffering with a single strike, No body Intervened.

I wanted them to stop me but no one did, perhaps they too understood that It was the only way of relieving him from his suffering,

However right before my blade decended, Federica Intervened and prevented me from proceeding.

Federica said,

"Wait .... what about Yuna?".

Yuna responded when she heard her name,

"What about me?".

Federica said,

"Why don't we freeze Ron like others... if those guys would be fine, won't he be too, we can just wake him up once we are back to Ustrax".

Yuna responded,

"That is a brilliant plan .... but there is a catch".

Federica asked,

"What catch?".

Yuna said,

"The catch is that honey .... I don't have enough mana left to cast that spell anymore".

Then Kyle interrupted,

"If it's mana you need ".

Kyle took out a magnificent oversized bottle, covered with intricate floral motifs, delicately etched into its glass,

within its enchanting glass swirled a mesmerizing purple elixir, radiating a captivating hue.

He gave it to Yuna and said,

"Then take this .... it might help you recover the amount you need".

As Yuna admired the bottle, she asked,

"Is it what .. I think it is?".

Kyle replied,

"Yes .. In your hands ... you hold a real life, mana potion".

[There were many kinds of potions, ordinarily potions such as poison antidote or stamina potions, which cost in between 160 gold coins to 300 gold coins, then there were holy potions, potions that were said to be the gifts of the devine, such as a healing potion, Mana potion or regeneration potion, such potions were invaluable, If you ever got one of those in your hands, and if its the real thing, you won't have to work a single day. That's how valuable they were. Throughout the ages, these items were housed within sacred churches and imperial castles, prominently exhibited to showcase the opulence and authority of monarchs.

On numerous occasions, there have been instances where that potion has been regarded as more valuable than a person's very life.]

Yuna awwed by the thing she held,

"I can't believe such ... work of art".

"Are you sure you want to use it?".

Kyle said while placing his hand on his forehead,

"Come on drink it before I regret it ... or change my mind".

Yuna responded,

"Don't mind If I do".

Yuna chugs the potion down her throat.

She comments,

"As an drink enthusiasts ... I give this an solid A".

Kyle asked,

"Now, do you have enough mana to perform that spell?".

Yuna said,

"I do but .... I will faint as soon as I finish casting ... you guys have to take care of me".

Kyle said,

"Sure thing".

As Thor Gild approached me, gently touching my sword, with his resigned gaze , he said,

"We don't need that anymore .... put it back".

I responded by sheathing my blade back.

As Yuna prepared to cast her spell, we heard howling of wolves.

Brandon commented,

"Shit .... they are here!".

Kyle said,

"Don't, ... hush .... stay calm .... surround Yuna and Ron".

"We will protect them ....".

Everyone formed a circle around them.

[Yuna casting,

"Ice and frost, bind the temporal flow,

With Frozen Stasis, eternal preservation bestow.

Objects and people, encased in icy embrace,

Time suspended, their essence we shall trace".]

A pack of 30 wolves emerged from the lush foliage of the woods.

Emilia delicately glided her hand along the hilt of her blade, feeling the very essence of blood pulsating through it, with swift motion she gracefully traced two intersecting arcs in the air,

the red hue of her swing illuminating the surroundings, which effortlessly dispatched four wolves, as three wolves lunged towards her she swiftly evaded their attack, fluidly navigating backwards.

Swiftly spinning with her red blade, she carved a

horizontal arc through the air, thus, dispatching the three wolves.

Then,

With his gentle breath, Kyle released his shimmering sand into the air, allowing them to seamlessly blend in the air, before the watchful wolves who unknowingly drew the sand into their very breath, In a simple clench of his fists he commanded the sand to burst out, resulting in a vivid display of bursting blood as four wolve met their explosive end.

Now two menacing wolves were growling at him, Kyle displayed his ingenuity, by Intricately weaving his fingers together. With deft motion he sculpted a blade of sand in the air, a testament to his perfect control of particles. Then with a single precise swing he dispatched the two growling wolves.

[ Yuna chanting:

"Through the power of this magical verse,

Freeze the world, its wonders to immerse.

May freshness endure, and life's flame ignite,

Centuries pass, yet they emerge unscathed in sight."]

As 5 wolves approached me, I firmly gripped my blade and held my breath, using the power of my spell "Fire bolt", I commanded the mystical flames of my spell, to dance upon my blade.

Transforming it into a blazing inferno, then I casted "Al _ Recreto", my weapon radiated an intense blue aura.

With a smooth and decisive motion, I swung my blade, In an instant three of those wolves succumbed to its scorching flames, burnt and dead.

As my sword sliced through the air, a mesmerizing trail of flames followed, creating a breathtaking display of fire.

Then I diverted my attention towards the remaining two wolves, with unwavering precision, in synchronisation with my breath, with a single strike, my blade carved their bodies into halves.

.