"Interesting. Did you give up so soon? I thought I was going to see some corrupted beast emerging from you." The woman gazed at Dion with curiosity.
She added, "When I was treating you, I noticed the frightening amount of dreg in your bloodline. I wonder what those people did to you."
Silently, Dion continued to stare at her, his heart prepared for death despite the fear coursing through his veins. His eyes had regained their normal glow, and his eye intent had been shut off.
Suddenly, as if a veil had been lifted, the suffocating oppression that had weighed upon him dissipated into thin air. Dion felt his chest expand with each breath as if he had been freed from invisible chains. The air around him seemed fresher, rejuvenating his spirit with every inhale.
"Kid, you should fight for life with every chance you've got. Giving up so easily will get you nowhere in the path of dark sorcery." She walked and pulled Dion up with a smile.
Dion continued to regard her with a wary gaze.
The woman sighed while looking at Dion with complex emotions in her eyes.
"You are safe now. I already removed the poison from your body. My name is Arwen," she introduced herself.
"Dion Kruz," Dion said calmly but his vigilant eyes said otherwise.
"You could go out for a breather and let Liana fill you in. Try to relax and let go of the murderous air around you." With that, the woman opened the door and walked out of the room.
Dion's eyes never left her. Even he waited after she left for any deception and trap. He was contemplating if he should go out.
'What deceit would she need to play when I'm a cornered rabbit? And what does she mean by Liana? I thought Liana left me,' Dion suddenly thought and walked out.
The wooden door opened and the refreshing morning sunlight bathed him.
He made his way through the hallway and came out of the house. When he was out, he saw Liana checking Karen thoroughly on a bench.
The predicted prison didn't appear. The peaceful environment, so different from the chaotic and dreadful landscape he had anticipated, stunned Dion for a moment.
Instead of the expected chaos, the air was filled with the melodious chirping of birds, their songs harmonizing with the gentle rustling of leaves. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. The serene atmosphere enveloped him, momentarily stealing his breath and leaving him captivated by the unexpected tranquility.
"You're awake." Liana finally noticed his presence. "Why did you stand up? The poison is out of your body but your body needs rest. Your bloodline purity must be high."
She slowly walked up to him with Karen trailing behind.
Dion finally checked himself out. He was wrapped in white bandages that made him question where he was. It was also at this moment Dion realized how badly injured his body was. Only adrenaline had kept him going and active during the previous battle.
"I'm fine. I just want to know where we are," Dion raised his head and said to Liana in a calm voice.
"Untrusting as usual. Follow me." She led Dion and Karen to a bench under a broad tree.
Karen was oddly quiet and not fierce like she was on the other side. Dion eyed her with side eyes.
"Okay. Let me explain everything. We are in Navean village. It's the village I was talking about. I saw your fantastic battle against that serpent with my far-sighted eyes from a distance. I must commend your wit and adaptability. Well after you fainted, I had to pull your heavy body while carrying Karen. Noble, right?" The elf smiled slightly under the tree that highlighted her green hair.
Dion couldn't help but notice her beauty. Maybe it's because she helped him, that's why she became beautiful in his eyes, especially her green eyes that sparkled like a pair of emerald gems and her artistically carved face. But he also noticed another point — she said Karen instead of Lorraine. She knows Karen's real name.
"However, this village has a dark sorcerer. When we reached, the dark sorcerer came and checked us out. She came to check if we were here to perform any malicious activity. That's how we are here." Liana pinched her long ears.
Dion instantly asked, "What does she want?"
"I don't want anything," a voice from behind made him flinch in shock.
He sharply turned and saw the woman carrying food in a tray right behind him.
'I thought my ears were sensitive,' Dion thought in shock as he didn't hear her until she spoke up.
"Your ears won't hear me coming. Just like how you can cloak your voice to avoid outsiders from listening at your level, I can cloak myself at my level," the woman said.
'She can hear thoughts?' Dion's heart skipped a beat. Even his jaw dropped. Standing in front of her now felt like being under a microscope. He couldn't help but feel a shiver crawl down his spine, an unsettling sense of vulnerability settling over him.
"I can't hear your thoughts. It's just a guess from your facial expression," her follow-up words made him doubt if she was telling the truth as she just answered his thought.
"From your eyes, you don't believe me. Well, if dark sorcerers could hear the thoughts of others, the world would have been in turmoil as everybody would be wary of dark sorcerers," she added.
"Come and eat. I prepared something for you guys." Arwen placed the food on the bench, making Dion's stomach grumble. She turned to Dion. "The treatment has left you feeling drained, particularly so. I want to assure you that staying in my house is merely to put your mind at ease and confirm that there is nothing wrong with you. Once that is confirmed, you are welcome to stay in the village as long as you abide by the law. Have a pleasant day."
She turned and left.
Liana was the first to sit and began eating. "Hmm. This is good. You guys should sit and eat."
Karen joined her, however, Dion was still watching.
"Untrusting, there is no poison or problem with the food," Liana had to say.
Dion nodded and joined them in eating.
When he was done, Dion came from the back to the front of the house to feed his eyes and have a moment of respite.
He saw villagers in various attire, mostly animal skin, trooping in to see the Arwen. From what he could see, Arwen is a doctor.
Dion sat on a fallen trunk and mused internally, 'I guess my life is pretty much stable now. I'm free from the chaos and dreadful nightmare. So what now?'
Footsteps from behind made him turn. He saw Karen coming towards him. She sat beside him.
"You've been oddly quiet," Dion spoke first.
"There's nothing worth talking about or I'm getting used to my environment." She shrugged before getting straight to the point. "When are we planning to leave? I'm leaving in the next thirty-three days when the merchants bring goods. I will leave with them." Her eyes fixed on the clear sky.
"You're anxious to leave. But where are you heading?" Dion asked.
"Blood Magic Academy. In this location, that's the school all dark sorcerers attend at the beginning stage. Are you coming?"