Vyn slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if they were weighted with lead. His vision was still blurry, and he could barely make out two indistinct figures seated beside him.
As soon as they noticed he was awake, the figures stood up hurriedly, their movements quick and filled with urgency, and they clamored towards him.
Though his ears felt blocked and he couldn't hear their words clearly, he could sense their excitement and concern through the muffled sounds. It was like hearing through a thick fog. Gradually, his vision began to clear, and the muffled sounds turned into discernible words, revealing the identities of the figures by his side.
"Vyn, you're awake!" Melissa's voice broke through the haze.
Melissa gently threw herself at him, wrapping him in a careful, yet emotional embrace. Her face was etched with deep worry and concern, and a slight trace of tears lingered at the corners of her eyes, glistening like dew on morning leaves.
"Be gentle, Melissa. Remember, he is badly injured. Don't break his bones," cautioned Dorian, the second figure in the room. His voice was firm yet filled with a soft note of worry.
"I know, I know. I didn't lean on him too hard. I just got a little excited," Melissa responded, her voice trembling with both relief and lingering fear.
Vyn couldn't help but feel a wave of surprise and confusion wash over him. He had suddenly woken up in a place he didn't recognize. His vision and mind were still foggy, and his guildmates' worried faces made him realize something serious had happened. It was as if he had been in a terrible accident.
He began to glance around more intently, taking in his surroundings with growing clarity. The room had the distinct appearance of an apothecary's chamber. Shelves lined with various potions and herbs surrounded him, and the scent of medicinal herbs filled the air. But what struck him more strangely was his own appearance.
When he looked down at his body, he couldn't help but gasp in shock. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, resembling a mummy from an ancient ruin, as if he had just been unearthed from some long-forgotten tomb.
'What happened?'
Vyn's mind raced with confusion and fragments of memory. Suddenly, a vivid recollection flashed through his mind. He had been in the skill library, testing out a new ability. He had pushed his spiritual energy to its limits, overcharging it. The power of his attack had been too much for his body to handle.
He could now remember the horrifying moment just before he lost consciousness—his hand, the one that had launched the attack, was disintegrating before his eyes. At that moment, he had thought it was the end for him, that his life was over. But against all odds, he had survived!
"Vyn, are you okay? Please, say something!"
Melissa's voice was filled with panic, bringing him back to the present. She looked at him with wide, anxious eyes.
"I… I'm fine. Please, don't worry," Vyn managed to whisper. His voice was faint, like a dry whisper in the wind, and his throat felt parched.
Dorian sighed with relief, the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. "The healer is on his way. I will inform the seniors that he's awake," he said, his voice a mix of relief and responsibility. He took out a transmission token, a small, glowing object, and headed out of the room.
Vyn watched him leave, still trying to piece together the events that led to his current state. His body ached, and his mind was filled with questions. But for now, he was grateful to be alive.
After a brief moment, Dorian returned along with a white-bearded old man dressed in scholarly robes. The old man quickly made his way to Vyn, placing his palm on Vyn's forehead and then touching a few vital spots on his body. Each time his hand made contact, the old man's brow furrowed slightly.
Vyn felt a warm sensation spreading through his body with each touch, accompanied by a faint green hue emanating from the healer's hand.
"His vitals appear to be good, and surprisingly, his recovery is more rapid than I expected," the old man said, his voice tinged with amazement.
"This young lad surely has a superior vitality, which is very rare. It's a miracle that he survived such gruesome injuries, and it seems his body is performing superbly in its recovery. It's almost like a self-restoration magic."
The old man's face lit up with a relieved smile. Initially, when he had seen the state Vyn was in, he had informed them that Vyn's chances of survival were slim, even with the aid of vitality herbs and healing magic. But Vyn had defied the odds and was close to full recovery in just a few days.
"Ha, that's a relief. I'm so thankful, sir, for your help. The progress must definitely be a result of your skills. Sir Gareth's reputation as one of the best healers in Ravenscrest is well-deserved," Melissa said excitedly, full of praise for the healer.
"Haha, you praise me too much," Sir Gareth replied with a modest chuckle. "Although I can't deny my skills and experience, there is still a limit to my ability. Being able to make a full recovery largely depends on the patient's own recovery ability."
Although he couldn't deny his own skills, having saved many lives throughout his long career, this was undoubtedly the most shocking case he had ever witnessed. When Vyn was brought in, he was hanging by a thin thread between life and death. Even Gareth himself hadn't anticipated any hope of survival, but now, witnessing the rapid recovery, he couldn't shake off a feeling of astonishment.
A faint urge crept into his mind to dissect Vyn's body to uncover whatever secrets it might hold.
Just then, a figure stormed into the room, clad in full steel armor and holding a thick book. The arrival caught everyone's attention. Melissa's expression changed slightly, a hint of worry crossing her face. Both she and Dorian gave a slight nod.
"Greetings, Vice Guild Leader," they said in unison, their voices tinged with respect and a bit of apprehension.
Alistair waved slightly, acknowledging the greetings with a curt nod. His eyes then locked onto Vyn, his gaze sharp and unforgiving. A deep frown etched across his face, making his displeasure clear for all to see.
"You brat," Alistair began, his voice a low growl filled with barely contained fury. "So, you've finally woken up? Do you have any idea of the mess you've caused? We've been in a tight spot because of your actions. How dare you cause trouble for the guild, you insignificant piece of shit?"
Alistair's anger was palpable, his words dripping with venom. His face was red, and his fists were clenched tightly at his sides. The room seemed to tense up, the air thick with tension.
Seeing him boiling over with rage, Melissa quickly stepped in. Her voice was trembling slightly as she tried to calm the situation. "Sir Alistair, Vyn just woke up, and he hasn't fully recovered. I think we should wait for him to get better before bringing up the matter."
Alistair glared at her, his eyes cold and unyielding. His stare was so intense it felt like ice piercing through Melissa.
"And why should I do that? Don't you know the dire situation we are in because of him?" he snapped, his voice rising with each word.
In the past few days, the guild had been in serious trouble. The news had come as a shock when they received word from the Chamber of Commerce in Ravenscrest. One of the Iron Clad Guild members had caused a massive explosion, destroying several facilities in the skill library. As a result, the guild was held responsible for the extensive damage, and the pressure from the authorities was immense.
Alistair couldn't believe his eyes upon arriving at the scene of the devastation. The once majestic library was almost reduced to ruins, with debris scattered everywhere. By the extent and power of the destruction, he was certain that Vyn had used some sort of destructive artifact. Such a massive amount of power couldn't be produced by a mere D-ranker, especially one who couldn't even utilize world energy properly.
"But still… Nothing has been confirmed yet," Melissa tried to interject, her voice pleading. She looked at Vyn with worry.
"Just shut it!" Alistair barked, cutting her off sharply. His face was a mask of anger. "I am acting in the best interest of the guild. Although such a level of attack cannot be carried out by him alone, he must have definitely used some sort of artifact."
With that, he stormed over to Vyn's side. Vyn, already seated upright due to the commotion, watched as Alistair handed him a book. Vyn took the book weakly with shaking hands.
"This is a termination form indicating your expulsion from the Iron Clad Guild," Alistair said coldly, his voice void of any sympathy. "From today onward, you are no longer a guild member. Input your fingerprint," he demanded, thrusting an ink stone toward Vyn.
Vyn took the book and glanced through the details briefly. His eyes widened as something caught his attention, causing him to crease his brow in confusion
"What is the meaning of this?" He couldn't help asking with a frown.