Seth held out his hand, waiting for Claire's answer. In his mind, he was prepared to accept whatever choice she made, though he was fairly certain she would choose to save her brother.
Claire's thoughts were in turmoil. She desperately wanted to save Clark, but the idea of Lord Arlecia bearing a steep cost for the cure tore at her conscience.
"We don't have much time, Claire," Seth urged, his voice calm but insistent.
"But… my lord…" Claire's voice faltered, unable to complete her sentence. She looked between her comatose brother and the lord before her, her heart pounding as she wrestled with her decision. Finally, she clenched her jaw, determination hardening in her eyes.
Her voice was full of pleading. "My lord… please, save my brother."
A faint smile played on Seth's lips at her response. Claire reached out and grasped his hand. Seth nodded and said, "Once Clark is cured, remember this: you owe me one life. You will dedicate the rest of yours to my cause and help me reform this estate."
Then, with a teasing tone, he added, "Oh, and don't forget—you only get vacation time during the New Year. No working overtime, understood?"
He gave her a playful smile.
Claire's eyes brimmed with tears, but she managed a shaky laugh as she wiped them away, gently cradling her brother's head in her lap. "Yes, my lord… I will do anything for you. I swear on my name. I'll devote my life entirely to your cause."
The sincerity in her voice hung heavy in the air. Aiden and Royfield stood nearby, silent witnesses to the gravity of her vow. There was a resolute strength in Claire's words that left them both humbled.
Aiden, however, found himself filled with an unexpected feeling: envy. He clutched his chest, surprised by the ache of longing. A strange sense of jealousy simmered within him—an unspoken wish to pledge himself to Lord Arlecia with the same unwavering loyalty.
Seth turned his gaze to Aiden. "I almost forgot," he said with a soft smile. "Good work, Aiden."
Aiden's eyes widened, surprised by the simple praise. Seth's smile deepened slightly. "You can rest now, Aiden. Royfield will assist Claire in moving her brother."
But Aiden hesitated, a question burning in his mind. Before Seth could leave, Aiden stepped forward. "My lord," he called out, his voice resolute. "Can you tell me… what is the price you mentioned?"
He took a deep breath, determination shining in his eyes. "If it's possible, allow me to bear the cost instead. It's my fault for worsening Clark's condition. Please, let me bear the price."
Claire's eyes widened, stunned by Aiden's offer. Guilt washed over her as she recalled her anger moments ago. She had blamed Aiden in her desperation, but it wasn't fair. He had done everything he could to help. Shame prickled at the edges of her conscience.
Seth considered Aiden's plea, his expression softening. "If I could offer a substitute for the price, I would," he said gently. "But it's not that simple." He sighed, then fixed Aiden with a knowing look. "Remember your purpose, Aiden. Would you truly be willing to sacrifice your life before achieving your end goal?"
The mention of Aiden's purpose—the vengeance against the One-Eyed Alliance, the organization that had destroyed his hometown—struck a chord. Aiden's resolve faltered, and he fell silent, understanding the truth of the lord's words.
Seth turned back to Royfield. "Prepare Claire's brother to be moved," he ordered.
Royfield, still uncertain, asked, "Where do you intend to take him, my lord?"
Seth's response was short and clipped. "To the dungeon."
Confusion flickered in Royfield's eyes, but he obeyed without question, moving swiftly to carry out the command.
Claire's voice, small and shaky, cut through the tension. "My lord… may I come with you?" she asked. Her gaze was pleading. "I can't leave my brother, not when he's like this."
Seth paused, then nodded. "Suit yourself," he said, his tone even. But his eyes grew serious. "Just know that what you're about to see might be… unsettling. And don't interfere, no matter what I do to your brother. Understand?"
Claire swallowed hard, her grip tightening on her brother's hand. "I understand," she whispered, though fear coiled in her stomach.
Seth turned to leave, but before he could step into the carriage, he noticed Aiden trailing behind. He sighed, exasperation and amusement mingling in his expression. "If you want to follow me, just say so. I'm not going to stop you, Aiden."
Aiden's face lit up with a mixture of relief and joy. "Thank you, my lord," he said, his voice earnest. "I'm happy to stay by your side."
Seth rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Suit yourself."
With that, Seth and Aiden climbed into the first carriage, while Royfield, Claire, and her brother were carefully loaded into another. The carriages set off, the rain continuing to fall in heavy sheets as they made their way to the unknown.
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Once they arrived at the dungeon entrance, the knights guarding the area snapped to attention, confusion flickering across their faces as they saw Lord Arlecia approaching. Startled out of their drowsiness, they quickly greeted him. Seth waved a hand, signaling them to relax.
Seth led the group into the dungeon. Claire's eyes widened with curiosity. She had no idea such a facility existed inside the mountain. Aiden, however, was familiar with this place. He remembered fighting a three-headed beast here with Killian once, though the details of how they had survived remained a blur. From what he had gathered from the servants' chatter, Lord Arlecia had appeared and defeated the powerful creature, a feat that still baffled him.
Their thoughts were interrupted when they stopped before an enormous door, engraved with ancient symbols. Seth turned to them, his gaze sharp yet calm.
"Behind this door lies the true wealth of Arlecia," he said, looking directly at Claire.
"Once you see what I possess, never doubt again that Arlecia is not as poor as you might think." He offered her a small, almost mischievous smile.
Placing his hand on the door, Seth released a surge of energy. The symbols glowed, and the door creaked open, revealing a room bathed in a golden hue. Claire's jaw dropped, momentarily forgetting why they had come as she stared at the treasure trove before her.
Aiden was equally surprised but quickly masked his reaction. A dungeon with such dangerous beasts would naturally guard immense wealth, yet the sight was still extraordinary.
Seth didn't linger, striding forward. The staircase led them downward, into what he called Zarathos' Chamber. This was his most precious room, housing Zarathos' beast core and a homunculus body. The chamber was vast, the light from the glowing crystals casting an otherworldly glow. Claire was speechless, marveling at the sheer scale of the place and the strange sight of a body lying near a massive crystal.
Aiden frowned; he couldn't recall there being a crystal of this magnitude in the chamber before.
Seth wasted no time. "Lay the body here," he instructed. Royfield gently placed Clark's body on the ground, a respectful distance from the glowing crystal and the lifeless homunculus.
Seth turned to everyone. "I need all of you to step back," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "What you're about to witness must remain a secret."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over them. "No matter what you see, do not interfere. Understood?"
Claire and Aiden nodded, though tension gripped them. Royfield bowed and withdrew to a safe distance, his expression serious.
Clark's body lay motionless in front of Seth. Taking a deep breath, Seth prepared himself, summoning his power. Blue flames flickered to life in his palm, dancing gracefully.
Claire's eyes widened in shock. Is that… magic? she wondered, disbelief etched across her face.
Aiden was equally stunned. It was his first time seeing this kind of power, and the sight left him speechless.
Seth spoke, his voice carrying a reverent tone:
Eternal flames, belonging to the Master of the Twelve Seats.
The Master of the Unseen World.
The Watcher of All Realms.
His words hung in the air, heavy with ritualistic devotion. As the flames danced, Seth's blindfold began to smolder, burning away to reveal his crimson eyes, framed by long white lashes. The flames reflected in his eyes, making them glow even brighter.
The blue flames multiplied, forming a perfect circle around Seth. As the ritual reached its peak, Seth intoned the final invocation.
"I offer myself as a vessel to the Divine. Grant me the authority to return the dead to life."
His crimson eyes flared as he directed the flames at Clark's body. The blue fire burst forth, engulfing Clark in a swirling blaze. Claire's instinct was to scream, to shout for it to stop, but she froze, realizing that the flames didn't burn Clark. Instead, they seared away the dark marks, purging the disease from his body.
Aiden watched in awe and apprehension. He couldn't fathom how Lord Arlecia had acquired such formidable power, but a knot twisted in his gut at the thought of what price it might exact.
Royfield, on the other hand, was no longer surprised. He had witnessed the lord wield this magnificent and terrifying power before. Yet he knew that if this secret ever escaped, it would attract dangerous and fanatical groups.
Indeed, a few mercenaries from the Raven Guild had once seen a glimpse of this power. But when they tried to spread rumors, the general public dismissed their claims as wild exaggerations.
Seth's body trembled under the strain. His vision blurred, and every nerve felt aflame, particularly his eyes. But he forced himself to continue, determined to rid Clark of every last trace of the Black Death.
Blood-red tears trickled from the corner of his eyes, a clear sign of the toll the power was taking on him. Aiden's heart lurched with fear.
Royfield and Claire shared that dread, their hearts sinking as they watched Seth struggle.
Seth gritted his teeth, fighting to stay conscious.
I can't stop now, he told himself. The excruciating pain coursed through him, threatening to consume his strength, but he refused to give in.
Hold on, he thought, his willpower the only thing keeping him from collapsing.