Suna saw Alaris emerging from the room. Alaris reached out, trying to grab Anna. Seeing this, Suna became frightened and, in an attempt to escape from Alaris, tightly hugged Anna and fell backwards. Anna didn't understand what was happening because she hadn't had a chance to look at her grandfather yet. As the two of them fell, Anna landed on top of Suna. When Suna fell back, she hit her head on the ground hard. As Anna came out of Suna's embrace and looked back, she saw her grandfather. She was happy to see that her grandfather was alive, that he had not died. However, her happiness didn't last long. As she looked closer at him, she realized that the approaching figure was not her grandfather as before. Alaris looked the same as he always did, but certain movements revealed that he was not her real grandfather. Anna noticed that her grandfather had drool coming from his mouth and that his fingernails had grown long. The most significant change was in his eyes; Alaris had lost the white of his eyes, leaving only the sclera. Seeing these things, Anna understood that this wasn't her grandfather.
Alaris lunged at Anna once more. This time, he intended to tear her apart with his claws. But Valorant, using his fiery steps, sprinted in. Just as Alaris was about to remove Anna's head, Valorant intervened in time and cut off Alaris's hand. Frightened, Anna bowed her head, closed her eyes, and clasped her head with both hands. Alaris's hand fell two or three meters away from where they stood. Despite having lost his right hand, Alaris still attempted to attack Anna. This time, without waiting, Valorant swiftly decapitated Alaris with his sword. Alaris's headless body collapsed to the ground. His head tumbled to the spot where his right hand had fallen. Alaris's body twitched on the ground. Valorant raised his sword and plunged it into Alaris's still-beating heart. The headless and armless body lying on the ground suddenly stopped moving, ceasing to twitch. Valorant left his sword embedded in Alaris and turned to look at Anna, who was sitting behind him, terrified.
Valorant turned around and sat down. Anna was trembling with fear. Suna slowly got up from the ground. Valorant reached out and gently touched Anna's shoulder, trying to reassure her with a gesture that said, "Don't be afraid! Everything will be alright!" Before Valorant could touch her, Anna recoiled from his hand. Seeing this, Valorant decided not to reach out to her after all.Anna was incredibly frightened. Suna got up and sat next to Anna, hugging her. "Everything will be alright; I'm here with you," she said. Anna's face showed nothing but fear, her complexion pale.
Seeing Suna comforting Anna, Valorant thought, "I guess Anna doesn't need my help."
Valorant:
-"Suna, you and Anna follow me. Don't stray far from my side. Suna, keep an eye on Anna!" he instructed, then went back into Alaris's room, pulling his sword from Alaris's body. Valorant entered the room and surveyed the area around the bed where Alaris had been lying.
At that moment, Suna entered the room with Anna. It was clear that Anna was still terrified; her body continued to tremble with fear.
Not fully understanding what had happened, Suna decided to ask Valorant a question:
-"Mr. Valorant!"
Valorant didn't respond; he was preoccupied with searching for something in the room.
Suna shouted louder,
-"Mr. Valorant!"
Valorant:
-"What are you saying?"
Suna:
-"What was that? It looked like the duke!" she exclaimed.
Valorant:
-"That was Alaris…" He fell silent.
Suna:
-"How could that be?"
Valorant:
-"I will explain everything. Just not right now."
Suna:
-"Why not?"
Valorant:
-"We don't have time for this, and keep your voice down!" he shouted in frustration.
Seeing Valorant's anger, Suna fell silent. A moment later, Gustav rushed into the room.
Gustav:
-"Mr. Valorant! What happened?" he asked.
Valorant:
-"Unfortunately, he managed to escape."
Gustav:
-"What do we do now?" he inquired.
Valorant:
-"We need to find him quickly. Otherwise, he will become a huge problem for us."
At that moment, Suna did not understand what they were talking about.
These events took place half an hour before dinner. Gustav was on his way to Duke Alaris's room. He was carrying a tray with medicines for the duke on it. When Gustav reached the door, he opened it and stepped inside. He looked around the room and saw Alaris lying on his bed. He placed the tray on a low table by the door and approached Alaris.
Gustav:
-"My lord, you must take your medicine," he said.
Alaris was completely exhausted, and the curse was nearly consuming him. His voice was barely audible. Alaris called out softly,
-"Gustav."
Though Alaris's voice was faint, Gustav heard him. He moved closer to hear what Alaris was saying,
-"What do you say, my lord?" he asked, bringing his ear near to Alaris.
Alaris:
-"I think today is my last day," he said.
Gustav:
-"Don't say that; you will live for a long time," he tried to reassure him.
Hearing this, Alaris managed a smile. After lying in bed for so long, his hair had grown unkempt. His beard, however, was not too thick because Gustav had been trimming it occasionally. Alaris only had a patch of beard around his mouth, as the rest had been shaved off by Gustav, which he did at Alaris's request. Underneath Alaris's eyes, dark circles had formed due to his long time spent indoors, and his skin was pale.
Alaris:
-"Call the doctor! I'm feeling different," he said.
Gustav:
-"Of course, my lord." He took the medicines and said, "Here, drink these, and I will go call the doctor." He handed Alaris the medicines, which were mainly meant to relieve the pain caused by the curse.
After Alaris took his medicine, Gustav picked up the tray and left the room. He went to the kitchen, where he saw Scott.
Gustav:
-"Scott, I have a job for you."
Scott:
-"Good evening! What is it, Mr. Gustav?"
Gustav:
-"Yes, go right now and bring the doctor here! As quickly as you can!" he ordered Scott.
Scott:
-"Understood." With that, he put on his hat and left the room.
After a significant amount of time had passed, Scott returned with the doctor.
Gustav met the doctor at the door. The doctor got out of the carriage.
Gustav:
-"Hello, Mr. Doctor."
Doctor:
-"Hello. Let's get to the patient quickly," he said. The doctor appeared to be in his fifties and wore a thick robe. On his head, he had a hat made from animal fur.
Gustav:
-"Right this way," he said, leading him inside the house.
The doctor and Gustav entered the duke's room. Upon seeing Alaris, the doctor immediately understood the seriousness of his condition. Without saying anything, he began to examine Alaris. The doctor was the personal physician who served this family, particularly Alaris.
Doctor:
-"Let's check your body," he said, placing his right hand on Alaris's forehead and closing his eyes.
As the doctor laid his hand on Alaris's forehead, it was as if he were seeing inside Alaris's body. The doctor mentally traversed Alaris's body. A black mist was gradually enveloping Alaris's insides. If this continued a little longer, the black mist would completely consume Alaris. At that moment, the black mist also began to pull at the doctor. Realizing this, he quickly opened his eyes and removed his hand from Alaris.
Alaris:
-"I think you felt it too. Am I right, Fermak?"
Doctor:
-"Yes," he said, in a despondent tone.
Alaris:
-"Everyone dies one day; I suppose my time is approaching."
Doctor:
-"How can I help you?"
Alaris:
-"If that's the case, sit with me for a bit. You are the only one I have left to talk to before death. I want to talk with you."
Doctor:
-"Alright, let's talk," he said, adjusting a chair by the bed and sitting down.
Alaris:
-"Gustav," he called for his head servant.
Gustav:
-"Yes, my lord," he replied.
Alaris:
-"I want to tell you something," he said.
Gustav:
-"I'm listening." He moved closer to Alaris.
Alaris:
-"Thank you both…" he began, but as he was speaking, Alaris's life slipped away.
Gustav and Fermak both looked at Alaris. Fermak checked for a pulse by grasping his neck.
Fermak:
-"Lord Alaris is gone," he said, and he closed Alaris's eyes with his right hand.
Gustav:
-"I will notify those downstairs," he said.
Fermak:
-"In that case, I will stay here until the duke's relatives arrive. You don't mind, do you?"
Gustav:
-"If that's the case, it's fine with me." He left the room.
Once Gustav exited, silence filled the room. Fermak did not rise from his seat. He did not say anything. He simply sat there. Then he thought to himself, "I need to cover the body with something. It's best to use this white sheet." He took the sheet and began to lay it over the corpse. At that moment, he noticed Anna behind him. After that, he gathered his belongings and left the room.
Fermak went downstairs, where he found Gustav waiting.
Gustav:
-"Doctor, you're leaving. I've prepared a carriage for you. You'll be able to reach your home with it."
Doctor:
-"Thank you," he said, and both of them went outside to the carriage.
Doctor:
-"I am sorry for your sorrow as well!" he remarked as he got into the carriage.
Gustav:
-"I hope…" he started, but deliberately left his sentence unfinished.
Doctor:
-"I understand. I will take this secret with me to my grave."
Gustav:
-"I feel at ease now," he said, looking at Scott. "Scott, take this gentleman back to his home and come back quickly!" he ordered.
Scott:
-"Understood, Mr. Gustav." He drove the horses away.
Gustav then returned inside the house. Upon entering, he went straight to Alaris's room.