Chapter 50
Leo immediately examined Caron's condition. His cousin's blood loss seemed severe.
"Priest! We need a priest, now—" Leo shouted urgently. But before he could take a step to look for one, Revelio appeared behind him, quickly pulling out a small vial from his coat. Without hesitation, he poured the elixir from the vial into Caron's mouth.
"This will work faster than a priest," Revelio said.
"This is..." Leo began, confused.
"This is the dew of the World Tree. It's incredibly expensive. Hah, I was saving it to use it in a near-death situation, but look at this, your cousin's draining all my resources," Revelio said.
The elixir seemed to take effect quickly. Caron slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze found Leo's guilt-riddled face. But Caron knew this wasn't the time for comfort, so he spoke firmly. "Leo, listen to me carefully."
"Shouldn't we take care of your injuries first...?" Leo suggested.
"Contact Grandfather right away. Tell him I almost died in the Imperial Palace," Caron said with a strained breath, but flashed a grin. "Once he hears what happened to me, he'll come here in person. This is out of our hands now. Things have escalated too much."
An attack on a member of the Ducal Family of Leston, during a banquet hosted at the Imperial Palace? And by a succubus, no less? This wasn't a matter anyone could simply overlook. Neither the Leston family nor the imperial family could turn a blind eye. Furthermore, this was a major event that would shake up the entire empire.
"Not once in fifty years has something like this happened. Isn't that right, Prince?" Caron asked.
"You're absolutely right. The imperial family considers anything related to Dark Mana a direct threat," Revelio said, nodding in agreement.
Caron inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. He could feel immense mana stirring within his body. It seemed Revelio had fed him something. He asked, "What exactly did you feed me, anyway?"
"The dew of the World Tree," Revelio answered.
"...Are you insane? Where did you even get that?" Caron continued.
"Obviously, my sis gave it to me. I've invested heavily in you, sparing no expense. We'll settle the bill later, alright?" Revelio replied.
The dew of the World Tree was a miraculous elixir that only elves could procure, capable of bestowing vast amounts of mana to knights and mages alike. With the elves no longer in contact with the empire, it had become one of the most valuable and unattainable treasures in the world, something money couldn't buy. Even in his previous life, Caron had never tasted such a priceless gift. It was said to have the power to revive even those on the brink of death, and here Revelio had used it without hesitation.
Caron furrowed his brow, staring at Revelio. He remarked, "You really pulled out all the stops, huh?"
"If you want to stay connected to the right people, you've got to make some big moves," Revelio replied with a smirk.
Caron had consumed something unbelievably precious. If Revelio hadn't given him the dew of the World Tree, he could have spent an agonizingly long time recovering his mana channels. The aftermath of forcibly reaching 5-Star had been far worse than he'd anticipated. But now, the mana channels, which had been on the verge of collapse just moments ago, were already healing. If he could fully absorb this mana, he felt confident he could control his newly opened fifth sea with ease.
"I'll let Grandfather know," he said.
"You better," Revelio responded.
Caron had been very lucky. Even if he began training his mana power in this state, he would become far stronger than before, beyond comparison. With a smile, he began to rise from his spot, but Leo quickly pushed him back down.
"Where do you think you're going?" Leo asked sternly.
"I need to fix this mess," Caron replied.
"We'll take care of it. Just take a rest," Leo insisted.
"I'm really fine. There's nothing wrong with me. I'll deal with this mess, so go and contact Grandfather," Caron argued.
He had just fainted from severe blood loss. Rest was supposed to be his first priority. Even though Caron was recovering thanks to the dew of the World Tree, he still had to be taken to a doctor and a priest, Leo figured.
"You're a patient," Leo pressed.
"I'm telling you that I'm not—"
Whack!
Someone smacked Caron in the back of the neck with a wooden rod... a rod with a mana stone embedded in it. It was Revelio's wand.
Caron turned to look at Revelio and began, "What are you—"
"Hey, when your older brothers tell you to rest, you should listen. You really don't know how to take a hint, do you?" Revelio interrupted.
"You, you—" Caron started to argue, but he couldn't finish his sentence.
Whack!
Another swift hit from Revelio's wand made Caron slump to the ground, unconscious again. Revelio sighed, casually wiping his wand off with his shirt. He muttered to himself, "Tough bastard. He didn't go down with the first hit."
Leo, who had watched the entire situation in stunned silence, asked in a trembling voice, "Your Highness... What are you doing?"
Revelio smiled brightly and answered, "This patient needs rest. I just put a strengthening spell on my wand and knocked him out. Trust me, with kids like him, it's better to knock them out and treat them while they're unconscious."
"Um, Your Highness. Are you sure you can handle him when he wakes up?" Leo asked with a hint of concern.
"That's not my problem. By the time he wakes up, Duke Halo will have arrived at the palace. Do you think he would dare attack me with the Duke standing right there?" Revelio said.
It was a shockingly reckless way of thinking. Leo looked at Revelio's brazen face and was at a loss for words. As expected, the only thing that could counter a madman was another madman.
As Leo sighed deeply, he said, "It'll take some time for Duke Halo to travel from Azureocean Castle to here. And Caron's healing speed is impressive. He might regain consciousness before then. Your Highness, you should make a quick escape before that happens."
"Ah, I'm touched. You're worried about me. But how about you stop him yourself for me?" Revelio replied.
"I think it would be more realistic for me to stop a train than Caron," Leo answered.
"Haha, that's true. But don't worry so much, Leo. The Leston family has probably gotten word of all this already," Revelio said.
He pulled over a chair and sat down, his tone softening as he continued explaining, "There's an agreement between the imperial family and the Leston family. It's triggered automatically if Dark Mana is ever discovered within the palace... Since it's complicated to explain in detail, I'll simplify it for you."
The agreement had been made after the fall of the Malevolent Emperor. The essence of it was simple. If Dark Mana was ever detected within the imperial family, the Leston family would automatically have the right to intervene.
"By now, the mages from the Imperial Magic Tower are probably activating the teleportation circle connecting Azureocean Castle and the palace. That thing hasn't been used in fifty years, so it might take some time. But at the latest, within an hour, Duke Halo will be here in person," Revelio explained.
"If there's a teleportation circle, why did we need to take the train here in the first place?" Leo asked.
"Leo, maintaining that teleportation circle between the Imperial Palace and Azureocean Castle costs a fortune. It's not something we can just use whenever we want," Revelio explained, then smiled before continuing, "So, from now on, it's up to you to explain things clearly."
Leo's eyes widened as he heard this sudden instruction. He began, "What am I—"
"Make sure to tell Duke Halo that I gave Caron the dew of the World Tree, alright?" Revelio cut him off.
"Pardon?" Leo asked.
Just then, a voice interrupted them. "Your Highness, Sixth Prince."
The Imperial Guards and mages from the Magic Tower were slowly approaching, their expressions grim. Revelio waved at them slightly and asked, "I expected this. So, what are the charges?"
Luke, one of the imperial guards, looked down coldly at the Sixth Prince. He replied, "We received a report that you, the Sixth Prince, used magic. Is that true?"
"That's right," Revelio answered.
"Then you've been hiding the fact that you've been practicing magic. I doubt you were unaware that members of the imperial family are forbidden from learning magic," Luke said.
The Imperial Guards approached slowly with ropes in hand, while the mages stood, ready to cast spells at a moment's notice.
"Sixth Prince Revelio, we are placing you under arrest as a suspect in the recent attack," Luke announced formally.
Leo's voice rose in protest as he exclaimed, "What are you talking about, Sir Luke? This is ridiculous!"
But Luke, unfazed, replied with the same icy demeanor, "This is an official action by the Imperial Guards. Please do not interfere."
"It couldn't have been him—" Leo began.
"Leo, it's fine. I was expecting this," Revelio interrupted, raising his hand to calm Leo. He chuckled as he looked at Luke, then continued, "So, this is how my dear elder brother wants to play? Quite petty, really. But just so you know, I'm innocent."
"Someone who has been secretly practicing magic isn't exactly easy to trust," Luke retorted.
Revelio laughed lightly and said, "Haha, that's funny. Where's Sir Mason?"
"Sir Mason will also be summoned for investigation," Luke responded.
"How bold of you," Revelio said, standing up with a grin. He walked toward Luke, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'll come of my own accord. No need for the ropes."
"...As you wish," Luke replied.
Revelio casually swept his dark hair back and winked at Leo. He said, "Don't forget my request, Leo. My bet's already in, and now it's the Leston family's turn to play. I'll see you later. Sir Luke? Lead the way."
Revelio was escorted out the hall by the imperial guards. Leo pressed his lips together as he watched Revelio's figure grow distant. The situation was spiraling out of control. Perhaps Caron would have known how to deal with this situation, but it was far too complex for him to manage alone.
So, Leo decided to take care of Caron first. He kneeled down and lifted his unconscious cousin onto his back.
Caron's recovery comes first, he thought to himself.
While Leo was wondering where he could take Caron for proper care, he noticed a female knight with a pale face standing behind the other Imperial Guards. Recognizing her, he gestured in her direction.
"Lady Amy, come here for a moment," Leo called out.
Amy tried to step forward, but one of the Imperial Guards blocked her path and said in a low voice, "She hasn't been officially knighted yet. She's unfit to serve the young masters. I will escort you myself."
Leo asked himself what Caron would do in this situation, and the answer came to mind quickly. Someone here could have been behind this incident. Leo had already realized in Thebe that even the Imperial Guards couldn't be fully trusted either. Therefore, he had to prioritize choosing someone he was familiar with.
"I'll handle it," Leo said firmly.
"But—" the guard protested.
"I said, I'll handle it." Leo's frown deepened, and only then did the guard step back reluctantly. Leo then turned to Amy and said, "Lady Amy, I need you to guide me."
"Of course. I'll lead you to the priests," Amy replied.
"Thank you. I think he's past the critical stage, but he still needs immediate care," Leo explained.
Amy nodded and shifted her gaze to Caron. His body was battered and bruised, his clothes soaked with blood; the extent of his injuries was obvious.
"This way, quickly," Amy said as she led the way.
Leo followed without hesitation. I have to protect Caron until grandfather arrives, he thought. He hadn't been able to fight alongside his cousin, but from now on, he would make sure Caron was safe.
As they ran through the palace, Leo could hear Caron's ragged breathing next to him.
***
Whoosh.
A sound hummed through the royal garden, where the teleportation magic circle lay. The Crown Prince stood at the edge of the garden, waiting for the visitors who were about to arrive. Mages from the Imperial Magic Tower were working in unison to activate the portal, and soon, their guests would step through.
The Crown Prince took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the shimmering magic circle. Moments later, the voices of the mages rang out across the garden.
"Connection complete," one of the mages said.
"The teleportation circle is stable," another mage called out.
"The magic circle from Azureocean Castle is now active!" the next mage informed the others.
Flash.
A white glow erupted from the magic circle, quickly shaping itself into a massive, glowing gateway. It was a massive teleportation portal. Through the portal, figures from Azureocean Castle began to step into the royal garden, one after another.
The first to arrive were the knights of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, led by Zerath. They marched through the portal in full armor. As the Crown Prince and the Imperial Guards watched them, they swallowed hard at the sight.
The Oceanwolf Knights' presence was overwhelming. They radiated a fierce energy, as if they were ready to draw their swords at any moment. Zerath, an 8-Star knight, stood at the forefront, exuding such a powerful aura that it felt as if the air had thickened.
But not everyone had arrived yet. The master of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, the legendary hero of the empire, hadn't yet crossed through the portal. As the Crown Prince felt the weight of anticipation, he bit down on his lip, and his eyes never left the magic circle.
"The head of the Leston family is arriving. Everyone, get to your escort formations!" Zerath commanded.
At Zerath's command, the Oceanwolf Knight Order swiftly moved into formation, creating an impenetrable escort line. Moments later, the air shimmered once again as light erupted from the teleportation circle.
A single man emerged, walking with deliberate, measured steps. Clad in azure armor, his silver hair and the deep wrinkles etched across his face marked him as an old man. And yet, despite his age, no one in the garden would dare think of him as just an elderly man. The sheer mana that radiated from his massive frame spoke volumes. That proved his strength was beyond comprehension.
Halo... Leston, the Crown Prince thought, his gaze fixed on the legendary hero and his eyes full of fear. Halo's presence was so overwhelming that it felt as if the prince's breath could stop at any moment. A monster who had surpassed the limits of humanity... That was Halo Leston.
Although the Crown Prince was aware that he had to offer a greeting, he found himself too stiff to speak. His mouth refused to form words, and his body was petrified with fear.
Without hesitation, Halo marched toward the Crown Prince. When he arrived in front of the prince, he looked down and said in a low, commanding voice that carried immense weight, "Your Highness, I trust you understand that this is no time for formal pleasantries."
"...D-Duke Halo," the Crown Prince stuttered, barely managing to get the words out.
"In accordance with the agreement between the Leston family and the imperial family, I will deal with the dark forces that have infiltrated the palace. But before that..." Halo's voice dropped even lower, filled with an undeniable fury as he leaned slightly forward. "I must take care of my grandsons first. I assume you have no objections to that."
The sheer intensity of Halo's anger echoed through the garden.