Eleanor’s fingertips gently brushed against the rose by the window. She gazed at the swaying shadows of the trees outside, her voice barely more than a whisper, almost dissolving into the wind: “I know, Julius.”
The girl turned around, her pure white dress unfolding like a lotus blooming in the morning light.
She stepped slowly toward Julius, a faint golden glow flickering from her fingertips, only to vanish abruptly the moment they touched the tabletop.
“I already tried purifying him with Holy Light Magic last night, but this poison…”
Eleanor suddenly clutched the fabric of her dress, creating deep wrinkles along the hem. “It’s beyond what my Holy Light Magic can heal.”
She lifted her head, a rare trace of frustration flashing in her deep blue eyes.
“My mastery of Holy Light Magic is still too shallow—for the Grand Saintess, perhaps there’s hope.”
“Then, what about His Grace the Duke?”
Julius stared intently at Eleanor’s face, a flicker of hope lingering in his eyes. “Your father is the empire’s foremost Imperial Archmage. Could even he be powerless?”
“Well…”
Eleanor shook her head softly, her expression tinged with helplessness. “Although Father is proficient in countless high-level Elemental Magic spells, Holy Light Magic is not within his realm of expertise.”
“He probably can only watch helplessly, too.”
She paused, her tone gentle yet tinged with resignation. “So, you all will need to seek another way.”
“…Very well, if you say so.”
Julius let out a low sigh, his gaze dimming. “Then I shall take my leave for now, Miss Eleanor.”
“Mm.”
Eleanor nodded and watched Julius’s figure disappear.
Once the door closed completely, silence reclaimed the room.
Only then did Eleanor exhale heavily, a barely suppressed anger flickering in her eyes.
Those damn Abyss cultists…
She had, of course, seen the poisoned young man herself.
Though “the unfortunate often have reasons to be hated,” if it weren’t for those rats lurking in the shadows stirring up trouble, how would an ordinary person fall so easily into such a trap?
She still remembered how weak that young man looked.
The girl walked back to the window, her gaze falling on the courtyard outside, her thoughts drifting away without her realizing it.
After a moment, she lightly clapped her hands.
With a soft sound, her personal maid Lil appeared in the room like a shadow.
“Miss, your orders?”
Lil bowed respectfully.
“Go tell the city guards that if Julius and Kyle need any help, they are to support them fully.”
Eleanor’s tone was calm, as if speaking about an everyday matter. “Make sure they know it’s on the Duke’s orders.”
She paused before adding, “I will personally explain to Father later. Though he’s been busy lately, he’s still been closely monitoring the city’s situation.”
“Yes, Miss.”
***
Julius’s footsteps felt heavy as he left Eleanor’s room.
Though her words were calm, they had completely extinguished the last flicker of hope buried deep in his heart.
“Looks like the only option is still to start from that Tavern.”
He muttered to himself, frowning deeply.
That was the only place where any trace remained.
Perhaps the clue was hidden among those seemingly ordinary Drunkards.
But how could he dig anything useful out of them?
If they used force, the Abyss cultists might detect their investigation early, which would backfire badly.
Maybe he should discuss this with Kyle and Selena first?
Julius wandered aimlessly through the Duke’s courtyard, his thoughts adrift.
The fragrance of the Flowerbeds and the echoes from the cobblestone path never truly reached his consciousness.
When he finally came to his senses, a familiar wooden door appeared before him.
Outside the workshop, a signboard, hand-carved by Helros herself, swung slightly in the breeze.
Julius stared at the worn wooden door, silent for quite some time.
How did I end up here without realizing it?
Helros is probably still buried in those strange experiments of hers.
Maybe I shouldn’t disturb her for now.
Just as the boy thought this and was about to quietly leave, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind:
“Julius… you’re back…”
Huh?
Why does that voice sound so weak?
Julius whipped around to see the silver-haired girl standing there.
The dark circles under her eyes were frighteningly heavy, and she looked utterly exhausted, unable to stop yawning.
Those once clear and dazzling purple eyes now seemed noticeably dimmer.
“W-What happened to you?”
His heart clenched sharply, breath caught halfway. “Don’t tell me you drank that awful special concoction too?!”
“What nonsense are you talking about…”
Helros rolled her eyes irritably, but her voice was still weak. “I’m just incredibly tired, alright?”
The two stared at each other wide-eyed.
Helros blinked, noticing the odd expression on the boy’s face, and tilted her head.
“What’s wrong? Why do you look so troubled?”
“Work stuff.”
Julius scratched his head, and seeing Helros suddenly perk up, he sighed again.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m just telling it like it is.”
“Spill it, spill it~”
“Well—”
He casually recounted the events from the previous day, downplaying everything and only mentioning key points.
Helros listened, stunned at first, then widened her eyes. “Wait, so that ruckus last night was caused by you guys?”
“Yeah, what of it?”
“Nothing,” Helros rubbed her eyes, a trace of helplessness on her lips. “I had just finally waited out the effects of the potion and was about to get a good sleep, then you all woke me up.”
“Sorry about that…”
“No need to apologize.”
Helros shrugged, her tone as light as if speaking of something trivial. “You’re just a twelve-year-old kid being dragged into this, so I have no right to complain.”
She paused and blinked curiously.
“By the way, is that guy you brought back still alive?”
“He’s alive.”
Julius’s expression darkened. “But the poison has seeped into his bones. He’s almost losing his mind.”
Helros pursed her lips, half surprised, half helpless. “Poison really is dangerous.”
“Didn’t you get your sister or anyone else to treat him?”
“We did, but Miss Eleanor is powerless here, too.”
Julius’s gaze dropped slightly. “If even her Holy Light Magic can’t help, then ordinary clerics probably have no hope either…”
Helros rolled her eyes and joked half-seriously:
“Hey, you shouldn’t always trust those so-called miracle workers.”
“Miracle workers?”
“Uh, I mean, how about sometimes putting your faith in science—even if it’s not exactly scientific?”
As she spoke, Helros lightly nudged Julius and led him into the workshop.
She went to the workbench and pulled a bottle of Green Potion from the drawer, shaking it in front of the boy’s eyes.
“How about giving this a try?”
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