Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Frozen Blood (3)
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"Why can't holy magic be used on yourself?"
I said this as I applied medicine to the scratch on Wedin's arm. It was the third time.
"You said that earlier."
Having heard the same thing three times now, I was starting to get a little scared and quietly reminded him.
Wedin furrowed his brow, probably because the wound stung.
"I know. I'm just saying it because it hurts."
"If you think about it carefully, you already know the reason holy mages can't heal their own wounds."
"...I know."
Wedin grumbled irritably.
"Damn it, holy magic consumes life force, so it can be given to others but not to yourself. I know that full well."
"Good. You're still normal."
I wrapped his arm in bandages and felt relieved.
I'd been worried he might have hit his head hard when we fell, but thankfully, Wedin was still Wedin.
We had descended slowly along with the collapsing floor, barely avoiding serious injury.
But tumbling and crashing amid the rubble had left us covered in bruises, as if we'd been beaten all over.
Wedin had immediately healed Clemence and me with holy magic. Clemence was completely cured, and while I wasn't fully healed, the pain had subsided considerably.
In contrast, Wedin couldn't heal his own wounds.
We applied the first-aid medicine he carried and bandaged him up.
Just as we finished treating Wedin, the cry of a gatra echoed from not far away.
A chilling screech reverberated through the underground.
Clemence flinched, her shoulders trembling.
"It's closer than before..."
"Let's move now."
I helped Wedin to his feet, and Clemence supported him from the side.
Wedin groaned with every step but gritted his teeth and endured.
We had to get out of here quickly.
We could tend to our wounds with Wedin's help, but his would need Grain.
I wiped the sweat and dust from my grimy face and looked around.
We were in a dark underground passage, likely used as a warehouse or workers' quarters.
The ceiling above had collapsed completely, blocking the way up, and the rooms connected to the passage were either locked tight or buried in debris.
No way up meant the knights chasing us wouldn't reach us for a while—at least that was one less worry.
But to escape, we'd need to find another path.
And to find a way out, we needed light.
I drew in a bit of mana and created a small orb of light in my palm.
If I used too much mana, the gatra might sense it and come after us, so the light was faint and fragile.
I led the way, maintaining the weak orb.
"Clemence, is that court mage really here?"
Wedin asked, and Clemence nodded.
"That's what Father told me. They brought him with us and locked him underground."
"Why Varkus? Watch your step below."
I moved the light orb to illuminate the sharp stone fragments scattered on the floor.
Clemence supported Wedin as they carefully stepped around them.
"I'm not sure. But they wouldn't have brought him for no reason."
"Shh."
I put a finger to my lips and extinguished the light orb.
The bizarre breathing of a gatra sounded from nearby.
We held our breath and hid in the shadow of a protruding wall.
Two gatras lumbered past, thumping heavily down the corridor. The cracked ceiling shook precariously above.
These gatras were the same type we'd encountered on the carriage road earlier.
No black ones, huh. That would have been bad...
Only after the thumping faded completely did I recreate the light orb.
The faces of Wedin and Clemence, who had been holding their breath in the darkness, lit up.
Both looked filthy and exhausted from fear.
"Varkus is a subordinate of the court archmage, Prince Raymond's closest aide, so maybe they plan to interrogate him about this incident. But he really seemed to know nothing."
"Or maybe as a hostage."
Wedin muttered.
Both possibilities were plausible, so we fell silent for a moment.
I sent the light orb into a wider space.
"Either way, let's rescue Varkus quickly and head back to Flavio. Sorry, Wedi. Hang in there a bit longer."
Wedin groaned but understood.
"I don't like it, but no choice. How do you plan to find him, though? This place isn't small."
That was the problem.
I didn't answer and scanned our surroundings.
The light was too dim to illuminate a wide area.
All I could see were collapsed debris, broken pillars, and walls and ceilings cracked perilously.
Then, I glanced toward the end of the corridor the gatras had come from.
A faint flow of mana, so subtle it was hard to notice without focus—like a breeze rustling leaves...
"...I think I found him."
I advanced cautiously, light orb ahead, weaving past debris.
I didn't forget to stay alert for nearby gatras.
Was Varkus trying to use magic?
Did he still have his staff?
After a few steps, cold air brushed my cheek. Amid the stench of blood and dust, scents of wood and moss mingled.
Looking up, I saw dense trees outside through a gap in the ceiling.
"Looks like the hole the gatras broke through."
Clemence pointed to the upper wall.
Shining the light revealed a large hole blasted from outside.
Imagining the gatras swarming in through it sent chills down my spine.
The outward-facing hole let in only eerie winds; it was pitch black beyond.
"Ah, We-Wedi."
Clemence let out a short scream and grabbed Wedin.
I floated the light toward her.
"What is it?"
I asked, then froze as I looked at her feet.
A bloodied family knight lay sprawled on the floor.
Wedin hurriedly checked his neck, but anyone could see the knight was already dead.
"Looks like gatra got him."
"...I hope Varkus is okay."
I pulled the light orb away from the corpse.
Clemence, pale-faced, covered her mouth and clung closer to Wedin.
We proceeded slowly and quietly, eyes scanning everywhere.
As we neared the source of the faint mana flow, a muttering voice began to echo.
Varkus.
The voice bounced off the walls, sounding almost like a crowd murmuring.
The blood stench grew stronger too.
Probably other bodies we hadn't found, or gatra corpses somewhere.
The room where Varkus's voice echoed was not far from the hole the gatras had poured through.
The door and wall were shattered, but the interior was mostly intact.
Varkus sat hunched in the center, back to us, engrossed in something.
"Just wait, it's okay... No, this isn't my fault, damn it..."
"Varkus? Are you alright?"
As I floated the light orb into the room to check on him, I clamped my mouth shut and halted.
The moment Varkus came into view, I noticed the floor was soaked in red liquid.
A thick blood stench assaulted my nose.
I instinctively backed away, blocking Wedin and Clemence from entering.
"Varkus."
What the hell did you do?
The blood splattered around Varkus formed a kind of magic circle. Mana flowed over it.
A magic circle made of blood droplets and clumps...
"Ah, y-you guys."
Varkus's muttering stopped abruptly.
He slowly turned toward me, clutching not his staff but a red flower box, looking up at me.
All ten fingers gripping the box were stained red.
"Wh-what did you do?"
"What do you mean, what did I do?"
Varkus staggered to his feet.
He glanced at the red magic circle encircling him.
"Oh, this? Lib, you don't know about this? Blood is the most effective medium for magic."
Varkus chuckled, then suddenly dropped the smile.
"Well, it does look a bit creepy."
I was in no mood for jokes.
Blood was indeed the most effective medium for magic, but it amplified power so much it was hard to control, so it wasn't commonly used.
Preparing fresh blood in quantities to draw a magic circle was no easy task either.
Varkus couldn't use magic without the ecronium in his staff, so he'd amplified his mana with blood to cast spells.
The circle was too distorted to tell what it was for.
"What spell were you casting? Whose blood is this?"
Varkus didn't answer properly and took a step toward me.
His full appearance in the light was wretched.
His usual robe was in tatters, revealing skin covered in blood and bruises.
His gaunt face was swollen and bruised in places.
"Lib, I'm hurt."
Varkus said with a pitiful expression.
"What happened...?"
"The family knights beat me. I screamed at them to stop, but those lowly family knights—no, scum who were mere mercenaries a few months ago—beat me!"
Varkus's eyes flashed as his pitiful gaze toward me hardened, his voice rising.
His rough shouts echoed through the room, startling Clemence and Wedin outside, who turned with alarmed faces.
"Does this make sense? This situation? How dare they lay hands on me, a court mage! I told them I knew nothing, that I didn't do it...!"
"Varkus, calm down. Wedin can heal you with holy magic. If you shout, the gatras will find us."
I reached out, trying to quiet him somehow.
Varkus paced in circles, still fuming.
"It wasn't me, I know nothing..."
"Wedi, if you can manage, could you take a look at Varkus's wounds?"
Maybe easing the pain would calm him, so I turned to Wedin.
He looked exhausted but nodded.
As Wedin approached, Varkus flinched and backed away.
"It's okay. It'll feel much better once the wounds heal."
I gently guided Varkus out of the room.
Only then did he settle a bit, leaning against the wall and submitting to treatment.
Clemence helped by cleaning his wounds beside him.
I floated one light orb above Varkus's head and held the other, keeping watch.
Despite his loud voice, no gatra presence emerged—thankfully.
"...You guys are really kind. Unlike the knights and nobles I know."
Varkus, now meekly receiving treatment, suddenly said. His voice had calmed.
Holy magic not only healed physical wounds but also soothed and cleared the mind.
I chuckled.
"Reminds me of when we first met."
"Yeah. You helped me then too. Thanks."
Varkus smiled back at me.
Good, he's calming down. I was worried, but we can escape together now.
"What were you trying to cast without your staff?"
"Trying to contact Lady Kaela. To find a way to escape."
Varkus shrugged.
Wedin grimaced as the motion tugged at the shoulder wound he was healing.
"Did it work?"
The red flower box...
Come to think of it, Varkus was still clutching the red flower box tightly in one hand.
"Yeah, probably. She'll send a reply soon. Then I'll know what to do."
He carefully tucked the red flower box into his bosom.
"Done."
Wedin raised both hands and stepped back from Varkus.
Varkus, looking much better, thanked Wedin and Clemence profusely.
Wedin seemed annoyed, while Clemence apologized as if it were her fault.
"Then let's move again. We need to find a way out."
"I know. The way out."
Varkus said as he stood, drawing all eyes to him.