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The single luminescence lamp did its best to ward off the looming darkness as the three of us advanced into the cavern, holding two more individuals.

“Careful there,” I called, holding the chained warlock—William with my good arm, “there’s a pool here.”

“I think you made that clear a dozen times already,” Shailyn called. “Honestly, what do you think that I can’t take care . . . ahhhhh . . .”

Splash!

“Shailyn, are you alright?” I called, while steading on the inclined path using the False-ward—without that, my situation would’ve been no better than Shailyn, with one broken elbow.

The luminescent lamp on my waist lacked the intensity to show more than a few metres across, although I can see a light in the water, with a figure, trying to swim to the surface, however, she was finding it hard with the thin layer of ice frozen on the surface of the water.

My aunt screamed in an incoherent curse as an invisible force surged out of her body, shattering all the layers of ice into molten bits. It was not just the cold water that got her on the edge. I wasn't even sure how frustrated she was feeling inside.

“The water’s heavier than normal water,” Shailyn said, calming down, “That’s probably why it only froze in that thin layer, still chilling enough.” Her voice shook as she climbed up from the pool.

“What is this place?” Noyar asked from behind. In her embrace was Lord Kirien’s wife, wrapped in a blanket.

“This is the place I came here to look for,” I said and gestured to her. “Come along.”

I followed the path I went the first time, stumbling around. Without the false-ward, I would really be bathing in the cold water now, which, of course, didn’t appear to be a pleasant aspect to think about. Moreover, I have to drag William along, who was chained and blindfolded. I had to mention that this warlock was not making anything easier.

Covering the pool, the first thing I did was thrust him on the ground. We haven’t even gone through questioning or any rough treatment, he would be thoroughly mistaken if he thought we would treat him softly. Well, let’s drop that for a moment.

Beside, Noyar left Mrs Kirien on the ground carefully to climb back up to bring our bags. I offered my assistance, but Lady Knight was adamant that she alone would suffice. And she did. She brought three bags, two bigger ones and one medium safely, without falling into the pool.

“Now where?” Shailyn asked, shuddering in her wet clothing.

“You need to change first, Shailyn,” Noyar told her. Shailyn didn’t complain in the slightest with that comment.

“This cavern is spacious enough,” I told them, showing a direction, “Go that way, while I finish other tasks here.”

Shailyn didn’t delay further, took a bag and went in the direction I showed. Noyar thought for a moment and looked at me. I nodded at her, and she followed behind Shailyn.

I sighed and advanced to chain William to an enormous boulder in the corner.

“How’re you feeling, William?” I asked the blindfolded captive, who as usual didn’t answer.

I lost interest in that for now as a deep sense of exhaustion came upon me. I couldn’t hold it anymore, all my willpower wasted away as I limped against the wall next to Mrs Kirien. Grunting, I brought a blanket out of the bag and wrapped it around me.

If I had let myself, I'd sleep like a baby now, but I tried to stay awake. Even though we got to safety, for now, others were not in such a good situation. Yeriel, the other warders, and there’s that Althan and his group, though they probably escaped after I freed myself from him.

Shailyn and Noyar didn’t take as much time as I assumed they would. Shailyn was not in her Magus robe now, but a white sweater, matching gloves and cap, while Noyar finally showed some form of exhaustion, limping her bad leg. The knight had removed her breastplate and guards, and in thin clothing, probably wanted to tend her wounds properly.

And holy hell, she’s in her underwear. Good light or not, I looked away from her sultry legs to her face, which showed no embarrassment. I think my haggard face showed more blush than her.

I guess what they say about the Women of Victoria is true. Well, after all, it’s a nation led by women, I can expect all these. Moreover, they were practitioners; situations like these were pretty common.

“Nephew,” Shailyn called, sitting next to me, “Let me see your wounds.”

“I think your Knight needs care first,” I said, but Shailyn touched my messed up face with both of her palms. I grunted, clenching my jaw.

“Noyar can take care of herself for now,” Shailyn said, bringing out some cream ointments, “but you aren’t used to this.”

I guess she was right, so I let her tend the wounds. Shailyn was a bit surprised to find the raw cuts and scratches on the outside had healed already, I answered her by mentioning I’ll provide an explanation or display soon. As for my back, she asked me to remove the suit, which I declined outright, showing the broken elbow.

“That is going to be a problem?” Shailyn said, looking at my bent left elbow. I hadn’t moved it even a bit in the meantime. “I have to pull it straight.”

I withdrew instinctively, hearing her. It would hurt like hell if I let her even pull a little.

“Don’t show me that pitiful gaze,” Shailyn said, “I’m doing this for your own good.”

I clenched my jaw and finally nodded. “Just do it fast,” I said, resting my bad arm on her, closing my eyelids tight.

I waited for a couple of seconds, but nothing happened. “Shailyn?”

“I can’t do it,” the magus said, looking towards her partner. “Noyar, you do it.”

Noyar, who was tending the awful looking wound on her thigh, looked from Shailyn to my arm and stood up, approaching. I didn’t look at her slender long legs, but her tight clothing showed a good portion of her cleavage. I didn’t think she had them this big, though it's likely because of her thin frame and slender body.

Only after the second seconds passed did I find that I was staring at her chest. I coughed and looked away.

Noyar crouched down where Shailyn was and took my bad arm. “It’s going to hurt,” she said, “I’ll count to three and—”

“Just do it fast,” I told her. The anticipation was not any bit convenient for my already exhausted mind.

“Clench your jaw, softlander, or you might bit your tongue,” Noyar joked. Making sure, both of us alright, she continued. “Here we go, 1 . . . 2 . . .”

Snap!

“Bloody hell!” I screamed in curses, the equivalent pain of when it was broken washed over me. However, I could endure it a lot better now after a few moments. “You’re supposed to count to three.”

“Does it make a difference?” Noyar asked with a straight face.

I guess not. Bloody woman!

“That arm would take time,” Noyar said, binding a bandage from my neck to hang the bad arm. “This would do for now.”

“A practitioner's body is different from a normal person’s,” Shailyn said, “ignoring that arm and your broken nose, all will be healed within hours.”

“I think it would be sooner,” I said and took another sedative.

Shailyn and Noyar sat next to each other. While the knight tended the awful wound on her thigh, my aunt checked her state. The afflictions grow worse with time. She didn’t have the luxury to work on them in the meantime, it would be harder now.

Well, it would’ve been harder for her, if I was not here.

“What have you been afflicted with?” I asked, touching her palm with my good arm, drawing little of the flames of purgatory.

“What are you doing?” Shailyn asked as the flames invaded her channels. She tried to jolt away, however, finding it’s a calming flame bringing warmth, she rested. “What is this?”

“Help,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I think they had a better name for it, Purgation.”

“How’re you doing this?” Shailyn asked. Beside her, Noyar stared from the corner of her eyes. “You’ve grasped the Emberheart bloodline ability?”

“Something similar, but better.” I drew more of the purgation energy into her channel as much as I could hold on with my current state, which was not a lot. “I’m not very good at this. It’s a very delicate task, while the nature of my energy is everything but delicate. Assist me if you can.”

Shailyn nodded and drew her spirit along with mine. My control became a lot better with an adept magus helping.

“That’s it,” I muttered, and found Shailyn’s face a bit red, blushing as she looked away.

Blood and ashes, how can I forget, mingling spirit energy is something very intimate and dangerous. Without a standard level of trust, it was never possible. I could guess why. I could feel the very spirit of Shailyn, her nature, her current emotions. It's like she opened everything about herself to me. Well, not everything.

In retrospect, she could feel my emotions, and nature as well. I wondered what she was feeling about me. That thought made me panic as my energy wandered off my grasp, however, Shailyn managed to calm it in time.

“Careful, nephew,” Shailyn said, biting her lower lip. “It’s just a medical process, don’t think anything.”

I nodded and concentrated. My mental strength had drained a lot with all the things I went through in the last few hours, however, I did my best to hide my insecurities and focused on the task at hand.

Only after Shailyn led the purgation energy to the other side of her body, did I figure out what Shailyn was feeling.

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