Chapter 53

A Mysterious Guest

As the second seal on the boy cracked, Katarina immediately sensed a change in his magic’s wavelength. A pulse of great magnitude blasted, causing a loud explosion and the heat to soar. She glanced, something she immediately regretted.

The small boy stood motionless amid the sea of bluish flames. He burned himself beyond recognition. His empty jaded eyes looked like a colored dot in his body, burned and dark as coal.

“What are you gonna do now, Katarina?” Daedalus asked. “Things are getting out of hand.”

The older woman stayed silent, looking up, but the tears still fell.

“In that state, Somertrom is the only thing keeping him alive. His body can cling to his life because his soul is trapped in the land of dreams. Sealing his power won’t be too much of a good idea now.”

“Do we have any other choice?” she blurted out.

“But you have to time your healing magic perfectly,” Daedalus said sharply. “Otherwise, the boy will die. Invoke it too early and he’ll smolder himself again. Cast it a second late and he would die from all the damage he inflicted upon himself.”

She bit her lower lip, hardening her heart. “Stating the facts won’t help, Daedalus.”

“I’m only making sure you-”

“I know,” she interrupted. “You won’t be of help. The queens will engage you in battle as soon as you pass the enchantment.”

***

Once a small orb of light emerged from Daedalus’s chest, the man vanished. But Katarina paid him no mind. The man had his own battle now, and so did she.

Katarina keenly watched as the light traveled ever so slowly. She didn’t blink. Not for once. She had already finished the incantation of the most powerful healing spell in her arsenal, and she’s waiting for the perfect timing. With the current condition of the boy, Somertrom became both his nemesis and savior.

It was then that a soft melody suddenly filled the air. At the same time, the small ball of light stopped before it entered the boy’s chest. The calm soothing notes of lyre continued, but the music only intensified the uneasy feeling of everyone in the clearing. Katarina’s body hair stood. She tried to pinpoint the location of the guest, but his thick mana had dispersed in the forest.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The elder woman glanced back at Arthur, cold sweats rolling down her forehead and back. She breathed in relief. The light remained in stasis. A few seconds later and the volume slowly weakened.

“He must be close,” Katarina whispered before abruptly raising her arms. She barely deflected a powerful blow from something unseen. Its faint playful laugh became the only reminder of its presence.

She then noticed that Daedalus teleported - twice - seemingly more desperate to flee from it.

A small androgynous man, or maybe a woman, briefly appeared where Daedalus previously used Segure, his right leg raised for a kick. As his foot cut through the air, he looked at the red-haired man and smiled. “As perceptive as ever, Daedalus,” he said in a high-pitched voice before looking back at the lady, “You too, Katarina.”

“Kind words,” Daedalus let go of Vlanca and his twin. He straightened his body, placed his right arm over his left shoulder, and gently bowed. “But it’s nothing compared to you, O’ Great Lord.”

“Welcome, O’ Great Lord,” the queens also greeted him in unison as they closed their wings and remained on the ground like a still statue.

As they did so, Daedalus healed the demon girl. He then ushered Vlanca to do the same, but the man interrupted him. “Quit the courtesy.” The man pursed his lips before smiling again. His fangs glistened in the darkness. “I’m nothing but a wandering bard.”

Daedalus feigned a smile. “As you always say.”

“I’m still quite upset though, Daedalus.” He said sharply, causing the Daedalus to stiffen in his place. “But I’m not here to smite you. Rather...” He whispered as he slowly turned away and looked curiously at the unconscious boy. His silver hair that easily reached the ground spun over his shoulder. He ran towards Arthur and squatted beside him. His eyes met his. He was about to touch the boy when Katarina slapped his small hand away.

“Please, do not touch him,” she warned with a hard tone, clenching her hands into fists. She had been watching his every move cautiously, ready to blast him away any second. She’d take him on, even if winning against him was essentially zero.

“Don’t worry.” He smiled, tilting his head. “I won’t hurt him.”

After a few seconds of silence, Katarina’s facial expression slightly relaxed. This signaled the man to gently poked the boy several times. He hoped for some reaction, but Arthur merely stared at him, unmoving. He then stood back up and looked back at Katarina. “I came here to take a look when I felt a sudden outburst of mana. But I see that you could use some of my help...”

A searing quietness filled the scene. Katarina’s heart stung as she fumbled over the sudden proposal of her guest. She stared at him, desperate to read his intention. Yet the man simply smiled at her, seemingly innocent and harmless.

“I could…” She sucked a breath and asked in a low defeated voice, “but for what cost?”

Lines appeared on the man’s forehead as he scratched the back of his head. “Why do you always make it sound like I’m some evil overlord?”

“Are you not?”

He pouted and blew his mouth. “Am I?” Suddenly, a smile curved his lips. “Maybe I am.” He snapped his fingers and a vial appeared on his palm. “But I’m your best shot at saving the boy.”

Katarina held her breath, her eyes fixated on the vial. “There’s no way it would be cheap.”

“Then treat this as a gift from this humble bard.” He bowed gracefully, his smooth silver hair falling further into the ground.

“Enough with the word game. You never give anything for free, O Great Lord.”

“Just accept it, Katarina!” Daedalus unsheathed his sword and pointed it on her neck. “With your fading light, your life doesn’t mean much. You lost almost everything already. Or do you also want to lose the boy?”

The man let out an awkward laugh as he slowly pushed Daedalus’s blade. “Relax, Daedalus.” He swept his hair to his back, his finger moving delicately. His piercing gaze met the old lady’s.

Sharp silence ensued. The two stared at each other unmoving, studying their unchanging expression and demeanor.

“I’m simply here to sate my curiosity.” The man’s face suddenly softened as he returned his attention to Arthur. “The boy’s so young yet he held emotions so extreme that can even defy death. The catalyst… Aren’t you wondering too?”

Her stare sharpened still, her fist ready to move any second. She trembled, knowing the helplessness of the situation. “Arthur isn’t some kind of toy you could play with.”

He laughed, visibly amused. “I’m a bard, Katarina - a bard.”

Another wind of silence blew between them. Finally, Katarina sucked a deep breath. “Then please save him,” she bitterly resigned.

The man smiled before sitting beside Arthur once more. He clutched the Ancient Enchantment suspended atop the boy’s chest. “I shall adjust the spell for a little bit.” His free hand then pulled a strand of his silver hair. “It’s a waste to use a static seal… The boy had this much mana and you wish to make him a non-magician?”

“What do you mean?” Katarina replied. “We only meant to seal his rampaging power to stop Somertrom.”

His brows rose, glancing back at the old lady with a puzzled expression. “Haven’t you realized that this kind of seal is bound to close his magical core? Don’t tell me…”

“Wait,” Katarina muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She sat so stiffly on the ground as she stared at the almost lifeless body of the boy. “Doesn’t that mean?”

“Ahh…” the man clapped, his lambent eyes had slightly gotten bigger. Then he laughed. “So even the Great Enchantress of Florence could have lapses in her judgment.”

Katarina despaired at the subtle revelation. Her muscles hugged her bones. Still, she never looked away. She’d watched it carefully to never forget the biggest blunder of her life.

“It’s about time,” said the enthusiastic guest. As he recited a chant, the strand of his hair began to morph into the ball of light. A few more seconds and the liquid inside the vial touched Arthur’s body. At the exact same time, the small light entered his chest.

The boy’s power gradually weakened. His burnt flesh slowly regenerated. Skin developed, which wrapped around his reddish bare muscles like elastic rubber. As his fair fresh-faced complexion returned, it gleamed under the moonlight. Even his golden hair began to grow. Everyone watched in silence - in awe.

A few more seconds and Arthur's body went back to its original state. Like a miracle, it appeared as though he rose from the dead without a single scar. With barely open eyes, he slowly turned his head and looked at Katarina with a tired gaze. “Granny?” he muttered, and then he lost consciousness.

Immediately, Katarina placed her ear over his chest. Even after hearing his stable heartbeats, she laid her palm over his nose. Katarina breathed in relief. She raised him unto her arms and wrapped him in a tight embrace. Tears streamed from her eyes like a waterfall as she kissed him tenderly for only Dupulu knew how many times.

“Finally,” she whispered repeatedly. “Finally.”