CHAPTER 851: CHAPTER 851: A PETRIFYING SIGHT

Ferdinand

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Raymond, who had just arrived, entered and greeted in the ways of the Empire.

Everyone followed the empire’s rules while they were in the human realm.

It was easy to slip up if they did not practice this at all times.

Thus, they followed it and had gotten used to practicing it all the time by now.

"Welcome back to Riva," Raymond added.

It was clear Raymond felt Ferdinand’s presence here, so he headed here before he was summoned.

Ferdinand nodded and said, "Care to explain what’s going on?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. Please be seated first," Raymond gestured to the seats.

Ferdinand glanced at Alwin, who was sweating in his sleep, clearly still in pain as his nightmare seemed to continue.

’Raymond used to spoil Alwin a lot, too. Why would he prohibit even healing him?’ Ferdinand thought as he walked to the seats.

Meanwhile, Alvis dried Alwin’s sweat with great care.

"Then, it’s true you prohibited Alvis from healing Alwin?"

Ferdinand inquired once Raymond was seated as well.

"Yes, Your Majesty.

I let him heal Alwin enough to stop the long-term consequences.

But I stopped him from fully healing Alwin."

Raymond admitted it with no remorse on his face, making Alvis glare at the former.

However, what was on Raymond’s face instead was certainty that what he did was right.

Ferdinand frowned but did not comment.

Raymond was a reasonable person, and Ferdinand knew the former doted on Alwin like his own son or younger sibling.

Thus, there was likely an important reason for Raymond to do this.

"Why?" Ferdinand asked for details.

Raymond took a deep breath before beginning his explanation.

"When Alwin headed to Crux..."

It was a continuation of what Zion already reported, but with more detail.

Ferdinand was rather surprised that Alwin voluntarily used two mana cores to save a human he barely even knew.

Alwin’s parents died at human hands, so the former disliked humans.

This was rather a good sign; Alwin had come to accept humans.

Over time, it meant Alwin could truly accept Arabella as Ferdinand’s mate.

What Ferdinand did not like was; Alwin used his body as a shield for someone he did not even care about.

Alwin was quite reckless even when he was young, and they had already warned him repeatedly not to dive into danger voluntarily or allow himself to come to harm.

They already taught Alwin to always prioritize his safety first and not use his body like it was some kind of unbreakable shield.

Estrella was quite strict with this now ever since the Great War when their numbers greatly diminished.

They had to train and educate the younglings to protect and prioritize their life over anything else.

Thus, using their body so carelessly was greatly prohibited.

Yet, Alwin still did.

However, it was understandable that Alwin did not think the arrows would be able to pierce his defenses.

After Alwin grew, even Rendell and Raymond could not break his shield.

It must be one of the reasons why Alwin was confident no human could ever break his defenses.

’I removed my protective spells on him once he began to be able to notice even older and stronger activated spells. Once we are back in Estrella, I must cast them again even if it hurts his pride.’

Alwin was a curious child, but he was also prideful. He kept insisting on things like he could look out for himself and whatnot.

Thus, Ferdinand and the others let him be since they were in Estrella back then anyway.

But now, things have changed.

The reappearance of those arrows in the war with Crux meant they needed to be more vigilant and careful, especially with their magicians.

"This is not Alwin’s fault. If I were in his place, I would have caught that arrow by instinct before I even knew it. He did what he must due to the circumstances."

Ferdinand understood Alwin’s actions at the time were what was necessary.

Alwin intentionally letting it pierce his hand to be able to tell its effects and create an antidote immediately was also a logical reason.

Alwin could have done it not only to save the lady, but also with their comrades in mind, in case any of them were wounded by the same kind of arrows.

What Alwin did not expect was that this poison was dangerous even for him.

"Alwin was forced to be in this state because we underestimated Crux and failed to consider the reappearance of such kinds of weapons and their alliance with necromancers," Ferdinand admitted.

They should have considered such possibilities even when those things were forbidden.

"Even if there’s a treaty between the human realm and Estrella not to use such weapons, it is not guaranteed that no one would truly use them again. We must consider these in future battles," Ferdinand reminded.

"I agree, Your Majesty. We should have indeed included the possibility in our plans. We will be more careful next time," Raymond and the others agreed.

Judging by the look on their face, Ferdinand could tell they had already also realized this and discussed the matter.

So, why was Alwin not healed yet?

"Which was why it’s not the reason why I prohibited Alwin from being fully healed and brought to Estrella," Raymond began and glanced at Zion.

Zion nodded and used magic to show something.

"It’s because of what Alwin did after," Raymond clarified.

"He did something else?" Ferdinand frowned.

Raymond looked like he had a headache just recalling it. He heaved a deep sigh before he said, "Yes. Please watch, Your Majesty."

Zion replayed the record in one of the rooms in the Magic Tower.

It was where the rescued Prudencians were brought.

Ferdinand immediately spotted Arabella in the said room. She was speaking with Zion and Raymond.

His wife was lovely as always, but she looked visibly worried and tense.

A few seconds later, Alwin appeared drenched in blood with an arrow impaled in his hand.

"He was hurt this much?!!"

Ferdinand almost rose from his seat. But upon looking closer, it was not Alwin’s blood that drenched his clothes.

Still, this was the first time Ferdinand had seen Alwin this bloodied.

It was a petrifying sight that sent chills down his spine.