Knight 'n Gale

Chapter 7

Being Crown Prince, he was educated with various knowledge. Particularly about combat, war strategies, and poisons. He even took poisons himself to gain immunization.

However, there was this fearsome herb that was hard to obtain. Its name was Armagunda and was also called 'grim reaper'. Its potency is so high, that a single drop could kill a person.

Because of that, the empire was strict in inspecting the markets to inhibit the use of such dreadful herb. Some cases show that consuming a lot of it would immediately kill someone. But most of the time, with a small amount, it will slowly damage the internal organs. The symptoms also include dizziness, irritation, hot flushes, fever, disorientation, and numbness.

Then he realized, "Was that the reason Cedar's acting strange?" Pushing this thought aside, Alexander stood up in a hurry. Because of that, he unintentionally tipped a jar of ink off the table as he ran towards the door. Without a word, he hurriedly made his way to the infirmary along with Roki.

"Stay alive..." Was all that he could think of the entire time.

They might be from different parents but he considered Cedar as his only younger brother. Since his three blood-related brothers were all his rivals for the throne.

And even if he's only four years older, he considered himself as Cedar's guardian.

That's why the news that he received gave him more than a shock. It scared him to death.

Because Alexander knew that the chances of surviving such poison were close to none. Not even with the help of the Golden Dew pill.

His anxiousness even made him use his mana to sprint to where Cedar is. Hence, after just a few breaths, he managed to reach Silver's chamber.

Without any warning, he entered the room and was appalled by the sight that welcomed him.

There was a lot of blood all over and its strong smell wafted on the entire room. On the bed lies Cedar who was groaning and writhing from excruciating pain.

His complexion was almost gray and his lips are purplish. Additionally, his entire body was covered in blood.

Beside him, Silver was already pale and sweaty. Holding onto her wooden staff, she's trying her best to stop his bleeding by healing him through magic. But it didn't matter even if she increased her output. The speed of her treatment couldn't keep up with how fast Cedar's body was deteriorating.

It seems that he caught the worst possible outcome.

In some tests, after the initial numbness, the subject beasts would feel agonizing pain as if it's every fiber was being torn apart. The mana inside would also shot up and will be in chaos. It would cause wounds to open up and blood would spurt from within in which all of it was being experienced by Cedar.

After a moment, even before Alexander could utter a word, a group of clerics and paladins came running in. They quickly started to help Silver, each with their own spells. The room lit up and was filled with rays of golden light forming various magic circles.

It brought about a wonderful sight in contrast to the patient's awful state.

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Pain. For Gale, there's nothing but tormenting pain that seems to tear her flesh and soul apart. It felt like her sanity will leave her at any moment now. Her tears were already dried up as her body fluids were also drained. But through her scrunched up face, it was evident that she's crying.

"N-no more..." she whispered with a croaky and dry voice. "let me... die..."

She muttered those words without any strength and in half-consciousness that almost no one had heard it.

But for prince Alexander, those words were as loud as a fireball's explosion. He clenched his fist so tight that it was already turning white. His face was as hard as stone and his eyes never left Cedar. He was angry beyond words when he heard him give up.

He's mad not at his knight but at himself who was helpless and couldn't do anything to help his only friend. As there wasn't a definite cure for Armagunda's poison, he could only wait and expect a miracle to take place. "Roki, make an announcement." with an authoritative tone, Alexander told his aide. "Every cleric, paladin, and anyone else who had a healing ability should come here at this moment and help Silver."

The large man was surprised. Although the Prince's order isn't entirely impossible, it was unheard of to mobilize a huge crowd of the healing class just for a person, much more, for a single knight.

"Your highness, understand your feelings but--"

"If you understand, then make haste." Alexander interrupted him.

"I'm giving out this command as the Crown Prince. Anyone who would disobey will receive severe punishment and..." at this point, he noticed that the barrage of spells and circles halted. "What the hell are you doing?!" he lashed out at the healers and turned to Silver.

Looking at the weakened woman who has a grave expression, Alexander's body started to shake.

"No..."

Silver could only bow her head and spoke in a soft voice.

"I'm sorry, your highness..."