The next day.
The Sanctivus house, the most powerful house in the Patra Kingdom after the royal family.
A family that is directly connected to the royal family of the Patra Kingdom. The family whose previous head is an 8th-circle mage, one of the Eight Stars, and a man who was born with an innate talent which allowed him to rise to the 8th circle with a special healing power rather than an elemental affinity.
An untouchable family that cannot be underestimated by anyone on the entire continent.
Now, it is this same family's estate that no one can take lightly. Inside the mansion of House Sanctivus, the atmosphere was heavy; tension could be felt within the air.
Within a room, Nafis, Delfia, and three other people stood before a bed. On the bed was the body of a burned man. That man was Bellatora. His whole body got burned, and onto his burned body, marks of cursed energy from the tree curse were still there and could be seen clearly. Although his whole body got burned, luckily he was still alive. However, he was just alive—a body that was simply breathing. Bellatora's burns were so severe that he became handicapped. He was no longer able to walk, talk, or move any part of his body. He could do only one thing: just breathe.
Seeing the wreckage of his only son, Nafis spoke, his voice a jagged mixture of anger, grief, and profound sorrow. "How... how did this happen, Felix?"
Felix, the head butler, bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the floor. He was trembling, sweat pouring down his face in the presence of his master's fury. "I am sorry, my lord... but I do not know. Master Bellatora never allowed us to enter his private quarters or follow him to the backyard."
A sudden surge of mana erupted from Nafis. The pressure was so immense that Felix's knees buckled, slamming him into the floor.
"You don't know?!" Nafis roared, his voice shaking the walls. "You didn't know he dug a cave in the backyard? You didn't know he possessed that forbidden book? You knew nothing of his movements under this very roof?"
"I... I am deeply sorry, my lord," Felix stammered, his voice thin with terror.
Delfia stepped forward, her expression somber as she looked at her brother's broken form. "Father, blaming the staff is useless now. What matters is uncovering the truth of how this occurred." She gestured toward a table where the cursed grimoire sat. "Everything else in the cave was vaporized, except for this cursed grimoire. We found traces of blood rituals and the carcass of a demi-human among the debris."
From the corner, a man let out a cold, sharp smile. "This is quite the turn of events, wouldn't you say, brother?"
This was Veterminne Sanctivus, Nafis's younger brother. Beside him stood the youngest sibling, Atlam Sanctivus, who nodded in agreement.
"You are absolutely right, Brother Veterminne. Truly unexpected."
"Why did all of this happen when these two are in the house?" Nafis thought. "Bellatora, why did you do something this reckless? And if you were going to attempt it, you should have done it without making any mistakes. Now, because of you, I'll have to face the aftermath."
"Delfia, what does this book say? You must have read it. Did you find anything?" Veterminne asked.
Delfia looked at her father. Nafis knew that Veterminne asked this so he could use it to his advantage. Nafis knew that he couldn't hide anything, as this news would eventually reach his father. So, he nodded his head.
Then Delfia said, "It is a cursed book that contains knowledge about some curses. However, these are not your typical curses. I went to our library, but there was nothing about it. This book is an ancient curse book, far older than our family history or before even our family existed."
"Now this is more interesting," Atlam said.
"Did you find anything that tells you about Bellatora's condition?" Nafis asked.
"Yes, Father," Delfia said. "According to this book, those marks on Bellatora's body indicate that he used an ancient curse called the 'Root Devouring Tree Curse.' It's a curse that allows a person to steal someone's innate ability or talent. The caster has tattoos of tree-like branches on his body, and the victim has root-like tattoos all over their body. The caster needs to siphon the power of the victim every month. If he doesn't do that, the curse will eat the caster's life force."
Hearing Delfia's words, a thought clicked in Veterminne's mind.
"Brother, didn't you tell us that you were treating Zennid Fiera's daughter?" Veterminne said with a victorious smile on his face. "And if I remember correctly, you said that she had root-like tattoos growing from her backbone and reaching out all over her body. And Bellatora always accompanied you during Ines's treatments, saying that he wanted to take care of her."
Nafis also realized the mistake that Bellatora had made. All the clues of the puzzle were solved. He closed his eyes in disappointment; the gravity of the situation instantly turned much more severe.
"Bellatora, you fool. On the entire continent, you had to mess with the Fist Emperor's daughter?" Nafis thought, realizing the terrifying weight of Bellatora's actions.
"Now this is severe. No, it is catastrophe—so dangerous that it will become a massive hassle for the family," Atlam said.
"The Atheliya Empire and the Patra Kingdom have had a friendly relationship for three generations because of our aunt, as she was the Empress of the Atheliya Empire. That is also the reason why the Sanctivus family and Patra Kingdom people can go freely into the empire. However, now we can't guarantee anything. Zennid Fiera is one of the most powerful men on the entire continent. He single-handedly defends the border and is strong enough to rival Grandmasters or any 8th-circle mage. More than that, his family is one of the founding clans of the Empire. Just like us Sanctivus, Fiera is also the second most powerful family after the Imperial family. Brother Nafis, Bellatora has made a far greater mistake as a prominent member of the Sanctivus family. Father and Zennid Fiera are old friends; that's why he entrusted you to cure Zennid's daughter. But now, what will happen if he finds out that it was Bellatora who cursed Ines? More than that, if Zennid Fiera finds out, it will be an all-out war between the Sanctivus family and the Fiera Clan!" Atlam said.
Nafis placed his hand heavily on his forehead.
"If Zennid finds out, it will be a disaster. Father is the only one who can match Zennid Fiera in a fight, but the fact is... will he do it? Father and Zennid have known each other for decades, and it is also true that Zennid has helped House Sanctivus many times. Father is a politically minded man; he will choose the way that guarantees him the minimal loss, and the most efficient way to solve this problem is handing over Bellatora to Zennid. Bellatora isn't in a normal condition anymore, and he was of no use to us from the beginning. But whatever he might be, he's my son—my only son. Even if he has become a cripple, he's my son, and he has already paid for his wrongdoing. I can't allow him to die. Zennid must not find out about this," Nafis thought desperately.
"Don't worry, Zennid won't find out. Bellatora is here, and we have this curse book with us. There isn't any proof to indicate that it was Bellatora's doing," Nafis stated.
"Ahem." Delfia interjected. "I think they already know, or there might be a strong possibility of them knowing that Ines was cursed," she said.
"What do you mean, Delfia? Clarify yourself," Nafis demanded.
"I read that when someone tries to remove the curse on the victim's body, the caster gets alerted and can forcefully break the curse. However, forcefully breaking the curse comes with a cost: the caster loses half of the power that he has siphoned," Delfia said.
Everyone was shocked by Delfia's explanation.
"You mean Zennid was already aware of the curse and tried to remove it, then Bellatora forcefully broke it and ended up like this?" Nafis asked in tension.
"There isn't any explanation about this level of damage in the book. It only says that the caster loses half of the power. What happened to Bellatora is something even he didn't expect," Delfia said.
"What now, brother? Father will be very disappointed after he knows what Bellatora did. And if what Delfia said is true, then we are going to face a monster whom we can't even handle," Veterminne said. He stood by Nafis's side, looking sharply into his eyes.
– – –
At Venessa Academy.
Inside the cafeteria.
Silvia, Sara, Rose, Jack, Shawn, Latty, Mariya, Rames, and Jin were all gathered at their usual place to eat together. Everyone had returned after completing their group and solo assignments. The lively atmosphere of the Star Class was back; the whole cafeteria was blooming with cheerful joy, loud chatter, and the bright laughter of students.
"It was just yesterday that this place was filled with dead silence and no laughter," Latty said while happily eating her roasted chicken. "And now, as all the final-year students return, this place has finally regained its lost soul."
"I missed this place the more than my own bed," Jack said. In his left hand was a glass of water, and in his right hand, he held a large bowl of meat soup.
"You sure did," Rames said, eating his own meal elegantly and with perfect etiquette. "Both your hands are telling us that without you even having to announce it," he teased Jack.
"Got a problem with that?" Jack asked, glaring at Ramesh with his mouth full.
"No, but it just looks very unhygienic, doesn't it?" Rames sighed. "Other students would think that we starved you to death on our assignment."
"Oh, I just remembered something!" Jack said, a sudden spark of accusation in his eyes. "Weren't you the one who left me alone in the inn and went to your friend's restaurant with them?"
"I don't know what you are saying," Rames said, completely ignoring Jack and taking a sip of water.
"Don't lie to me! I saw you and these two coming back together in the night, all dressed up!" Jack shouted indignantly. "You went to eat delicious food while I had to keep myself alive with the cold food of the inn! Nom, nom," Jack grumbled while taking an aggressive bite of his meat.
"That was the exact reason why I left you," Ramesh said coolly. "Are those the manners of someone from the Five Great Clans of the Empire?"
"What did you just say?!" Jack stood up from his chair, ready to argue.
Seeing those two bickering again, Rose finally snapped. "Neither of you can even eat nicely! Look around, everyone's eyes are on us. At least maintain your dignity as seniors!" Rose scolded, slamming her hand on the table.
"He was the one who started it," Jack mumbled, quickly taking his seat again.
Then, Mariya interjected.
"I heard something very interesting while walking in the hallway," Mariya said with a sly smile on her face.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to Mariya.
"I heard that this year's New Year's Eve was something... very unexpected," Mariya teased, purposely increasing their curiosity.
"What happened this New Year? Tell us!" Jack asked, now holding pieces of meat in both of his hands. "Hey Jin, Shawn, you guys tell us what happened on New Year's Eve!"
Both Jin and Shawn looked at each other awkwardly.
"I don't even know where to start," Jin said with a heavy sigh.
"A lot of crazy things happened this New Year's Eve. I really don't know where to begin," Shawn agreed.
Eventually, Shawn narrated everything to them: how Junior Simon publicly proposed to Silvia and got utterly rejected, how Silvia and Sara stood out from the crowd, and how all the junior-year girls came completely prepared to propose to Kayle.
"Oh, so that jerk Simon dared to propose to Silvia and got beaten up instead? Serves him right," Jack laughed.
"But at least he had the courage to do it, rather than someone who can't even admit his feelings," Rames said, giving Jack a pointed side-glance.
"However, you forgot the most important part, Shawn," Mariya said with a knowing, mischievous smile.
"I didn't forget. I just didn't want to spoil your excitement," Shawn chuckled.
"What else happened?" Rose asked, leaning in.
"Well... don't be too shocked," Mariya said in pure amusement. "I heard that both Silvia and Sara got proposed to by Kayle that night."
Hearing Mariya's words, everyone was completely shocked. Jack dropped his meat stick onto his plate, his eyes wide open. Rose, Ramesh, and Jack instantly turned their heads to stare at Silvia and Sara.
But what was even more shocking were the faces of Silvia and Sara. They were looking down, blushing furiously, their cheeks as red as roses.
"It can't be! Seriously?! Our Kayle proposed to not just Silvia, but Sara also?! I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Rose shrieked in excitement.
"And here I was thinking he was a shy boy, but I didn't know a total player was hiding inside him," Mariya laughed. "You know, he gave them two incredibly precious necklaces. All the girls were gossiping that those necklaces were out of this world. They said not even the Empress has something like that."
"Really?! Silvia, Sara, show us! I want to see them right now!" Rose demanded eagerly.
Both Silvia and Sara looked at each other. They knew that Rose wouldn't back down without seeing the necklaces.
Reluctantly, they pulled the necklaces out from under their shirts. As they brought them out, the gems immediately started glowing. The deep blood-red and dark violet colors shone brilliantly across the table.
Mariya, Rose, Jack, and Rames stared at the bright colors emitting from the jewelry, the magical light reflecting beautifully in their own eyes.
"I can't believe it... this is really something out of this world," Mariya whispered, her jaw dropping.
"Truly, I have never seen something like this in my entire life. Not even the Imperial Family has gems like these," Rose said in pure awe.
"Yeah, even I am captivated by them," Rames admitted.
Then, Silvia and Sara shyly tucked the necklaces back under their clothes.
"Oh my goodness, I can't believe what I just saw! You two are the luckiest girls alive in this world!" Rose squealed.
"Just how did he find treasures like those?" Mariya wondered aloud.
"But... people usually propose with a ring, don't they?" Rames pointed out.
"Yeah, you are right. It means they are just gifts," Jack concluded.
"Well, Kayle did say they were gifts," Sara said quickly, still blushing.
"Yeah, you are right. They are just gifts. Kayle is a good friend of ours, so that's why he gifted you guys those necklaces," Jack said, nodding to himself.
"Oh, please! There isn't a strict rule stating that you can only propose with a ring," Rose argued back. "Your true feelings are what matter in the end, and anyone can see Kayle's feelings through his eyes!"
Hearing Rose's bold statement, both girls blushed even harder.
"Please, quiet down, all of you," Latty interjected with a warm smile. "What's far more important right now is that Silvia has become a seventh-circle mage!" she said cheerfully, successfully changing the subject.
"Yeah! I couldn't even believe it myself when I heard from the professors that you reached the seventh circle, Silvia!" Rose said with immense pride. "No one has ever reached the height of a seventh-circle mage at such a young age. Silvia, you have made history, just like Kayle!"
"Yeah, we never expected you to become a seventh-circle mage within just a month and a half. It was just last month when you and Sara were on the exact same level, but now you are as powerful as Rose's father. Not even the Vice Headmaster is your match now,"Rames said in deep admiration.
"It was all thanks to Kayle," Silvia said softly, looking down at her hands. "It is only because of him that I am alive and eating here with you all today."
"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Silvia suddenly realized her slip of the tongue. What Kayle did for her during the group assignment was kept a strict secret within the academy; only the Headmaster, the professors, and Kayle's group knew the terrifying truth.
"Ah... I... I mean that if he hadn't saved me two years ago, I wouldn't have lived to become a seventh-circle mage now," Silvia stammered quickly, trying to divert them.
"Well, that's true, but you should also thank Professor Olivia. She helped you a lot," Mariya said gently.
"Yeah, she is right. You shouldn't give all the credit to him," Jack added.
"Of course. Professor Olivia made me who I am right now. It is all thanks to her endless support," Silvia smiled, relieved the subject had shifted.
"But where is Kayle now? I heard that he went somewhere with the Headmaster," Rose asked, looking around the cafeteria.
"That is exactly what I've been thinking about. He left with the Headmaster and that girl, Ines, without saying much at all," Sara said, an angry, possessive frown forming on her face.
"Just what was so urgent and important that required him to go alone with that girl?"
"I think he needs a very nice scolding when he gets back," Silvia agreed, angrily clenching her fist.
Both girls looked absolutely furious at the thought of Kayle being away with another girl.
"When did you and Sara get so close to each other, Silvia?" Rose asked with a teasing smile, noticing how perfectly in sync they were.
"It must be Kayle's magic, Rose," Mariya laughed, bumping her shoulder against Rose's.
Both of them had fun teasing Silvia and Sara, enjoying the lively mood.
Suddenly, Latty looked outside the large cafeteria window. "Hey Silvia, isn't that your brother, James, and your soon-to-be sister-in-law, Nana?" Laty asked, pointing her finger toward the courtyard.
Silvia looked out the window. "Yeah, but... why is he running like he's trying to catch a thief?"
James ran frantically toward the cafeteria doors, with Nana rushing right behind him, struggling to catch up. James burst into the cafeteria, his eyes wildly scanning the massive room. He finally spotted Silvia sitting in the corner with her friends.
He quickly sprinted toward their table. Seeing her brother acting so unusually frantic, Silvia's heart dropped, and she immediately grew worried.
James reached them, panting heavily. Pure, unadulterated terror and worry were clearly written all over his face.
"What happened, Brother? Why were you running?" Silvia asked, standing up.
Nana finally caught up to him, clutching her chest as she gasped for air.
"Silvia... we need to go. Right now," James gasped, his eyes wide and filled with horror.
"What happened? Where are we going? Nana, what happened? Why is he acting like this?!" Silvia demanded, her voice rising in panic.
"Silvia..." Nana said, her voice trembling. "...It's about Kayle."
Hearing Kayle's name, both Silvia and Sara instantly pushed their chairs back and stood up. Their expressions became completely tense, the blood draining from their faces.
"What happened to Kayle?!" Sara asked, demanding an immediate answer.
"Brother, what happened to Kayle? Tell me! You're scaring me!" Silvia pleaded, grabbing her brother's arm.
Seeing the sudden, suffocating tension in the air, Latty, Rose, Mariya, Rames, Jack, Shawn and jin grew terrified.
James took a deep, shaky breath. "We need to head to the central hospital immediately. I just got word from Professor Orlando... He said Kayle is being treated there."
Everyone at the table panicked instantly hearing the words treated and hospital.
"What do you mean he is being treated?! I saw him yesterday morning and he was perfectly fine! What happened to him? Tell me, Brother!" Silvia cried out, her voice cracking.
"I don't know! We just need to hurry to the hospital! Right now!" James shouted, his voice echoing with desperation.
Silvia, Sara, Lucy, Rose, Mariya, Jack, Shawn, Jin, and Rames—everyone immediately abandoned their food and stood up from the table.
James turned around, and the entire group ran desperately after him, ignoring the confused stares of the other students.
As she sprinted out of the cafeteria, Silvia's heart pounded painfully against her ribs.
"That idiot of mine... just what did you do this time to worry us like this? Please... please be fine," Silvia prayed in her mind, tears already threatening to spill from her eyes.