"Arghhh!"
Pain.
Excruciating pain jolted Eric from sleep.
He felt a fire burn him from within. His screams, weakened to muffled cries by the ache in his throat.
He could not move, nor call for help. Only the white ceiling of his room comforted him.
Despite his anguish, glee bubbled within Eric.
He was still here. He had not been dreaming.
[IMMORTAL CORE: ABSENT]
[TEMPORAL SOUL: IMBALANCED]
[WARNING: Estimated Host Lifespan. 7 DAYS]
[MAIN QUEST: RECEIVE IMMORTAL CORE]
[REWARD: HUMAN-FORM CULTIVATION INITIATION ART]
[FAILURE: DEATH]
[SECONDARY QUEST: INFILTRATE PANACEA FACILITY]
[REWARD: PHYSIQUE REINFORCEMENT]
[SECONDARY QUEST: SECURE HEAVEN'S LOOM]
[NOTE: ARTIFACT CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM HOST STABILITY.]
[REWARD: FIVE FOUNDATIONAL FORMATIONS SET]
The blue screen appeared once more, as if to mock him.
He made it phase out of his view.
Thanks to the tolerance he had gained through a decade of torture many magnitudes worse, Eric managed to keep calm.
He allowed his body relax to ease his muscles.
Gradually, the pain receded and he began to feel his limbs again. Taking some minutes to regain his bearing, Eric finally got out of bed.
'Although I feel better the illness still ravages my body.' He sighed.
The pile of unused drugs by his drawer confirmed why the morning ache had been so strong.
'I was trying to die faster or something.' Eric thought while shaking his head.
He hurriedly removed the pills before taking them down in a single gulp.
The little amount of lingering pain quickly vanished.
He then entered the bathroom to freshen up. He undressed, removing everything except his necklace.
When he was done Eric donned plain black pants and a complimentary buttoned shirt. As he rolled up the sleeves he heard a familiar pattern of knocks on the door.
"Come in Raz."
The butler's tall, broad frame lumbered into the room. His black hair nearly brushed the doorframe. A simple kitchen apron covered his impeccable suit.
"Good morning, Your Highness. I hope you had a restful night."
"Morning. Something like that." Eric replied derisively.
"Breakfast has been prepared and served." His statement made Eric smile.
"Please prepare the car. I need stronger drugs from the hospital." As he spoke, Eric gave Raz silent cues he knew he would catch.
"Of course, Your Highness." He replied with a small bow.
"Thank you, Raz."
Heading out of his room the smell of food slowed him.
Eric had forgotten how extravagant Raz could be with his cooking.
It was almost a banquet.
Once seated, he began serving himself from each bowl on the table.
Although he lived within the royal courtyard, Eric didn't live inside the royal palace.
It would be foolish to put himself under the same roof as his usurper Uncle. There would have been no hope of privacy for him.
Instead, he stayed in a much smaller house on the outskirts of the courtyard with Raz as his only attendant.
He had an incredible distrust towards every person from the palace.
"Delicious as always Raz."
Being no stranger to Eric's compliments, he simply smiled.
Raz then continued preparing for the inevitably hectic day.
When he was done eating, Eric got in the car with Raz in the driver's seat.
As they pulled out of the garage, he spotted a black Sedan parked before the house opposite them. No doubt meant to follow and 'Protect' him from a distance.
Once out of the courtyard Eric lowered the windows and raised the volume of the car's radio.
"I'm really tired of all the monitoring." He said.
"Well your uncle is known for his Paranoia." Raz jested, glancing at Eric as he spoke.
"You could be planning a coup right under his nose." He continued.
Eric laughed. "Funny how I am."
The wind tossed his hair and tickled his face. And for a moment, his life felt normal.
They soon reached the hospital.
A short distance away Eric eyed the black sedan, and its two occupants in black suits as they pulled into the parking lot.
Eric got out, Raz supporting him as they entered the hospital.
He still needed to maintain the facade of a terribly ill boy.
Eric saw one of the men get out of the car to tail him, maintaining a distance of a few feet.
He was about to enter his doctor's office when he signalled to Raz imperceptibly.
Swiftly, after Raz acknowledged his signal, Eric fell into a violent seizure, thrashing till he hit the floor.
Eric mimicked the movements of his previous seizures to an unnerving degree.
"Help!" Raz called in alarm, playing his part of the worried ward.
Eric could see a glint of true concern pass over Raz's face.
'That means my performance is good enough atleast.' Eric thought.
A distance away the agent rushed to help but he was pushed aside by nurses who surrounded Eric's convulsing form.
Screams filled the hospital as it all turned to chaos. Before the agent could make another move, the prince was rushed off to the emergency ward.
Eric left the hall with the agent stunned.
Eric watched the man try pressing through into the ward, but the nurses and other personnel prevented him from passing.
All he could do was wait at the reception.
_____________________________________________
In the emergency unit.
Eric, Raz and a Doctor were the only ones in a private room.
"I didn't know his highness was such a good actor." Eric knew the Doctor from Victoria's treatments at the hospital.
"A skill born from necessity is all." Eric answered before nodding to Raz.
"His Highness is very tired at the moment and hopes to rest." Raz began ushering the doctor towards the door.
"He would appreciate if you issued an emergency admittance form. As you know his condition has worsened, making it unwise to stay away from capable hands."
"O-Of course." The doctor stammered.
Raz reached behind the doctor's back and opened the door.
"I hope you do not allow anyone disturb while his highness recuperates."
A soft smile grew on Raz's face before he softly bumped the doctor out of the room "Your efforts are much appreciated." Then closing the door.
He turned to Eric who said.
"We have a few hours before the guards force themselves into the ward. We better get a move on."
Raz dropped the bag he'd prepared before they left the house.
Inside was a change of inconspicuous clothes.
Eric and Raz soon looked like average citizens with oversized face caps.
Raz then walked towards the large open window and checked their room's height to the ground.
The room was at the back of the hospital and had enough shrubbery around to act as concealment.
Though they were on the second floor it would still be a difficult jump.
"I don't think you need to come, Your Highness. I could retrieve the item in your stead." Raz begged.
"I don't only need it retrieved Raz. I need it sewn beneath my skin. And this is a way to confirm my information. To truly if know Victoria is still alive."
Raz sighed and dropped the matter. He knew there was no convincing Eric.
He climbed out the window and stood on a small ledge before jumping down.
A dull thud accompanied his fall, though he looked unfazed.
As he got off the floor Eric followed right after.
Thud
"Your Highness." Raz half screamed, half whispered.
To his right Eric was on his knees, staggering to his feet.
Raz tried to help him but before he could speak Eric interrupted.
"Let's go."
They boarded the nearest bus heading downtown and soon found themselves in the shadier parts of the capital. The air grew thick with the smells of stale grease and decay.
Rust stained rooves, clustered rows of shops and worn-down apartments opened up a new world to Eric.
He had never been downtown. He only knew the address of their destination and that's why Raz was the one leading the way.
They soon entered a long alley that offered respite from the bustle of the sector.
Eric came forward when they were in front of a graffitied door with a rectangular eye slot. He knocked at a practiced rhythm.
The eye slot slid open and the barrel of a gun slid out, aimed at Eric's head.