Jasper stood with a horrified look on his face inside the fancy room. Exquisite paintings were hung on the walls, and furniture carved with delicate patterns decorated the space. On the left side stood a plush sofa, and directly facing the door was a large embellished chair that resembled a king's throne.
Jasper had been standing in front of the empty chair for almost half an hour after hearing the diagnosis from the grade four apothecary. When he heard her say that there was no cure for his mother's illness, his mind went blank, and he could not process anything for a long time.
How could there be an illness without a cure? That was the first thought that came to his mind. This must be a mistake. The apothecary might not be experienced enough, and she was only grade four. There were many higher-grade apothecaries and healers with greater knowledge about diseases and cures.
He would find someone. If this had happened before, he would have sat down and cried. But now he could earn any amount of gold to search for a cure for his mother. With that determination, he questioned the apothecary and asked to meet someone with more knowledge and experience than her. However, all he received was a nonchalant answer, which made his confidence waver in an instant.
"Young man, this is a well-known illness in public knowledge. Most people know there is no cure for it. It is not about high grade or experience. The truth is simple—there is no medicine that can cure this disease. It is more like a curse than an illness," the apothecary explained.
When his mother heard everything the apothecary said, she could do nothing but try to console her son's agitation. Even if there were a cure, would they be able to afford it? With that realization, she spoke.
"Son, it's okay. There are many people out there. We will find someone who has knowledge or a cure," Jocelyn said, trying to calm him despite her helplessness.
Hearing his mother speak, Jasper's heart ached, and tears rolled down his eyes. He had failed to awaken any trait. He had saved money all this time to diagnose the illness, and now, when he had the ability to earn any amount of gold to pay for a cure, he was told there was no cure.
How much more miserable could his life become? Even if he let his mother die, what if he himself were affected by the same illness and died, leaving his sister alone to suffer the same fate? Jasper did not have the strength to live with that thought in his mind for the rest of his life.
"If you want to meet the head of the medical house, I will arrange it for you," the apothecary suggested, seeing the miserable state in the room.
Hearing her suggestion, Jasper slowly stopped crying and steadied himself. Even if despair tried to drag him down, he could still search for a way to cure his mother. With that determination, he wiped his eyes and nodded.
After leaving the room, Jasper led his mother back to the waiting area where his sister was. When his sister asked about their mother's condition, he gave her false hope. Then he went alone to the room in the medical house to wait.
Waiting alone in the room felt like torture. Even though he had decided to face the issue and think about the future, his mind could not stop imagining his family's miserable fate. Every second in that room felt like standing in a torture chair.
As time passed, he slowly controlled his emotions and told himself that he would find a cure for this illness by any means. Otherwise, he could not see himself living a happy life.
After standing in the room for more than half an hour, the door finally opened, and two people entered. Jasper turned around. One was the grade four apothecary who had examined his mother. The other was a young lady who looked to be about the same age as Jasper. He assumed she must be the apprentice of the grade four apothecary. However, the young lady walked directly to the throne-like chair and sat down.
While Jasper was wondering who she was, the grade four apothecary spoke.
"Young man, this is the head of our medical house, Ms. Yvonne Furneaux."
Jasper, who had been standing in a daze, suddenly looked shocked. He quickly turned his eyes to the young girl who was sitting and reading something. How could someone who looked to be the same age as him be the head of the medical house? How much knowledge could she have? He had come here hoping to meet someone who had lived long enough to know about incurable diseases. Instead, the head was a young girl who appeared to have awakened recently.
'What kind of joke are they playing?' Jasper's face turned stern.
"Mr. Jasper de Keyser, what would you like to ask me?" Yvonne asked after lifting her eyes from the papers and looking at him.
Hearing her speak, unexpected anger rose in Jasper's heart. However, he did not show anything on his face. Even if this felt like a joke the medical house was playing, he had not paid any extra money to meet the head.
So he did not react or question her position. His mind held a small hope that a miracle might happen and that the head of the medical house would say there was a cure for the incurable disease. But now, seeing the situation, his last strain of hope snapped.
"It would be nearly impossible to cure your mother's disease. Considering your financial situation and your unawakened status, I suggest you abandon the idea of finding a cure and live with your fate," Yvonne said, noticing Jasper's silence.
Jasper suddenly lifted his head toward Yvonne, and his face lit up as if he had seen an angel. While she had spoken, he heard only one thing—"nearly impossible." If it were truly impossible, she would have said absolutely impossible. The words nearly impossible meant there was still a way.
"How much gold do you want? I will give you thousands of gold—no, I will pay you one million gold coins for the cure. Name your price!" Jasper burst out in a frenzy.
Yvonne and the grade four apothecary were shell-shocked by Jasper's sudden reaction.
"Mr. Jasper, calm down first," Yvonne said in a calm tone.