Chapter 245 : Chapter 245

Chapter 245: What Happened

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍two of them were so flattered that the taut string in their hearts loosened a little at once. Most of their earlier unease and tension faded away, and they even found themselves feeling a few traces of genuine goodwill toward this Royal Princess, who was said to be so shrewd and formidable.

“Thank ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you, Your Highness,” Lillian said softly.

Together ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍with Rex, she followed behind the Royal Princess somewhat stiffly as they walked toward that deep-blue main pavilion.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Royal Princess personally lifted the curtain for them.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍denser, more complicated smell rushed out to meet them—strong, bitter medicine, the strange sweetness and sharpness of various magical potions, and the scent of bandages and disinfectant all mingled together.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍inside of the tent was several times larger than the medical tent where they had awakened. Thick dark carpets covered the ground, and several bright magic-crystal lamps lit the entire interior as though it were broad daylight.

Most striking of all were the three beds placed side by side in the center of the pavilion. They were far wider and more comfortable than the camp cots Lillian and Rex had used, and each was covered in clean white linen sheets.

Around every bed stood bottles and jars gleaming with different lights, along with a number of high-tier magical healing devices whose purpose they could not even guess.

Several healers and mages in white over-robes stood beside the beds, speaking in low voices, operating instruments, and mixing potions.

The bed on the left had the most people gathered around it, and the atmosphere there was the heaviest.

Ryan lay there in silence.

Through the pile of potions and the many medical personnel moving in and out, the two of them could only see that his eyes were closed and his face was pale as paper.

Several healers surrounded him, diagnostic magic of different colors glowing in their hands as they frowned and exchanged low, uneasy-sounding technical terms.

The little blue fledgling had been placed beside his pillow in a small basket lined with soft cloth. It was still unconscious, with only the faint rise and fall of its chest to show it was alive.

The middle bed belonged to Ilyss.

She too remained unconscious, and her black hair only made her complexion seem even more transparent, as though she would shatter at a touch.

Two healers stood by her bedside as well, but their methods seemed to have little effect on her. One of them was shaking his head toward an elderly mage who looked to be in charge, speaking in a low voice about “...damage to the origin... rejection of light-aspect healing... requiring something more specialized...”

And the bed on the right—

Eleanor lay there quietly, breathing steadily. Her face was still lacking in color, but it was no longer the terrifying pallor from before.

Unlike the bustle around the other two beds, only one person stood beside hers.

It was an exceptionally tall, upright man wearing a sharply tailored black military-style coat. He wore few decorations, yet simply by standing there he resembled a peerless blade sheathed in its scabbard. Though it had not yet been drawn, it naturally gave off the imposing force and heavy pressure of someone who had lived through battlefields and cut down countless enemies.

He had short dark-red hair like a banked fire, streaked with traces of silver-white, and it was kept in immaculate order. At this moment, he had his head slightly lowered, watching Eleanor on the bed with complete concentration. In those gray eyes so like Eleanor’s, the usual sharpness and authority had faded, leaving behind only worry and tenderness.

Hearing footsteps, the red-haired man lifted his head.

His gaze shot toward them like lightning, pausing briefly on Lillian and Rex before he gave them a faint nod in greeting. The movement was slight, but it carried a weight that could not be ignored.

Then his eyes fell upon Cecilia Ishtar, the Royal Princess who had led them in.

He took two steps forward and, with crisp military directness, bowed slightly in a perfect noble salute. His voice was steady and powerful.

“Your Highness.”

“There is no need for formality, Duke,” Cecilia replied with a smile, raising a hand in a light gesture of courtesy. “Has Miss Eleanor’s condition improved?”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern, and thank you as well for inviting the Saintess to render aid in time.” The red-haired man—Leo Astrea, the Sword Duke—spoke in a deep, even voice. His eyes moved once more to his sleeping daughter, and that flicker of tenderness returned. “My daughter’s condition has stabilized. Her life is no longer in danger. To receive such care from Your Highness during this ruins expedition is her good fortune, and an honor to House Astrea.”

“You flatter me, Duke.” Cecilia smiled. “Student Eleanor is exceptionally gifted, brave, and resolute. She rendered true service in this exploration of the ruins. Whether for the Empire or in personal regard, it is only right that the Empire provide the best possible treatment for such a young talent. And not only for her. Student Ryan, student Ilyss, and these two as well—” She turned slightly and indicated Lillian and Rex. “Every Saint Roland student who survived that ruin is precious to the Empire.”

At this, a trace of a smile appeared on Duke Leo’s face, softening his hard features a little.

“Your Highness is thoughtful indeed.” He paused, then looked once more at Eleanor and continued in a tone that was calm, but firm. “Since Eleanor is no longer in grave danger, I must return to urgent matters in the army. I will not intrude further. Should Your Highness require any cooperation from House Astrea in what follows, you need only send word.”

He gave one more glance to the unconscious Ryan and Ilyss, then nodded to the Royal Princess.

After that, he stepped to Eleanor’s bedside, bent down, and lifted his still-unconscious daughter into his arms with astonishing gentleness and steadiness, as though what he held was not a tall young woman, but some fragile treasure.

Cradled against his broad chest, Eleanor looked even more slender, her crimson hair spilling down in waves.

“Your Highness, I take my leave.”

Carrying his daughter, Duke Leo bowed once more to Cecilia, then strode out of the pavilion with calm, steady steps. His back remained straight as a spear until he disappeared into the light outside.

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the tent seemed to ease slightly with the departure of that immensely imposing duke.

But it was soon swallowed once more by the heavy mood around the healers tending Ryan and Ilyss.

Cecilia watched the duke leave, then turned back to Lillian and Rex, who were still standing there somewhat dumbstruck. The smile on her face became warm and approachable again, as though that official exchange with one of the Empire’s greatest nobles had never happened at all.

“Well, don’t just stand there.” She gestured toward several comfortable chairs set along one side of the tent. “Sit down and tell me everything slowly. I want every detail of what happened inside the ruin. It concerns the continued treatment of those three... and also the Empire’s final assessment of this incident.”

As she spoke, she herself sat gracefully in the seat of honor.

Her ice-blue eyes rested on the two of them in quiet attentiveness, waiting for their account.