There were a lot of steps to take in order to cut ties with my family. The easiest way will be begging my father to agree on signing the agreement paper. Then I need to present the paper to the court in order to officially cut ties with them. But such methods was simply impossible to me.
Thus, the only way was to get the help from the church.
"What can I do to help you?" A priest came to me upon seeing my arrival. It was their teaching to ask this to anyone who came to the church.
"I want to purchase a white potion."
A white potion, it's an item that was produce by the energy of the Holy Land. It has various effect of curing a disease, purifying poison and mana enhancement. The quantity they produced was limited and each one was very expensive.
The priest looked at me sceptically upon hearing my answer. He might be doubtful because of my dress. I wore a simple dress without any accessories due to low budget. Not to mention that white potion was a valuable item produced by the church.
"But to purchase the item, you need to book an appointment with the High Priest. Do you have an appointment?"
"No," I answered honestly. The priest gave me an apologetic look. He also had a sympathetic look on his face.
"Then I'm afraid you cannot purchase it unless..."
Before he could finished his sentence, I pulled up my sleeve and showed him my arm. Having white pale skin made my veins look visible in the first place, but the poison has turned my veins into dark purple color, made it painfully obvious. The priest gasped upon seeing the horrible state I'm in. Even Hera who was beside me looked shocked.
"Please. It's urgent," I said in a desperate voice. I managed to slow down the poison with mana but that's it. I was currently at my limit in suppressing the poison.
"Follow me. I will bring you to the High Priest immediately." The priest led us into the church. Hera spoke to me once the priest turned around.
"Hey, why don't you tell me about the poison?"
"What can you do even if I told you?" I casually asked back. She frowned and then glared at me.
"Still, how can you just act like you're fine this whole time?! I won't ever notice it unless you told me earlier. Even now, you're sweating a bucket!" Her rambling made me smile.
"What? Are you concerned about me now?"
"Anyone with a basic human decency will show concern towards you," she answered like it was obvious. I chuckled. If her words were true, then the person who poisoned me was definitely not human.
After a while, we stopped in front of a large door with strange but intricate patterns to it. The door was made of marble with gold as a door handle. I wondered how many fortunes they spent on this single door.
"We have arrived. Please wait here. I will inform the High Priest inside," he told us first before going inside the room.
"By the way, who poisoned you?" Hera asked since it's just the two of us. She must be uncomfortable due to the awkward silence.
"Someone you wouldn't want to know," I gave her a vague answer. It won't be good for her if she knows who it was. Imperial Prince was someone you wouldn't want to mess with except for me.
"The High Priest asked you to come in." The priest informed me the moment the door opened. I nodded to Hera as a sign to ask her to wait for me outside.
I knew the room inside will be amazing just by looking at its door but seeing it in person still made me want to say 'wow'. It was like I had entered a world of complete holiness. The white marble was covered the entire floor, making the light from the candles that was hanging on the ceiling reflected back.
There was an altar that was made of obsidian with glittering gold, making it look like a galaxy filled with stars. I bet it costs more to build this room than the entire church.
"Are you the patient?" A middle age man approached me with a uniform that was different from the priest earlier. He must be the High Priest. The moment I showed him my arm, I could see his eyes slightly widening.
"This is worse than I thought." The man quickly grabbed my arm to inspect it. Then he brought me to the room where they usually treat a patient.
"This is supposed to be a deadly poison that could get anyone die after an hour. How did you survive such a poison?" He looked at me in astonishment.
"I have been suppressing it with mana. I also have a good poison resistance since I was kid," I answered it with a half lie. I couldn't tell him that this body got poison resistance after dying from this poison once.
"You are lucky to survive this long." He took out needles from his sleeve and then he lightly pierced one of the needles on my fingertips.
"Is this acupuncture?" I asked. I have heard this technique in Asian Countries back in my previous life.
"Oh, I'm surprised you know. This technique is not well known since it came from the Eastern country. My teacher originated from there." He pierced more needles to other part of my body. I suppressed my screams.
I kept telling myself that I have broken bones before so this should be nothing. Unfortunately, this kind of pain and that kind of pain was completely different. After a few more needles, I feel my stomach churn violently, making me vomit, not food or water but a black blood.
Thankfully, a basin has been placed in front of me in advance otherwise I would feel bad for tarnishing such expensive floor. The vomiting continued for a while until all strength left my body and I lose consciousness.
•••
"Are you awake?" A gentle voice greeted me the moment I open my eyes. The High Priest from earlier placed water and a glass container with white liquid in it.
"I have managed to force most of the poison out of your body. For now, sit up and drink the potion." He helped me sit and lean comfortably on the head bed. I took the water he handed me along with the white potion.
Then I closed my eyes and let the potion takes effect. I secretly channel my mana to accelerate the process, letting it fill up all the vein and muscle to strengthen it. The moment I opened my eyes again, the purple veins in my arms has completely vanished.
"How do you feel?"
"Thanks to you, I feel much better. The poison has completely gone. The potion works like a magic. As for the payment, I will have it ready."
"I'm glad that you're fine. But you still need to rest for a few days. You have been fighting with your life on the line all this time. Your body must be tired." The way he's worried about me remind me of my father. Thinking about him, I suppressed the bitter feeling in my heart.
"Thank you. But actually, I have one more request to the church."