Meanwhile, Alric and his knights were saving people from the cave and taking them to a safer place.
The dragon was flying at great speed, cutting through the clouds. Ren was barely breathing, his small body in Eldric's arms, covered in blood, taking shallow breaths.
Eldric, drenched in sweat and his armor soaked in Ren's blood, shouted, "Thalira, faster! I can't stop his bleeding."
She looked back at Eldric. "This is the maximum speed. I can't go faster."
Her eyes fell on Ren. "Why do you even want to save this kid? He has taken so many lives."
Eldric's gaze softened as he looked at the boy's pale face. "I don't know. Something inside him… it felt like a soul giving me hope and calmness when I was fighting."
She studied his eyes, heavy with guilt and determination, and nodded. 'His eyes… I can tell he felt something. Hopefully, this child lives.'
The dragon grunted as it began to descend, cutting through the clouds and soaring over a forest of lush green trees. At its speed, the trees bent and waved in the wind it stirred.
Thalira called back, "Get ready to dash. We're arriving at the estate. Take him directly to Liora."
Eldric tightened his hold on Ren and nodded. The dragon crossed the estate boundary, and Eldric leapt off, landing hard before sprinting forward. Drops of Ren's blood fell on the stone path behind him.
At the mansion's entrance, the butler bowed. "Welcome—" His voice caught as he saw the boy in Eldric's arms. Without hesitation, he flung the gates open.
"Where is Liora?" Eldric demanded.
"In the kitchen."
Eldric rushed through the corridors, light spilling through the windows as Ren's blood trailed across the floor. He called out her name again and again, his voice echoing through the halls.
In the kitchen, a silver-haired lady with pink eyes and a white dress sat at the table, delicately eating a pastry.
"Master Eldric is calling you," the chef at the counter said. "Don't you think you should respond?"
She waved him off with another bite. "No. I'm not in the mood to talk to him. I just want to enjoy my pastry."
The chef chuckled. "Alright, then. What would you like to eat today?"
Liora leaned forward with a sudden grin, smacking the table. "Really? I get to decide? Then I want cakes."
The door burst open, rattling the walls. She turned, annoyed. "I don't want to hear anything, Eldric, I am—" Her words cut off as her eyes locked on Ren. Her face paled, and she swept the tablecloth, candles, and food onto the floor in one motion.
"Lay the kid on the table."
Eldric rushed forward and placed Ren down. Liora set her hands over the boy and chanted, "Whispers of Renewal." A pale green light flowed into Ren's wounds, slowing the bleeding.
"Grind some corazón berries and make them soupy," she ordered.
The chef grabbed the berries from the cupboard, grinding them with water. 'Damn, who is this kid? He's so injured.' He poured the mixture into a bowl.
"Bring it," Liora commanded. Eldric took the bowl.
"Pour it softly into his mouth while I heal him."
Eldric obeyed, tilting the soup to Ren's lips. The boy swallowed weakly. Moments later, Ren drew a deep breath, his chest rising. All three exhaled with relief. Liora stopped her spell.
"From where did you get this boy?" she asked, her voice sharp. "He's so badly injured."
She leaned closer. "His bones are broken and swollen, bruises everywhere… and his veins—like he went into a mana rampage. His entire mana pathway is destroyed, as if his body used more mana than it could contain."
Thalira burst into the room, still gasping from the flight. "How's the boy?"
"He's stable now," Eldric said, exhausted.
She moved closer, her eyes narrowing at Ren. "What are we going to do if the king finds out we're taking care of the boy who destroyed half the city?"
"I don't know," Eldric muttered. "But this kid is different."
Their argument faded as Liora traced her hand along Ren's neck. Her eyes widened. "Look—he has a slave seal."
Both Eldric and Thalira froze, staring in disbelief.
"That crater… it must have been the slavers' hideout," Thalira said. "Something triggered him."
Liora gasped. "Stand back. I'll break it."
They stepped away as she raised her staff. Bright light flowed from its gem, wrapping the seal. With a flash, the mark shattered.
But Liora stiffened, her forehead damp with sweat. "How can this even be possible?"
The spell fizzled. Eldric gripped her shoulder. "What happened?"
Her stunned eyes flicked to them both. "This boy… he carries the mana source of another person."
The three of them stared at Ren in silence.
Edric whispered, "But how is that even possible?"
"I don't know," Liora replied. "After further inspection, I might find out."
Thalira exhaled, resting her hands on their shoulders. "Let him heal. When he wakes up, we'll ask him."
They nodded. Thalira gently lifted Ren into her arms and carried him out of the kitchen.
In the corridor, the butler approached. "Ma'am, who is this child?"
She looked down at Ren's battered face. "He is our guest. Tell Rin to take care of him."
The butler bowed as she walked on, holding Ren close. 'What has this child endured… how much did he suffer because of those slavers?'
She stopped before a room, opened the door, and laid Ren on the bed. 'Hopefully, he heals soon.'
Back in the kitchen, the chef glanced at Eldric. "Young master, your armor should be cleaned. It's covered in blood."
Eldric nodded and left for the workshop. As he walked, a maid rushed to him, gasping for air, clutching a letter. "Master… this is a report from Sir Alric."
He smiled gently, taking it from her. "You could have walked slowly. You didn't need to run so hard."
She smiled faintly. "But it came by wind falcon. I thought it must be urgent."
"I'll read it. Go rest."
She bowed and left. Eldric broke the seal of the envelope and unfolded the letter. His eyes widened as he read. His grip tightened, crumpling the parchment. His steps grew heavy as he walked forward.