Choi Han knew. That he is ready to catch a bullet anytime for Cale.
Though maybe in this world, it's gonna be an arrow. But he will take it nonetheless just to protect him. That's why right now he is mentally kicking himself and is drowning in self blame as he watches the redhead writhing in pain.
Moments ago a fierce battle between the strongest subordinates of the White Star and Cale's group almost flatten down the city of Molden Kingdom in the eastern continent. A plan of theirs to sabotage the new government led by Jopis but fortunately it was thwarted by the smartest man Choi Han has ever known.
But one dying black magician randomly threw a curse and it landed somewhere the two tiny kittens that's On and Hong were hiding. Cale's instinct fired up and shielded the children with his body, not a care for himself as the spell hit him on his back.
They brought him back into the Super Rock Villa with Eruhaben and Rosalyn in tow, ready to do whatever aid they can give to Cale as he lay screaming in pain upin his bed.
The children were standing outside the door being held back by Beacrox even as the chef continuously received death threats from Raon. There was also Ron who carried a basin of hot water inside the room.
Moments later, Saint Jack, who was contacted might be by Eruhaben, appeared with his sister, Hannah and he went straight into the room and started to asses the condition of his friend.
The blond pope then gasped. "This is a curse both created with Alchemy and black magic." He said as his hand traced the black pattern forming at the pale skin of their Young Master. "There is no trace of dark mana thankfully so he is not at the verge of dying from poison but unless we determine the origins of this curse, we can never find a perfect solution."
"What can we do then?" Eruhaben asked, his face might be calm but his eyes were a picture of a storm, mirroring the turmoil that goes inside his mind. This was worse than the time when his plate was shifting. There is no blood in him yet he was screaming without sound as if his throat was being choked by invisible hands.
"If I attempt to purify the curse, only half of it will be removed but the good thing about it is that he won't be in pain anymore. I am not sure what will happen next. Rosalyn-nim please surround his body with lots of mana using the best of your mana stones. Eruhaben-nim, if you may, you have perfect control over mana. Please manipulate the mana from the stones to make sure none of Young Master Cale's internal organs will burst from it's intensity. Curse is different from poisoning and since we do not know what we are dealing with, it's better to be careful."
The two gave a single nod with determination blazing into their eyes.
"Ron-nim, Choi Han-nim, please hold him down."
As the people get into position and prepare everything they need. Jack opened up a scroll of parchment and in it drew patterns using holy water. His hand moves so fast that the water did not even dry before he finishes whatever he is doing. He then inserted his power into the paper while he was whispering into his hand.
They started soon and Rosalyn put out four highest grade mana stones and released their power, she then moved the red mana and it covered Cale from head to toe. Eruhaben then manipulated it and the res has sheen of white gold mixed in them, signaling that they are in sync.
"Hold him down now!" As the two others did, Jack then pressed the parchment into Cale's chest. The redhead then started to scream louder and trashed his body as if convulsing. A foul smell permeated in the room as the black pattern that covers his body then started moving as they were alive. The patterns then moved towards the parchment as if it was a sponge that absorbs water.
Rosalyn wanted to gag from the smell that resembles a rotting body, but she held on. One small mistake might kill Cale and that will never ever happen on her watch.
Blood then started pouring out from Cale's mouth as Jack ran his glowing hand at the top of Cale's skim where the black marks flowed. The once white parchment slowly turns into grey and eventually, black. Ron turned Cale's head to the side so he wouldn't choke in his own blood.
As the last mark disappears, Cale then plops to the bed like a vegetable. Jack then stopped and checked his breathing. It was ragged, but he was breathing nonetheless. The young man sighed in relief and told Eruhaben and Rosalyn that it's done.
For now, he is out of the storm but they still have to wait for any of the lingering effects.
Ron tended to his young master, his face was hard and formal as he wiped the stains of blood from his face and neck. Jack headed into the fireplace and threw the black parchment to the fire, incinerating the accumulated curse marks. They all felt exhausted from what happened and most of that is due to worry that something serious might happen to their Cale.
Eruhaben scanned the frail body one more time with his powers, not because he did not trust Jack's skill but because he wanted to make sure of it himself for the sake of his peace of mind.
"I don't know how much of the curse was removed but at least he is safe now from the claws of death. Let's observe him for now and feed him warm water infused with herbs. I will personally concoct it and it will help him replenish his strength."
Rosalyn went out of the room as Ron brought a change of clothes for Cale to use. She told the kids, as soon as Ron finishes tending to Cale, they can go inside.
They might not stay there for as long as they want but seeing Cale in a stable condition made them relieved. Raon too stopped threatening Beacrox through their mind.
Choi Han refused to go and he decided to stay until he too fell asleep in the chair he was sitting on.
Cale's pale form was comfortably tucked underneath a thick blanket. Medicine, a basin full of water and a candle light stood at the table on the bed's left side.
The pope decided to stay so that he could monitor Cale whatever might happen.
Little did anyone know, not even Choi Han that Cale was fighting also inside him and he grunted as if having a bad dream. The battle in his subconscious stopped abruptly and Cale was just there standing in a room that's only white.
His mind feels like it was floating, is that even possible?
Maybe... but as he floated, he felt like he was being coerced into a deep sleep. And he felt comfortable enough to be swayed away by the foreign feeling in his dream.
In the end he succumbed.
Choi Han woke up with a startle, at first he thought that the place he is in looks so unfamiliar than his room but then memories started to flood his mind. He fell asleep. He also remembered Cale.
He scrambled up from his chair and quickly checked the young man but to his surprise, the bed was empty aside from the thick blanket and two pillows. No Cale, no other humans.
Choi Han then turned and went out of the room, he stopped at the door and checked if there was anyone outside. There was no Cale in sight.
That's how Rosalyn found the dark haired man. "What happened?"
"Cale-nim is missing!" He said out loud.
"What?!" The redhead then entered the room and saw the empty bed. She also checked the luxurious bathroom and still no redhead. By that time, their commotion allerted the others and they appeared one by one asking the same questions.
Choi Han felt guilty, he fell asleep when he was supposed to watch over Cale. Voices then rang into the whole villa as everyone started to look for Cale.
Rosalyn was in the room concentrating her mana and ready to scan the territory when she was distracted by a movement. It was the blanket above the bed that was moving, as if there was something underneath it.
The redhead magician moved her hands in reluctance and she did not know why. It could be one of the kids. But she just saw the three children run around the house trying to look for their guardian.
But before she managed to grab the thick blanket the thing underneath it pulled it away first and Rosalyn saw a tiny hand.
She froze, the hand then pushed the blanket away and to her surprise a small child popped out with an oversized shirt hanging around his small body. The child has chubby, pinkish cheeks, and it jiggles as the child rubbed his eyed with his two tiny hands.
Rosalyn can't remove her eyes to the child's form as he so much resembles someone she very much knows. A person with equally fiery red hair and a pair of bright reddish brown eyes.
"Yo... Young Master Cale?"
Rosalyn wanted to faint when the child turned to her. His cute face was the picture of innocence and wonder, he made a fatal attack next and Rosalyn nearly fell down on her knees.
The child she called Cale smiled so brightly. He was so cute!
"Mama!" Rosalyn gasped as Baby Cale cried out loud with his cute voice. He raised his arms to the red haired magician, his hands are close-opening as if trying to catch her attention. He then said "Up!"
Rosalyn fainted with a smile on her face.