Chapter 212: Treatment

In Riedal’s room, a large crowd had gathered.

By the bedside, Elron carefully examined the wound on Riedal’s arm, a medicine chest at his feet filled with the potions he had recently prepared.

“This must be a special kind of energy.”

Elron held Riedal’s arm aloft, studying it for a long while before delivering his judgment.

He gently laid the arm back onto the bed. “If it is energy, I can attempt a Purification Spell—see if I can dispel its effects.”

The Purification Spell was a magic Elron had gained upon becoming a Grand Mage; it could banish dark energies and negative influences.

He raised his hand, a faint golden glow shimmering at the tip of his index finger.

Swiftly, he traced patterns in the air, completing the magical sigil in moments.

A low hum resonated as the ambient light elements were drawn toward the sigil, coalescing into a pale golden radiance that bathed the wound on Riedal’s left arm.

Hiss!

Like air escaping a punctured tire, black smoke began to rise from the wound under the spell’s glow—as if being burned away.

Everyone’s eyes lit up. No explanation was needed; they all knew the Purification Spell was working.

“My aura can now flow through the wound!”

Riedal’s face broke into a look of astonishment—the pain in the wound was already easing. The spell’s effect was immediate.

“Elron, you truly are our Great Physician of the North Ube Region. Thank you this time—I’ll buy you a drink later!”

The room erupted in praise for Elron’s abilities.

In truth, ever since word spread that Elron could produce healing spell scrolls, they had all actively cultivated good relations with him.

Now, witnessing his new power, his status as Great Physician soared even higher in their eyes.

After all, who among the knightly class could guarantee they’d never suffer grave injury?

Having someone nearby who could save your life in a pinch—how could you not foster such a bond?

Elron smiled. “One drink won’t do. You’ll have to let me drink my fill!”

Roning stood nearby, chuckling.

At every banquet, Elron always drank the most.

Chahar had twice sighed in wonder: “They say knights love liquor—but how can a light-element mage be so fond of it?”

He even complained that Elron had drained the castle’s entire wine cellar…

As he spoke, the Great Physician pulled out a small dagger and scraped away the necrotic flesh from Riedal’s wound.

Thankfully, Riedal’s iron will kept him silent throughout the gruesome procedure.

Then, as several beams of Healing Magic descended, the fresh wound on his arm slowly ceased bleeding, beginning to knit together.

“This puncture wound runs too deep—it reached the underlying muscle. Healing Magic’s efficacy will be diminished, but at least the wound surface is small.”

As he spoke, Elron withdrew a packet of powder from the medicine chest and sprinkled it over the wound.

“This is my latest concoction—Potent Growth Powder. It accelerates healing. But it’s meant only for low- and mid-rank knights; high-rank knights experience diminished effects.”

Riedal was a Silver Knight—the Potent Growth Powder would likely have little effect.

“But even a little helps.”

Riedal felt the wound burn fiercely. “As long as that strange energy is gone, this wound should heal in about ten days.”

With the peculiar energy dispelled, the rest was merely routine.

Roning’s tense heart finally eased.

“Elron, stay in Black Soil Town for now. The things in the northern valley are strange—if they come this way, your abilities should be able to counter them.”

Could the Purification Spell not only cleanse such energy, but outright kill those monsters?

“Lord, George told us roughly what happened over there. What exactly is going on?” Elron asked.

Since George had already spoken, there was no need for Roning to conceal anything—everyone present was trusted.

“This matter must remain secret. Only those here need know. Do not speak of it within the domain, and certainly not beyond.”

The gathered nodded silently. Especially Krami—few had the means to leak this information. Only she and Rogner had motive, given their noble families.

But since Roning had said so, she would say nothing.

Having pledged her loyalty to Roning, she placed his interests above all else.

Roning then recounted everything he knew, with Riedal, now somewhat revived, adding details.

As the firsthand witness, Riedal understood those creatures far better than George ever could.

And so, the weight in the room grew heavier.

“Though that valley lies far from us, and we cannot yet expand there, those strange things pose a grave threat to our domain’s safety. We cannot wait for them to come—we must act.”

He had once hesitated. Now, Elron had given him confidence.

“When Macken arrives, and when Riedal has fully recovered, I intend to lead a force to cleanse that place!”

Roning looked around the room. “All mid-rank and higher transcenders in North Ube—”

He paused, then corrected himself: “All mid-rank and higher transcenders except Krami—prepare yourselves. We go together.”

For the junior knights, Roning planned to take Tom, David, Grado, and Tomasch.

These four had shown the greatest promise among junior knights—worth cultivating.

Though they might be of little use in battle, taking them along would grant them experience and broaden their horizons.

“Lord!”

At that moment, Krami stepped forward. “Why am I being excluded?”

The room fell silent. Everyone froze.

Normally, such arrangements were accepted without question—Riedal and the others simply complied. Those who had surrendered from the wild tribes would not dare ask.

This was the first time someone had directly challenged the decision.

Roning did not see her as defiant—on the contrary, had he been in her position, he would have asked the same thing.

Whether one voiced such a question immediately, however, depended entirely on personality.

Some preferred silence and silent acceptance.

Others were blunt and spoke their minds.

“If Rogner were here, I would take both him and you.”

Roning explained. “But I’ve assigned him another vital task—he won’t be able to return in time for this operation.”

Truthfully, he disliked exposing Rogner, Krami, or Grado to danger. Injury was one thing—but if something fatal happened, their noble families would demand answers.

He had agreed to bring Grado only because junior knights wouldn’t be engaging in direct combat.

But Krami was different—she was a mid-rank knight. Bringing her meant she might very well be thrust into battle.

And Rogner was not here—things would be hard to explain if something went wrong.

As it stood now, letting Rogner handle the caravans and transport, while Clammy maintained order in the Marsh Town, worked quite well.

But Clammy refused.

If strength were the criterion, among the three mid-rank knights of the Ubei domain—Clammy, Horn, and Barrington—she was the strongest; yet the other two had been chosen, and she was left behind.

If gender were the issue, Jennie was present too—a woman, and a mage—and she had been included. Why not her?

“My lord, since we have chosen to follow you, it means we are willing to fight and die for you.”

Clammy knelt on one knee. “Rogner is Rogner. I am I. Even if I fall in this mission, it will be no fault of yours, and Rogner will never blame you.”

Her voice was low, resolute: “Please, allow me to join this mission.”

Roning smiled. He had not expected such fervor—and her words made it impossible to exclude her any longer.

“Very well. Then you shall come. Prepare yourself thoroughly.” (End of chapter)