The Royal Mark-Chapter 37: She’s Not Weak

Chris saw a lot of people heading back towards the forest from where they had come on their way to the neighboring village. He inquired, "Why are those people rushing in that direction? Shouldn’t we stop them? That part of the forest is engulfed in flames."

A soldier provided an explanation, saying, "Your Highness, those are water mages. This region of Zemaria is home to many water mages. They should be capable of extinguishing the fire. Do you happen to know what caused it?"

Chris hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether or not to disclose the true culprit. Eventually, he replied, "Well, I’m not entirely certain. I was out hunting for food when it happened, and my mate was already injured when I returned."

The soldier accepted Chris’s account without further inquiry, and they continued on their journey until they reached the nearby village. As the soldier had promised, the village was teeming with healers. When the soldiers announced their arrival with the Prince of Arcanis and their need for a healer, the village leader promptly stepped in.

"May I know who got hurt?" the elderly woman inquired.

Chris swiftly dismounted from his horse and carried Elsa over to the old lady, responding, "It’s my mate and her dogs. Can you help them?"

The elderly woman examined Elsa and glanced at her dogs. She touched her forehead and then became alarmed, exclaiming, "She’s running a high fever! Unusually hot for a human. How is this possible? Follow me, quickly! And bring her dogs along!"

Leading Chris in haste, the elderly woman guided him to her dwelling, where what appeared to be her apprentice healers promptly attended to the four dogs. "Place her on the table and line up the dogs over there. Let’s check what’s wrong with them."

One of the apprentices spoke as soon as he entered the room, saying, "Priestess, this dog is also running a high fever. It doesn’t seem possible for a dog to have such a high temperature."

"Place it in cold water, quickly!" instructed the priestess, before turning her attention to Chris and examining Elsa, who was now on the table as he had placed her.

She began her examination of Elsa’s face, neck, and hands, and her eyes widened in astonishment. "So, she’s the one responsible for that loud explosion by the river?"

Chris furrowed his brow, expressing his concern, "How can you make such a statement?"

The elderly woman proceeded to reveal Elsa’s burnt hands and wrists, prompting Chris to stammer in worry, "I-I didn’t notice that earlier. H-Her eyes were on fire, and she mentioned—"

Interrupting him, the old lady quickly examined Elsa’s eyes, which had returned to their usual amber hue. "Who is she?"

Chris, asserting his authority, crossed his arms and replied, "It’s not your place to ask questions. Just focus on healing her."

"Your Highness, I beg your pardon for my indiscretion. I’m inquiring because she appears to possess magical abilities, yet she seems unaware of how to utilize them. Her mana has been severely depleted, and it nearly cost her life. I can mend her physical injuries, but not entirely," the priestess explained.

Chris sought clarification, asking, "What do you mean by ’not entirely’?"

"Once a mage experiences severe mana depletion, only an archmage can assist in its restoration, but even then, success is not guaranteed. It depends on the mage’s inherent strength. I sense that your mate is rather weak in this regard; she struggles to harness her own magic. Here in Zemaria, mages are typically taught how to master their powers from a very young age. Could it be that she is not from here?" the old lady inquired.

"She’s not weak, as I mentioned earlier, and I must reiterate that it’s not your place to inquire about her background. Is there any alternative method for her to recover her mana?" Chris inquired.

The elderly woman responded, "She can patiently wait for it to naturally replenish which might take years, provided she survives. At present, the fire magic within her is consuming her from within, similar to burning one’s soul. If she cannot gain control over it, she risks losing her life. This is why mages are typically trained at a young age when their powers are still weak and manageable."

"I understand. So, if I were to take her to the Archmage at Rügengard Castle, would she have a chance to regain her mana?" Chris asked.

"I apologize, Your Highness, but Zemaria suffered the loss of our only Archmage two years ago, Archmage Nadezhda Morgan. To this day, our King has not appointed a successor," the priestess explained.

Chris persisted, asking, "Are you certain that there are no other options?"

The priestess cast a glance at her apprentices and gestured for them to leave the room before confiding in Chris, "Elves are renowned for their expertise in matters related to mana. When I was young, I heard from one of our elders that elves can assist a mage in recovering their mana more rapidly and safely than archmages. However, Your Highness, since the elves have long since closed their doors to outsiders, I cannot confirm the accuracy of this information."

"Understood. Please do whatever you can to heal my mate. We’ll make our way to the castle as soon as she awakens," Chris affirmed.

The priestess nodded and extended her hands over Elsa, initiating her spellcasting. Gradually, Elsa became enveloped in a protective water cocoon. "This water pod will swiftly mend all her physical injuries. I won’t deter you from journeying to Rügengard Castle, but you must be aware that she will be quite weakened. It will temporarily alleviate her fever. However, her fire element is currently in disarray, and her fever may return. If she can’t control her power, it could become life-threatening. If that occurs, you must promptly lower her temperature."

Chris inquired, "How far is the castle from here?"

"Three days’ ride by horse, Your Highness. Your journey will be perilous; her magical instability, if it surges as it did earlier, could consume her from within, resulting in her death."

"Fuck this!" Chris exclaimed in utter exasperation.

As he paced around the room, contemplating a solution, the priestess observed Chris’s evident worry and fear. "Your Highness, werewolves possess the ability to absorb and alleviate the pain of others to some extent, correct?"

Chris ceased his pacing and nodded in confirmation.

The priestess offered a comforting smile and said, "You can attempt that while submerging her in cold water if the need arises. I can’t guarantee its effectiveness, but I have faith that you’ll find a way."

Chris let out a sigh, finally experiencing some relief after hours of anxious concern.