Chapter 124: The Fall Of A Hero (2)
After completing all tasks in Gehel and double-checking the relief materials and troops, Iriel returned to the annex.
She disrobed and stepped into the bathroom.
Soon, she sensed a powerful surge of mana right beside her.
Magic?
Wrapping divine energy around herself, Iriel conjured an aura in her palm.
No one had informed her of an expected visitor.
And through a teleportation gate into her bathroom of all places?
As the mana vortex intensified, a figure materialized.
With long ears and a striking visage, it was the elf Aira, carrying Ray on her back.
Iriel hastily covered herself at the sight of him.
Kyaaa! What are you doing!
I have no interest in your insignificant body. More importantly
Aira motioned to Ray on her back.
Clad only in a towel, Iriel began to inspect Ray closely.
He was in a dire state.
His breathing was faint, and his body was limp.
Moreover, a potent fruit scent wafted from him.
Iriel gasped at the sight of the severed arm in Airas grasp.
Not because of the gruesomenessshe had witnessed worse in wars.
But because it was Rays right arm.
Wh-why is his arm severed?
I dont know the details. Ill explain later, but for now, just reattach the arm.
Heeding Airas directive, Iriel grimly took hold of Rays arm.
Heal.
Whaaak-
Immense divine power from her mana pool stirred and infused Rays arm.
By some miracle, the arm began to rejoin.
In moments, it was restored to its original condition.
Truly, only a Saintess could accomplish such a feat.
Still draped in her bathwear, Iriel pressed Aira with urgency.
What happened for Ray to be in this condition?
When I arrived, he was already like this. The wounds suggest he was attacked by monsters
Monsters? What, did a dragon attack or something?
Her inquiry was serious.
Only a creature of such magnitude could injure a Saint of his caliber.
Ray had previously faced dragons unscathed.
He annihilated ogres and orcs, no matter how many attacked him.
Aira shook her head at her own question.
Im not sure why he was harmed by monsters. Its just a guess, but probably because of the magic circle. I dont know the exact details. But I could tell that the buildings were used to create a magic circle.
She glanced accusingly at Iriel.
Her look said, How could you not know that your kingdom had magic circles engraved on its buildings?
But Iriel couldnt have known.
Those buildings had been built over twenty years ago.
That was before she was even born.
There was no way for her to have known.
Moreover, without any magical knowledge, she couldnt have realized in a moment that the buildings were part of a magic circle.
Even Ray hadnt known at first.
Unless one had bizarrely extensive magical knowledge like Aira, it was impossible to recognize and understand it at a glance.
Iriel sighed deeply and asked again.
Now is not the time for us to argue among ourselves. It would be better to discuss this unheard-of condition.
The sweet scent of fruit mixed with her breath. There were no other apparent symptoms, but she remained unconscious, a type never seen by Iriel.
Aira opened her mouth.
No one can cure this. No, its more accurate to say there is no known way to cure it.
Iriel frowned slightly at her words, which hinted at some undisclosed knowledge.
What do you mean theres no way to cure it?
Exactly what I said. I too lay down like this, but for twenty years, no one could cure me.
But now youre awake. Doesnt that mean someone managed to cure you?
Aira nodded at her words.
There was one person who managed to cure what no one else could.
She said this with a sad smile.
That one person was lying there.
There was nothing she could do.
Iriel noticed her expression.
It meant there was no one left who could cure her.
How can that be
Iriel collapsed on the spot.
Looking at Ray lying there, his face was utterly peaceful.
He seemed to have died in peace.
Aira began recounting what she witnessed.
When I arrived, the surrounding buildings were in ruins, and all the monsters lay dead. There must have been thousands.
I dont know why they didnt flee when the magic circle was activated. Maybe the monsters prevented them.
If monsters attacked fleeing people, the damage would be tremendous.
Iriel, deducing the rest of Airas account, closed her eyes.
The child she had escorted as a Saint had miraculously blessed the Holy Kingdom.
He had saved the Holy Kingdom from the Necromancer, in a fight that could have spelled its end, and in his confrontation with the original dragon, he had defended the entire continent.
Furthermore, his teachings at the Magic Academy had produced numerous top-tier mages.
Now, he had contended with the activation of the magic circle to shield the populace, only to meet such a fate.
Yet the cruel irony was that he had never practiced the medicine he deeply yearned for.
It seemed he had only endured hardship and made sacrifices in the Holy Kingdom, only to depart in such a manner.
Was this the outcome God had desired when summoning a Saint?
Iriel let out a deep sigh.
A third entity was pressuring the Holy Kingdom.
Without the Saints formidable power, the struggle would become even tougher.
There was no time to indulge in grief.
Emotional restraint was something he had always practiced. It was time to rise and address the matters at hand.
But as he gazed upon Rays serene visage, tears began to form in his eyes.
He swiftly shut them. This was not the place to exhibit his emotions, now that there was no Saint to match his own.
God would not permit it.
Iriel, regaining his composure, spoke to Aira.
Please bring Ray to me. I must report this to the Holy Kingdom.
Aira responded, gently caressing Rays forehead with her delicate hand.
Unlike him, who had healed her, she was powerless to help Ray.
She responded with a weak, self-deprecating smile.
Yes
Having left three young men in Gehel, Iriel hastened to Selonia and relayed all she knew to the Holy Kingdom.
This news caused an uproar within the Holy Kingdom.
The emergence of Proxia as a third force was troubling, but the fall of the powerful Saint was inconceivable.
The Saint, who had even faced the original dragon, had been defeated by a magic circle at the academy?
With the sudden loss of its strongest champion, the Holy Kingdom found itself in a quandary.
Their enemy was formidable, and they were outmatched in terms of Sword Masters.
In fact, without fully grasping their adversarys identity, they felt as if they were facing an unwinnable war.
Following the report, Aira opened a teleport gate to Rays mansion, where Iriel greeted him.
Euclid, upon hearing the staggering news, observed from the sidelines.
Yet, witnessing Rays impassive countenance, his eyes quaked intensely.
Meri reacted similarly.
She burst into loud sobs, clinging to Ray.
Her benefactor, who had lent her aid in the alleys of Gehel, had been reduced to this state.
The grief was just as profound for the others; tears filled their hearts, even if none spilled over.
Zik entered in haste, throwing the door open.
Trailing him, the seven guardians followed, abandoning any pretense of concealment.
Saint!
Zik gazed at the prostrate Ray.
Gone was his usual air of confidence, replaced by a serene visage and closed eyes.
How had this happened, especially when he had been present!
How could they boast of being the three families of the Saint!
Iriel shook his head at their crestfallen looks.
Time was of the essence.
The Holy Kingdom had always esteemed Rays accomplishments.
The hero ceremony would proceed modestly due to the circumstances, but it was unprecedented for a saint to be the honoree.
The hero ceremony will commence shortly. Please lend your assistance.
At her request, Zik, Euclid, and Hongyeong stepped forward.
Representatives from the three families lifted Ray with stern faces.
They placed him in an elegantly decorated open carriage.
Overwhelmed with emotions, they watched the procession.
He had sacrificed everything for the Holy Kingdom, and all they could offer was a ride in this carriage.
On one side, the bearers cautiously left the mansion with the carriage.
Then, many people who had heard the news lined up in front of Rays mansion.
Removing their hats, they placed them over their hearts and silently paid their respects.
The sight of a man who had devoted himself body and soul to the Holy Kingdom weighed heavily on their hearts.
Heads bowed involuntarily, without needing to be asked.
The Pope, who had been absent until that moment, personally arrived at Rays mansion.
Standing in the center of the garden, he began to speak.
In the name of God, for honorably completing all tasks and protecting the Holy Kingdom, I, Gliseor, confer Abels Castle to the Saint.
The Popes proclamation continued.
Furthermore, the title Bi is granted to his descendants to precede the castles name.
The title Bi was bestowed upon heroes.
It was the second castle in the Holy Kingdom that no one had ever received.
This was similar to how the family serving the saints received the title Si.
When the Pope concluded his declaration, applause broke out.
It should have been a moment of joy, but the atmosphere remained somber.
This concludes the hero ceremony.
With the emergence of the third force, the Pope, who had many responsibilities, turned to leave.
Iriel couldnt linger there either.
Despite her desire to stay with Ray, her duties as a holy woman called her away.
Iriel gestured towards Aira, who couldnt attend and was gazing down at Ray from the window.
Take good care of Ray.
Aira was probably the most heartbroken.
Being of a different race, she couldnt stay by Rays side, nor could she take any action.
All she could do was watch from afar.
Iriel could somewhat understand how difficult that must have been.
After all, Airas expression, as she looked at Ray, seemed as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
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