Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Flutter

Unable to decode Jash's ailment, Cornelius didn't waste time and immediately brought out a vial containing a colorless liquid.

He forced liquids from various vials down Jash's throat, using his mana as if it were an extension of his body.

'No change, huh?'

Cornelius wasn't just feeding the potions to heal Jash; he was taking note of how they acted inside Jash's body.

Unfortunately, he found no difference, despite the numerous potions.

'He is unawakened, I can't just feed him everything...'

Naturally, Cornelius knew better than anyone what potions he could feed Jash, so he tried all that he had on him.

He didn't hold many potions to begin with, as most didn't aid him due to his strength.

Unable to think of any other solution at the moment, he reconsidered. 'Should I try an elixir...?'

He wasn't sure about trying an elixir on Jash. After all, elixirs were made for severe illnesses and mostly for the awakened hunters, so finding a suitable one that wouldn't harm Jash would be difficult..

Although expensive, elixirs did the job almost perfectly, making their demand skyrocket, yet they remained scarce.

But that was about it.

"Why aren't you feeding him an elixir already?" Sera's frustrated shout brought Cornelius out of his stupor.

However, just as he was about to take out an elixir, he saw Jash's unconscious body flinch, confusing him.

His eyes focused on Jash to try and find anything. 'Hmm? What's this all of a sudden?'

On the opposite side, Carcel noticed his father's focused state and forcefully yanked Sera from her position.

She was relieved at the sight of Cornelius taking out an elixir, but seeing him halt, she almost rushed at him to take the vial and feed it to Jash by herself.

Offended by Carcel's rude behavior, she was about to shift her frustration onto him when he suddenly clasped her mouth.

Shocked by her husband's odd behavior, she was dumbfounded and couldn't react for a second.

She wasn't weaker than him; she simply didn't expect him to treat her like this..

However, what made her frown was Carcel's gaze. He didn't even spare her a glance!

Despite the situation, which might compel anyone to fight, she refrained from reacting impulsively.

Instead, she followed his sight and narrowed her eyes, looking at Jash flinching uncontrollably.

He didn't have any expression on his face yet the sheer intensity with which his body twitched and trembled pained her heart as a mother.

In that moment, she even forgot her husband's audacity, her motherly distress overcoming all other emotions.

As the hands around her mouth and waist tightened in tension, she didn't need to look at Carcel to know his feelings.

***

Outside the room, the entire mansion was in utter chaos. Hearing the sound barrier shatter twice in quick succession alerted the guards.

Even the servants and maids residing in the mansion were terrified of what was to come.

"Just who dares to attack the Ramille Estate! The family mansion at that!"

Many such shouts echoed across the halls as the guards became alert and looked for any sign of infiltration.

One of them in particular had a horrified expression.

Emma, still clad in maid attire, rushed out of her room upon hearing the sounds.

'That...! Isn't that from the first floor?'

Recognizing the source, she immediately panicked, realizing her oversight.

'Even if Young Master sent me away, I should have stayed guard!'

Unlike others in the hallway, she dashed forward, using the air to boost her as she nimbly moved across the hall, reaching the staircase.

Determination marred her face as her heart pounded nervously before she darted up the stairs, reaching the first floor.

'Young Master... I hope nothing goes wrong...'

With a single thought in her mind, she zoomed past everyone to reach Jash's room.

The others weren't surprised seeing her speed, rather they also started to use mana to their full strength.

Despite the movement of various hunters inside the hall, not a speck of dust rose in the corridors, let alone the walls or floor cracking.

***

Looking at Jash's twitching body for more than five minutes, the trio remained silent as they didn't know what to say.

Cornelius was their best bet to find out anything, and his furrowed brows alone were enough to make the husband-wife duo anxious.

Even with their emotions in turmoil and their focus on Jash, they could sense the movements on the lower floors.

Sensing the guards getting closer to the barriers and about to activate them, Carcel commanded in a stern voice.

"Stop. Go back to your positions and stay alert."

Despite the distance, everyone downstairs heard his voice loud and clear, halting them in their tracks. They followed the order without question.

Though Carcel's voice echoed through the hall, it didn't even reach inside Jash's room..

He didn't want to take any chances with the strange state of Jash, leading him to exert such deliberate control over his power, making him sweat.

Unfortunately, a frown broke across his handsome visage as he sensed three distinct mana signatures approaching.

'Emma, Caera, and Kesha.'

He naturally identified them as they closed the distance, but he didn't make any effort to stop them.

His gaze shifted to Sera, who held her gaze at Jash, undisturbed by the surrounding disturbances.

Jerking her slightly, he wanted her to deal with the three newcomers, but she ignored him completely.

'Damn! She has become a statue or what?'

In the end, he couldn't help but pinch her arms to get her attention using a bit of force, something he didn't wish to do.

Finally, Sera turned to face him. Yet her face had an expression that screamed, 'If it ain't worth it, you're done for.'

Not intimidated in the least, Carcel nudged her in the direction of the door.

Understanding the cue, she immediately spread her senses outside and froze upon noticing the three presences mere five meters away from the door.

Carcel left the predicament to her, turning back to gaze at Jash, his tense expression relaxing at the sight of Jash on the bed.

It was much better than seeing his body twitching in unimaginable pain.

Even seeing him awake and well, as usual, would be a much better sight for Carcel.

Meanwhile, Sera released a bit of her mana, pulsing softly towards the door before pushing back the three.

Before it could strike them, however, she reeled it in.

No matter how urgent the situation, Sera wouldn't hurt her daughter.

Even if it were only Emma and Kesha, she couldn't do it. She just couldn't bring herself to be cruel to people she had known since they were children.

That's why she assigned Kesha as Caera's personal maid and Emma as Jash's. Both were trustworthy and so were they strong.

Of course, they were bound by multiple mana contracts, oaths, vows, and many other restrictions were placed on them to serve the direct family of Ramille duchy.

Back in Jash's room.

Sera had just turned back from the door to Jash when she noticed his eyes fluttering open and immediately dashed to hug him.

Now that he was awake, nothing else mattered to her. Carcel and Cornelius made no attempt to stop her, knowing it would be futile.