章 16: Survived
Dian's eyes remained fixed on the three individuals who had descended in front of them. As they touched the ground, their massive wings gracefully folded and vanished into thin air. Relief washed over their faces upon confirming that Sura and her pupil were unharmed. Dian observed their attire, noting the black garments with stylish purple accents. It dawned on him that when Sura referred to them as family, it was more akin to a tightly knit unit or platoon, a group of individuals bound together by a shared purpose.
Keeping a vigilant watch, Dian remained wary of any suspicious behavior from the newcomers. The individual positioned in the center, seemingly the leader, possessed black hair and striking red eyes, mirroring Sura's features. The other two members of the group boasted dark purple locks and intense black eyes. Their pale complexions and concealed features added an air of mystery to their presence, leaving Dian intrigued yet cautious.
One of the individuals, who appeared to be a doctor, promptly attended to Sura and Nina, beginning the treatment for the poison that afflicted them. The severity of the condition necessitated immediate attention, and the doctor prioritized Nina, who was in a more critical state.
"You. Who are you?" Among the three individuals, the one bearing a resemblance to Sura addressed Dian, his commanding voice demanding an answer. Dian, looking up at the taller figure, sensed an aura of intimidation emanating from him. However, before Dian could respond, Sura swiftly intervened, speaking up on his behalf.
"Dad, I know what you're trying to do. Stop it. He saved me," Sura asserted, her voice resolute. Dian's suspicions were confirmed as Sura referred to him as her father. Despite this, the individual continued to scrutinize Dian, attempting to impose intimidation upon him, but Dian remained steadfast, undeterred by the display.
"So, you saved my daughter?" he inquired, his tone still filled with authority.
"Yes, sir," Dian replied respectfully. He recognized the importance of not offending individuals of significance, especially considering their capacity to neutralize threats on a scale comparable to a mini-nuke countered by an even more powerful nuke.
"Then, who are you and what are you doing in the training grounds of the academy with no identity?" he questioned, his blood-red eyes gazing down at Dian, their intense gleam capturing the essence of the night.
Dian began to respond, but once again, Sura interjected, taking charge of the situation. "He's a traveler who got caught in a portal accident," she explained, her voice firm and confident. Her father regarded her with a brief pause, and then a blue magic circle materialized around his right eye, signifying the manifestation of some arcane power.
Dian, observing this peculiar phenomenon, instinctively raised his guard, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances that might arise. With Sura's father exhibiting such extraordinary abilities, it was wise for Dian to remain cautious.
"Is she telling the truth?" The father asked again.
"Yes, she's telling the truth. I was caught up in an accidental portal malfunction and was suddenly transported to this place. I have no prior knowledge of this location or the reason behind why the portal malfunctioned," Dian replied, carefully navigating his response to disclose only the necessary details while withholding any additional information.
Sura's father wore a puzzled expression as the magic circle dissipated from his eyes. "Hmm, it appears you are being truthful. However, what were you engaged in before the teleportation incident? And where were you attempting to go that led to the malfunction?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on Dian.
"Dad-" Sura began, attempting to intervene on Dian's behalf, but her father swiftly interrupted her.
"Sura, I'm addressing this individual, not you," he asserted, redirecting his attention back to Dian.
Dian let out a sigh, feeling the annoyance of the situation weighing upon him. "You have no right to pry into my personal life or question my intentions," he stated, his gaze focused and determined. Everyone fell silent, and all of them, including Sura's father, looked at Dian in disbelief.
"How dare you-" Sura's father began, his voice filled with anger, but Dian swiftly raised his hand, gesturing for him to pause.
"If you truly believed I was a spy or an enemy, then I could have easily killed or tortured your daughter for information. She was on the brink of death, yet I chose to save her and her pupil, ward off their pursuers, neutralize the poison, provide them with sustenance and protection, all without expecting anything in return," Dian stated firmly, his words laced with conviction. The room remained silent, once again stunned by Dian's unwavering words.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Dian added, his voice unwavering, calling out the hypocrisy of Sura's father's suspicions.
Sura's father's face twisted with anger, but Sura intervened, attempting to douse the flames of fury. "Father, he's not wrong. You need to calm down. Regardless of what you may think, Dian is still my savior. I would appreciate it if you didn't treat him as an enemy."
Sura's father, though seething with shame, realized his daughter's words held truth. He had allowed his emotions to get the best of him, overwhelmed by the prolonged absence of his daughter. Taking a deep breath, he composed himself and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for protecting my daughter and her pupil. I owe you a great debt for this."
Dian's smile finally returned, and he waved off the gratitude with a dismissive gesture. "No problem, sir. I simply did what I believed to be the right thing to do."
As the medic attended to Nina's poison, Sura listened attentively to the conversation between Dian and her father, Talfen. Dian recounted his experiences since being teleported to their location, describing his struggles and how Sura had saved both him and Nina despite being affected by the poison. He also mentioned how he had protected them during their time together.
During the conversation, Dian learned that the search party had been underway for a while, starting from the moment he had broken Sura's staff to fashion a rod for self-defense. Unbeknownst to him, Talfen had secretly added a spell to the staff that would constantly relay Sura's position to him. Sura was initially angered when she discovered this, expressing her frustration to her father. However, Talfen explained that he had been consumed by worry for the past half day since the staff was broken, as it had severed the connection that informed him of Sura's whereabouts. He had feared the worst, believing his daughter to be dead during that time.
It turned out that Talfen's initial hostility towards Dian was not due to suspicion of him being a spy, but rather his overprotective nature. Talfen had wrongly assumed that Dian was blackmailing Sura into assisting him, which had fueled his aggressive behavior towards Dian. While Dian would normally find amusement in such misunderstandings, he refrained from making any sarcastic remarks, considering that Talfen had believed his daughter to be dead for a significant period of time. Sura, too, forgave her father for his actions, understanding that his tracking measure had ultimately played a crucial role in her rescue.
The conversation then shifted to Avery and her fate. It was revealed that her use of a powerful area-of-effect spell in the forest was deemed illegal, leading to her swift apprehension. With that matter settled and as they were close enough, Sura used her telepathic ability despite the poison to inform her father of their exact location next to the cliff, prompting him for a quick pick up.
"I thought that maybe Avery had killed you, so I... unintentionally beat her up to a pulp," Talfen admitted with embarrassment, scratching his head like a child caught misbehaving.
Sura's voice brimmed with anger as she responded, "No, you did good. That bitch deserves it."
Before they could delve further into the conversation, the medic interjected, capturing their attention. "This poison seems to be highly complex. It would be best if we bring them to the temple for a blessing. That should cure them quickly."
Talfen immediately nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea," he affirmed before walking over to his daughter and gently lifting her into his arms.
The medic picked up Nina, and to Dian's surprise, black wings sprouted from behind the medic, Talfen, and the third guard, who had been mostly overlooked until now.
"Wait, I can't fly or run fast." Dian said as the ignored guard went up to him and picked him up in a princess carry.
"You're quite light." He said as he looked at him.
"And straight," Dian added, his excitement palpable as they all took to the skies and soared towards their clan. From high above, Dian finally had a panoramic view of the forest, although its details were obscured by the darkness of the night.
However, one sight caught his attention and left him in awe. In the distance, a sprawling city spread out before him, illuminating the darkness like a radiant beacon. The city teemed with life, bustling with people going about their business. What astonished Dian even more were the imposing monsters working alongside the humans, the towering buildings, and the occasional displays of fire and magic that captivated his gaze. It was a vibrant and bustling place, alive with energy.
Talfen turned to Dian, curiosity evident in his eyes. "What do you think of our clan?" he inquired.
Dian's smile widened as he absorbed the scene before him. "It looks... really interesting," he replied, anticipation bubbling within him. He couldn't help but feel excited for the adventures and possibilities that awaited him in this captivating clan.
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