When Luke said those words, he didn’t look at Geffroy, but at Leon, as if the words were ant for him.
To reassure him that Luke would make things right.
But if by ’save’ he ant...
"Wait!" Geffroy’s wife turned to Luke in disbelief. Her gaze was suspicious, but there was a glimr of hope in her eyes. "What do you an? Are you a doctor, too?"
Luke shook his head. "I’m not."
"Then how?" a villager interjected in confusion. "How can you save him?"
The townspeople started murmuring to themselves.
"Maybe he’s well-versed in beastspawn poison?"
"He’s a hunter, right? Maybe he knows a thing or two about this!"
"Yeah, maybe it’s because of his survival skills. Let’s have him give it a try!"
Geffroy’s wife heard all this and started looking at Luke imploringly. "Please," she begged. "I’ll do anything! I’ll compensate you. Just please save my husband. I can’t lose him!"
anwhile, Leon was in a state of panic.
Was Luke really going to do this? In front of all these people?
Then were they going to make a run for it afterwards?
Leon’s eyes darted to the exit of the inn and his heart sank. Cliff was standing by the door, watching them all with wary eyes. His arms were crossed across his chest, and he was looking directly at Luke.
Oh no, Leon thought.
If they made a run for it, how would they get past Cliff? Leon had seen the man’s magic with his own eyes. If those thorny vines caught up with them, there would be no escape.
Unless he fought back...
No! Leon shook his head internally.
Cliff had saved him before he could beco beastspawn food. How could he possibly fight him?
Besides, it was clear that Cliff’s skill with magic was far beyond Leon’s.
Suddenly, Leon felt a sharp pain shoot through his body, all the way to his nerves. His body shook, and he struggled to breathe properly.
What the hell?
Leon looked down at his shoulder and understood imdiately.
Due to the adrenaline rushing through his veins during the fight, he hadn’t paid much attention to the pain. But now that it was all over, he could feel its effects with a vengeance, and it took all his strength not to double over and collapse to the ground.
Leon gritted his teeth as he reflexively clutched at his bleeding shoulder, trying not to make a sound.
Luke looked at him worriedly, but knew that Geffroy’s condition was in more danger right now.
He approached the couch and knelt beside Geffroy, placing his hands gently on the man’s leg.
"You’ll live," he whispered. "Don’t worry."
Then, a faint glow emanated from Luke’s palms.
Leon’s throat went dry and his hands trembled. He unconsciously took a step back and glanced at the stairs.
Ardyn! They should warn Ardyn.
But if Leon left now... would it be suspicious?
Still...!
Leon watched helplessly as Luke concentrated, the glow intensifying and turning a vivid shade of blue.
The villagers gasped and stepped back in fear.
Cliff, who had been watching the whole thing, widened his eyes.
The blue light pulsed and spread through Geffroy’s body. The magic slowly removed the poison from the man’s bloodstream and nded the torn flesh.
But even at this distance, Leon could feel the kind aura emanating from the magic. It was so warm, as if it were giving life to another.
When Luke finally withdrew his hands, the blue light faded, Geffroy’s breathing had cald, and the dark veins had receded.
The villagers stared at Luke, their expressions a mixture of astonishnt and fear.
Geffroy’s wife imdiately went to her husband and frantically asked if he was all right. She looked at his leg, which had just been torn and mangled, and now healed without a scratch. As if nothing had ever happened.
The only sign of the earlier battle was his torn and bloodied pants.
At that mont, a frenzied discussion broke out among the townspeople.
"D—Did you see that?!"
"Healing magic?!"
"A blue glow?"
"No, it can’t be..."
"Wait a minute! Blue magic... That’s..."
"Isn’t that...?"
Leon’s heart sank into his stomach as he watched the expressions on the villagers’ faces. He could see the fear in their eyes. The uncertainty.
anwhile, Luke was as calm as ever. He slowly approached Leon, who stood there in shock.
"Stay still," Luke said quietly as he reached out and healed Leon’s torn shoulder.
Leon could see the sweat on Luke’s brow. It was clear that the healing had taken most of his Summoner’s magic, but he was still trying to stay strong.
Leon could feel Luke’s magic coursing through his bloodstream, neutralizing the poison and nding the flesh. The warm feeling that he had felt returned, and Leon felt his racing heartbeat slow to a normal pace.
The villagers took another step back at this scene, their eyes wide with fear.
"This... This is what we talked about earlier in the tavern!" one of them exclaid. "He’s... He’s...!"
"An Otherworlder!"
Just as Luke finished healing Leon, Cliff suddenly approached the scene, his eyes narrowed.
"What is the aning of this?" he asked quietly. "That magic... who are you?"
Now that he was healed, Leon could think clearly. He stood protectively in front of Luke, as if physically shielding him from everyone else.
"We an no harm," Leon said in a calm voice, as if slipping into his royal persona. "Just please let us go quietly."
Cliff’s expression hardened. "I asked who you are. With that kind of wording, you’ve brought suspicion upon yourself."
Leon winced, but continued anyway. "You already know who we are," he said. "There is no point in denying it when it has already been revealed."
Cliff’s eyes widened. "You..." His expression changed as the realization hit him. "So you are the sa as him?"
Leon had no intention of letting Luke take the fall alone. "Yes," he admitted. "I am an Otherworlder Guardian."
There were gasps among the townspeople. They began to exchange anxious glances, and the fear in the air was palpable.
"Otherworlders..." Cliff murmured. "I know of them. The trespassers who are cursed to be hunted by the Calamity for all eternity. Otherworlder Guardians are those who are connected to an Otherworlder. They all carry a curse that brings misfortune wherever they go."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Luke did what he had to do to save Geffroy. We decided to return here because we saw the horde of beastspawns nearby. We an no harm and just want to leave peacefully."
"Wait," Cliff said. "If you’re an Otherworlder Guardian... that ans you can use magic, too. Just like him."
anwhile, behind Leon, Luke was silent, only breathing heavily.
The mont Luke had decided to heal the villager, he had already expected things to turn out this way. He couldn’t just leave that villager to die. It would take a toll on his conscience.
But now, he had to face the consequences of his actions.
He felt exhausted. He had never pushed his magic this hard before, especially for two days in a row. It was risky, particularly for soone who hadn’t completed the Final Summoner Ritual yet. As an unofficial Summoner, his magic wasn’t fully developed, so overusing his holy magic would only wear him out, leaving him drained and powerless in dangerous situations.
Besides, Luke wasn’t used to healing people who were poisoned. This was his first ti, and it was so taxing that just concentrating on neutralizing it made him feel like fainting.
It was tis like this when he would start considering just becoming an official Summoner.
But it made no sense. Why should he, when people like him were always treated this way?
He looked at Leon’s back and listened to his argunt with the man, the Guardian who had saved the day. He felt warm inside, knowing that soone was on his side, defending him.
But he also knew that Leon was in danger if he treaded too far.
Luke was also worried about Ardyn. The latter was probably still waiting for them in their room, not knowing what was happening.
If they were ever to escape, they couldn’t just leave Ardyn behind.
"I get it now," Cliff said suddenly. His gaze held a hint of disapproval. "You can use magic, but you chose not to during the battle so as not to reveal your identity. But even at the cost of your life? That’s foolish."
Leon averted his gaze. "I know," he said quietly. "But I wasn’t thinking only of himself. I was also thinking about my companions. I was trying to avoid a situation like this in the first place. But I apologize. I admit that I am in the wrong for not doing my best during the battle. I regret it fully."
Cliff’s lips stretched into a thin line. He looked at Leon intently.
"You..." he said slowly. "That’s not all who you are, isn’t it?"
Leon looked back at him, feeling suddenly wary. "What do you an?"
"That sword. I noticed it earlier during the battle. It’s not sothing that you can just get custom-made anywhere. It’s one of a kind, isn’t it? And it reacts to one’s magic to make the attacks stronger and faster."
Cliff’s expression hardened.
"Before I arrived in this village, I heard so interesting news. It seems that Duke Hartengrove’s son has turned traitor and is currently on the run and hiding sowhere."
Leon’s heart skipped a beat.
Cliff took a step forward.
"Now... would you mind taking off that hood and mask for us?"
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