A Resplendent Era (4)

How much time had elapsed?

Slowly sitting upright, Freugne pressed her throbbing head.

The chill of the wooden floor seeped through her palms – the same basement hideout she had occupied before losing consciousness.

“You’re awake.”

“…How long…”

Freugne trailed off, realizing Hubert remained slumped in the chair before her, wisps of vapor still emanating from his prone form.

Logically, it was improbable for Ulr to have idly passed the time administering electroshock therapy to the Demonic Tribe member while nonchalantly awaiting her revival.

After a momentary pause to catch her breath, her senses gradually returned. Freugne bit her lower lip, pondering:

‘Could it have been magic?’

For the time being, that seemed the only plausible explanation for her blackout.

No malfunctions had occurred with her psychic deflector headgear.

During the interrogations, whenever the other four Demonic Tribe members had attempted hostile magic, the device had invariably proven effective – it was not defective.

Nor did the deflector discriminate between Demonic Tribe members, and upon inspection, the marestone power reserves had not been depleted.

Which implied a potent spell had breached the device’s defenses.

Curiously, however, Freugne detected no lingering mental disquietude.

Yet surely some residual effects should manifest if subjected to psychic magic?

Apart from a mild disorientation, Freugne perceived no overt abnormalities within herself.

Of course, self-diagnosing mental afflictions was inadvisable.

But if Ulr had noticed any aberrations, he would have promptly pointed them out – his silence implied no significant changes.

“Do you perceive any peculiarities in my behavior? Please, be candid.”

“No, you seem unaltered.”

“I see……”

Perhaps the incapacitation had been the sole intent? The psychic deflector may have mitigated further ramifications.

However, these were mere conjectures – neither she nor Ulr could render immediate judgments regarding the Demonic Tribe’s magic, about which they knew virtually nothing.

They would need to consult more knowledgeable individuals within the organization, or seek medical evaluations.

But one task remained beforehand.

Freugne’s gaze settled upon the still-unconscious Hubert.

“Please rouse that Demonic Tribe member.”

“Very well.”

Heeding Freugne’s murmured instruction, Ulr propped up the insensate Hubert.

Yet he did not immediately revive him, lest a repetition of the previous incident ensued.

Instead of a proximate vigil, Ulr set aside his club, pressing a razor-sharp blade against Hubert’s throat.

Freugne, too, positioned her fingertips near the Demonic Tribe member, ready to unleash magic while channeling a mild electric current as a precaution.

-Zzzzzap!

“Ughh…!”

“Awake at last, I see.”

Perhaps due to their enhanced durability, that single jolt restored Hubert’s consciousness as he frantically surveyed his surroundings.

“What are you… urk.”

“Make one false move, and this time, mere unconsciousness shall not suffice.”

“What did I… No, I may have concealed myself in this human city, but this sudden action is……”

-Gulp

“Silence. Answer only what is asked.”

Nodding feebly at the chilling metal against his throat, Hubert acquiesced with trembling trepidation.

“What did you do to me?”

“What did I do? I, ah, do not comprehend.”

“Did you not employ magic earlier?”

“I did… such a thing? I know not of what you speak. This is the truth!”

The arrogant condescension he had exhibited before blacking out had seamlessly transitioned into the lilting accents of Antrim’s impoverished underclass, as if reality itself were a deception. As Ulr pressed the blade firmly, his words devolved into incoherent babbling.

Perhaps his former somber demeanor had been a magical fabrication?

Freugne met Ulr’s quizzical gaze, and he shook his head, equally perplexed.

“Very well. Let us move on to the next query, then.”

What had he done to her? Did he recall the preceding events? What ploy had he attempted?

Most of Hubert’s responses entailed either clamming up or circuitous non-answers, yielding scant additional information.

“The last thing you remember?”

“You were departing, were you not? But then to be struck by magic – what in the world-“

“Silence.”

One – his memory seemed to conclude with her departure announcement.

“Are you aware of my abilities?”

“Abilities? You refer to the electric magic, I presume…?”

And two:

Contrary to his earlier assertion that ‘such confidence befits your capabilities,’ he seemed oblivious to her future-seeing powers.

Granted, deception remained a possibility – he had previously refused to speak entirely.

Yet the stark contrast between his pre-blackout persona and current demeanor was undeniable.

‘As if an entirely different person.’

Several possibilities surfaced in Freugne’s mind, but rather than hastily speculating, she opted to gather more comprehensive information before drawing any conclusions.

“For now, I should visit the hospital.”

“In my experience working these environs, no exceptional physicians reside nearby.”

“Yes, which is why I must visit a facility I am familiar with.”

Steadying her unsteady gait, Freugne exited the hideout.

---

While my meeting with General Andre had seemed impromptu, it had been meticulously orchestrated.

I had tailored my presentation to his preexisting mindset based on prior research. By incrementally aligning with his perspectives, I had elicited a highly favorable response.

“Your assessment?”

“If your claims prove accurate, a positive evaluation seems feasible.”

However, the general had appended a caveat:

“I cannot provide an immediate answer. Such a unilateral decision exceeds my authority.”

“I understand. Still, I appreciate you making the time today.”

“Not at all. I found it sufficiently worthwhile.”

Budgets did not materialize from thin air, after all.

Spamming an imaginary ‘print money’ button would not generate funds – or if it did initially, the costs of quelling inevitable unrest would swiftly outstrip any gains.

Furthermore, I had merely discussed a newly operational factory, necessitating preparation time.

By the time my meeting with General Andre had concluded, the skies had already darkened.

Freugne would likely be awaiting me at the hotel. Although I had forewarned her of my late return, I still felt a twinge of unease.

Having traveled abroad together, we could have explored more sights.

To surprise Freugne after her solitary day, instead of returning empty-handed, I procured a basket brimming with Antrim’s locally renowned fruits from a streetside vendor.

After parking the car outside the hotel, I intended to promptly return to our room and inquire how she had passed the time, when:

“Mr. Edan, a moment please!”

A lobby attendant called out as I entered.

Had some dignitary perhaps requested my presence? But the attendant’s subsequent statement was utterly unanticipated:

“Miss Freugne is currently at the hospital.”

“Pardon?”

“Here is the address – the nearby map indicates it is quite close.”

“Wait, what happened that would necessi-“

After extracting the details from the attendant, I immediately departed the hotel.

A light drizzle had begun, but I neglected any umbrella.

---

Freugne nestled beneath the plush hospital blankets.

This facility undoubtedly operated under the organization’s influence.

Not every physician and magician employed there belonged to their ranks. However, by ensuring key administrative figures like the director answered to them, exercising control proved straightforward.

No need to regale the director with a protracted ‘I hail from Londinium’ preamble.

Navigating every overseas action through an intermediary liaison like Carno would have been excessively cumbersome.

Naturally, precautions had been taken upon her arrival, anticipating potential contingencies – though she had not envisioned this specific scenario unfolding.

To be clear, she had not disclosed the full extent of her role within the shadowy organization, merely establishing her status akin to Carno – a close associate of the boss.

Yet that alone had sufficed to secure a private room and summon the hospital’s most accomplished physicians and magicians, armed with diagnostic magitech, in the dead of night.

“No anomalies detected?”

“Ah, please do not be unduly alarmed.”

After the physician had concluded no physical abnormalities and departed, the magician – purportedly knowledgeable about Demonic Tribe magic – had arrived, speaking hesitantly:

“Traces of Demonic Tribe psychic magic are present.”

“As I suspected.”

“Truly, the Demonic Tribe lurks within this city…? No, forgive me, that was an overstepping remark.”

Belatedly realizing he was not addressing an ordinary patient, the magician bowed contritely.

“It’s alright. Can you discern the nature of this magic’s effects? I momentarily lost consciousness after being subjected to it.”

“Further specialized evaluations may be necessary. Since this does not seem to be publicly accessible human magic, more accurate insights would likely require the expertise of Carno’s institute, where countermeasures are developed.”

“I see……”

“However, my assessment detected no overt signs of mental manipulation.”

“Understood. I shall have the institute’s magicians conduct another examination later.”

After the magician’s departure, Freugne extended her arm, opening the window.

The formerly azure skies had transformed into an impenetrable void by the time Ulr had apprehended the Demonic Tribe members. Heavy rain pattered gently against the windowsill as somber storm clouds unleashed their deluge.

Before long, a familiar voice echoed from outside her room door.

She had informed the hotel staff about a mere illness, instructing them not to expect her, yet he had still come. Raising her voice, Freugne called out:

“You may enter.”

-Creak!

“Freugne, are you alright?”

“Yes, you needn’t worry excessively.”

Edan entered rather brusquely, his dampened hair betraying the drizzle’s effects.

A fleeting pang of guilt surfaced for having caused him unnecessary distress. But a deeper sense of warmth overshadowed it –

that he had rushed to her side, not out of mere obligation, but from pure affection alone.

‘If only such intimacy could perdure…’

Freugne’s grip tightened imperceptibly upon the blankets.