A Resplendent Era (13)

Rewinding the clock to the day of the incident…

Freugne accompanied Edan to the hospital for an examination as well.

By the time they arrived, her complexion was quite sickly from prolonged exposure to the cold weather, leaving uncertainty as to whether the Demonic Tribe had inflicted any additional harm.

Nevertheless, the coat Edan had provided was not entirely ineffective.

After attending to Edan and other severely injured individuals, when Freugne’s turn finally arrived, she was diagnosed with mild hypothermia and prescribed a warm cup of milk and blankets.

The doctor added that without even those basic provisions, her condition could have been far graver, if not outright fatal from freezing.

Comparatively, Edan’s state was more critical, having been briefly left unattended without such amenities.

“What if something goes wrong?”

“We will do our utmost. For hypothermia cases, continuous warmth should gradually improve the condition. As for his injuries, well…”

During Edan’s unconscious hospitalization, Freugne did not merely sit idly by his bedside.

“The treatment was successful, if one could call it that.”

“When might he awaken, then?”

No.

She was far more proactive than most.

To the extent that the attending physician seemed flustered, suspecting he might have overlooked something. Not without reason – Edan’s wounds appeared to be healing of their own accord once provided with proper nourishment.

While marveling at such an ability, the physician scratched his head before offering his professional assessment.

“You mentioned he had battled the Demonic Tribe, correct? Edan is likely experiencing severe fatigue. However, people don’t typically remain unconscious for days on end, so he should awaken soon.”

“I see, I understand perfectly. In essence, he’ll be alright?”

“Yes, do you have any other concerns?”

“So when might he wake up?”

She had, of course, heard the explanation.

Yet even after listening, how could her lingering unease be assuaged when she lacked the ability to glimpse the immediate future?

After persistently pressing the doctor until finally extracting the reassuring response of “I stake this hospital’s reputation on it,” Freugne barely managed to quell her anxiety as she reclined on a vacant bed in the ward.

If she didn’t keep him within sight, her momentarily suppressed apprehension seemed to resurface.

Gently reaching out, his skin felt warmer than before. Lightly wiggling her fingers, Freugne inquired in that state:

“Uncle.”

“……”

“Still asleep?”

Beyond the window, rain continued to fall, hinting at the city’s lingering turmoil.

Dawn is an introspective time conducive to sentimentality.

With ample opportunity for contemplation, one might reminisce wistfully: ‘I wish I had done this instead,’ before kicking off the bedsheets or penning a cringeworthy poem, accumulating embarrassing memories.

An experience Freugne occasionally indulged in, but today was different.

Retracing the day’s events only recalled Edan’s bloodied, stretcher-bound visage.

Puff, puff!

“Seriously, ugh.”

Despite her utterly fatigued state, that thought prevented sleep from claiming her. After fruitlessly pummeling her hapless pillow while tossing and turning, Freugne rose from bed.

Myriad thoughts raced through her mind.

‘That doesn’t suddenly make you a different Freugne from the one I knew.’

‘Stay there until I open it for you, alright?’

Lacking someone to restrain her, Freugne nearly succumbed to frenzy before regaining her composure upon seeing his face.

And so, having spent much of the night sleepless and restless, she greeted the following day.

The ward saw a revolving door of visitors popping in, only to promptly depart upon learning Edan remained unconscious.

Consequently, Freugne had to resign herself to foregoing any private time with him. Not that she lacked means to deter visitors through ‘inexplicable circumstances,’ but she no longer felt compelled to do so at present.

The social anxiety that had plagued her until the previous sleepless night had somewhat subsided.

All that remained was gauging when Edan would awaken after a proper rest.

Thus, reassured, she temporarily set aside the matter of Edan’s numerous anticipated visitors to address other pressing concerns first.

“So this is the ward where Mr. Edan is residing? As a fellow mage, I came to check on his condition… but it seems the timing is inopportune.”

“We’ve received reports. Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I’m the chief supervisor of the District 14 police precinct.”

“Any changes in his status? The Glasgow Embassy awaits a response.”

Edan’s mere injury alone constituted a significant diplomatic issue with the Glasgow Kingdom.

But an outright fatality would represent an entirely different magnitude of severity.

From the moment Edan was hospitalized, bureaucrats claiming to represent the government had swarmed the premises, vehemently demanding the medical staff ensure his survival at all costs.

And while Edan’s condition was indeed a priority, Freugne’s turn for a health examination had also arrived.

Physically, she appeared unaffected. But what had prompted her initial hospital visit?

“Professor Carno sent me. I primarily research the Demonic Tribe’s magic.”

“Ah, you’ve come for an examination? We were expecting you.”

“Indeed, and the Professor wished me to inquire after your well-being. We heard you were caught up in yesterday’s Demonic Tribe uprising – did you sustain any additional injuries?”

“…No.”

Freugne briefly glanced over her shoulder towards Edan’s ward.

By her standards, the nearest location affording some distance from him was the vacant ward adjacent to his room.

“Then let us commence.”

At the mage’s gestures, staff members promptly entered bearing equipment.

While conducting such procedures at another facility was unconventional, Freugne possessed the means to render the impossible possible.

“Is there an issue?”

“Traces of the Demonic Tribe’s magic remain. Quite potent, too.”

“Yes, I’m aware. I’m inquiring about the specific cause.”

“Truthfully, our data is limited, so our diagnosis may not be entirely accurate.”

After briefly fiddling with the device, producing a faint glow from his palm, and scribbling notes while pondering, the mage ultimately provided his assessment:

“It appears someone has intruded upon your mind. Do you see this graph here?”

“Well, I was under the impression such traces were customary for those mentally subjugated by the Demonic Tribe.”

As someone who had studied and contemplated the Demonic Tribe extensively, Freugne possessed more than rudimentary knowledge, prompting a puzzled tilt of her head. But the response proved unexpected.

“This surpasses mere intrusion to adjust memories or thoughts.”

“Then?”

“It is the work of a higher-echelon Demonic Tribe, one capable of reading minds rather than merely manipulating them.”

“…Read them?”

“Yes, the exact extent of memories accessed is known only to the caster. But the subject – you – have undoubtedly had portions of your memories extracted. Could range from a few days to several weeks… perhaps even more.”

Only then did Freugne finally comprehend the sequence of events leading to this juncture.

---

Freugne had not done anything particularly extraordinary.

She had issued a few directives to Carno, Ulr, and others, but those were merely routine matters.

Yet the buildup she had steadily accumulated did not dissipate in vain.

The already-creaking parliament, even before the incident, readily exploded with just a light spark.

The MPs, mages, and prominent figures Freugne had been subtly promoting in Antrim were generally those harboring negative sentiments towards the Demonic Tribe.

Not that any humans lacked such prejudices, but these individuals had specifically advocated aggressive preemptive measures over maintaining the status quo.

Thus, even amidst the ensuing major reshuffle, they could smugly claim vindication:

“The times have changed. Perhaps our era of peace has endured for too long.”

“It seems we no longer have a platform to voice our concerns…”

“As the Minister of Security entrusted with defending this city and safeguarding its citizens, I accept full responsibility for this incident… and hereby tender my resignation.”

“This sacred duty shall henceforth fall upon Antuan. Not only does he share a personal rapport with Professor Carno, but having foreseen such events, he is an ideal candidate well-suited for this new world order-“

It was a seamless integration into the core of power.

Nearly all potential obstacles to her path had been eliminated.

Aside from some minor administrative formalities, she had indirectly attained near-absolute authority.

And only one entity could possibly impede that path –

An existence exempt from the sovereignty of the Glasgow Kingdom, the Belfast Republic, or any human realm, rendering it untouchable.

Freugne found this fact terrifying.

More dreadful than the prospect of a smoldering Londinium was the Dark Lord, capable of glimpsing such futures at any moment.

She had believed herself empowered to do as she pleased, yet the world remained defiantly unyielding.

And around that very juncture…

“Cough, kkhhueck.”

“…You’re awake?”

“Ah, Freugne. Say, could you fetch me a glass of water?”

Edan had finally regained consciousness.

Freugne, who had been sitting vigil by his bedside, awaiting this very moment, rose to her feet.

Rustle

“Hm? Why?”

“Seeing you return injured like this every time, Uncle, what am I to do…?”

With that, she slipped off her shoes and clambered onto the bed, straddling his chest.