The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 82
—In the West, congenital disabilities are common, as are acquired ones.
Hearing this, Aseph had vaguely assumed that, because Bea was a skilled alchemist, her disability must have been congenital from the start.
Even if not, alchemists often live in harsh conditions. Bea, in particular, belonged to a generation that experienced war, so he guessed she might have been injured in such an environment.
He had hoped for that, in fact. He had wished it was an acquired disability due to persecution by someone. That way, it could be healed, and he could soothe her scars himself.
However.
However, this…
Even having confirmed his hoped-for hypothesis, he felt no joy. If such abuse continued, it was obvious her ear had been easily damaged.
He hadn’t expected good character from Myron Devesis.
But shouldn’t he have treated his beloved apprentice properly? That would ensure he could efficiently exploit whatever he was talking about, wouldn’t it? Efficiency aside, it didn’t make sense even if he could now cure such things as a new mage himself!
And yet, that question soon evaporated.
Aseph, who had observed every detail as Bea picked up the fallen hearing aid and fitted it to her ear, finally realized.
As Bea had casually mentioned once.
—Do you intend to put a prohibition spell on me?
—Prohibi… what?
Blinded by love, Aseph had stupidly responded to the mention of a necklace.
—Do you, perhaps, like necklaces?”
—I don’t know if I like them, but it’s the typical medium. AS long as it cannot be easily removed from the body, then it would be the ideal medium for a prohibition spell.
How could she have thought it normal to do such a thing?
Why did she say that injury to the ear was something that could never be healed?
Even if knowing it was uncomfortable, she still had to keep using the hearing aid.
A primal rage boiled deep within Aseph, stirred by the blood of the beast.
The plan he had optimistically thought up—to secure Homun’s safety first, offer Myron Devesis a carrot, and then sweet-talk Bea out—evaporated in the face of his intense anger.
“Myron Devesis!”
That outcry was the beginning.
“I will tear you apart right now!”
“I will return to you the deeds your father did, Vilkanos!”
The tension that had been tight finally snapped, and magic began to spew from Myron Devesis’s hand.
Heatwaves and cold blasts scattered around Myron Devesis, created by the magic circle.
Bang! Boom!
With every magical barrage from Myron Devesis, a cracking noise filled everyone’s ears. It was the sound of magical devices howling.
“Ugh…”
Bea, who would have assisted Myron in the past, couldn’t move her sluggish body. The shockwaves caused by the rampant magic were too much for her already exhausted body.
She had no strength left, having not eaten or slept, and using mere potions to sustain herself while repairing her master’s body.
In fact, her master no longer needed assistance now that he had been made capable of using magic. What else could she offer him.
So, what now?
Bea, anxiously looking around, spotted Homun lying not far away. Homun too had collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the shock.
“Ugh, huck…”
For some reason, Bea instinctively crawled towards Homun.
Having barely reached him, Bea was about to check on Homun’s complexion when they were both knocked over by a blast from behind. Homun opened his eyes in her arms.
“…Master.”
His voice was hoarse but filled with joy.
“Ah…”
As Bea numbly watched magic being fired into the sky, she tightly hugged Homun in preparation for the successive shockwaves. Feeling her feet lift off the ground, she braced for the impending impact and tightly closed her eyes.
Even with her eyes shut, it felt as if the world was spinning. She felt nauseous but lacked the energy to vomit anything.
Soon, a massive shock hit their bodies.
But it wasn’t as hard and rough as the trees or rocks she had braced for. It was somewhat warm and faintly familiar…
“Bea. Bea…!”
“…”
“Wake up—”
Struggling, Bea opened her eyes. A face that would never harm her was right in front of her.
It seemed he had somehow caught her flying body and absorbed the impact himself.
“Aseph Vilkanos.”
“Yes, yes, Bea.”
Aseph didn’t bother to ask if she was okay. Instead, he busily checked her over, inspecting the back of her neck for injuries, and thoroughly felt her shoulders and limbs. While she understood what he was doing, the added movement was too much for her already weakened body.
“…I’m dizzy.”
“Come with me, Bea.”
“…”
“You heard it. You’ve been used. The prohibition spell, all that about needing to voluntarily wear that device. So… that’s it. Let’s go. Okay?”
Aseph Vilkanos repeated the same words with a trembling voice.
Bea tried to respond, but no sound came out. Aseph’s face whirled around, and she tried to follow it with her eyes but eventually closed them, unable to keep up.
“Bea… why.”
Aseph choked up.
But she couldn’t gather her senses.
As Aseph and Bea fell silent, only the jingling of Myron’s bracelet could be heard.
