Chapter 153: Meeting Again as Enemies

Kael stared intently at Ian.

He didn’t understand his twin older brother, nor did he care to understand someone who had chosen the path of betrayal.

In Kael’s eyes, Ian had brought this upon himself. He had mutated into a Dark Elf, betrayed the Elven race, and even sneaked in here to steal a sacred treasure of the Tree of Life purely for the sake of a human child. Any words of advice or obstruction had become utterly meaningless.

From this second onward, nothing remained between the two brothers save for enmity.

Yet perhaps this would serve as Kael’s final act of assistance toward his older brother.

Kael flicked his wrist slightly.

A white figure stepped forward from behind him. Keanu lowered its head, and resting upon its back was Kei, lying motionless with his dark hair cascading down his neck. The boy still wore the Tree of Life’s jade-green leaf, though its glow had dimmed to the point of nearly being swallowed by the surrounding darkness.

Ian’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Kei!"

He lunged forward, snatching Kei away from Keanu’s back and pulling him tightly into his arms. Supporting the boy’s nape with one hand while pressing the other against his tiny chest, Ian desperately tried to feel for the faint heartbeat still thudding beneath the fabric.

Ian snapped his head upward, his defensive gaze locking firmly onto Kael.

"What did you do to Kei?"

"Nothing at all." Kael looked down at him, his tone serene. "He’s still breathing; I merely brought him here."

Ian dropped his gaze to Kei’s ashen features. That frail respiration still brushed against his chest, but it was terrifyingly weak. He tightened his embrace, as though doing so would allow his own strength to anchor Kei to this world.

Kael cast his eyes toward the flask concealed beneath Ian’s cloak.

"Feed the Sacred Spring of Life to this human child, and then get out of this forest."

Ian froze in place.

"This is the final thing I can do for you, Brother." Kael paused for a beat, his golden eyes staring unblinkingly at Ian without a ripple of emotion. "The next time we cross paths, we will be enemies."

With those words, Kael turned on his heel and strode away. Keanu followed slowly behind him, its hooves tapping softly against the stone floor.

Ian couldn’t bring himself to voice the questions churning in his mind, why Kael had changed his mind, why he was willing to help him, or whether those parting words truly marked a final farewell.

Kael’s silhouette receded into the exit and vanished.

Ian stood motionless, cradling Kei in his arms. The dagger still rested within his palm, icy cold. A long beat passed before Ian realized he was trembling violently.

He let out a ragged breath, looking down at Kei.

"Kei, I’m sorry. I came back late, leaving Kael to carry you all the way here."

Ian pulled out the flask. The water within gleamed with a green luminescence, illuminating his pale face. Supporting Kei’s head, he parted the boy’s lips gently and tilted the flask slightly.

A tiny stream of water slipped past Kei’s lips.

"Drink... please."

The final drop touched the boy’s lips. Ian lowered the flask, his hand still cradling Kei’s chin out of fear that the liquid might spill out. He stared unblinkingly at every minute shift upon his friend’s features.

A moment later, the ashen, bruised tint on Kei’s skin gradually faded away. A soft blush returned to his cheeks, and his breathing lost its previous fractured rhythm. His tiny chest rose and fell with steadier intervals.

Ian closed his eyes, his entire body nearly buckling from the wave of overwhelming relief.

Yet Kei still didn’t wake up.

"Kei?"

There was no response.

Ian gently rocked the boy’s shoulders before freezing instantly, terrified that even a rough movement might cause him pain. He pressed his ear against Kei’s chest, listening intently to his heartbeat. It was still there, sounding far more regular than before, yet Kei remained trapped deep within an unyielding slumber.

The Sacred Spring of Life had succeeded in preventing his body from deteriorating further. But would it be enough to rouse him?

Ian stared at the leaf resting against Kei’s neck. Its jade-green radiance remained feeble, resembling a tiny spark struggling against the wind. Kei’s condition had been bizarre from the start. Eleanor deploying natural mana had merely stabilized his respiration, and the Sacred Spring of Life was likely only capable of achieving that much, as well.

He didn’t dare feed him any more.

The boy’s constitution was far too fragile. If he forced an excessive concentration of energy into his system, the very thing meant to save him could end up inflicting further harm instead.

Ian looked down at the flask in his hand. The volume of water inside had dipped, yet a portion still remained. He longed to pour more past Kei’s lips, yearning to do anything that might prompt Kei to open his eyes.

Yet his hand halted mid-motion.

*No. I cannot gamble with Kei’s life out of sheer panic.*

Ian drew in a deep, shuddering breath, forcing himself to calm down. If Kei couldn’t ingest any more right now, he had to figure out another way. He had to ferry him to safety and track down anyone capable of explaining why the Sacred Spring of Life had only improved Kei’s state without waking him.

He lifted his gaze.

The jade pedestal sat at the center of the chamber, its pool of green water glowing silently. Ripples of light flickered across the stone walls like an underground stream flowing in reverse.

The Sacred Spring of Life.

So abundant that Eleanor refused to grant Kei even a single drop. So abundant that Ian could pocket an entire flask of it, while the pool itself remained virtually untouched upon the pedestal.

His gaze lingered upon it before slowly brightening.

"That’s right... I know it!" Ian whispered.

If Kei couldn’t ingest any more, he wouldn’t force him. But neither did he need to choose between leaving all the Sacred Spring of Life behind and letting Kei die.

Ian tightened his grip on the flask, then scanned the chamber, searching for a way to transport the water without risking spills or loss. He didn’t know the exact quantity he would require. He only knew that Kei remained unconscious, and he couldn’t afford to halt his journey here.

"I’ll figure out a way." Ian bent down, pressing his forehead against Kei’s. "Just sleep a little longer. I’m taking you home."