Chapter 223: Ch 222: Why it is his fault

Kael tried to sense everyone’s presence, but he suddenly could not. Even his magic felt dull at the moment, making him panic even harder. He almost felt like he was having a stroke when Nathan grabbed his shoulder and forcefully calmed him down.

"Hey, take a deep breath and listen to me. Everything is alright. There is no need for you to panic like this."

Nathan reassured Kael, and he finally felt like he could breathe properly...

But that did not mean he was ready to accept the feeling of loss.

"Everyone else-"

"Is in the meeting room, discussing what they should do about the elf situation. Adrian is also taking this situation especially hard. That alliance with the elves was an important political agreement, and it will surely fall apart now."

Nathan reminded Kael, and he nodded. His senses still felt dull, but knowing that the situation was not as bad as he thought helped.

Luckily, his younger brother gave him an explanation for his own situation as well.

"The cuffs that were put on you must be dulling your senses, so there is no need to panic if you cannot sense your powers. They were put there to help you calm down and relax. I did protest against using them, so don’t be angry at me."

Nathan quickly proclaimed his innocence. Kael could see him sighing and shaking his head at the overprotectiveness that everyone was showing toward Kael, but there was also understanding.

Kael immediately decided he needed to change the topic away from his cuffs.

"What has been decided so far?"

Kael asked, and Nathan seemed conflicted about how much he should tell Kael. He was about to answer when the door to the medical wing opened and Adrian walked inside with the others behind him.

The eldest looked glad to see Kael awake, and Nathan immediately stood up to give his chair to Adrian.

"How are you feeling now, Kael?"

Adrian asked, and Kael almost started complaining before he caught himself.

"I am better now. What about the situation? Did you decide what to do?"

Kael asked, and Adrian nodded.

"We have come to a conclusion. We will be conducting long-term purification for the elves. According to the notes we have, the elves perform a cleansing ritual for their elf tree every year, and they call the temple for help. This year, we will send Seraphina there to help out and see what we can do from there."

Kael had expected his elder brother to have a plan ready, and Adrian did not disappoint him.

However, this was a dangerous situation for Seraphina. Kael did not want her to go in alone.

"Don’t look so worried. I am volunteering to go with her, so this should be fine. We have already sent a letter to the elves, telling them that we would be coming for the ceremony. You can leave it all up to us."

Leon promised, and Kael felt sorry for leaving everything up to him and Seraphina. But he had to admit that he was not in a condition to help them out either.

"Let’s see what the reply to this letter is. I will also likely end up tagging along because I need to talk about my fiancée and our relationship with the elves."

Adrian looked stressed just thinking about it, and Kael felt both sorry for and thankful for Adrian’s presence.

As the eldest, he was forced to shoulder responsibilities he had no right shouldering. And if not for him, Kael would have been in trouble as the eldest son...

"Well, we cannot do anything for now but wait and see what is going to happen. But the elves are intelligent and self-aware. I am sure they will make the right decision."

...

"The elf tree is burning! We are all going to die! Elder, what do we do-"

"The High Elf is dead, and now the elf tree as well. Lady Kana, what is going on?"

"S-Someone, please help! I-it hurts! I am burning!"

There was destruction everywhere, and the elves were dying. No one seemed to be able to make sense of what was happening.

However, there was one person who was laughing right in the middle of this chaos. Blood and magic trailed down the person’s face, and his piercing eyes looked accusingly at the leader.

"What have you done?"

Kana felt her voice becoming thinner and softer. The corruption that kept her alive was suddenly burning her from the inside, and she felt scared.

Was this truly the end for her and the elves? Were they going to perish just because they were forced to carry this curse?

"I am sorry, but nothing that is connected to corruption is allowed to remain. It is for the sake of this world. You understand, right?"

The Saintess spoke softly, her eyes looking at Kana with a sorry expression. Just having that look of pity yet indifference aimed at her made Kana feel like she was losing her mind.

"Ha! You think this makes sense? Why did this happen to us? What did we do so wrong?"

Kana’s voice was thin as she tried to hold her emotions back. But anger and sorrow still escaped her lips as she looked up at Seraphina’s face.

The Saintess looked a little older, maybe in her twenties, and she had a regretful look on her face.

"I apologize, but this is necessary. Leon is here to fulfill his destiny as the Hero, and as a servant of God, I cannot allow things to remain as they are."

Seraphina sounded sorry as well, but Kana was not buying her excuse.

"This is not right. Our lives-"

"Seraphina, let’s finish here quickly. We need to head back before Kael somehow decides to kill himself with his experiments. You know how reckless he is."

"You are right. Let’s head home quickly."

Seraphina’s eyes were tender when she spoke Kael’s name, and there was unhidden affection in them. It was clear that both she and Leon wanted to head back.

But why did they get to head back to where they wanted while Kana’s home was being burned? It made her angry, and her desire for revenge was ignited.

"Kael...it is his fault..."

It was not, but she was no longer rational enough to think properly. Her anger clouded her judgment, and then...

She woke up from her dream with tears streaming down her face.