Chapter 14

I steadied my wavering mind.

Get a hold of yourself.

This wasn’t the time to worry about my feelings. I twisted my loose hair into a single knot and walked toward Gerard and Arvina.

“What should I help with…”

“Don’t come any closer.”

I pulled back the foot I had been about to step forward.

“It’s too dangerous. It’ll be too much for a fourth-rank to handle.”

“…Okay.”

I had endured it many times already and had performed deep contact purification countless times.

No matter how low my rank was, the energy here wasn’t enough to make me collapse on the spot. In the first place, there had never been a case of someone losing consciousness from energy alone.

But Arvina was either overly worried, or perhaps she had never once been a low rank herself and simply couldn’t understand. She was certain I wouldn’t be able to endure it.

And I couldn’t even argue that I would be fine.

From Arvina’s perspective, it would seem like someone who had never faced a first-rank Awakened on the verge of rampage was just showing reckless bravado.

Besides, the firmness in her eyes made it impossible to oppose her. It felt like it would turn into an exhausting battle of wills.

“If you need anything, tell me. I’ll bring it.”

“Just some clean water and towels.”

“Okay.”

I decided to bury the small emotions that kept rising at Arvina’s every word.

I ran into the hallway, grabbed a passing servant, quickly prepared what Arvina had asked for, and returned to the bedroom.

Arvina was already breathing heavily, as if she had attempted purification once in the meantime.

“Can you leave it on the table? Don’t come any closer.”

Perhaps she sensed my presence, because she spoke without even turning around.

“How is it? Is there any improvement?”

Instead of answering, Arvina simply sat in the chair, holding one of Gerard’s hands with both of hers.

Despite my discomfort, a small hope rose inside me.

Would a first-rank Purifier be different? Unlike me, who could only give him a pinch of strength, and unlike the others whose power he couldn’t absorb at all, maybe she could calm Gerard…

“Lord Castion. Arvina, whom you long for, is here. I’ll take all your pain, so please recognize me.”

There was desperation in her voice as she murmured like a prayer. It was very different from the way she had coldly slapped him by the estate wall.

Which one was her true self didn’t matter.

Arvina sincerely wished for Gerard to stabilize safely.

Purification carried the caster’s heart. The deeper the affection, the more desperate the wish, the more effective it was.

Standing a short distance away, I prayed as well. I forcibly rubbed down and wore away the emotions that tried to rise sharply.

Like a spectator watching from a darkened audience seat while a beautiful pair performed on stage. Hoping that the ending for the two of them would not be a tragedy.

* * *

“Ugh.”

Arvina’s body collapsed forward.

Her once neat appearance was gone, her whole body drenched in sweat and her face pale. It was already deep into the night.

Even after nine long hours of purification, with only a short break for a meal, Gerard still refused to stabilize.

Arvina looked shaken by a failure she had never experienced before. But as if that feeling turned into stubborn resolve, she forced her trembling legs to stand again and began another attempt.

“Arvina.”

Without answering, Arvina wiped Gerard’s forehead and neck with a damp cloth.

“I think… we’ll have to do deep contact purification.”

It seemed Arvina had believed it could be resolved without it. The voice in which she finally made her decision carried countless resolutions.

This would be her first time attempting deep contact purification.

“…Should I step outside?”

“No.”

Arvina, soaked in sweat, turned toward me and shook her head.

Seeing her tense face, the strange discomfort I had been feeling suddenly washed away like something carried off by a wave.

What had I even been thinking, watching someone who was trying so desperately to stabilize Gerard. A sense of self-reproach rose inside me.

“I’ll stay with you.”

“Thank you. Could you… turn off the lights?”

I nodded, drew all the curtains by the window, and turned off the bedroom lights.

Leaving only a single lamp on the bedside table, the room became dim, lit just enough to make out shapes.

Maybe because my vision darkened, my hearing grew more sensitive.

The sound of Arvina’s tense breathing seemed unusually loud. The air itself felt heavier.

Scrape. She pushed the chair back and stood, then leaned toward Gerard.

Her water-colored hair spilled down over his body. Arvina tucked the strands that fell across her face behind one ear.

“Lord Castion.”

Her damp voice trembled as it slipped out.

Watching the two draw close enough that their noses might touch, I lowered my gaze.

Just as I was struggling to suppress the turmoil inside me.

CRASH!

At the sudden noise, I snapped my head up.

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