"...Yes. Though... I think you'd best hurry. The physician says... He has woken up only by sheer will-power... He said he wants to see the man who rescued him, to give him something really important and make a last request... He refused to speak after that, but he looks incredibly weak, as if though he is hanging on by a mere thread to this life..." She stopped at those words, but her soft eyes looked like she had something more to say, so much more on her heart and in her mouth that somehow just could not take flight and leave her lips.

Lars noticed it and wondered what it could be, but could not put a finger on it. So he just thanks her, saying, "Thank you for the update, I'll head over and will reach as soon as possible. Great. You'd better head off to get some sleep. Let the night s.h.i.+ft patrols take over things for now; I know that there're many, many rats who will only emerge after midnight, but there's only so much we can do. I think we should... What's wrong...?"

Lars had launched into a monologue as his thoughts proceeded onwards while he split his attention to finish up this last policy doc.u.ment for the New World Order before he planned to depart for the palace. However, he quickly sensed that Seline seemed to be holding back from saying something; which was unusual for her.

He stopped mid-sentence and probed gently, asking, "Seline...? Is there something else you wish to report...?"

Seline looked at him for awhile before her lips pressed tightly together, forming a thin line from her normally luscious and full mouth. She shook her head gently and let her gaze fall to the floor, saying, "N-no... No, it's nothing. Thank you, Lars. Please take care of yourself too. I... I'll head off now and get some rest."

And with those words, she about-turned and left with long strides, as if though impatient to leave his presence.

Lars watched as Seline departed and continued to sit there, pen stationary and mind blank as he wondered what he was thinking... Wondered just what it was he was feeling.

He let out a sigh then put his mind to finish up the last lines to the doc.u.ment and stacked up the papers to the right side of the long oaken table. He also made sure to set aside an important note instructing his companions and team what to do with all the wealth, items and resources he had looted from the underground hideout.

Lars then stretched his shoulders and arms before pus.h.i.+ng his chair out, grabbing his downy white cloak from the coat-hanger and left to see the now-awoken Everaldus Snith.

* * * * *

When Lars arrived at the ducal infirmary in the north-western section of the palace, he was met by an attentive lady who looked stressed-out with the whites of her eyes tinged with redness. She was dressed like a nurse, or doctor, he was not sure which, and when he looked around to see if there was anyone else in the reception area, he saw that she was the only one.

"Good evening, sir. Would you be Master Lars...?" She spoke cordially if wearily. It looked like it had been a long day for her, and looked like she too should have long been in bed. But alas, the infirmary was probably sorely understaffed - just like every other place in the entire city.

Just that, unlike many other places, there was no lack of injured people to go around in Gorun even until today... Especially today with the City Guard actively working together with Lars' New World Order to suppress the remaining members of the criminal organisation still roaming Gorun city's streets and predating on her innocent citizens.

From the moment he entered the open wooden double-doors leading into the infirmary, Lars could hear countless groans and some pained whimpers, while some people were whispering to themselves that things would be alright, or that this was all for the good of their family, or that they would soon be seeing someone - likely someone departed they would soon meet after crossing over the river of life and death tonight...

Coming back to the reality before him, Lars nodded, saying, "Yes, ma'am, that I am. I had heard that a certain patient was asking for me; might I know where he is laid...? I wish to see him and find out for the reason for which he is looking for me."

Lars tilted his head forward, bowing slightly in the way one younger would show respect to an elder, eliciting a surprised but pleased smile from the lady. The tiredness in her face faded away just a little as she said, "You're well-mannered, lad! I like that...! I'll remember it, and, if someday you ever need something, don't be afraid to look for me and I'll see what I can do to help you. It's just a shame... I don't think anything can save that man from the torture he's been subjected to... Oh, you'd best head on over. He's in room 4, fourth ward - that's a right turn then the second left, before going up the stairs. Then on the second floor, look for the door with the name, "Everaldus Snith" written on it. Go on, shoo! Hurry up! I've plenty of work to do!"

Lars was slightly taken aback even as he numbly nodded, unsure of how to react. Was this woman someone important...? Perhaps someone famous enough that he was supposed to know her and recognise her on sight...? Whatever it was, he made a mental note to check on who he had just happened to obtain favour with as he scurried along according to her instructions to locate the man he had rescued - apparently he was named Everaldus Snith.

Taking the right down the hallway, then the second left and up the stairs, he wrinkled his nose and tried to hold his breath from the smell of blood, pus, infection and also feces leaking from the ruptured guts of the injured as he approached the room she had told him about. He came up to the 7th door along that corridor and saw the words written on a yellowed card of parchment, "Everaldus Snith", slotted in to a slat on the door meant to display the name of the patient.

He lifted up his hand and knocked twice on the door before waiting, then opening it and walking in.

Walking in, he saw a man wrapped in bandages from head to toe. From the size of his figure, he was likely nearly 2 metres tall - however, his facial features were completely obscured and he no longer had any hair, perhaps due to his preference for baldness, or due to the torture he had been subjected to as even his head was tightly wrapped in bandages.

Lars saw that he was still breathing, though the breaths were so shallow they were nearly unnoticeable. Worried that this man Everaldus might pa.s.s on at any time now, Lars quickened his step and walked up to stand by the man's side, then cleared his throat gently, trying to wake him.

"Ahem..."

Lars then waited for 5 seconds, then 10 seconds before he saw that the man had still not stirred.

He then reached down and lightly, gingerly touched Everaldus' shoulder, shaking him lightly and calling out, "Everaldus! Everaldus! This is Lars! I'm here! Wake up!"

This time, Lars watched as the man's eyelids fluttered slightly before his eyes peered open a crack.

Not wanting to waste Everaldus' breath, Lars immediately asked, "Please; rest and save your breath. No need for extraneous words. What is it you wish to tell me...?"

The dying man wrapped in bandages struggled to draw air into his lungs, producing a sickening, painful wheezing sound everytime he did so. Lars winced as he could hear... No, FEEL the air leaking out of his chest and lungs everytime he breathed in - evidence that the injuries were bad enough that his respiratory system was in shambles.

Finally after 5 agonising breaths, Everaldus seemed to recover enough to speak. He whispered out, "Lars... T-thank you... My storage... Save... Father... Wiarno City... Pa.s.sword... "Chesed"..."

"You, you want me to help you...? Save your father and Wiarno City? Or is Wiarno City where he is...?" Lars leaned in closer to place his ear beside Everaldus' mouth in order to hear him better as he asked for clarification.

"...No... Time... Hurry... P-pleas--"

Then without any drama or emphatic event, the man on the bed just stopped breathing and stiffened.

He had breathed his last.

Lars sat there for a good 6-7 breaths, giving himself time to rest as he felt sorely the ephemerality of life before him. Despite not even knowing the man at all, he felt sad; sad that he had to go through torture, sad for the family he had left behind... And also regret that he had not been able to ask anything about the animal skin or where it had come from.

However, he a.s.sured himself that if he had a chance to redo this again, he would not have asked about the animal skin over finding out what the man's dying wish was. After all, what was Abyss Points or riches versus the amount of riches he could get from helping a family in dire straits?

Err, he meant, what was riches versus helping those in need...? Right, that's what he meant...

And so began Lars journey by wagon, hoping to reach Wiarno City in the Wiarno Kingdom and be back in time before the convoy departed for the National-level compet.i.tion in Danedaar city.

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[1] If he weren't a mage and warrior, he would probably make an excellent office worker... I wish I were that good T_T