Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 44: Final Preparations

At that moment, a knock on the door sounded.

"Neven, Stormblade is awake," Alexander said succinctly from outside.

Neven and Aria exchanged a glance, then quickly opened the door.

"He just woke up. I haven't informed Quinn yet," Alexander explained. "I thought you'd want to see him before anyone else." He then looked at Aria with a smile and said, "You look much better. You slept so deeply during the day that I thought you wouldn't wake up."

"I'm not usually like that," Aria replied with an awkward smile.

"Alexander, take us to see Stormblade," Neven said.

They left the north tower, walking along the open-air corridor toward the herbary. The air was filled with a faint herbal fragrance. The chill of the night seeped into their clothes, but their anxiety left them oblivious to it.

The door to the herbary was gently pushed open, and a wave of warmth mixed with the scents of herbs and wood enveloped them. In the center of the room, Stormblade lay quietly on a wooden bed. His bare torso was covered with a thick blanket, and his chest, bruised and purple, was smeared with a mud-like herbal paste, making him look pitiableand.

Alexander patted Stormblade's face, and he murmured a few times.

"His mind is severely confused. He can't even remember his own name," Alexander said.

"Are you saying he's lost his memory?" Aria asked, surprised.

"He's senseless. He can't even explain how he was attacked." Alexander slapped his face harder, his voice growing impatient. "Stormblade, wake up!"

Stormblade groaned and opened his eyes. He looked around the room with wide eyes, his pale face looking as if he were seeing the herbary for the first time.

Aria stepped forward angrily, ready to slap him. "Stormblade, it's Aria. Do you remember what the demigod did to you?"

"What are you talking about?" he coughed.

"That night when you threatened me with your sword, a demigod attacked us and then dragged you away," Aria tried to describe the scene.

"He used a sword?" Neven roared from behind. Alexander pushed him, and the two started muttering and shoving each other.

"A demigod?" Stormblade's eyes widened even more.

"A tall man with silver hair and a Devil's Eye implanted in one of his eyes. Do you remember? What did he do to you after he took you?" Aria asked again.

"I heard... his spell..." Stormblade said slowly, then suddenly turned to ask, "Who... are you?" He wore a foolish expression.

Aria impatiently responded with a sigh.

His eyes suddenly widened, his mouth opened, and he said in a terrified tone, "Lucius... Atg..."

"Yes, you remember, Lucius Atgent," Aria said excitedly.

"His... eye..." Stormblade suddenly sat up, startling Aria so much that she nearly fell over. Neven caught her and pulled her back a few steps.

Stormblade suddenly let out a howl. His tone then became sorrowful.

"If you keep moving like that, you'll hurt yourself..." Alexander forcefully pressed him back onto the bed and impatiently covered him with the blanket. "I can't take this anymore. I need to inform Quinn Morrison to come and get him."

"Has he regained consciousness at all?" Neven asked.

Alexander shook his head. "No. I don't know why he's like this. Quinn will have to decide what to do with his Executive Commander."