Tbate: Resurgence

-Chapter 11 : Aftermath-

Alea Triscan

Arthur's form slumped onto the icy ground, his body utterly spent from the battle. His breathing was shallow and ragged, his face pale, with layers of his skin scorched by the corrosive magic of the witch. My heart raced as I crouched beside him, watching his chest rise and fall with each strained breath. I should have been used to witnessing death, to seeing injuries far worse than these—but something about watching this boy, this child, push himself to such extremes struck me differently. Maybe it was because my brother would have been the same age as him if he were still alive.

With trembling hands, Arthur raised a finger to his dimensional ring. A faint glow of mana flickered as he activated it, and a small, ornate artifact materialized in his palm. His hand shook as he held it out to me, unable to speak louder than a whisper.

"‘U-Use this... ask for help. It's someone you and I both know. Explain the situation to him…’ Arthur’s voice trembled, his eyes fluttering. ‘Don’t… call the Council… trust me.’"

The weight of his words hung in the air, the urgency in his tone unmistakable. Before I could ask why, his eyes rolled shut, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

For a moment, I was frozen. Don’t call the Council? Why? What was he so adamant about hiding? But I didn’t have the luxury of pondering his reasons. He was dying. His breathing was slowing, his body trembling with exhaustion and pain.

I activated the communication artifact without hesitation.

The space in front of me flickered with a projection, revealing a face I hadn’t expected in a thousand years. Virion Eralith, former king of Elenoir.

“Lance Alea?” His surprise was palpable, eyes narrowing slightly. “How are you in possession of this artifact? Where is Arthur?”

Arthur… Elder Virion knew him? The urgency of the situation warred with my curiosity, but seeing Virion’s serious expression brought me back to reality.

“How do you know Arthur?” I asked, my voice catching as I looked at the unconscious boy beside me.

Virion’s eyes softened just slightly. “Of course I know him. He’s my only disciple.”

A mixture of shock and confusion surged through me. Arthur, this reckless boy, was his disciple? I had so many questions, but there was no time. His life was slipping away, and I couldn’t afford to let him die. Not now.

“There’s no time,” I blurted out. “We need help. Arthur’s gravely injured, and we were attacked by a powerful mage from the other continent. My team… they’re all dead. Arthur saved my life, but the witch we fought took a heavy toll on him.”

Virion’s face darkened, his voice growing colder. “Tell me everything.”

I quickly recounted the most important events. The investigation into Hell’s Jaw Dungeon. How we came across the witch. How her power decimated my entire squad before Arthur intervened. His overwhelming power… how he fought like someone far beyond his years, and the unbearable toll it had taken on him.

“He’s barely alive,” I added, my voice breaking slightly. “He used some techniques that... well, I’ve never seen anything like it. But it drained him completely.”

Virion’s face was tense, his eyes narrowing as I spoke. “Arthur… always pushing beyond his limits.” There was a long pause before he continued. “I’m sending reinforcements now. A group of healers will be there soon. Stay with him. I’m coming as well, and I’ll get him out of there.”

The connection flickered briefly, and I added, “Arthur asked me not to call for help from the Council. He specifically told me to reach out to you.”