Arthus screamed as he ran outside the bathroom "Sebas! Where are you?!"
Not after a moment he heard hurried footsteps "Sir Nachthelm what's wrong?!" Asked Elias, he didn't seem to be breathless despite the fact that he ran up from downstairs.
"Mirrors!" exclaimed Arthus.
"What?" asked a breathless Mara.
"Elira! She used to talk to mirrors!" exclaimed Arthus in urgency.
"Huh??? Are you alright in the head Prin— !" Mara suddenly stopped mid sentence and blushed profusely. Then suddenly averted her gaze after a while.
More footsteps were heard and Sebas finally arrived at the scene. "What happened my Lord?!"
"Mirrors! Remove all the mirrors in the mansion… or at least cover them. Do it now!" ordered Arthus with authority.
"Yes my lord! But first you should wear some clothes, you might get sick otherwise" stated Sebas.
"Uh— right, cover the mirror in the bathroom first, I'll change after it's covered" while in panic, he had forgotten to wear his clothes in haste.
"Of course my lord! Give me a moment" and off trotted Sebas with his purpose.
He turned back to the three policemen and saw that two of them had averted their gaze and would not look at him. Those were Elias who had a rosy complexion and Mara who was red like a tomato. Ronald on the other hand was pale as usual, staring straight at him only when I looked back at him for a while did he avert his gaze.
Arthus didn't feel embarrassed, maybe it was because he was used to being seen naked by others? No that just sounds wrong, what I actually meant was that I was usually provided a helping hand by Elira when getting dressed. Wait even that is weird, how spoiled was the original Arthus? The snotty brat couldn't even dress by himself. Maybe it was because his life was endangered that he couldn't help but not have the audacity to feel embarrassed? Whatever the reason, it didn't matter. His main priority was incapacitating the mirrors to stop any invasion from the Demoness sect.
Soon Sebas returned and assured him that the mirror was properly covered. Arthus made his way to the bathroom striding confidently in his birthday suit, butt naked.
As soon as he left Elias immediately recovered and donned a solemn expression. He looked towards his subordinate Roland who made eye contact with him and nodded in understanding. Meanwhile Mara was muttering something incomprehensible to herself. Then she suddenly said "Well at least we know for sure now that he ain't no Princess, am I right!"
Elias gave a hearty chuckle and responded with a smile on his face "That we do hahaha!"
"Also Roland you got some explaining to do! Don't worry we don't judge right Mister Elias?" inquired Mara teasingly.
"I've got nothing to explain" stated Roland plainly.
"Nothing! That sure wasn't nothing when you were gawking at him like your life depended on it! No it was as if he was the last thing you wanted to see before dying! How romantic! Have you fallen for him? Hmm?" speculated Mara stating her unfiltered thoughts.
Roland just stared at her expressionlessly.
"Come on, spill the beans! The forbidden love! Eeee!" squealed Mara like a highschool girl.
"Stop it Mara! You've gone too far this time. Maybe you should stop reading those unholy scriptures you call novels. It is clearly affecting your thinking" scolded Elias in a stern voice.
"How mean! Hmph! I guess I'm sorry Mister Roland, my imagination got the best of me" Mara issued an apology though clearly not meaning it.
"It doesn't matter. If you must know, I was just thinking… he would look good as a corpse" said Roland in a deadpan voice.
"How kinky! Is that your way of saying you love him?" teased Mara again.
Roland remained expressionless despite her relentless attempts at teasing him while Elias just slapped his forehead.
"How boring" said Mara.
…
Back to Arthus.
Arthus entered the bathroom and saw that his bundle of clothes was left untouched just as he left it. He quickly went over and started to get dressed. Just as he finished he heard a polite knock on the door.
"Yes!" said Arthus in a slightly loud voice.
"Master, Mister Aberforth just arrived for your check up. Where should I have him wait?" replied Sebas.
Arthus really didn't feel that hurt since most of the damage he had accumulated was self inflicted hence not resulting in any serious damage.
He had bruises and small cuts here and there which definitely didn't require him to see a doctor but since he had decided to act being seriously injured, he decided to go all the way with it.
"Just take him to my room, I'll be there soon. And tell Elias and their company to start eating without me. I've made them wait long enough" replied Arthus without much emotion in his voice. He was just tired and hungry. Too much happened today which he still hasn't been able to wrap his head around and not to mention the dreadful mind rape by the Nighthawks.
"Yes my lord!" replied Sebas and soon left.
Arthus sighed and started making his way back to his room.
He soon reached his room and noticed the door was already open. As he entered he saw Aberforth pacing around in his room. As soon as he saw him he rushed over to Arthus and asked in a concerned manner "Master Nachthelm what happened, is everything okay?"
"I'm fine it's nothing serious, Sebas insisted that I get checked up by you so here we are. As for what happened, I don't want to talk about it" said Arthus in an exasperated tone.
"As you wish Master, let's begin the check up" replied Aberforth with professionalism.
Aberforth was a man past his prime, with thinning grey hair and beak like nose, he moved with practiced grace and quiet authority. The gas lamp on the bedside table flickered gently, casting a warm halo over the room as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"Let's have a look at you," he said in a low, gravelled voice, his tone a blend of familiarity and professional detachment.
He used a small brass candle lantern fitted with a frosted glass shade, its light muted and soft. He adjusted it carefully on the nightstand before leaning closer to inspect the injuries.
First, he examined the Arthus's pupils by lifting the eyelids gently, his gloved fingers cool and steady. He murmured instructions as he worked. "Look to the left… now to the right… good. No sign of serious cranial trauma, but there's swelling here." He pressed delicately at the temple, where a purpling bruise had begun to bloom.
He dabbed a linen cloth in a tincture of arnica and witch hazel, then applied it to the bruises and cuts around the face. "This might sting," he warned softly, the alcohol-based solution biting into the wounds as he cleaned them. A faint aroma of mint and something earthier filled the room.
After checking for signs of disorientation or nausea, and asking a few brief but pointed questions "Do you remember what happened? Wait my apologies you don't need to answer that" and Arthus didn't.
"Any vomiting since?" Arthus shook his head in denial. Aberforth nodded to himself and began wrapping a clean bandage around the Arthus's head with measured efficiency.
"It's a mild concussion, nothing grave," he said, adjusting the bandage just so. "You'll need rest, limited reading or writing for a few days, and no strenuous activity. I'll leave a draught by your bedside. Take half before sleep"
"I want your candles, leave them for me" demanded Arthus.
"Of course Master Arthus, how many?" asked Aberforth, still maintaining his professionalism.
"All of them" replied Arthus.
"Sure" said Aberforth who began to pull out all the candles he had with him and set them on the table.
He gave one final check, packed away his instruments, and stood. The room fell quiet again, save for the creak of leather and Aberforth's steady breath.
"I'll ask Sir Sebastian to wake you twice tonight, just to be sure. I'll return tomorrow to see how you've fared" and with that, he nodded courteously and made his way out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Arthus also left his room and headed downstairs to finally eat something. He entered the dining hall and saw Elias and the company talking and eating happily. Though they stopped as soon as he entered.
Mara whistled suddenly and said "Your maid really did a number on you huh?"
Arthus glared at her and responded "Perhaps you are in an even dire need for a checkup than myself considering the fact that you have a memory of a small fish! I already told you it was the three thugs who did this to me and not my secretary!"
"I wouldn't mind if you were the doctor" she winked seductively at him.
Arthus frowned and said in confusion "What you! You — never mind just please stop. I've had a rough day and you're not really helping"
"Whatever you say boss!" said Mara.
With that he ate in silence and left for his bedroom. Of course not before calling Sebas to patrol the house to make sure all the mirrors were covered.
He finally came to his room and saw the candles. "I guess I'm really doing this" said Arthus reluctantly.
He tried to remember the ritual from memory. After setting up the ritual and igniting the first two candles in the front, the ordinary candle that he had at his own disposal and then a candle made of night vanilla and slumber flower to represent Evernight, which he had bought from a stall near the church. As for the last candle he used the one that Aberforth left him with. He was sure it wasn't an ordinary candle so it should be fine right?
Following that, he burned some of the draught that Aberforth left him to please the goddess. He did this because he didn't have the Full Moon Essential oil, but the draught had some herbs in it so it should be fine right? Bit by bit, he completed the ritual.
Towards the end, Arthus took two steps back,and chanted softly,
"I pray for the power of the dark night.
I pray for the power of the mystery.
I pray for the Goddess's loving grace.
I seek the blessings of concealment to help me stay lucid during the dream investigation!
Herbs in the draught, please pass my supplication to the goddess!"
After he was done chanting, Arthus patiently waited for a while and to his surprise, nothing happened. There wasn't any reply.