Morning at the Hospital
Kael sat with the doctor in the quiet morning light, discussing Ronan's condition. The doctor reassured him, "He's not in any immediate danger. He should wake up soon."
A weight lifted from Kael's chest, but his relief was short-lived. "And Garrick?" he asked.
"His hand is stable, but he must refrain from training or combat for at least two months," the doctor warned. "It needs time to heal properly."
Kael exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "And Orin?"
"Minor internal injuries. He'll recover in a few days with proper rest."
Kael nodded and offered a sincere, "Thank you, doctor."
With a heavy heart, he left the hospital, his mind weighed down by thoughts. His team—Garrick, Darius, and Sylphie—were back at the guild, but without Ronan, their energy felt incomplete. As Kael entered the guild hall, he spotted Mr. Alden and Mr. Alaric engaged in a quiet conversation. Straightening his posture, he approached them.
"Good morning, sirs," Kael greeted.
They acknowledged him with a nod. Mr. Alaric's expression shifted as he spoke, "I'll make sure Aria apologises to you."
Kael forced a half-smile. "There's no need. Besides, my team is the weakest. Who would even listen to my words?"
Mr. Alaric opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a guild member rushed in from the hospital, breathless. "Ronan has woken up!"
Without hesitation, Kael, Mr. Alaric, and Mr. Alden hurried out of the guild hall toward the hospital.
Minutes before their arrival, the doctor was checking Ronan's vitals when suddenly—
Ronan jolted upright, his breath ragged and his body drenched in sweat. His muscles ached, and his limbs felt like lead. A lingering fear clung to him, though he couldn't remember why.
"Calm down, Ronan," the doctor soothed. "You're safe. You're at the hospital."
His wild eyes darted around before he ran a hand down his face and finally lay back against the pillow. "I... I think I had a nightmare, but I can't remember it. Still, I feel... terrified."
The doctor gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't force yourself to remember."
Ronan turned his gaze to the doctor. "Is everyone okay? Especially Orin and Garrick?"
"They're fine. Garrick's hand will heal, but he can't fight for two months. You and Orin pushed yourselves too far with that boosting spell. Magic can enhance your abilities, but exceeding your physical limits comes at a cost. Next time, be more cautious."
As Ronan absorbed the information, footsteps approached. The door swung open, revealing Kael, Mr. Alden, and Mr. Alaric.
Ronan's lips curled into a small smile. "Good morning."
"Morning," they all replied.
Kael stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "How do you feel?"
Ronan groaned dramatically, his voice laced with playful mischief. "Not so good, Captain. My whole body is screaming in pain. Maybe... if you bring me a Flame Core, I could absorb it to ease my suffering?"
Kael's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, wait, wait! I don't have one, but I can hunt for it—just give me a moment!"
Ronan chuckled, enjoying the reaction. Mr. Alden, however, sighed and grabbed Ronan's ear, giving it a playful tug.
"Lying in bed, yet still full of nonsense," he said, shaking his head.
"Ouch! Ouch! Stop pulling, old man!" Ronan whined, waving his hands in surrender before turning to the doctor with pleading eyes. "Doctor! Your patient is being abused! Aren't you going to do something?"
The doctor merely chuckled as Mr. Alden let go. "No Flame Cores while you're injured," he warned. "They're too volatile."
Kael crossed his arms. "So, you were messing with me, huh?"
Ronan smirked. "Not at all, Captain. Just checking if you really cared."
The doctor interjected, "If you want to help Ronan recover faster, bring him a suitable Monster Core. Some of them enhance healing."
Ronan's playful demeanour faded as he turned to Mr. Alden, his expression serious. "Did you get any information from that man?"
Mr. Alden's expression darkened. "He's dead."
Ronan stiffened. "What?" He sat up abruptly, his breathing erratic. "How? Our attacks weren't lethal! We only incapacitated him! I told you not to let him die!"
"Calm down!" The doctor pressed him back onto the bed. "If you keep this up, you'll prolong your recovery."
Ronan took a deep breath, forcing himself to think rationally. "That man... he claimed to be the same person who died from the Death Curse while we interrogated him. But his body showed no signs of that curse. He also wielded some kind of unknown and ominous energy. If we had captured him alive, we could've uncovered more about their organisation."
His fingers clenched into fists, and frustration was evident in his voice. "But now it's too late."
Mr. Alden sighed. "The member of the Luminal Covenant killed him. Luminal Covenant, higher up, said they would handle the investigation regarding the mark. This time, they claim they'll share their findings."
Ronan exhaled sharply. "I don't like how they operate. Too arrogant."
Mr. Alden exchanged glances with Mr. Alaric but said nothing.
The doctor finally clapped his hands. "Alright, that's enough excitement for today. He needs rest."
Kael gave Ronan a reassuring nod. "We'll talk later. Get some rest."
Ronan sighed and closed his eyes. "Yeah, yeah..."
As the others left the room, Ronan stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. Something about this whole ordeal didn't sit right with him.
After a few days of rest, as Ronan lay on his hospital bed, he turned to the doctor with a thoughtful expression.
"Good morning, Doctor. There's something I want to ask," he said, his tone calm yet curious. "You mentioned before that some monsters could help Garrick recover his hand faster. Can you tell me their names and where to find them?"
The doctor smiled at his eagerness but gave him a knowing look. "I can provide that information, but you must promise not to hunt them yourself until you're fully recovered."
Ronan gave a small chuckle and nodded. "I promise. I won't hunt them myself."