A little reeled by the damage from the brawl with Silas, Leon dragged himself back towards the house. Against the grueling soil, each step was painful. The bushes were always a menace for potential attack from a wild beast, and something peeping out today would be an atrocious outcome. The house according to the sequence was near the Wemblem theatre. Behind the theatre was a luxurious flora embedding numerous drugs and anaesthetics. Additionally, fauna was quite captivating for medicinal purposes as well.
Going through the narrow lane dripping off blood, Leon turned to the hidden corner. A cave dug in depths closer to Wemblem falls. It was dark and dry around, even though the water drops never stopped. The water was drenching down through the capillaries amidst the rocks. The tapering had a sequence- a beautiful one. The seventh thud of the drop when intervened by the palm, the person fluidizes to the stranded house. But even those few steps towards the house were difficult.
Right close to the door he applied "Helpa"- a grand herb known for its healing abilities. The pain and the internal wound yet to be healed doesn't go, but the outer constraints surely fade. Putting up a happy smile on his face he opened the door.
Mess….a complete mess as everybody was jottling around the house. Faf was sitting in a corner afraid and scared of something. He could also hear Liora crying and shouting. That's when Mrs. Kaelen came running downstairs.
"Mother, what happened?"
"Leon, where were you? It's Agasthus" she said, without waiting for the answer.
Forgetting about his pain, Leon ventures towards Agasthus's room. There he was throwing off convulsions- some wild and deadly ones, puffing out blood from his mouth. Not just that, his body was disintegrating. Small fragments were vaporising off his body, vanishing away into the thin air. Leon slid towards Agasthus asking him "Are you okay brother?"
There was no response, and how would there be any?
"Is he going to be okay?" Liora came in
"Of course, dear" Mrs. Kaelen came with a glass of water
"I need to go"
"Where" Mrs. Kaelen questioned Leon.
"Joota roots, they can slow down this disintegration. His body isn't able to stay compatible with the energy in ascension and thus it's breaking apart. Joota roots aren't the permanent solution but they can give us significant time"
"Where are they found?" Mrs.Kaelen asked
"Deep into the chronicles of Tergoray Nols"
"Those deadly woods" Liora jerked
"That is the closest place to have Joota roots" Leon whispered
"Liora and mother, make a pod of Helpa, it will keep his skin regrowing. Don't be afraid when the impact would be less efficient the next day, that's how they work"
"There efficiency to regrow the body would be slow compared to the disintegration"
"Exactly" Leon appreciated Liora.
"And also, I am taking Faf with me"
Leon went to the stable for arranging a horse. Rest of the members in the family were aiding Agasthus with Helpa. Mrs. Kaelen's tears flooded out as she pressed her hands on Agasthus's chest. She could see the glimmers of his fragments fading out. She was worried about her little son, whose existence would soon fade away. Liora had a few instances flashed afore her eyes. Beautiful moments of her consoling Agasthus, when the arduous moments that crushed the synergism, came to her mind. Right then she came up with another concern
"Will Faf be okay?" She was shaking even harder. Her hands leaving the leaves, got the hold of Faf's shoulder. She held them even harder and turned with a consonant look on her face.
"I'm afraid of the same" Mrs.Kaelen said "Faf is still a mere child" she clarified.
"And what about Brother? Isn't he a kid? Everyday I see him waking up early in the morning and I have no idea what he does, but he is always so exhausted. Then one day I observed, he never sleeps. In the morning he is handling chores. In the afternoon he is out doing work in Mr.Gaerens field and as soon as he returns, the dinner needs to be ready. I care about that tired man, and so I will be going with him. I will be helping him in whatever he needs" Faf felt a sense of relief as if a huge burden came off his chest "I ... .always wanted to tell him this".
"Well, I'm sorry. But it's just that, I care about you all a lot. But you are right. You shall go with Leon and help him in this charge of fate"
Liora felt an uncertain tremors of pride rowing inside her. She was delighted by the extol Leon was receiving. A day as she remembered, when she was alone with Leon near the Kurch outskirts of the town. The streets were crooked and stinged of suspicion, but it was the only way back home from their failed sales of camphor in Kurch market. That day some macabre bandits intervened them. Liora got unconscious and could only see a vivid figure, resembling Revenant, standing between her and the bandits. The next moment when she woke up traumatized questioned about the horrifying outcomes, all she felt were cunning hugs from her family. Leon, Faf, Agasthus and Mrs.Kaelen grappled her within their arms. That day: she got to know how much her family loves her, and also how much Leon cares for them. She always remember what Mrs.Kaelen said to her that day
"Leon hasn't slept the whole night, Liora. He was waiting for you to regain consciousness"
It was quite unnecessary for her that day, but now she feels reluctant about thinking the same. Because that day she understood what her people meant, and how important they were.
The sun was straight on the apex as the afternoon struck in. But still the weather wasn't stingy hot; instead it was quite charming. The cold breeze chilled the tired bodies and soon the clouds took over.
The fortification of Helpa was assembling the pieces from Agasthus's body. He was completely mummified. Still a few little fragments once in a while would pop out of the stem. Time was running out and thus, it was the moment of departure. Leon had arranged a single black muscular breed of horse ready to be hoarded. Just a single horse- cause that's all they could afford. Faf held the bags, replete with all necessary goods of utmost importance. Leon climbed on and extended his hand to help Faf. The rest two were standing by the door, hesitating to step out, as their hearts were still tailed for dying Agasthus. The horse tramped the grass, galloping towards the forgotten wood. That's when the paths came up with a warning
[ "Stay alert, Leon Vale. You are not strong enough to handle those woods."]