"Francis," she began, her voice soft and tremulous, "I somehow have a bad feeling about my parents. Are they okay? It seems after coming so close to Wallachia, I can't even wait to meet them. It has been a while, right?"
Francis regarded her with understanding and empathy, recognizing the turmoil that was gnawing at her. He knew that Adela's journey had been fraught with uncertainty and danger, and the longing to reunite with her parents weighed heavily on her heart.
He cracked a slight smile, hoping to offer her a glimmer of comfort. "I can feel it as well," he admitted, his voice warm and reassuring. "It's your first expedition, Adela. It's normal to have such thoughts and concerns."
Francis reached out and gently placed a hand on Adela's shoulder, offering his support. "But I want you to know," he continued, his tone earnest. "They are okay, Adela. We will meet them soon, and you'll be able to hold them in your arms once more."
Adela lightly nodded her head, her gratitude evident in her eyes. She appreciated Francis's efforts to comfort her and his unwavering belief in their mission's success. However, despite his reassuring words, there was a lingering unease in her heart that refused to be dispelled.
As Adela gazed up at the night sky, her thoughts were consumed by worry and a sense of foreboding. Her parents' safety weighed heavily on her heart, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She whispered their names silently to the heavens, a silent plea for their well-being.
"Father! Mother! Are you guys okay?" She wondered, her voice a mere whisper in the cool night air. "I don't know why I am getting a bad feeling inside my heart."
The quiet night was suddenly shattered by a voice that called her name, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Adela!"
Startled, both Adela and Francis turned abruptly, their eyes widening in surprise as they spotted Max approaching. Adela's heart skipped a beat, and a mixture of relief and concern washed over her.
"Senior!" Adela exclaimed, her voice filled with worry.
Francis wasted no time and dashed toward Max, who appeared to be on the brink of exhaustion. Max knelt before them, his energy depleted from his frantic rush. Francis and Adela rushed to his side, their faces etched with concern.
Francis helped Max sit, offering him a supportive hand. "Max," he said urgently, "what happened? Why are you here, and why do you look so drained?"
Max took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving as he tried to regain his composure. His eyes were filled with a sense of urgency, and he wasted no time in sharing the dire news that had brought him to them.
"It's Asmodeus," Max explained, his voice trembling with emotion.
As Max's voice trembled with emotion, Adela's heart clenched with understanding. She had seen the effects of the curse that plagued Max before, and it was no ordinary affliction. The mention of Asmodeus only deepened her concern, as it seemed that Anesthesia's malevolent power was taking its toll on Max once again.
Adela's thoughts raced as she tried to piece together what had transpired. She had seen Francis and Camilla together earlier, and now Camilla was conspicuously absent. A sense of unease washed over her as she considered the possibility that Camilla might be somehow involved in Max's current condition.
She wasted no time and reached out to Max, gripping his shoulder firmly to help him stand. Her voice was filled with urgency as she turned to Francis.
"Francis, let's take him to his room," Adela said, her tone resolute. "I need to try to calm his pain down."
Francis, who was still trying to make sense of the situation, looked from Max to Adela, his confusion evident. "Asmodeus?" he inquired, his voice laden with concern. "What happened, Adela?"
Adela met Francis's gaze with a solemn expression. "You will know everything," she assured him, "but first, we need to treat Senior Max. His condition is deteriorating rapidly."
With Francis's support, they helped Max to his feet and began to make their way to his room. The urgency of the situation hung heavily in the air, and Adela's mind raced with thoughts of what might have transpired during her absence.
As they settled Max onto his bed, Adela's focus shifted entirely to him. She knew the urgency of the situation, understanding that without intervention, the curse that plagued him could lead to uncontrollable desires and actions that would endanger both himself and others.
Adela's hand hovered above Max's chest; her gaze locked onto his troubled expression. She needed to act swiftly to apply the sleeping magic that would lull Max into a peaceful slumber before his desires spiraled out of control.
With practiced precision, Adela's fingers pressed gently against Max's chest; the pressure was measured and deliberate. She began to speak the incantation, her voice clear and commanding.
"Sleep under the melody of air; inhale the sweetness of it," she intoned, her words carrying the weight of authority.
Her voice, filled with magic and determination, held the power to quell the turmoil within Max's mind. She continued, her words a potent command, "I order you to calm nature."
As she spoke the final word of the incantation, there was a swooshing sound, and a spark of magic emanated from her palms. The crystal pendant she had given Max began to glow brightly, its radiance filling the room. The magic surged, enveloping Max in a soothing embrace.
Francis stood nearby, his role clear—to support and protect Max as Adela worked her magic. He watched with a mix of awe and concern as the enchantment took hold. Max's breathing began to steady, and the tension that had gripped his body began to ebb away.
Adela maintained her focus, her willpower unwavering, as she channeled the magic through her touch. The room was filled with a tranquil energy, a stark contrast to the chaos that had threatened to consume Max just moments before.
Finally, as the spell reached its full potency, Max's eyelids drooped, and he succumbed to a deep and restful slumber. The curse that had tormented him was temporarily quelled, allowing him much-needed respite.
Adela withdrew her hand, her own energy drained from the effort. She turned to Francis, her expression a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "He should be safe now," she said, her voice soft.
As Adela took a seat beside Max's peacefully slumbering form, her exhaustion was palpable. The weight of the situation and the magical effort she had exerted had taken a toll on her, but her determination remained unyielding.
Francis, standing nearby, couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He needed to understand what had befallen Max, and the urgency of the situation demanded transparency.
"What happened to Max?" he asked, his voice filled with concern and a touch of disbelief.
Adela, her eyes still closed as she exhaled slowly, knew that there was no longer any point in keeping the truth hidden. The gravity of Max's condition needed to be acknowledged, and her words came forth without hesitation.
"He is under Asmodeus's curse," she revealed, her voice steady and resolute. "The lust for girls increases day by day."
Francis was taken aback by this revelation. The severity of the curse and its implications weighed heavily on his understanding. The wickedness of Asmodeus's power had taken root within Max, threatening to turn him into a danger to himself and those around him.
"What?" Francis exclaimed, his shock evident in his wide eyes.
Adela nodded solemnly in response. "Yes, Francis," she confirmed, "Max is afflicted by this curse, and it's been getting worse. But now that we know, we can take steps to help him."
Her unwavering determination shone through as she continued, "Now, don't ask anything more for now. He will be fine. After we return home, I will seek my mother's guidance on how to break the curse."
With those words, Adela rose from the bedside, her resolve unwavering. Francis only took a look at her path as she walked out of the room.
He murmured, "Camilla!"
[The senior changed to the street.]
Camilla's steps were measured as she returned to the inn, her thoughts occupied by the uncommon and peculiar gems she had acquired. Her enigmatic nature was further evidenced by her choices, and it left others wondering about her true motives and intentions.
Upon entering the inn, the sight of everyone sleeping in the calm night brought a sense of tranquility. Camilla moved through the quiet common area with a graceful and quiet stride, heading toward her room with a composed demeanor.
However, her path was unexpectedly blocked by Theia and Kim, who stood before her room. Camilla's stern expression gave no hint of her inner thoughts, and she was about to continue walking when Theia spoke up, her voice tinged with remorse.
"Camilla, I am sorry because of my behavior and the way I treated you."
Camilla paused in her tracks, her gaze flickering between Theia and Kim.
The atmosphere in the corridor hung heavy with tension as Theia's apology lingered in the air. Camilla's deadly glance, filled with an intensity that could freeze even the bravest soul, bore down upon Theia. It was a gaze that hinted at depths of knowledge and power that Theia could scarcely comprehend.
Theia felt a shiver run down her spine as Camilla's gaze locked on her. It was as if something ominous had engulfed her, a force that could render her invisible in the darkness, a mere whisper of existence.
For a brief moment, Theia considered the possibility that Camilla had seen through their intentions, that the enigmatic woman had discerned the truth behind their actions. She couldn't help but wonder if Camilla had uncovered their plan to use her for their own gains.
To be continued.