The Sorcerer's Game

10. Cured in a blink

Azriel stared at his name with an incredulous expression. He could not comprehend what was happening and why he was even in a place that did not look normal. He turned the pages to check if he was familiar with anyone among the list of names in the book but all he saw was unfamiliar and strange names filling the pages.

With a defeated sigh, he closed the book and ran his hand through his hair. Everything was a mess, and he could not decipher how he had ended up in such a bizarre place. He saw his Chief and the man who he had once considered to be his friend lying on the bed as they waited for Micheal to bring the medic.

"Azriel," Walter mumbled, bringing the young man out of his stupor. As soon as he heard the man's feeble voice, Azriel rushed to him and held his hand.

"You must be wondering what is happening and why you are in such a situation all of a sudden." The man continued to speak even though it was taking him a lot of effort. He coughed lightly, and Azriel panicked on seeing his condition.

"Chief, please take some rest. We can talk about this matter later." He clasped his fingers around the man's warm palm, staring at him with anxiety and worry.

"Don't worry, my child. I will not die this soon. Even if I want to, Minerva will not allow me to." He stifled a laugh, and the next moment, he groaned in despair when pain shot through his body.

"Please, Chief. Please don't speak a word. Let us wait till the doctors arrive." Azriel begged, and Walter saw the young man's anguish in his eyes. So, he decided to not trouble him more than he already was.

The door opened, and Micheal entered with a lady who looked to be of the same age as him. The moment her eyes fell on Walter, she gasped lightly. "Oh, dear." She quickened her footsteps and reached by his side, and Azriel got up, allowing her to treat the two men without any hindrance.

"How did this happen?" She held the man's hand and queried softly.

"Hellion happened, and Walter could not take his blows," Micheal revealed, and Minerva glared at the man who was now lying on the bed.

"How many times have I advised you to keep practicing your skills even though you were not at Tethoris? Your body has become weak after not practicing your skills and improving your mana." She stated as she checked his condition thoroughly.

"Ah, I missed this dearly. I missed the nagging Minerva when I was on Earth." His words made Azriel's eyes go wide, and he blinked at the people who had missed his dumbstruck reaction.

'Earth? Did he just say Earth? What does he mean by that? Are we not on Earth anymore?' He wondered but did not voice out his thoughts, for he was worried about his Chief. The man's face was turning pale as time ticked by, and he needed medical attention immediately. 

"I can only cure you now. But you must practice your skills and improve your mana. Otherwise, you might end up getting hurt again if you are in a similar situation." Minerva remarked, and Walter nodded at her with a smile.

"I understand and don't worry, Minerva. My job on Earth is done. I have found the man we were looking for." Walter's eyes shifted to Azriel, who gave him a confused look. "I will improve my mana here. I will not be returning to Earth anytime soon."

"I appreciate it. Now, brace yourself." Minerva ordered. She held his hand tight. "Velox Remedium." She uttered, and Azriel mumbled the words under his breath, wondering what she was even doing.

The moment the woman uttered the words, Walter's face color changed, and Azriel was taken aback by what he saw even though it lasted barely a few seconds. In just a matter of few seconds, the woman had cured Walter, and now the man looked as envigorated as before. He jumped off the bed nimbly and approached Azriel with a smile.

"How? What...How is this possible?" Azriel stuttered in disbelief. "How could this happen?" 

"I told you before, Azriel. I will not be dying this soon and Minerva won't let me to." He winked at the young man, and Azriel gaped at him in shock. He had never seen his Chief being this playful before, and he was now suspicious if he was actually Walter Brooke or if he was an imposter with the same face as his Chief.

Michael saw the dilemma on Azriel's face and he chuckled softly. "Son, please be patient for some time. We will explain everything to you. You will find out the truth soon. Before that, let us take care of your friend." Although Azriel had a lot of questions to ask him, he just nodded at the man, swallowing his questions for the time being.

"Was this Hellion's doing too?" Minerva queried as she checked Keith's condition.

"Yes," Walter gave a quizzical look towards Azriel as he recalled what had happened at the battlefield. 'How did Azriel manage to escape from his spells? Is that even possible in the first place?' He pondered over it but could not deduce an answer. This was the first time he had witnessed someone avoid a spell without defending himself, and Walter was in awe to know that Azriel had this ability.

"Who is this young man?" Minerva's voice brought him out of his reverie. 

"He is Keith Frey. He is my junior, and Azriel and he are colleagues." After answering Minerva, he turned to face Michael who had a similar kind of expression as him. "Say, Michael, how is it possible that Keith could pass through the void? Is he one of us too?"

"I am not sure, Walter. The book did not mention him, nor did Aislynn speak about him. Azriel was the only person she spoke about, and the last entry in the book too mentions only this young man." Micheal pointed towards Azriel, who had his ears perked up as soon as heard them speaking about him. 

"I am not sure how strong the man here is. So, I will use the lighter spell on him." Minerva remarked, and the two men nodded at her in understanding.

"Sana Conficere," She muttered a different spell this time, and Azriel watched the color return on Keith's face. However, unlike his Chief, Keith did not get up immediately. "His energy is completely consumed. He needs to get some rest before he can return to his old self." Minerva stood up and faced the three men who were watching her keenly.

While Micheal and Walter nodded at her, Azriel did not show any reaction. "Is this the man you were talking about, Micheal?" Minerva finally took a good look at the man who had not spoken a word to her since the moment she had entered the room.

"Yes, he is the one."

"Welcome to Tethoris, son. I will see you again." The woman gave a small smile before she left the room. Azriel's eyes were fixed in the direction she had left before they snapped back to the two men who were lost in their thoughts.

"Chief, what is happening? Where am I, and why am I here?" Azriel could not control himself any longer, and all his questions came gushing out of his mouth one by one. "Who was the man who attacked us and why? This was the first time I was seeing him. Why did he fight me?"

"Azriel," Micheal sighed lightly. He knew it was time for the young man to know everything, and they could not prolong this further. "I have some matters to reveal to you, and you should follow me."

"But..."

"Please, Azriel. You need to know who you are before we answer your other questions."

"What do you mean, Mr. Glenn? I don't understand." Azriel was baffled. 'Who am I? Who does he mean by that?'

"Azriel, please follow me. I will reveal everything you need to know. But not here."

"But.."

"Azriel, please go with him." Walter pleaded with him and assured him with a nod when the man's eyes met his. 

"What about Keith?"

"I will be with him," Walter added, and Azriel now had no choice but to follow the man out of the room. He did not notice the small exchange between the two men before Michael and he left the room.