Chapter 92: The cured emperor
Before an unknown window, imperial castle, a few weeks before the Sungrade gathering: )
Bronze hair that had regained their color, a skin that wasn’t as pale as it used to be a few days ago, and eyes that were conscious... yes, he was standing right now.
"I thank you all once again."
It has been quite some time since the emperor had recovered from his grave state and started getting better slowly.
The device that his close friends prepared for him had worked, and while the greatest credit must go to the unknown individual that made this device’s blueprint, the ones who created it were also to thank.
So, he turned around and looked at the Holy Saint, he looked at the Dark wizard and he looked at the alchemist without whom this would not have been possible.
"Lord William..."
He had kept him alive and he brought him back to a better state.
The headband that was present on his head right now was not a simple item, as he has come to understand.
However, while he had enough strength to stand up on his own, he was not cured just yet. The flame markings that were present all over his body were still there.
He could just endure the heat from these flames now, actually, the device on his head helped him tremendously.
It was something that he did not understand but it was the same as some ancient artefact from the forgotten times, a relic that should not have been possible to make in today’s time.
However, it was here. They had made it, and thanks to that, the emperor was fine. Still, that did not mean he was cured.
And just as it happens, there indeed existed a cure.
"Your grace we merely did what we were supposed to."
They were utterly respectful towards him because they liked him. There was no reason for them to help someone like him when there were better candidate that could lead the nation in his stead.
He was never supposed to be the emperor in the first place. But there he was right now, in the highest place within this great empire, looking down at the entire capital city.
He was not proud of many things he did after wearing the crown, and he did not know what he was supposed to do to make things better for his people.
He wasn’t fit to be the emperor, he knew that. But that was the very reason he raised his children to be capable of looking after what their forefathers had left behind for them.
Still, he wasn’t pleased with how the two who were supposed to help each other look after the empire were currently causing problems for the people that they were supposed to look after.
He did not like how things were going, and if left alone, he knew just what kind of chaos would rise from this. And he could not have that.
"Then I ask for your help once again."
The dark book that had the cure to his illness was sitting before him right now.
He had spent the last few weeks understanding contents of this book with his lacking knowledge of the demonic script and thanks to the people around him, he was able to grasp just what kind of danger he might be stepping into.
However, he was fine with it.
He needed to take this danger. He knew there would be nothing left if he died today and the same would be the case if he allowed his children to go down this dreadful path.
That was not what he wanted from them. They were the pillars that this empire needed so, while he could pass his days with the device, he knew the flames of hell would kill him.
They has taken root inside of his astral body, and there was only one way to get rid of them.
"We will proceed with the ritual."
"...!"
"Your grace?!"
There were only the three of them present right now. The three who had created the headband on his head.
They were the smart people who were going to prepare the ritual that would help him recover completely, but, they were also the only ones who could help him with this.
The nine that had looked after him were also the nine that he trusted the most. He was in a bad state right now, and while people did not know the kind of condition he was in, they would not Miss any chance to get rid of him completely.
Thus, they needed to be as careful as they could even now.
"Please."
He looked at them all and bowed his head.
The emperor, knowing the position that he was in, bowed his head.
"I don’t have much time left."
The energy that he used recovering from his state has taken too much from him. He wasn’t the strong pillar that the empire would stand on anymore.
The burden that he must bear was too great and he too weak to endure all of it on his own.
He was going to fight the odds, and while the process involved some highly unethical things, he must make one sacrifice to save the lives of many more.
"..."
The three people who created the headband on his head were best of the best. They could have gone on with the ritual anytime they wanted.
In the first place, the ritual to cure the emperor was several times less complicated than creating the headband that he was wearing right now.
They just could not bear the burden of hurting the person they had tried so hard to save. But, now that he wanted to do that as well, there was nothing to question anymore.
"We will get to work immediately."
The flames that had taken root inside his soul could certainly be treated. And to treat it, they would have to cut the iron with sharper iron.
Thus, the plan was simple: to summon the same fire of hell that caused his illness in the mortal world.
"Please. We must not go beyond our limits. I want you all to promise me one thing."
"I will do no such thing, your grace."
The Holy Saint refused the emperor’s request even before he spoke it. He knew he was going to ask him to let him go if things went wrong.
The thing that they were dealing with wasn’t something they, as humans, should play with.
In the first place, following the instructions of the book was a gamble in itself, but under the complicated situation, they must do it. They must shake hands with the devil.
"We will succeed, your grace."
Those were the words of one of the most religious people of this nation.
"We will, your grace."
The smartest and the strongest individuals of the nation also agreed with the saint, and seeing the three, the emperor could only smile bitterly.
"I don’t deserve your subordination... I’m unworthy."
Yet, he was the most thankful he had ever been to have people like him helping him live just a little longer...