Chapter 97: Forced Recovery
Kael lay quietly on the infirmary bed.
His consciousness drifted somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. Although his eyes were open, all he saw was endless darkness.
His body twitched involuntarily.
The aftereffects of Mana Emphasization had not completely disappeared.
Every Mana Conduit in his body still throbbed with a dull ache, and his muscles occasionally spasmed without warning.
"I guess I went overboard..."
Kael muttered.
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet it was enough to freeze every Healing Mage inside the infirmary.
Several pairs of eyes immediately turned toward him.
"Mister Kael..."
"You’re still conscious?"
One of the Healing Mages asked in surprise.
Kael slowly pushed himself into a sitting position before letting out a tired sigh.
"Yeah..."
"And could you get me a Recovery Potion?"
He placed one foot on the floor as though intending to stand.
Immediately, one of the healers stepped forward.
"Kael, I’m not sure you should be getting up so soon."
"Your skin..."
The healer’s voice trailed off as he looked at Kael’s body.
Numerous cuts still covered his arms and torso.
Several areas of his skin had become unnaturally dark, almost as though they had been scorched from within.
Those marks were the result of forcing Mana Emphasization beyond what his body could safely endure.
Kael followed the healer’s gaze before chuckling softly.
"That’s why I said to bring the Recovery Potion."
He relaxed and sat back down on the edge of the bed.
His blank eyes remained fixed on the empty space ahead of him.
Although his vision had yet to return, his hearing remained as sharp as ever.
After a brief silence, Kael spoke again.
"How long do you think it’ll take them to prepare the arena for the final battle?"
The question caused several of the Healing Mages to exchange glances.
One of them finally answered.
"Are you sure you’re ready for another fight, Kael?"
Kael immediately burst into laughter.
"Of course I am."
"I’m practically bursting with excitement for the next fight."
His grin carried the same excitement he always showed before challenging a powerful opponent.
The Healing Mages, however, could only stare at him helplessly.
None of them understood how someone in his condition could still be looking forward to another battle.
Just then...
Kael’s expression changed.
His head snapped toward the Healing Mage standing beside him.
"I said..."
"No Healing Magic."
The room instantly fell silent.
The startled Healing Mage awkwardly withdrew his glowing hand.
Before anyone could say another word—
A familiar voice echoed throughout the infirmary.
"Come on."
"Four of you."
"Hold down the boy."
Kael immediately recognized the voice.
"Wait..."
"Miss Stella, please tell them to stop."
"I can go on."
His complaint fell on completely deaf ears.
Without hesitation, four Healing Mages surrounded him.
Before Kael could react, they grabbed both his arms and shoulders, gently but firmly pinning him back onto the bed.
"No."
"Wait."
"I already told you I’m—"
His protest was interrupted.
Lyra folded her arms as she looked down at him.
"How can you say that, Kael..."
"After you almost died?"
Her voice carried genuine frustration.
"What you did was far more dangerous to yourself than it was to your opponent."
She continued without giving him the opportunity to argue.
Kael opened his mouth.
Then quietly closed it again.
For once...
He chose not to argue.
Seeing him finally remain silent, the Healing Mages quickly resumed their work.
Soft green Mana gathered around their hands before flowing into Kael’s body.
Unlike before...
He didn’t resist.
The cuts covering his body gradually began closing.
The burnt patches left behind by prolonged Mana Emphasization slowly faded as the healing magic spread through his body.
The Healing Mages exchanged surprised looks.
His body...
Was recovering unusually fast.
Even with their healing magic assisting him...
Most of the regeneration seemed to be happening naturally.
Within only a few moments...
Kael blinked.
The endless darkness clouding his vision slowly began fading.
Blurred outlines appeared before him.
Then shapes.
Then colors.
His eyesight gradually returned.
Kael blinked several more times before smiling faintly.
"I think..."
"They’ve done enough."
Before anyone could stop him, he stood up from the bed.
Using the corner of his eye, he glanced toward the exhausted Healing Mages.
Several of them released helpless sighs.
Among all the injured students they had treated throughout the tournament...
Kael had unquestionably become their biggest headache.
Lyra let out a long sigh after seeing Kael back on his feet.
She knew trying to convince him to rest any longer would probably be pointless.
Still...
She couldn’t help asking one more time.
"What you’re doing is foolish."
"The opponent you’re fighting against has not fought once throughout the tournament."
"And you want to carry the injuries from your previous battles into a fight against someone like that?"
Her expression remained serious.
Unlike Kael, she wasn’t excited about what was coming next.
She was worried.
Kael simply smiled.
"Don’t worry so much."
"If she watched that last fight..."
"She should be the one that’s worried."
"Not me."
There wasn’t the slightest hint of hesitation in his voice.
To him...
The battle ahead wasn’t something to fear.
It was something to look forward to.
Lyra shook her head helplessly.
There was simply no changing his mind once he had already decided on something.
Elsewhere...
The spectators had yet to recover from everything they had witnessed.
Groups of students continued discussing the battle between Kael and Zion even after both fighters had already been taken away.
Every conversation seemed to revolve around the same topic.
"Did he just partially open a Domain?"
One student asked in disbelief.
"I... I think he did."
Another student replied uncertainly.
"Are these people even first-years?"
"One is moving almost as fast as the Student Council President and can also use Aura..."
"...while the other is using Mana Emphasization, something some third-years can’t even do."
The surrounding students nodded silently.
None of them knew how to process what they had just witnessed.
Charlotte remained standing quietly among the spectators.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the arena below.
Even though the battlefield had already become empty...
Her thoughts remained there.
She replayed the battle inside her mind.
Every exchange.
Every movement.
Every decision Kael had made during the fight.
The determination inside her eyes slowly deepened.
Without realizing it...
She had unconsciously clenched her fists.
She wasn’t frustrated.
Nor was she jealous.
Watching Kael continue pushing himself beyond his limits had only strengthened her own resolve.
If Kael could continue moving forward...
Then she couldn’t afford to remain where she was.
She quietly lowered her gaze.
"...I’m still not strong enough."
The words barely escaped her lips.
No one nearby heard them.
Charlotte slowly loosened her clenched fists before taking one final look at the damaged arena.
Then she silently turned away.
Elsewhere inside the academy...
Lilith remained standing where she had watched the previous battle.
Her crimson eyes reflected lingering disbelief.
Only one thought continued echoing inside her mind.
"When did the Black Butterfly get this strong?"
She had expected Kael to grow stronger.
But not at this pace.
Not to this extent.
The battle she had just witnessed had completely exceeded her expectations.
She wanted nothing more than to head toward the infirmary.
Part of her wanted to check on Kael.
Another part...
Wanted to find the dwarf who had nearly killed him before Zion ever got the chance.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
But reason quickly overcame impulse.
That would attract far too much attention.
Even approaching Kael now would immediately place unnecessary eyes on both of them.
Lilith slowly swept her gaze around the academy.
Members of the Disciplinary Committee were still scattered throughout the area, maintaining order after the tournament match.
Clicking her tongue quietly...
She abandoned the thought.
"...Maybe I should go to the bathroom..."
"...to take a breather."
Without drawing attention to herself...
Lilith quietly left the viewing area and headed toward the academy corridors.
Lilith quietly walked through the academy corridors.
The farther she moved away from the stadium, the quieter her surroundings became.
She eventually reached the hallway leading toward the academy’s restroom.
Just as she was about to continue walking—
A figure stepped into her path.
The man was dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo.
His posture was straight, his expression calm, and his white gloves were spotless.
The moment Lilith saw him, the calm look on her face disappeared.
Her brows furrowed.
She immediately recognized him.
The butler gave a respectful bow.
"Miss Vorgen."
"The Young Master wishes to meet you."
Lilith’s expression immediately turned cold.
"Don’t refer to me as a Vorgen."
She spat the words with unconcealed disgust.
The butler remained completely composed.
"Miss..."
"You are still part of the family."
"Now come with me."
"The Young Master is waiting."
Lilith remained silent for several seconds.
Although every instinct told her to refuse...
She eventually turned and followed him.
The two walked through several quiet corridors before arriving at a secluded courtyard hidden from the crowds surrounding the tournament.
Standing there with both hands behind his back was a young man.
The resemblance between him and Lilith was unmistakable.
The moment he noticed her arrival, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face.
Lilith didn’t bother greeting him.
Instead, she asked coldly,
"What are you doing here?"
The smile on the young man’s face widened slightly.
"How arrogant of you to ask that..."
"...when you’re nothing but a disappointment in this academy."
"As you have always been..."
"...your entire life."
His words carried open disdain.
Lilith’s expression didn’t change.
She simply stared at him without replying.
Seeing that she refused to react only seemed to irritate him further.
"But if you don’t know..."
"I heard that Madam Draven might be making an appearance."
He folded his arms confidently.
"I might finally get the opportunity to meet her."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I wonder..."
"How is your relationship with her son?"
Lilith continued staring at him in complete silence.
She had absolutely no intention of answering.
That silence only fueled his anger.
"How dare you ignore me..."
"...you bitch!"
Young Master Vorgen suddenly raised his hand as if preparing to strike her.
Before his palm could move any farther—
The butler stepped forward.
He caught his master’s wrist.
"Sire."
"You’re inside the academy."
"It is not permitted to attack a student at this moment."
Young Master Vorgen remained frozen for a brief moment.
He slowly lowered his hand before taking a deep breath.
His face twisted with restrained fury.
He glared at Lilith.
"This isn’t over..."
"...you half-blood."
He turned sharply.
Without another word, he walked away from the courtyard.
The butler offered Lilith one final bow before quietly following after him.
Silence returned.
Lilith remained standing exactly where she was.
Her hands slowly clenched into fists.
Her nails dug deep into her palms.
Thin streams of blood trickled between her fingers.
A terrifying murderous intent silently leaked from her body before she forcefully suppressed it.
Her breathing gradually steadied.
She lowered her head.
"...One day."
The words escaped her lips in a whisper.
Then she opened her bloodstained fists.
Turned around.
And silently walked away.