Chapter 114 Holy Water Research
“I always worry about you, and I always miss you.”
Killion kissed Veronia’s forehead in his arms. The soft, cool touch sent a shiver down Veronia’s spine. It was only then that it really hit her that Killion was alive and well and beside her. She whispered in a low voice.
“I never worried about you before, because I knew you were strong and wise.”
“…”
“But here… things are happening that don’t quite make sense in this world, with the plague and the demons and… and I was worried… and I was afraid you’d get caught up in something strange for no reason.”
At Veronia’s honesty, Killion hugged her tighter.
“You’re right, the plague here is strange, and so are the creatures of the forest. But there is one thing you haven’t considered.”
“And what is that?”
“It’s you.”
“What?”
Veronia repeated, feeling like she was missing a connection.
“As long as you are by my side, I will encourage my soldiers to grow stronger, and I will listen to your advice to make wiser choices.”
“…”
“So put your worries aside. Oh, and you’ll always do what you want to do.”
Killion’s lips brushed over hers, and soon their breaths were one. Veronia threw her arms around his neck. She wanted him, more intensely than ever before.
Killion’s breath, which had been in Veronia’s mouth, began to roam over every inch of her body this time, searing heat blossoming wherever his breath touched.
Veronia gasped for air as the fire deep within her belly grew more intense, threatening to engulf her in its heat.
The flames that controlled her flesh were overwhelming, but she had no desire to give up or flee.
No, it made her want to hold on to it even harder. Veronia clung to Killion’s strong shoulders. Hard as if she would never let go.
His breathing became ragged, and so did Killion’s. He craved Veronia’s soft flesh, craved it again and again.
Like a thirsty man seeking water, he drank deeply, then licked shallowly, bit hard, then soothed gently. Once started, his thirst was unquenchable.
He wanted everything about her. Head to toe, mind, body, heart, everything.
The bedroom was softly lit by the moonlight. Veronia and Killion wore their desires for each other on their sleeves. A burning desire that consumed them and drove them deep inside.
In the here and now, there were no worries or concerns about the future. There were no regrets or regrets of the past. There was only the desire for love.
As the night wore on, Veronia and Killion fell deeper and deeper into each other. So deep that they could hardly keep their wits about them.
***
It was late at night, after midnight, and Emperor Jonathan was sitting in his office, greeting his guests.
“You have traveled a long way,” he said.
“Thank you for your patience at such a late hour, Your Majesty.”
Lars Koen, the director of the Mikkelsen Nursery, tugged at his hair. As if that weren’t enough, his hunched back bent even further.
“I hear there is a serious plague in the south. How is the nursery doing?”
“We’ve had an outbreak, but thanks to the healers sent by the imperial court, we’ve been able to get them under control quickly. We are very grateful, Your Majesty.”
“Thank Godness.”
The words sounded relieved, but Jonathan’s face was unpleasant and unkind. Jonathan’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Lars, and finally he spoke again.
“Is there any connection between the plague in the south and your research?”
“That, that…”
Lars swallowed hard, rolling his shoulders. Jonathan snapped at him for his stuttering.
“You will say the right thing. Then we can either do something about it or not!”
“That… I don’t know, actually.”
Lars gulped, clasping his trembling hands together. Jonathan’s face contorted into a grimace as he watched Lars steal a bead of sweat from the corner of his eye, the cold sweat that had been dripping down his forehead stinging in his eyes.
“You don’t know… Lars?”
Terrified by the murderous stare he was receiving, Lars stammered out the words.
“It’s been ten years since I traveled south to study the holy water. As I’ve reported to you every quarter, I’ve used numerous test subjects in that time.”
“…”
“And many have died in the process. Isn’t that the nature of development: hundreds, perhaps thousands, of failures before a single success.”
Lars continued, his voice rising somewhat as if he were pleading my case.
“We’ve been disposing of the carcasses in the woods, and as Your Majesty knows, demonic corpses decay so quickly that within a week they’re gone without a trace.”
“…”
“But at some point, the rate of decay of the demons slowed down significantly. Of course, I’m not sure if that phenomenon is related to my research, and I’m not sure if it’s related to this plague… either.”
“So you don’t know, then.”
Lars rolled his eyes at Jonathan as he finished explaining. Jonathan kept his mouth closed in a straight line and pressed hard against his throbbing temples.
‘I can’t believe I’ve invested so much money in someone so incompetent, and then he betrays the trust of the last ten years like this!’
He swallowed the sigh that threatened to burst forth and clenched his andamun molars. Jonathan glanced at Lars, who was trembling with fear.
The man had once been renowned as a priest with the greatest healing powers, but his former glory had long since faded. Instead, he was now a useless old man with nothing but failed research to show for it.
“By saying that even if you are unsure, am I to understand… that it will not be easy to discover whether or not there is a link between the plague and your research?”
Perhaps relieved by Jonathan’s interpretation, Lars’s pale face flushed with colour for a moment.
“Of course, Your Majesty, and even if there is a connection, it will have happened very slowly over the past ten years, so no one will ever know.”
“…”
“I’m guessing that the toxins from the carcass must have contaminated the surrounding vegetation, and that the animals that ate the contaminated grass were eaten by the beast, causing the contaminants to build up in the beast’s body. But that’s all speculation, of course.”
“So how do you propose to proceed with your research?”
“I’ve put it on hold for now, as I think it’s best to keep to myself.”
“You shouldn’t. You should continue with your research.”
“What? But…”
Lars shook his head in confusion. The attention of not only the Empire, but the entire continent was focused on the south due to the outbreak of an unidentified plague.
What if they were to get their tails stepped on while continuing their research, and there were already armies of priests and priestesses roaming the south, led by the Lord Chancellor and hordes of holy women!
At the sight of Lars’ wrinkled face, contorted with worry of all kinds, Jonathan spoke again, his tone clear with conviction.
“Didn’t you just say that there’s no connection between the plague and your research, so there’s no reason to stop it at all?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Good, then I’ll look forward to your report next quarter. I’ve been investing in your research for over a decade now, and I’d like to see some success.”
“Of course, Your Majesty, I will show you good results soon.”
Lars raised his voice, grateful to have made it over the hump, and vowed to himself. This time, he will succeed in his experiments. He will give mankind a medicine that will help them push beyond the limits of the human body.
***
The next morning, Tate received a very interesting report. His eyes lit up as he read it.
“Lars Kohen, Director of the Michelson Nursery…”
Tate knew the man well: a priest of great healing power, he had once served as an imperial physician, but ten years ago he had abruptly retired and gone south to become the director of a large orphanage.
“Ever since then, I’ve seen him donating to the orphanage, so I knew the connection between the two of you was pretty strong… So why would he come to the capital now?”
At the height of the epidemic in the South, it was after midnight, away from the prying eyes of others, and the subtle, musty smell of wheat ash seemed to be more than just an unfounded hunch.
“Oh, no…, what have you been doing all this time brother?”
This was not something to be taken lightly. A sinister smile tugged at the corners of Tate’s mouth, a pleasant premonition that he might have caught the tail end of Jonathan’s hidden weakness.
He turned to the aide who had brought the report and smirked.
“Which is the most competent intelligence guild in the capital, the one that has never failed to deliver on a request?”
“Of all the intelligence guilds, Ashmore is the best.”
“I must go to Ashmore immediately. Have a carriage waiting. Oh, and gold coins.”
“How much do you want, Your Highness?”
“One hundred thousand gold.”
“What? That’s a lot… Oh, I see.”
Tate’s smile grew wider as he watched his aide disappear at a brisk pace.
