To everyone's delight, the volcano did not erupt.
A villager stood still, silently watching the large raindrops fall from the sky above Sancher.
"The volcano... did not erupt..."
"Great! No eruption!"
A joyful shout suddenly erupted from somewhere in the crowd, instantly igniting the villagers' jubilant mood.
"Great! There's no more disaster!"
"Oh God! Oh God! God help us!"
"No, no, no! It was the mages of the capital who saved us!"
The rain was like a miracle, wiping away all the crisis.
The mages and knights who returned to Sancher Town relaxed their furrowed brows, but their moods did not lighten at the same time; instead, they felt extremely heavy.
Everyone remained silent, like walking marionettes.
Unaware of the truth, the townspeople left the safe zone and returned to their town, thanking the heroes who had 'saved' them.
However, not a single mage could proudly say "You're welcome" when facing them.
They failed to save the innocent residents, and they themselves nearly perished on the volcano.
Yes, it was just a little short.
The magic array was ultimately not released.
If the volcano were to erupt completely at that time...
All the mages sent from the capital will perish under that world-destroying lava.
As the heavy rain fell, residents gradually returned to their homes.
The army began to send the mages back to the capital one by one. Duke Rivi stood in the heavy rain, letting the storm lash his face.
As the last group of mages departed, Earl Baker glanced at Duke Reeves from afar and shook his head.
"Goodbye, Duke."
He barely managed to utter those last words, his tone tinged with obvious dissatisfaction, and his hand, gripping the cane, was unsteady.
“Duke Reeves, I understand your love for your daughter.”
"But before you act rashly, please consider your own position."
"After you return to the capital, you may face impeachment from many ministers. I hope you will be careful."
Having said that, the noble mage boarded his carriage and left under the protection of the army.
From beginning to end, Duke Reeves never raised his head to respond to a single word.
The knights around were worried that Duke Reeves would fall ill in the heavy rain, since mages were not as physically robust as they were.
So they called out to him:
"Your Grace, please wait in the carriage. Commander Gwen is looking for your daughter."
Duke Reeves did not respond to him, standing in the wind and rain, remaining silent for a long time.
His eyes were dull and lifeless.
A silver-white figure suddenly appeared in the wind and rain of the night sky, like a sudden dawn breaking through the darkness.
She was holding the blonde girl in her arms.
Duke Reeves saw it, and in an instant, a light of hope rekindled in his eyes.
Gwen brought Erica to Duke Reeves and handed her over to him.
"I have fulfilled my mission, Your Grace."
Duke Reeves took Erica in his trembling hands and held her in his arms, his eyes filled with shock and sorrow.
"Erica, Erica..."
It seemed as if a soft call had awakened Erica. She slowly lifted her eyelids and saw her most familiar father, managing a weak smile.
"Dad, I'm home."
At this moment, this man, who held a high position of power in the Karencia Empire, shed tears.
He was once a pillar of strength, yet he failed to protect his own daughter.
He was extremely ashamed.
Duke Reeves held his daughter tightly, but all he received in return was a low moan of pain from her.
He then noticed that Erica had many burns on her body. In a panic, he tried to heal his daughter with magic, but to little avail.
Not all mages can be as monstrous as Victor, who has learned hundreds of spells and can use them with unparalleled skill.
Duke Reeves' healing magic could only heal minor wounds, and he was utterly powerless against his daughter's severe burns.
He looked around anxiously, trying to find a mage skilled in healing, but apart from the knights standing there waiting, there were no other mages around.
Seeing Duke Reeves' anxious expression, Gwen hesitated for a moment, then took out a bottle of scarlet potion.
The bottle of medicine looked like blood, reddish-black, and emitted a faint glow.
This was a healing potion that Victor gave her, but she never used it.
I don't know how effective it will be.
However, if Erica does not receive timely treatment, her injuries may leave her with permanent sequelae.
We have no choice but to take a gamble.
She gritted her teeth; at that moment, Gwen believed that Victor would not deceive her.
"Your Grace, why don't you try this?"
"If any problems arise, I will bear all the consequences."
Gwen handed over the medicine, which Reeves hurriedly took. When he saw the color of the medicine, he suddenly paused.
Is it really safe to drink this blood-colored medicine?
But there's no other way now; Erica's injuries can't be left untreated.
He uncorked the cork, gently brought it to Erica's lips, and casually asked:
"Where did you get this medicine from?"
“It was…given to me by my fiancé.”
The medicine dripped down Erica's lips, and Duke Reeves's hand trembled slightly.
Gwen Delin's fiancé?
"Victor Clavner?"
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