Chapter 192: Healing
He had seen what Concept Laws could do before. His insights about them weren't much but he kept them in mind. Still, the feeling of personally encountering the profundity of Laws just feels entirely different. Now, Cedric understood why they couldn't be recklessly passed down.
The 『Aspect of the Sun』 the very sigil that Cedric chose to become his Sagely Totem, was in truth a Runic Law. The sigil itself is the compilation of the previous Sages' understanding of the Sunlight and Sunfire Laws.
Cedric had no idea if there had been a Sun Sage before him, but he knew that his predecessors comprehended some insights about the said Laws, despite not seeing what a real sun looks like, and compiled it into an inheritance that only future sages could come in contact with.
In this day and age, it was none other than Cedric. And he has benefitted greatly from their work. Still, Cedric's comprehension was still in its infancy so the things he could do weren't much. However, if it's only borrowing the might of the sigil to get rid of a curse, then he's confident of doing it.
Cedric was currently standing beside the unconscious Lord Commander. Silverwing was nervously watching him from the side.
His eyes were closed as he tapped into his Sagely Totem, rousing it to activity. As he poured his Ki into it, the sigil absorbed it and released a flood of pure Sunlight and Sunfire, coursing through his body and bathing him with golden light.
Cedric looked incredibly holy at this moment. His temperament closely resembled that of a deity.
He raised his palms and placed them on the Lord Commander's beating heart. Cedric's golden eyes narrowed as he looked at the disgusting shroud of energy that had become visible to him thanks to his eyes' abilities.
This dark cloud of wriggling mass and putrefaction was the manifestation of Demon King Sloth's curse. With his recent breakthrough, the analytical power of his mind increased along with the upgraded power of his sight.
He could tell that this curse was meant to erode a person's will, forcing them to give up and just succumb to inactivity and stagnation. So much so that it even affects their desire to breathe or to live. And he could also tell that this was just a taste of the Sin's true power, yet it had reduced an expert of this caliber to this state.
Such is the might and terror of a True Demon King.
Fortunately, it is not too late. Cedric was here and he could help.
Since he was too weak, he wasn't able to do much in reality. The only real help he could give was to pour what little insights he had of Sunfire and Sunlight Laws to weaken the curse and empower the slumbering Lord Commander's willpower. The rest is up to the patient.
Golden flames flickered into existence and coated his hands. They released a gentle warmth and nourishing brilliance that brought the room alive.
Silverwing felt awe as he saw those flames. Even with the difference in their strength, he couldn't help but feel affected by those flames. There's an instinctual yearning that blossomed in his heart, accompanied by hope and glee.
Cedric pressed his palms on the Lord Commander's chest. As soon as he did so, the dark and wriggling mass flinched in terror. Wisps of black smoke escaped from the Lord Commander's orifice. Usually, even these wisps would've been harmful to the environment. However, Cedric was there, and his Sunfire burned this residue to nothingness.
Still, the source of the curse was strong. As he is right now, there's no way he'd be able to get rid of it completely by himself. Fortunately, he doesn't have to.
An ecompassing warmth flooded the Lord Commander's body, bringing back color and vigor to his entire existence. The curse flinched as if it was hurt, even more so when the domineering aura of the slumbering Lord Commander was roused to activity.
As time passed, the Lord Commander's aura became fiercer. It was heavy and incomparably majestic. Usually, a Tier 4 like Cedric (even though he's an anomaly of Tier 4) wouldn't be able to endure the weight of his aura. But the Lord Commander was mentally awake since the start of the healing process.
Banestar's aura was only hostile towards the curse, and with the Young Sage's assistance, he was able to recover and put up a stronger fight against it. With their efforts combined, they were beating the curse.
More time passed and the curse's hold on Banestar was reduced greatly. With the last push, Cedric and the Lord Commander completely flushed it out of the latter's body. It escaped through the Lord Commander's mouth but was immediately burned by the heat of Cedric's sunfire.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
The Lord Commander's body sat up with a violent coughing fit. Silverwing was immediately on his side, supporting his superior as gently as he could.
Banestar spat out a glob of black slime, which he then burned as soon as it hit the ground. After making sure that not even a trace of it was left, he wiped his mouth and released a relieved breath, resting his back on the hospital bed.
He closed his eyes and scanned his body. All traces of Sloth's curse disappeared thanks to his and the Young Sage's combined effort. Hell, even the hidden injuries on his flesh and joints disappeared because of the young one's help.
Banestar hasn't felt this good in years, and he had Cedric to thank for that.
"Lord Commander, it's me Silverwing. Are you okay? Do you need something? Shall I call the doctors?" The Knight Captain fussed.
"Relax, Silverwing." Banestar groaned, his throat was dry but that wasn't enough to dampen his mood. "I'm fine. I just need more rest since I technically haven't slept for days. Aside from that, I'm as strong as a young bull."
Silverwing released a deep sigh of relief upon hearing that. He almost lost the strength to stand up due to how relieved he felt.
Banestar then peered at their young helper and saw him sitting down to recover his lost energy. With a single glance, he could tell the vigorous flow of his Ki and how astonishing this boy's physique was.
"Kids are really scary nowadays." Banestar chuckled at his words.
He could tell Cedric's uniqueness aside from his identity as a Young Sage. He wouldn't ask though since everybody was entitled to their secrets. Besides, this youngster isn't an enemy. He's an ally...and maybe this world's hope in the future.
Cedric released a deep breath as stood back up. His eyes met the old man's so he saluted and said:
"Cadet #1 greets Lord Commander."
"At ease, Young Sage." Banestar replied, "And thank you for helping out an old man like me. I know that you just woke up from an accident too. Please don't take it against Silverwing, he's just a bit anxious."
"It's alright, Sir. I'm glad to be of help." Cedric replied. "Uh, I also want to help Ex-Commander Hermit if that's okay."
"...Silverwing, go bring him to the old coward's room. Don't worry about me, I'm fine now." Banestar ordered.
Silverwing could only follow his orders. He brought Cedric to the adjacent room where Hermit was and Cedric began the process once more.
In the middle of the healing process, Banestar surprisingly showed up too. Silverwing was about to scold him for getting up but he was silenced by the old man, saying that they shouldn't interrupt the young sage's focus.
As he watched the golden brilliance being released from Cedric's body as well as the golden sunfire. Banestar couldn't help but feel emotional.
That warmth...it's foreign yet also familiar. He felt a strong yearning for it that he couldn't explain.
Banestar recalled a memory from his childhood; it was of his parents describing to him what the sun looked like and how it felt. His mother was carrying him in her womb the day the sun disappeared. It was a horrible memory for her and Banestar knew that.
He never understood the loss that the adults back then felt. He was born without the sun. All he ever knew was the fake one and the dark skies of the real world.
But now, seeing and feeling it in the first place, he finally gets it.
It's crazy how he already felt like this just from a weak version of it. The Young Sage has yet to mature, he was at his weakest right now, yet his abilities were already enough to inspire him this much.
One could only imagine what kind of effects this could bring to Humanity once this Young Sage reaches maturity and becomes the next pillar of their race.
Moments later, Cedric also managed to help the old hermit to wake up. Just like Banestar, the old man spat out a glob of black slime which he burned as soon as it hit the ground.
"Yo, Old Coward."
"Fuck you, Banestar!"
"WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"