Yuder observed as the elderly mage who had been watching him turned his head slowly, looking up at someone in greater surprise than before. That someone was none other than Kishiar La Orr. The savage movement that had been pulsating wildly under the feet of the man who now stood atop the magic circle, in place of the unconscious Alik, had completely calmed. A white light flickered, shimmering brilliantly.

"That was a close one."

Ignoring the gaze of Thais Yulman, Kishiar opened his mouth toward Yuder.

"I don't know what it is... but it appears that you've seized the power of the Red Stone. Is that right?"

Yuder only then realized that a red light was still streaming from his clenched right hand. As he slowly uncurled his fist, the light that had been flowing between his glove and sleeve faded away. The red energy, which had been frozen like ice, started to spin very slowly once again.

"It seems... so. Have you controlled the energy, Commander?"

"Yes."

Fortunately, by managing things one at a time, they seemed to have averted an explosion. Sighing in relief, he turned to Thais Yulman, as the elderly mage struggled to open his mouth, his face a wreck.

"Wasn't it that His Grace the Duke of Peletta only possessed the power of the Awakener? This energy, unless you're a mage, is impossible to control alone. How could this... Moreover, that thing..."

He couldn't manage to finish his sentence, and simply gazed at Yuder when referring to 'that thing.' His expression revealed that he couldn't find the words to express his thoughts.

"Thais Yulman."

Kishiar called him calmly.

"There's a lot I could say about your neglect of your disciple's condition in your haste and ambition to expedite your research, but there's a more pressing matter at hand. I'm not bearing this easily, either, so I'd appreciate it if you could get up and finish things as quickly as possible."

"Ah..."

"Or are you going to give up just like that?"

Thais Yulman's dirty beard quivered. He managed to push himself up, panting heavily.

"...No, I'm not."

With only Kishiar controlling the energy, things had sped up incomparably to before. The fact that the red energy, once caught in Yuder's hand, had become astonishingly calm, was also a factor.

Yuder wiped the cold sweat trickling down his chin with his sleeve as he watched Thais Yulman, his face stricken with shock, quietly finishing the final steps. The indescribable sensation of gripping and moving that red energy in his hand was still vivid.

What on earth had that been?

---

Finally, Thais Yulman had succeeded in sealing the power of the Red Stone in the last remaining black stone. Watching him, Kishiar withdrew his foot from the magic circle and stepped back a few paces. The brilliantly controlled white light began to slowly fade, and the glow from the magic circles filling the space dimmed as well.

His face was as tranquil as before, but his cheeks were pale, devoid of color. It wasn't until then that Yuder was certain that Kishiar hadn't been holding up as easily as he'd claimed.

All that was left after the light had faded was a silence that felt as deep as being underwater.

"Yuder. Don't let down the barrier yet."

Kishiar began to issue orders, looking around.

"Nathan. Move the unconscious one to the back and guard the basket with the catalyst in it. And Kanna."

"Yes."

Without being told, it was now your turn, Kanna stepped forward with a resolute expression on her face. Yuder looked down at the Red Stone quietly placed in front of him. The stone now seemed devoid of any power, but he couldn't be certain.

"Captain, please wait a moment. May I touch it before Kanna does? Instead of direct contact, I'll try it lightly with my power."

If the answer had been negative, he would have tried to touch it with his hand first, but fortunately, Kishiar only frowned briefly and nodded.

"Go ahead."

Yuder, in front of everyone, pumped more power into his protective barrier and summoned a gentle breeze, which he sent toward the Red Stone.

"..."

Kanna flinched, perhaps the memory of the Red Stone emitting a powerful force the moment an Awakener's power touched it was still vivid in her mind. However, the Red Stone now seemed like an ordinary rock, quietly accepting the breeze. It was the same when water was dropped on it.

Yuder slowly counted to ten internally, and after confirming there was really no change, he finally relaxed his shoulders.

"I have confirmed it. It seems that the power and the stone are completely separated."

"Hoo."

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Kanna exhaled.

"Then it's my turn. Can you withdraw this wall in front of me?"

Yuder withdrew the water and left the wind. Kanna, feeling the wind tickling her forehead, let out a faint sigh of relief and took a deep breath in front of the palm-sized stone.

Yuder watched as she slowly touched the stone with her fingertips, which were glowing like a mirage. The moment her skin made full contact with the stone, Kanna, who had been closing her eyes, shuddered violently as if struck by lightning.

"Kanna?"

"..."

"Kanna Wand."

Kishiar cautiously called her name, but there was no reply.

And after a moment, Kanna's body stiffened like a log and fell backwards.

"Kanna!"

Yuder managed to prevent her head from hitting the ground using the wind, but Kanna, who had fainted, didn't regain consciousness.

'What the hell is this.'

Yuder hastily removed all the protective barriers and rushed to Kanna, checking her condition. Thankfully, she was breathing normally. Following him swiftly, Kishiar knelt on one knee and twisted the Red Stone out of Kanna's hand. The movement was so natural that Yuder failed to stop him.

"Commander!"

"It's okay."

Despite Yuder's late exclamation, unlike Kanna, Kishiar didn't faint. He carefully rolled the stone in his hand, a chilling question crossing his face.

"I don't feel anything. It would be better to think that the reason she fainted has something to do with the use of her power."

"..."

"First, move the two who fainted to the medical division, and the rest should go and get checked out as well. Leave the basket with the medium in my office, we'll look at it again tomorrow."

Yuder, with a weary expression, glanced at Thais Yulman sprawled on the floor and nodded.

"...Understood. I'll help."

"No need."

However, Kishiar's response was absolutely firm.

"We can't have the person who needs to go to the medical division first doing such a task. Can I check your condition before you go?"

"Excuse me?"

Before he could respond, Kishiar had come closer, unbuttoning Yuder's uniform jacket and swiftly pushing aside the shirt underneath to expose his shoulder. Yuder was inwardly surprised that he hadn't noticed an opportunity for such an intrusion, even as he was watching. An unfamiliar expression briefly passed over Kishiar's face.

"...Fortunately, it doesn't seem as severe as I had anticipated."

The exposed shoulder was maintaining its clean, original skin color. Yuder realized that Kishiar was recalling and checking for the spot enlargement that had appeared up to his shoulder during his previous visit to the East.

"Did you really need to check this immediately?"

"After witnessing that spectacle earlier, how could I not?"

As Kishiar responded curtly and paused, he took a long breath, closing and then reopening his eyes.

"Any pain?"

"None."

"Answer accurately."

"I truly feel nothing."

Ever since he thought he might touch the power of the Red Stone, there had been no pain, not even during the continual usage of his power. It was still the same. Even as he continued to provide protective barriers for several people, it felt as smooth as before the spot appeared... or perhaps even smoother.

What really had happened? Yuder, recalling a sensation that he had yet to fully comprehend, looked up at Kishiar. Kishiar, too, was looking down at his face.

"We can discuss how you were able to suppress the power of the Red Stone later."

It seemed he was thinking along the same lines as Yuder.

"For now, go to the medical division. Request treatment from Priest Lusan immediately."

"Understood."

"Nathan, take them to the medical division. I'll take care of things here, so move right away."

"Understood."

The loyal adjutant did not question Kishiar's orders this time either.

With the help of Nathan Zuckerman, who was carrying two unconscious people on his arms, Yuder, supporting a pale and speechless Thais Yulman, left the basement. As they left, Kishiar's impassive face disappeared behind the door.

---

"What on earth is all this?"

After examining the faces of the newcomers, Enon couldn't hide his shock.

"A building shaking all of a sudden, and a horde of patients, some of whom I've never seen before, and others who left this place, are coming in. What on earth did you do?"

"..."

Yuder, letting Enon's whispering question in his ear slide, turned his gaze toward Kanna lying on the adjacent bed. Looking at her still pale, seemingly asleep face made his heart heavy.

"Are you listening? What exactly did you do?"

"The Red Stone."

Enon bit his lip at Yuder's low answer.

"It's because of that."