Chapter 256
Evander strode to Percival, gripping his shoulders and examining him. "Good. As long as you're okay," Evander said, his voice choked with emotion. Though Percival still looked pale, there was no sign of imminent death. The room reeked of blood, a stark reminder of how close Percival had come to death moments before.
"Alright, you all chat. I'll head back to my room," Odalys said, tactfully excusing herself. As she turned to leave, Evander stepped forward, blocking her way. He bowed slightly.
"Odalys, I really want to thank you for tonight. If it weren't for you, I have no idea what would have happened," Evander said sincerely, his voice brimming with gratitude. Callum had already briefed Evander on the events downstairs. Now, seeing Percival alive and well, Evander was certain it was all thanks to Odalys.
"No need. I accepted your rubies earlier, so this is just me doing my part," Odalys replied quietly. The rubies they had given her were more than enough to cover the cost of saving Percival's life. For Odalys, taking payment for a job and delivering results was simply a matter of principle.
"Rubies! Oh, that's a great idea!" Evander exclaimed, suddenly striking his forehead as if struck by inspiration. He turned to Dorian. "Dorian, get someone to retrieve them. They're under my pillow. Bring me 199 rubies," he instructed with a sweeping gesture.
"Why not 200 rubies, Mr. Stewart?" Callum blurted out. Evander, known for his generosity, had clearly chosen the number intentionally.
"Shh. I have my plan," Evander snapped, silencing Callum with a sharp reprimand. Odalys opened her mouth to refuse, but before she could speak, Dorian had already rushed off. Her protest remained unspoken, and she sighed.
"By the way, what was with the thunderstorm over the Stewart Villa earlier? And why did Dorian and the other guards return with their clothes in tatters? What's going on?" Evander asked, his curiosity piqued. His focus shifted entirely from Percival to Odalys. There was an undeniable intrigue about her, and the strangeness of recent events only enhanced her enigmatic quality.
Odalys offered a concise explanation: "It's simple. After I returned from the Bennett Villa, I noticed Percival's energy was unstable. I had a strong feeling he would suffer a relapse tonight. So, I instructed Dorian and his team to seal off every road around the Stewart Villa. I gave them talismans to place at key intersections, effectively locking down the villa. Then, I located the best spot to help Percival purge the toxins in his body. Using thunderstruck wood, I summoned lightning to strike. When the lightning struck, it targeted the villa's key entry points, concentrating all the negative energy in his bedroom. The lightning acted as a barrier, stabilizing Percival's spirit, while the venomroot I previously prepared catalyzed his treatment. I infused the venomroot with lightning aura, channeling it into his body. It dispersed the negative energy and helped regenerate his cells."
A brief silence followed her explanation. While her words made the process sound straightforward, everyone understood it was anything but.
"However," Odalys continued, stretching her arms nonchalantly, "the poison in his body hasn't been fully neutralized. It's merely been suppressed for now. What happens next depends on how effectively the lightning aura integrates with his system."
Orson timidly raised his hand, breaking the silence. "Negative energy? Where did that come from?"
Odalys glanced at Percival before replying, "His prolonged illness has left his body weaker than most. I'm talking about a deficiency in positive energy. This makes him more susceptible to being overwhelmed by negative energy, especially when he's on the verge of a relapse. He is so weak that the negative energy takes over, plunging him into a coma. Some people mistake it for a curse, but the truth is much simpler: his frail condition makes it impossible for him to wake up normally."