Found Out

Immediately, Theodore began to work on stopping the bleeding. Using his threads of Aether, he stitched the major arteries close to keep the blood from flowing out of the body, stopping the majority of the bleeding before he went on to repair the wound itself.

Though the wound was deep, penetrating right through her body, it was a surprisingly clean stab, a testament to the blonde knight's, Johannes', skill with a sword. Due to this, the process of healing would be much smoother, though it was still going to be by no means easy.

(A hundred isn't going to be enough. I am going to need more.)

Originally, his limit was a little over fifty threads of Aether, but to heal Maria, he forcefully increased them to over a hundred. Even then, it was not enough.

(I'll do it. I'm going to do it. I have the memories and knowledge. I know exactly how it can be done.)

A hundred more threads of Aether emerged from his back. Now he has four times more than what he could usually control. He was pushing his mind to the limit, manipulating the Aether that remained in his body to prioritize all recourses to the brain.

(Weave... Stitch... Bind together the flesh...)

While Theodore placed his everything into healing Maria, the paladins were watching with a mix of fascination and shock. All three were attuned to Aether, fully capable of sensing it, and they were well aware that this was not a feat a child mere ten years of age could accomplish.

"To control so much Aether at once..." Johannes pulled out his swords once more. "Who are you!?"

"Wait! Johannes!"

Immediately Randolf tried to stop him from acting rashly yet again. At the same time...

"Don't you touch him!"

Standing in-between Theodore and the ruthless paladin was Lina, arms spread wide open. She was as confused as anyone else, but she was not about to let anyone hurt another of her family member today.

"T-that's right, we won't let your hurt our family again!"

Edwin followed suit soon after, in his hands he had a stool at the ready. He was prepared to fight these superiorly armed opponents if he must.

"Are you all blind!" Johannes shouted back at them. "Can't you see that he's not normal? He must be dealt with at once!"

"Calm down Johannes. This is too much, even for you!" said Guillimore, trying to hold Johannes back with Randolf.

"That's enough out of you Johannes! You will stand down! This is my order as your captain!" bellowed Randolf, his patience past its limits since the moment his subordinate harmed a civilian. The only reason he held it in was that there was the more pressing matter of Maria's wounds.

"Captain! You can't be serious! You know what this is."

"You need to calm down. I will handle this. Go cool your head."

Johannes sent a glare towards Theodore, far too occupied to notice the things going on around him, before turning to Randolf, meeting the captain's sharp eyes that were staring right into him.

"Very well," Johannes relented. "Hopefully, you'll do your job properly this time."

Getting in those last words, Johannes left the temple.

"Keep an eye on him. Make sure that he doesn't cause any more trouble."

"Aye, captain."

With that, Randolf was the only paladin remaining on the scene.

***

Upon opening his eyes, Theodore was greeted with a ceiling lit red by the setting sun. Lying on his bed, he felt that the weight of his body was akin to lead and was barely able to move even his limbs. Even so, by sheer will, he managed to lift himself from his bed for but a moment, falling back onto it when the world sudden spun around him. He had only just noticed, but his head was throbbing, painfully so, now that he was aware of it.

With his senses returning to him, he felt something sliding off the side of his head. It was a piece of cloth, soaked in cold water. His head felt hot without it. It was by this point did he realize that he was down with a fever.

(Did I overdo it? No, before that... Did I do it? Where's Maria?)

Theodore recalled trying to save Maria, doing everything he could to close her wound. He couldn't remember what came after. Did he blackout before or after he had done it? He couldn't be sure.

"Theodore, you're awake!?"

The loud voice made his brain tremble in pain and he could feel the veins around his head bulging as if they were about to pop. He felt so terribly in pain that he was not even able to muster a response.

Entering the room with a bucket of cold water in hand was Lina. It appeared that she had been taking care of him while he was unconscious.

"Lina... Can I have some water?"

He had wanted to ask about Maria, but he wasn't sure that he was prepared to hear it. If he had failed, if all of that was for nothing, he did not know how he would react.

"Sure, I'll go get a cup."

Leaving the bucket behind, Lina ran off.

(Her eyes were red... It looked like she cried. Where are the others?)

He would have liked to get off the bed and find the others, but he couldn't move all that well. The healing magic he performed was something far beyond what this body was ready for and the toll was simply something he could not pay back at once.

"I'm sorry if this isn't the right time, but this is somewhat urgent."

Following Lina, another presence entered the room... Or he was about to enter the room, but decided to linger by the door. It was a Randolf, currently out of his armor.

"May I have a word?" Randolf asked as he stood just outside the room.

Theodore, even while his head was pounding, knew what this was going to be about. In his current condition, Theodore would have liked to ask him to wait, but it likely wasn't something they had the luxury to wait around for.

Gingerly, Theodore nodded.

***

End of Chapter 11

***