Chapter 124
Suppressing an irritated sigh, Rubel regretted not pressing Eir harder last night to uncover the full truth.
“Investigate that sigil further. Cross-reference its appearances over the past few years.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knight saluted sharply and galloped ahead. Lost in thought, Rubel guided his horse slowly forward until Magnus’s distant shouting drew an exasperated sigh.
Approaching, he found Magnus gagged with a handkerchief and tightly bound atop his horse.
Upon regaining consciousness and realizing his predicament, Magnus had nearly fallen off in shock. After barely steadying himself, he’d erupted into furious screams—his forehead now blotchy with rage like a petulant child’s.
Rubel exhaled faintly at his brother’s tantrum and called for a brief rest stop.
The knights quickly reined in their mounts.
Dismounting, Rubel hauled Magnus over his shoulder and strode into the woods. Despite his formidable build, Magnus dangled like a misbehaving pup, ceasing his struggles only when his wounded thigh flared with searing pain.
You crazy bastard. You still haven’t treated this properly?
Feverish from infection and blind with rage, Magnus grew dizzy. When Rubel unceremoniously dumped him on the ground and removed the gag, he immediately vomited into the grass.
Shivering at the indignity, Magnus collapsed beside his own sick, the sunlight filtering through leaves, cool breeze, and birdsong cruelly serene in contrast.
Defeated, he slowly lifted his head to glare at Rubel.
“Why… are you doing this to me?”
“Doing what?”
“Is this because I had that b***h’s leg bitten? You’ve completely fallen—bewitched into not knowing right from wrong. Do you think others will tolerate this recklessness?”
Conveniently forgetting his own witch-induced frenzy, Magnus delivered this warning with grave sincerity.
Rubel exhaled faintly, recalling how he’d behaved with Eir.
Yes, it must have looked like possession.
His body had moved on impulse without conscious thought. Just facing her made his facial muscles twitch beyond control.
Whose fault is that?
Shrugging, Rubel shifted all blame to Eir and answered.
“I intend to undergo the Purity Rite.”
Magnus gaped at the casual tone belying those staggering words.
“You’re truly insane. Why would you—”
Cutting off his stammering brother, Rubel replied serenely.
“To prove I still remain God’s chosen messenger. You claim I’ve been bewitched by a witch? If I’ve truly betrayed divinity, the ritual would leave me at death’s door—that should be proof enough.”
“But…….”
Magnus swallowed hard.
The Purity Rite literally tested one’s innocence by enduring divine judgment through the body. Any sin would be punished with agony. For Rubel, imbued with divine energy, betraying God for a witch could mean literal death.
Even survivors suffered unbearable pain—only newborns escaped unscathed.
“W-what could possibly justify this……?”
The same Magnus who’d been screaming threats moments ago now sobered instantly before such madness.
Rubel gazed down at his brother without a flicker of doubt.
“Because I can survive it. Could you?”
“Why would I—!”
“You’re the one who conspired with a witch to kill me.”
Magnus coughed as if hearing nonsense and turned away.
“That’s absurd.”
“Everyone saw your hounds revert to darkness.”
“The witch I captured gave me that spell under torture—”
“Must I really disprove such obvious lies? Father sent you, didn’t he? Meaning he knows about your disgrace. Why keep pretending?”
The sheer boredom in Rubel’s tone sapped Magnus’s will to fight. Had Rubel reacted with rage or contempt, he might have mustered defiance.
But this? Just weary tolerance for an embarrassing relative.
It broke Magnus completely.
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