Chapter 23: Revelation (5)

Time had never seemed to tick away so slowly in Noah's eyes than it did now. Nor did it ever feel so awkward. 

Forced to lay in bed by his siblings, he could hardly settle everyone down before more company had arrived and made everything worse. 

Annette and her handmaiden, Mary, had knocked on the door and entered under John and Leah's intense scrutiny, Raelyn sighing with relief as pressure eased on her. 

As John and Leah had not met Sophia or Henri Everbright, Annnette and Mary were the only ones they associated with causing Noah to be bedridden. 

John's expression soured while staring at the two older women while Leah puffed out her chest. 

Ignoring the two children, Mary stared at Noah with mixed feelings. Word was spreading in the castle, rumors from chatty servants attending to the bedridden Duke, that Everbright had done the impossible. 

Sophia had tried to forcibly keep a lid on the issue, but the policies she adopted to silence the spread created legitimacy to the rumors. Fed up with the situation, she left the Everbright estate to Henri before urgently intercepting the Capital's contingency a day prior. 

Now, Judas and the capital Knights were staying as guests in Everbright, but they would not be delayed long under the Royal Family's orders. It was imperative that Sophia show substance to the claim that managed to convince Judas to stick his neck out for her.  

However, Sophia's position made it difficult for her to bargain with Noah under Judas's scrutiny. The same was true for Henri who was helping manage Everbright's affairs while Sophia handled relations with Judas and the Knights. 

Annette was different. 

Her expression was bright upon seeing Noah awake and well. 

"How are you feeling?" She asked before she could stop to consider the dirty look John was shooting her. 

Noah hesitated to answer. 

Physically, he was fine, but mentally was different. 

How would anyone feel if they knew that death was coming if he or she chose to stay and fight? Noah knew what the noble aspect of himself would choose, but he was still human. Running away from danger was as instinctual as caring for his siblings and loved ones. 

But what would running accomplish? 

If the Black fog spread, would it not one day blanket everything in its darkness? 

The difference between living a day, a month, or a year longer was little comfort under an impending threat. 

Noah knew it already. The only method to survive was through resistance. To be a light that shines so brilliantly that the dark shirks away.    

But could he do it when external threats weren't the only dangers he and his family faced?

Believe. 

That was the word that constantly echoed in Noah's dream, an earnest faith imploring him to overcome his own shortcomings and doubts. 

"Fine." Noah eventually answered before he sat straighter. 

John and Leah didn't like that and bristled. He should have been resting.

Wincing at John and Leah's actions, Annette wet her mouth and clapped her hands. 

Mary nodded on the side and brought out a freshly baked platter of pastries from Everbright's head baker. 

"I brought cookies? Crumpets? Cakes? Sweet Buns, please feel free to help yourselves." Annette offered generously. All of those bakery items were hard to come by in the slums if at all. 

Leah's expression flickered, while John felt the disparity between rich and poor when his stomach rumbled. 

The two glanced at Noah, and Noah carefully nodded. 

Permission was enough for Leah, but John didn't look convinced. Regardless, in a show of solidarity, the six and nine year old refused to eat while Annette and Mary were in the room.

Raelyn helped herself, and sat down on the side as if watching a show, tired from arguing with John and Leah. 

Noah shook his head at their antics. 

"Let's get to the point." He said, focusing on Annette.

She took a seat on a stool Mary propped under her while listening. 

"Juda and the Capital Knights must have arrived to take the Duke away already, haven't they?" Noah asked, trying to get a feel for how much time was left before disaster struck. 

Annette faltered in abject confusion. "...how did you know that?" 

Noah felt a chill travel down his spine as he worked out a timeline. 

"Intuition," he murmured.

At most there was a week left. 

"You're correct." Annette answered, turning her lip up at Noah while unable to determine how he could have known something so confidential. Regardless, it did make things more convenient. "Shameless as it is, but I've urgently come to ask you to help treat my father one more time. If you don't, they'll take him away." 

"No." John spoke before Noah could even answer. 

Even Leah was shaking her head. The siblings had already seen what had happened to Noah the last time he'd helped. 

Unfortunately, refusal was not an answer. The revelation Noah had in his dream revealed images of what would have happened if he went by his original course and refused Annette here. 

In the vision, Noah who was already apprehensive of exposing himself to Everbright was resolute in his refusal when knights from the capital arrived. If there was a chance that his aunt could remain unaware of his location with just Everbright, then it was guaranteed if Judas conveyed a cure to Blight to the Royal Family. 

Interest would immediately be sparked, and central nobility would be quick to dig for information under the King's command. 

From there, there was no hiding, and that was why the Noah in the vision refused to treat Duke Everbright. 

However, Noah could not afford to take that approach. 

If he ran here, Amaranth of the six border cities would be overrun by the Black Fog and its denizens. From there, it would voraciously begin to spread into mankind's last bastions of civilization from all sides. One by one, the border cities would fall before even the capital of Aletera came under siege. 

The spread of the fog had to be stopped here. 

Amaranth must not fall as the first domino in the chain. 

Duke Everbright's recovery was a boon Noah could not afford to neglect. 

"It's fine John, Leah, I was the one who agreed to help." Noah said, shocking his siblings into worried silence while simultaneously elating Annette beyond words. 

"Then you'll do it?!" Annette lost her composure and squealed like a child.

The contrast between the misery that flickered across Annette's face in the vision, and the visible joy and gratitude on her face now, was like night and day. 

"I will." Noah reaffirmed. "Just give me a couple hours to recover first." 

Annette wiped at tears she didn't even know had been falling. 

"That's not even a problem!" She beamed, crying as she smiled in relief. "A-Ahem, thank you most graciously." 

She composed herself as Mary offered her a tissue to wipe her face. 

"I'll never forget this debt." Annette bolted out of the room to convey the good news. 

Mary excused herself and followed after Annette. 

Meanwhile, Noah decided it was time to get off his bed.

There was no way he could hope for a full recovery.

An internal countdown had begun. 

Six days and several hours were left.

/-/

Noah found himself standing alone in one of Everbright's armories, staring at a wall of weapons across from him. 

Getting John and Leah to let him out of sight in a 'Noble' estate again had proved exceedingly difficult, but Raelyn's presence had been of much help. She drew John's attention as the two fell into an argument. 

As John and Raelyn bickered, Noah had distracted Leah with the cookies Annette had brought, and slipped out when she wasn't paying attention. 

Despite being lost the first time, he moved through Everbright's estate like he'd once lived there until he'd reached his destination in the weapon storage room. 

Tentatively, he reached towards a sword, a spear, and a bow, and equipped them over his body. 

Now was no longer a time to hide from the dangers of his aunt's influence. Not when a greater threat loomed on the horizon. 

Noah's dyed hair flickered to a sleek silver as he circulated his mana throughout his body. 

Come what may, revelation had revealed the role he must play. 

The Lord does not lie.