[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 70: Stepping Foot On Pershia

Despite it being six in the morning, the sun was nowhere in sight. Rather than easing, the weather only grew harsher with each passing second.

The winds were howling loudly, rattling the almost dry branches of the trees. The sky was a murky shade of gray, and the swirling dark clouds all but promised an impending downpour. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Xion pulled his cloak tighter around himself. The temperature was supposed to rise the closer they went to Myrthiana. However, the sudden chills did not sit well with him.

It was not just him. The entire retinue was in a frenzy. The heavy rain meant they would not be able to leave Ferni as the town was surrounded by steep, treacherous hills.

If the clouds did not dissipate by afternoon, they might have to stay there for another day, or perhaps even longer.

"This is great," Xion muttered under his breath as he trudged through the uneven sandy path. His feet crushed the twig as he moved forward. "Absolutely perfect weather for a casual morning stroll through the middle of nowhere."

Xion did not want to be there. In fact, he suddenly regretted coming to Ferni.

Although this regret had stemmed last night when his imagination had taken better hold of his well-educated mind, that did not deter his enthusiasm for cursing the weather for his troubles.

Amidst all this, one thing worked in his favor and that was Rael. Even when he woke up in the morning, the boy was already gone from the room.

Rael was so considerate not to tease him about his stupid fear. That was why, in the moment of rushed gratitude, he had declared that he would cook something special for Rael.

The grey-eyed innkeeper had very kindly given him the map of the mountain at the back of the town.

It was very close to where they were. Hence, Xion had set out to bring some edibles and hopefully some medicinal plants as well.

"We need to head back in two hours," Allen who had insisted on following Xion, spoke while scrutinizing the map.

Well, Xion still could not read it. So, it was better to give it to someone who was more familiar with it. After all, he had his own ’map’ to enlighten.

"You can leave if you want to. Anyway, we don’t need you, Sir Allen," Noxian narrowed his eyes at the taller male who had been walking on Xion’s left side.

Too close to my brother...

Then, as if flipping a switch, he glanced at Xion, his expression softening into an innocent smile. "Right, brother?" he chirped sweetly.

Xion sighed inwardly. Here we go again.

If not for Allen, Berry would have insisted on coming along. But considering the old man’s frail bones and his previous injury, Xion directly grabbed the freshly woken-up Allen.

That was how the trio ended up at the base of the towering Pershia Mountain.

First, it was Ferni, the town of ruins. Now, Pershia, the mountain named after the inevitable decay of time. It was as if everything was perishing here.

However, no matter the condition of the town or the inevitable meaning behind its name, Pershia stood tall, cloaked in the luxury of nature from head to toe.

For Xion, the sight was nothing less than that of heaven.

The thought of harvesting more Merit points improved his dim mood. Smiling softly, Xion gently tapped the naughty boy’s forehead. "Don’t talk to Brother Allen like that. He’s here to protect us."

"Oh," Noxian muttered while rubbing his head. But his thoughts were far from innocent. The idea of getting rid of Sir Allen was rearing its head again. After all, what if he stole his brother from him?

Teacher this! Teacher that! Noxian scoffed under his breath.

If Xion had seen the expression on his baby brother’s face in that moment, he would have been startled by how eerily devoid of warmth it was. Gone was the childish smile, replaced by a cold, calculating look.

Unlike Xion who could not shed his somewhat ignorant upbringing of the modern world, Noxian was anything but innocent.

Although he had only lived for a decade, and that too without a proper name, he had become quite adept at reading people. He did not bat an eye when asked to bury the dead or clean up the messier tasks others avoided.

It was far more leisurely than the things he had done before.

It was also much more easier than killing his grandfather. Perhaps it was the fact that it had been his first kill or maybe the rush of adrenaline from escaping his captors was at work.

It was indeed very hard to plunge the dagger into his grandfather’s back with trembling hands. It had been hard, harder than anything he had ever experienced before, yet it also made his breathing easy.

Before he got caught by the peacekeepers, he was taken in by the old man Berry. "Yah looks like a beast, little though and trapped. How about yah follow me and I’ll teach you how to fight?"

Noxian had not hesitated for even a second. In the past year, he had indeed learned more than just how to fight. Berry had shown him the ropes, how to survive, how to protect himself, and how to use things to his advantage.

One of the most important lessons Noxian had learned was never to lose what he truly valued, or others would snatch it away without a second thought.

Just like his brother. There were far too many eyes on Brother Xion. First, it had been the devil archduke, and now there was Allen.

Noxian walked to Xion’s left side until he successfully created the distance between Allen and Xion.

Noxian, who had spent his life fighting just to survive, had never learned the concept of sharing. Everything he had, he fought for, and everything he valued, he kept close.

So, when others tried to get closer to Xion, he had no qualms about using his pitiful, vulnerable act to reclaim his brother’s attention.

He was desperate, but he was not foolish like the archduke who had scared Xion, nor was he as stiff as Allen.

He slowly encircled his hand around the bigger palm, and when his brother held his hand back without disgust, he felt happy. Even more so when Xion smiled at him.

Noxian had barely enjoyed the special treatment of having an older brother, so how could he let Xion be taken away so easily?

He smiled sweetly, exactly the way he had learned from the people on the streets. Looking at Xion’s unguarded appearance, it sure had an effect. His previous bitter mood was swept away and he happily hopped along with Xion.

Xion, oblivious to his newly gained little brother,’ thoughts, was actually busy admiring himself.

After his status upgrade, even the map had received new features.

He still needed to be physically present to unlock the map for a particular area, but once his feet touched the ground, everything would be registered.

Now, he could even see the various herbs and animals strolling in the mountain. Suddenly the chilly air felt fresh on his face.