He understood why Genzou was talking about an hour. Observing the speed by which sand was leaving the upper portion, Shinji thought one hour was an utter exaggeration.
Shinji crouched to have a closer look at the bronze needle. While focusing on the tiny needle, he saw blurry background of Commander Eiga sitting on a rock. Shinji got upright then saw the commander holding Wernh’An’s staff. Hugging the staff, he looked at Shinji – who still couldn’t get over the fact that he had slept for about two days.
Shinji stumbled on a pebble and tasted mud right infront of Eiga’s feet.
“Go back to the cave.” Genzou to staggering Shinji, “You will need more fragrance to recover well.”
“Is he breathing?” Eiga also left the rock.
“Yes.” Genzou said but Eiga was doubtful regardless. Genzou helped Shinji to take few steps. And in the duration, Commander went close to the bed. Eiga placed his finger infront Wernh’An’s nose to feel his breath.
“NO!” Genzou screamed.
Shinji flinched too.
“Don’t touch him.” Genzou left Shinji before taking him inside.
“I wasn’t going to.” Eiga raised both of his hands.
“You were also affected by toxics.”
“I have control over my muscles.” Eiga stepped back.
“Then control your skeptics as well.” Genzou lowered his voice, “You don’t want your fingers to be the reason for our lord to lose big part of his power.”
Shinji turned back quick after hearing what message the murmurs carried. He kept on his walk to the cave instead of trying to listen more.
“Can’t you let him rest for an hour?” Shinji heard Genzou before he got back to the cave.
Time, which the mage had given, Shinji had wasted all of it. He tried to think of what to do in the room where passed out soldiers were breathing loud. Hopelessness covered Shinji’s eyes when he found he didn’t have much time to think either. Shinji could not trust his strength and weapon skills because he was nowhere near good state to pick up fight with Commander Eiga. Killing Eiga would have been near impossible in normal days.
I can’t let Wernh’An wake in any condition. Shinji reminded himself. To accomplish it, he needed the commander out of his way but he had no idea how he could do so. The blessing of fire had brought him to near invincibility. Then something clicked him.
He recalled the fire in Genzou’s laboratory.
With a bit of breeze…. Shinji still was unable to make sense out of the mage’s saying. He was aware Eiga was reluctant to breaching the nature of fire. Soldiers near him coughed more violent. They were recovering.
One thing Shinji did not want right now was addition of enemies. There was something which could be done against it so he moved towards the bubbling pot. Despite of no fire underneath, it was boiling.
Shinji kicked the pot, emptying every drop of liquid inside it. Potion on floor stopped to make bubbles first then fragrance faded away within seconds. Soldiers who were coughing moments ago wore silence.
Soon foam bubbled out from their mouths as they twitched in suffocation.
I should break the blessing of Eiga to defeat him. It was the only logic he could make from the Metal Mage’s vague answer. But how? He converted the answer into riddle by himself.
While the soldiers around him were taking their final breaths, his eyes fell on the lamp’s flame near to lose the fight against air from Hilcastle.
With a bit of breeze. Shinji smirked after seeing a set of bow and arrow near one of the dying soldier.
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