The boy's eyes were open.
But there was nothing in them. Just fear and emptiness.
Clad exhaled quietly and reached his hand toward the boy. The boy flinched — his entire body recoiling as if the sight alone was enough to drag him back somewhere he never wanted to see again.
Master Aldous spoke gently. "Son... how are you feeling? Any pain?"
Silence. The boy didn't answer. Something moved in his eyes, but it wasn't relief. He began to shift backward — away from them, away from everyone — moving his broken body as if distance alone could save him.
Master Aldous quietly pulled his aura inward. Jorald noticed and did the same. Clad followed. The merchant had already kept his hidden.
The boy stilled slightly. His eyes stayed empty, fixed somewhere above them — on the ceiling, on nothing. His dry, cracked lips moved.
"D... Da..."
Before he could finish, Master Aldous raised one hand in a slow, deliberate motion. The boy lifted just slightly off the bed — a telekinetic pull so gentle it barely felt like anything. Clad moved immediately, sliding a pillow beneath him, then another. The boy was lowered back down carefully, propped up at a slight angle.
His eyes were still empty.
They were about to speak when his mouth moved first. Two words, stripped of everything except what was behind them.
"Pain..., Hungry..."
The merchant didn't pause. "Prepare food for the child. Something suitable for his condition."
"Yes, My Lord." The servants moved and were gone.
The merchant came closer. "Son... what is your name?"
The boy looked at him. Then looked away — back to the ceiling, back to that empty middle distance. He said nothing.
Master Aldous straightened. "Alright. Everyone out. Let the child rest."
"But Master—" Jorald started.
"We'll have a meeting this evening." Clean. Final. "Everything will be discussed then."
"As you say."
The room began to empty. The merchant, Jorald, Arthur, and Leo filed out. Master Aldous turned to John.
"Go to the kitchen. Add something to his food — herbs, medicine. Something that will help him rest easier."
"Yes, Master." John followed the others out.
---
The corridor outside was quiet.
Arthur and Leo greeted the merchant with a nod and moved off. John was heading toward the kitchen when the merchant stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"John."
John turned and straightened. "Yes, My Lord?"
"What do you think? About that child."
John considered it honestly. "I'm not sure, My Lord. But his condition is stable."
"Good."
Jorald stroked his moustache slowly. "Did you also know his veins were destroyed? How exactly did Master determine that?"
The merchant's eyes moved to John as well.
"I apologize, My Lord — I didn't know. Master was the one who identified it." John looked straight ahead. "If you'll permit me..."
"Yes, yes. Go."
John left.
---
The merchant and Jorald stepped out into the garden. The afternoon sun was still out, but the light felt thinner than before. They walked to the tea house at the center and sat.
"Bring tea and cookies."
"What do you think, Jorald?"
"About what, My Lord?"
"The boy." The merchant looked at the garden. "Given the state he's in... can he survive? Or is it already too late?"
Before Jorald could answer, a servant came around the corner, slightly out of breath. "Greetings, My Lord. Greetings, Knight Master. A message has arrived for you."
The merchant took the letter. The seal was elaborate, high-standing. He broke it open, read it, and set it down. Tea arrived. He took a slow sip.
"What did it say?" Jorald asked.
"Nothing urgent." A small smile. "A breakdown of this quarter's expenses and profits. And a list of new requests."
"Requests," Jorald said flatly. "You did bring quite a haul back this time. From rather far away."
The merchant laughed quietly. "Yes. You're right about that." He reached for a cookie. "Now. The boy."
Jorald picked up his cup. "If he were an ordinary child — un-awakened, no ability — he would have been dead long before you found him. But that ability, the one that technically shouldn't exist, changed everything."
"Mm." The merchant nodded. "A rare ability. And it came to him for free."
"You don't think he could have two abilities? Like Master?" Jorald asked.
The merchant finished his tea. "It's possible. Mages can possess two abilities past a certain level... but that boy hasn't awakened yet. Not even once."
The wind picked up — not a gentle breeze, but something with intent. Above the garden, dark clouds had begun to gather.
The tea house door slid open. Master Aldous stepped out, John behind him.
"So this is where you ended up."
Both men rose. Master Aldous waved them down and took a chair, settling in with unhurried ease.
"That child's condition is serious," he said. "But it is also strange."
"What do you mean?" the merchant asked.
Master Aldous was quiet for a moment.
"The boy has lost his memory."
"What?" Jorald said it directly. "How?"
Master Aldous's voice came out heavy and measured.
"That child's own power... has been both his curse and his salvation."
---
**[Chapter 10 — End]**