Brian’s face displayed confusion and embarrassment as Alicia stirred awake. Although her regaining consciousness surprised him, the bruise on his ego stung him even more.
The way Dustin and Grace eyed him only made him feel more like a fool. Now that Alicia was awake, everything he had done before seemed like a farce, and he had never felt so humiliated.
At that moment, his hatred toward Dustin and Grace reached its peak.
“Alicia, how are you feeling? Do you feel any discomfort?” Aurora asked, leaning in with concern.
“My head’s throbbing…” Alicia grimaced and massaged her temples. Then, she asked, “Why am I here? What happened?”
She felt disoriented. Her mind was shrouded in fog, and she had no memory of what had happened, which left her utterly bewildered.
“You were poisoned and in critical condition. Faith and Dr. Rhys came to your aid just in time, or you might not have made it,” Aurora recounted the harrowing experience.
Upon hearing that, Alicia’s gaze shifted to Grace, and she was surprised to see her. “Faith, what brings you here?”
“I heard about your illness and brought a skilled doctor with me. Luckily, we arrived just in time. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened.” Grace smiled faintly.
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Alicia returned the smile before turning her attention to Dustin. “So, you’re Dr. Rhys? Thank you for saving my life. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”
“No need to thank me. I acted at Faith’s behest,” Dustin replied promptly.
“Oh? Looks like there’s more going on between Dr. Rhys and Faith,” Alicia teased and winked at Grace.
“Even in your state, you’re cracking jokes? Just lie down and get some rest,” Grace responded in exasperation.
“I’ve been stuck in bed for days. If I don’t move, I’ll fall apart. I need to get up and move around,” Alicia insisted with a faint smile as she rose from the bed.
However, she felt dizzy, and her whole body began to sway.
“Take it easy,” Aurora said as she supported her sister.
“I’m okay,” Alicia dismissed Aurora’s concern, closing her eyes briefly and taking a deep breath.
After the dizziness passed, she opened her eyes with a smile. “Just stood up too fast and felt light-headed. Nothing serious.”
“Ms. Marshall, I need to be honest with you. The poison affecting you isn’t ordinary. It’s a potent form of voodoo,” Dustin stated thoughtfully.
He continued, “The person behind this is a highly skilled mystic artist. While I might be able to save you once, doing it again could be dangerous. To protect yourself, we must locate this person and either make them an ally or kill them.”
“Alicia, have you recently offended anyone? Or perhaps had any past conflicts with someone?” Grace asked tentatively.
“Offended anyone?” Alicia frowned and pondered before shaking her head.
She added, “I don’t usually go out much. But I heard about the Combat Tournament at Sacred Wrym Summit, so I decided to join in for fun. I’ve been sightseeing along the way and didn’t cause any trouble with anyone.”
“That’s strange,” Grace remarked. She turned to Dustin, who nodded in response.
Though no words were exchanged, they both understood each other’s thoughts. If it wasn’t revenge, it was likely a scheme from the Hall of Gods.
They intended to use Alicia’s death to incite a war between the Mystic Arts Order and the Celestial Alliance. Thereby, the Hall of Gods would benefit from the ensuing chaos.
“Wait! I remember now!” Alicia suddenly exclaimed as if recalling something.
She raised her voice and said, “A few days ago, a strangely dressed person approached me and asked for directions. I caught a whiff of a peculiar scent during the conversation.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time. But shortly after, I passed out. Could it be that person used voodoo on me?”
“It’s possible.” Dustin nodded.
“Do you still remember that person’s features?” Grace asked.
“Yes, I do. I could even sketch it.” Alicia turned to Aurora and said, “Could youfetch some paper and a pen?” “Sure thing,” Aurora replied and quickly left. Soon, she returned with the supplies.
Alicia paused to think before drawing. Soon, a clear portrait emerged before everyone.
Dustin was impressed by the exquisite artwork.
The ability to remember someone’s features after just one encounter and sketch them out so accurately was genuinely remarkable.
“Here, this is the guy.” Alicia handed the sketch to Grace.
Grace glanced at it and passed it to Dustin, who then handed it to Aurora.
The sketch showed a man in his 40s with an unremarkable appearance. Without Alicia’s sharp memory, recalling such an ordinary face would have been difficult.
“Hey! Get this sketch photographed and send it to all nearby members of the Celestial Alliance. We need to catch this guy within three days!” Aurora promptly ordered.
Whoever dared to harm Alicia would face severe consequences, no matter who they were.
