Reithar and the Varlier brothers looked back and forth towards Mona and the guards outside. Would they let us take him out?

"Get out, or I will force you out." Ardor looked at the three cellmates, his eyes flickering with anger. His words brought the guards at arms, ready to deal with any violent prisoners.

Reithar and the others reluctantly left the cell. Guards quickly formed a formation around them, using their weapons to keep them in the center of their squad. Reithar tried to watch Mona from outside the cell, but the guards stood in his line of sight. The men had easily noticed Reithar's desire, and undermined it with speed.

These animals! Targeting Mona just because of his bloodline! Reithar couldn't help but boil with rage. He knew that if Mona wasn't of the Aurum family, Mona wouldn't be constantly targeted like this.

The six guards inside of the cell took their time. They lifted the beds, looked under the frames, and even checked ever corner for hidden items. Each of them tapped the walls at various areas, not discovering a single compartment in the walls. Nothing was left untouched except for the nauseating latrines in the back. None of the guards believed there would be something hidden there of all places, but did use their Aura to scan just in case.

As for the bedridden Mona, all of them had examined his body with their Aura quite thoroughly, each noticing his injuries largely healed. They inwardly felt a bit of shock, not knowing the mere mortal on the bed was healed through constant Aura infusions for several days and nights.

All of the six guards quietly left the cell once it was noon. The sun's rays blanketed the landscape. Reithar and the others began sweat small droplets from the heat. The guards remained motionless, their bodies relatively calm. Either those suits they were wearing had an internal cooling Creation of some sort, or their training as soldiers has begun to prove slightly useful.

Ardor waited for the six guards to come out, his hand clenched around the vial. As he walked into the cell, he began to fake carrying out the duties of the order. Like the guards earlier, he checked every place a prisoner might hide items.

His gaze began to grow serious as he walked beside Mona's bed. The cell was designed in such a manner that each bed would be inside a corner of the room but light could still come into the door. As Ardor stood next to Mona's bed, no one could tell where he was inside. Even if Mithal and the others were to look through the entrance, they wouldn't be able to see him either.

Ardor unplugged the vial, the liquid inside gently simmering inside. The liquid, upon contact with the air, began to grow more active. Small little white balls could be seen rising and sing in the milky white fluid. The scent of this item brought Ardor internal peace, but he remained on guard.

This is clearly more dangerous than that pill. He thought of what would happen if a single drop of the fluid came in contact with his body. From Gryfor's warning, it was clear that such a situation would be very unpleasant.

Mona laid on the bed, giving the impression of being unconscious. He could hear as Ardor uncorked the little vial just above him. As the small whiffs of the vial entered his noise, he felt inwardly alarmed at the effect.

Just this small scent already slowed my heartbeat and thoughts by so much? Mona couldn't help but dread the liquid in the vial. He was willing to risk losing his disguise of illness then and there, but his back had not yet been fully repaired. If he got up, his remaining injuries would only grow.

Ardor's donned a glove on his open hand and carefully opened Mona's jaw. Without a mistake he poured the entire solution in the young man's mouth, holding the vial over Mona for the last few drops to fall inside. Now, he will die. And I will get on Gryfor's good side.

Ardor was inwardly pleased. His orders were so simple, and the end product would be amazing. His thoughts couldn't help but wander to when he would be promoted under Gryfor's wing. A smile couldn't help but cross his face.

Ardor recapped the small vial, hiding the glove inside of his coat. He couldn't help but feel joy at what he was planning.

The guards outside watched as Ardor came out of the cell, the head guard's face cold. The man held out a small corked vial, his eyes staring with displeasure at their bodies.

But I'm sure it was clear!

No way! It can't be!

We failed again. Doesn't that mean?

The squadron of guards didn't wait for Ardor to speak. They began pleading for leniency once more from him for their failures. Each of them knew that this second failure was the same scenario as before. All of them silently in their hearts vowed to never treat the usually simple search as simple anymore. They would comb every fiber of every bed, every crack of every wall, and stare into the latrines if they had to.

Ardor shook his head, walking away without a word. The guards all looked at Ardor's backside with gratitude. He hadn't ended their lives, even after giving them a chance.

Mithal and the others were locked back into the cell, the guards conversing about how kind Ardor was as they returned to their original posts.

Aeron and Reithar used Aura to scan Mona's body. Their faces were grave.

"His injuries. They worsened. His heart is near collapse." Aeron looked towards his brother, worry covered his face.

"Ardor was carrying a vial. Thus Mona was fed a liquid, possibly poison. I didn't see the liquid. So I can't tell what that poison would be." Mithal spoke in turn, his Aura scanning Mona for the supposed liquid inside.

"Even if we knew what it was, chances are we wouldn't be able to make an antidote in this place." Reithar's voice was grim. He began accepting the possibility of Mona dying.

If I am right, he should have a treasure on him. A treasure he is hiding. Hopefully that item has a body purification ability. Mithal had long contemplated as to how Mona survived Taizen's blow. Although he thought it was possible for Mona to have lived thanks to luck, Mithal felt it was more sensible to consider the slim chance Mona had a rare artifact in his possession.

Reithar had tried to infuse Aura into Mona's body, but his face soon grew pale. Mona's heartbeat slackened even further, his pulse growing faint. The noble's breathing was growing slower, as if he was taking his last breaths.

The poison, it grows with Aura! He realized that with his help, Mona was closer to Death than before. Reithar retreated to the other bed, his heart experiencing a wave of guilt.

Mithal had watched Reithar's actions with his Aura, and quickly prevented his brother from doing the same. Mithal knew that if any of them infused Aura into Mona, Mona would die by their hands.

The three of them watched as a guard returned to open the cell, the prisoners gathering in the courtyard to eat.

Aeron no longer felt hunger, his thoughts focused on Mona. He didn't think Mona was less important than food. I can live a few more days.

"Let's go. It's time we left." Mithal urged Reithar and Aeron to walk out of the cell, earning stares of shock.

"If he dies, we can't do anything. Watching him will only inspire grief. Mona can't speak either, and hence he cannot tell us his final words, if any. It's best we let him die in peace." Mithal understood Aeron was still quite young, and Reithar was very close to Mona. Both of them would likely grieve greatly about Mona's passing. And that is what he feared the most.

If Mona really did die in their care, Mithal and the others could easily take the blame. Ardor was safe from suspicion thanks to his already high respect among the guards and his backer, the Warden. None of them had any means to prove the head of the guards actually killed Mona.

Mithal knew that if the person that sought Mona from the beginning was not in the Darkthorn Prison, chances are the mysterious figure was someone in the Alberdos Empire. That someone would have Mona's cellmates die for Mona's death. Without legal recourse thanks to being war captives, Mithal knew that only death awaited them if it was discovered Mona had died.

Thus, Mithal urged the other two in the cell to come with them to the courtyard. This would prevent them from crying aloud in grief at the moment of Mona's passing, alerting guards in the process and eventually leading to all of them being sentenced to death for Mona's murder. If they returned to Mona's dead body at night, all three of them would at least have an alibi as to why Mona died. Although it was weak, it was better than nothing.

Mithal looked at Mona, wondering whether this young noble was still alive. His eyes watched as sweat began to fall from Mona's body, staining the old bed beneath.

Reithar and Aeron walked out of the cell, depressed. The guard outside took no notice of their expressions.

Mithal remained in the cell with Mona, preparing to leave. He looked back to the figure laid across the bed.

"If you're still alive, it's best you overcome this poison. I think you have a treasure on you capable of removing the poison. I hope for your sake that it does." Mithal whispered to Mona, trying to prevent the guard outside from getting suspicious. He left soon after speaking to Mona.

The guard outside locked the cell and proceeded with the three down to the courtyard. Mona was left inside.

Mona opened his eyes, his breathing getting worse. He didn't know what Ardor poured into his body, but he knew that such a substance was likely fatal. Thankfully it seemed to take time to take full effect.

Mona thought back to what Mithal whispered in his ear before leaving. Does he know of the Bubble? Mona couldn't say. Although the Bubble was able to hide from Aura, perhaps under constant and precise Aura examinations could it be discovered.

His consciousness shifted back to his body. It began to swell from the liquid, sweat wetting his prisoner robes. The area where Taizen's fist first struck, right below his ribs, was beginning to grow red. Mona was internally bleeding once more, this time at a rapid pace.

Inside his body, Mona noticed the white liquid swishing back and forth in his veins and heart. This is it.

Mona had already found out that the liquid ate Aura; his empty Aura Core was consumed by the white liquid without restraint. It greedily grew in size and then entered his bloodstream, causing damage everywhere it went.

Mona didn't have any ideas as to how he could reduce this poison. He saw the small balls rolling inside his blood, growing at a slow pace. It's consuming my life force, and every second those orbs grow. Everywhere the small spheres went, pain arose in Mona's body as nearby veins and arteries began to bleed.

Then Mona saw something odd. As the small white pearls began to near the Bubble, their speed slowed for a moment before continuing. After check his left hand carefully, he found that not a single one of those fatal orbs were in this hand, except his right hand had several. Does the Bubble destroy these orbs?

Mona used his consciousness to grab an orb. The small ball quickly tried to evade and succeeded. Mona then tried to surround the ball on all sides with his consciousness, trapping the small item and taking it towards the Bubble.

The small orb vibrated in fear from the Bubble before disappearing within. Mona's consciousness entered the Bubble, watching as the small orb from the liquid enter the ring, vanishing. The fire gem inlaid on the ring grew in intensity for a second before returning to normal.

The ring can rid me of this poison, but this pain! After carrying a single orb, Mona felt a piercing headache in his mind. Using his consciousness to surround a single orb gave him migraines. As he looked at the hundreds of orbs in his body, he didn't know if he could make it.

Wait, I could try that. Mona channeled the Primal Fold technique, forming a few strands of Aura. Thanks to becoming an Aura Mortal Level 1, he was able to do much more with his Aura meridians than before.

The small strands soon won the attention of all the orbs in Mona's body. They charged at the pure source of energy, desiring to consume it all.

With a quick thought, Mona guided the strands into the Bubble, watching as a single refined strand get ejected out in turn. This further increased the speed of those orbs as they barreled towards the purified energy. They neared the Bubble itself, no longer fearing the ring within.

As the strand of Aura entered the Bubble under Mona's control, the hundreds of orbs followed in pursuit. Mona entered the Bubble with his consciousness as well, watching a scene play out inside.

The Aura strand flickered with light as it entered the Aurum ring. With no incentive, the various white orbs tried to leave the Bubble, only to be trapped within. The flame of the fire gem in the Aurum Ring flickered with ferocity at the orbs, as if it had found a meal after waiting for days. Under the influence of the gem, the ring moved about the Bubble, consuming the orbs one by one.

Each additional orb only grew the size of the flames in the gem. Once all the orbs were gone, the gem began to glow with a different light. Under Mona's gaze, the orb of flames inside the gem had changed color.

Originally the flames inside were a translucent white, but now they turned into a flickering crimson red. This ring must be connected to Aura. Mona drew the connections between Aura and the gem inside of the Aurum Ring. He understood that this second treasure, if he could wield it, it would be very valuable for his future in Aura training.

Pain continued to arc all over Mona's body. Although the poison was completely gone, the damage was still present. Mona's thoughts returned to his torn arteries and veins, his breathing heavy.

By now, Mithal and the others were entering the cell once more. With them they brought their loaves of bread, ready wish Mona goodbye. What they found instead of a corpse was Mona sweating furiously all over, the prison clothing drenched over his body.

"He's alive!" Reithar ran towards Mona, throwing his half-eaten loaf at Aeron. He channeled the Primal Fold technique with speed and after examining Mona's body, he infused the Aura into him. A trace of happiness tinged his eyes as he watched Mona's body regain stability.

Either the poison was weaker than I thought, or Mona really does have a treasure. Mithal gave Aeron his loaf of bread as well, following Reithar in suit. His Aura entered the noble's body in waves, each one more thicker than the last.

Aeron stood there, two loaves of coarse bread in one hand, his own loaf steadily being consumed. He watched as Mona's breathing returned to normal and his body stopped trembling from pain.

"He's going to regain consciousness tomorrow." Mithal looked towards Reithar after thoroughly exploring Mona's body with Aura. From Mona's body, he found that Mona should awaken around midday. The treasure must be so profound he can't tell anyone, something he just discovered and hasn't explored, or doesn't realize is inside of his body. In time, we may know of it. No worries.

Aeron set aside the loaves on the opposite bed, joining Mithal and Reithar. If both of them says he will awaken by tomorrow with their Aura, then wouldn't he wake up in the morning or even before dawn?

Then he can pay me back for all those loaves I had to share. Aeron spotted a mischievous grin as his Aura entered Mona's body in full force.

Mona laid there, internally being washed with layers and layers of Aura. These friends, I can't forget them. Mona remembered deep inside his heart his enemies and his allies, his friends and his foes. His life was on the brink of death several times, and he wouldn't forget the favor.

With all the Aura entering Mona's body, he silently cycled it back to the Bubble and refined it. After passing the Aura through his single Aura meridian, he used to carefully return his body to its optimal state. Tomorrow, I will 'wake up.' Mona felt his back had already recovered, and next would be the nerves in his legs. It wouldn't be surprising if he was back to normal by midnight.

The moon hung carefully outside in the sky, its shape hidden by thick clouds. Wind skirted the prison, chilling various prisoners in their sleep. The flames of various torches in the compound shook with each gust.

As Gryfor thought of the cloak Mona wore, he recalled how every noble line had a beginning, usually with an artifact. This treasure would be so amazing it could start a nation, but it was also limited to a particular bloodline at the same time. If I have his Lifeblood, couldn't I use it as well?

He must know where the cloak was. According to that fat Krag and his minions, the Aurum child wasn't wearing it during their encounter. Was it taken by the two that teleported? Gryfor couldn't help but grow tense.

If so, then that genius of the Aurum family, Valence Aurum, will one day be my greatest foe. I'll have to change my plans as well. With the Aurum family treasure, Gryfor would be more confident in taking control of the Alberdos Empire. Who knew? Perhaps he could also unify the continent once more under his banner.

A smile couldn't help arise as he thought of ruling the entire Madrag Continent. If such was possible, he didn't mind tempting Fate.

The smile gradually subsided as he looked towards the cell of Mona Aurum. Replacing it was a frown and confusion. With his Aura covering the entire room, he heard a knock at his office door. He knew who it was, returning to his seat to prepare for the upcoming briefing.