Lucia's voice cracked as she stared at Lloyd lying motionless on the white bed, his breathing shallow and faint. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She cried out "Saint Lloyd," and tried to rush forward, but Garling caught her firmly by the arm.
His gaze locked onto Gulando, and his voice turned icy,
"Gulando, what are you doing to him? You claimed you were treating Lloyd. What illness takes this long to cure, and how did you turn him into this?"
Gulando slowly placed a green syringe on the bedside table beside Lloyd, answering with practiced calm,
"Why trouble yourself with this when you should be focused on your training? Lloyd is gravely ill, how could he recover so easily? It pains me every day to see him like this. He is my own son, after all."
He emphasized the last words heavily, making it clear he wanted Garling to stay out of the matter.
Lloyd struggled to open his mouth to speak, but Gulando pressed a hand over his lips, murmuring softly,
"Rest, child. You must not speak."
Garling's eyes narrowed, uncertain whether Gulando's explanation was true. He hesitated, choosing silence for the moment.
Seeing Garling's quiet compliance, a faint, hidden smirk tugged at the edges of Gulando's mouth. He was just about to dismiss Garling when Lucia suddenly cried out, her voice sharp with panic,
"He's lying! I heard them yesterday. They're experimenting on Lloyd!"
Gulando's expression darkened. His fingers moved to grip the crescent-shaped pendant on his chest. With a quick motion he drew out a mini blade, his eyes turning murderous.
He slashed the air. A sharp arc of sword aura shot directly toward Lucia.
"Seeking death!"
Swish.
At that instant, Garling drew the sword from his waist with lightning speed, intercepting the attack. It was hurried, and the scattered force still grazed Lucia's face, leaving a thin line of blood beneath her left eye.
Crimson trickled down, yet Lucia seemed oblivious to the pain. She clung tightly to Garling's sleeve and pleaded through trembling breaths,
"Please… please take Saint Lloyd away. If this continues, he'll die!"
Her crying irritated Garling. He pulled his arm away from her. Before he could speak, Lloyd suddenly snapped his eyes open at the sight of Lucia's injury. A violent current exploded from his body as he roared,
"Lucia!"
The electric surge struck Gulando's hand, forcing him to recoil. His palm was darkened from the shock. For a brief moment he stared at it blankly, then suddenly erupted into manic laughter.
"Hahaha… it worked! It finally worked! I succeeded!"
Garling's expression hardened. He stepped forward, pointing his sword at Gulando,
"What are you doing? Is this really some kind of experiment? Explain yourself. Now."
Gulando stopped laughing, tilted his head, and looked Garling straight in the eyes.
"Garling, are you— the younger brother— trying to order me? You aren't the head of the Family yet."
"So what?" Garling responded coldly, tightening his grip on his sword, "As Chief of the Divine Knight Order, I have the authority to judge Celestial Dragons. Tell me what you've done."
Gulando froze briefly, then pressed a hand to his face and broke into deranged laughter.
"Hahahaha… Chief of the Divine Knight Order. How impressive."
His expression twisted with every word. His eyes sharpened as he spat through clenched teeth,
"That position should have been mine. Don't act mighty in front of me. You want to know what I've done? Fine, then listen."
He looked down at Lloyd with a disturbingly affectionate gaze.
"I admit, no matter how hard I cultivate, surpassing you is difficult. But I have a son— a talented one. Even more gifted than you. Tell me, why should such potential be wasted?"
He stroked Lloyd's trembling forehead gently. Lloyd flinched although the touch wasn't cold.
"His body is an unpolished treasure. Developing it requires precision. I've invested immense effort."
Gulando walked to a nearby table, snatched up a report, and tossed it at Garling.
"Look at this masterpiece!"
Garling scanned the first two pages. A chill crawled up his spine. He threw the report to the ground and glared at Gulando with fury.
"You're insane! Lloyd is still a child— how can he endure this kind of experimentation?!"
Gulando scoffed.
"My child is not yours to worry about. If there is nothing else, do not disrupt my research."
Garling stepped forward aggressively, sword raised.
"Give Lloyd to me. You don't deserve to be his father."
Gulando remained eerily calm. He folded his arms, almost amused.
"Oh? I nearly forgot. You're about to become a father too, aren't you?"
Crack.
The floor fractured beneath Garling's foot. He stood frozen, shock rippling across his face.
"You… how did you—"
"How did I know?" Gulando chuckled. "My dear brother, all you do is train. How much about the Family do you actually know? What could possibly escape my eyes?"
Garling's tense expression revealed he was caught. Gulando continued,
"I suggest you stop interfering. Otherwise, if that secret leaks, you might never get to be a father."
"You!"
Garling trembled with rage. Every instinct screamed to cut Gulando down, yet Gulando's words struck the weakness he couldn't ignore.
Gulando approached casually and patted Garling's shoulder.
"Relax. We can stay out of each other's way. And this experiment benefits Lloyd greatly. I would never gamble with my own son's life."
Garling gritted his teeth.
"How much longer will this cursed experiment last?"
"Soon," Gulando replied with a grin. "Didn't you see the electricity he unleashed? Proof my direction is correct. Just give me a little more time, and I'll forge the most perfect body in the world for him."
He did not voice the final part that echoed in his mind.
And for myself.
Garling closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, then took Lucia by the arm and vanished from the lab in a flash.
Outside, Lucia kept crying, begging Garling to save Lloyd. He shot her a cold glance.
"Stop your crying. Your loyalty to your Master is commendable. I will arrange for you to join the guard unit. Train hard. When Lloyd returns, you will serve as his personal guard."