Seong only pretended to sleep. He returned to Ryang's side, dismissed the others, and kept vigil alone. Despite his lingering exhaustion, sleep evaded him. His gaze drifted from Ryang's face to the bandaged wound on his shoulder, then to the still rise and fall of his chest, and back to his face again. A tightness settled in his chest as he imagined the despair and fear Ryang must have endured alone. He thought of the agonizing days that must have felt like years, the endless hours in Hwan's clutches. Those five days were a forgotten nightmare for Ryang, and Seong's anxiety grew as he looked at his brother's closed eyelids and sealed lips.

  He'd been confined within Wicheong Palace for so long that he'd lost track of time. His eyelids grew heavy, and he guessed dawn must be approaching. Just then, Ryang's long lashes fluttered open, revealing his dark eyes. His gaze slowly shifted, settling on Seong. Seong's face, a mixture of relief and worry, softened.

  "Ryang? Are you awake?" he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  But Ryang's eyes were filled with terror.

  "Hwan...?"

  He scrambled back against the wall, his body trembling. Seong reached out cautiously, his hand hovering over Ryang's chest.

  "Brother, it's me. Seong."

  "Don't touch me!" Ryang swatted his hand away, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

  "What's wrong?" Seong tried to soothe him. "It's me. You're at Wicheong. You're safe now."

  "No!" Ryang cried in panic. "Stay away from me!"

  Despite Seong's reassurances, Ryang continued to shrink back, his cries echoing through the room. Ung rushed in, alarmed by the commotion.

  "Guardian, what's happening?"

  "He's seeing things," Seong explained, his voice trembling. "He keeps calling me Hwan..."

  Even to Ung, it was clear Ryang was delirious. He tried to approach, but Ryang only cowered further against the wall, his fear escalating with every step they took towards him. They gave up, retreating from the room as if fleeing a wild animal. Seong closed the door and turned away, his hand gripping the doorknob, his body frozen in place.

  Inside the room, Ryang was trapped in a whirlwind of confusion and terror. He couldn't control his limbs, his vision blurred, his mind reeling. He lashed out, knocking over anything within reach. Anger and fear warred within him, fueling his panic. He was terrified, trapped in a cycle of madness he knew all too well.

  The muffled sounds of Ryang's struggles continued. Joon, unable to bear the agonizing sounds, exclaimed, "Shouldn't we restrain him? He'll hurt himself!"

  Everyone hesitated, but Norahn, sensing the familiar signs of post-traumatic delirium, stepped forward. He took a deep breath and cautiously opened the door, two physicians trailing behind him. Ryang, seeing Norahn's white robes, cowered in fear again.

  "Stay away!" he shouted.

  Norahn's certainty grew as he watched Ryang's unfocused gaze and erratic movements. He reached out a calming hand and took a step closer.

  "High Councilor," he said gently, "I know how I must appear to you. I know this is a distressing situation. I'm here to help. Please, just cooperate with me for a moment."

  Ryang's breathing grew shallow and rapid as Norahn approached.

  "Don't lose focus," Norahn pleaded. "It'll only be for a moment."

  Ryang, his face slick with sweat, managed a weak nod. Norahn cautiously moved closer. Ryang squeezed his eyes shut and gripped the bedpost, his face contorted in a grimace despite the comforting warmth of Norahn's presence. Norahn's expression hardened, and he abruptly stood and left the room.

  Seong, who'd been anxiously waiting outside, turned at the sound of the door opening.

  "I smell Crystal Haze on his breath," Norahn reported.

  "Crystal Haze?"

  "The scent of seawater was too strong when we first arrived, so I didn't notice it then, but now it's clear. Cheon Hwan must have forced him to inhale Crystal Haze."

  Cheongro, standing nearby, nodded. "That'd explain it."

  "Crystal Haze caused this?" Seong questioned, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "But it's the incense we always use in the Ministry. There have never been any problems before."

  "That's because I never informed you," Norahn confessed.

  Seong's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "It's safe when used in moderation," Norahn explained. "Occasionally, there have been those in the Ministry who disobeyed the rules and used excessive amounts, leading to addiction. They all showed symptoms similar to the High Councilor's at first. They would lock themselves in the prayer cave, and when we finally went in, they would be unconscious. At first, it seemed like they were simply asleep, but when they awoke, they would exhibit signs of delirium. The High Councilor's delirium is less severe due to his usual temperament. But after the delirium subsides..."

  "What happens then?" Seong pressed.

  Cheongro answered in Norahn's stead, who avoided his gaze. "They die."

  Seong's heart sank. He struggled to maintain his composure, but his fingertips began to glow red, causing those around him to step back in alarm. Hwan's hateful sneer echoed in his mind.

  "Can't you treat it?" Seong asked, his voice shaking.

  "Some recover depending on the severity of the addiction if we manage the symptoms and help them endure," Norahn explained. "But we don't know how much Crystal Haze Cheon Hwan forced him to inhale or for how long."

  "Do you think he would have given him just enough to barely survive?" Cheongro scoffed. "He must have given him enough to kill him several times over."

  Ung, sensing Seong's growing agitation, reprimanded Cheongro in a low voice. "Second Emissary."

  Norahn continued, "While we can't fully assess the High Councilor's condition, we must provide all possible treatment with the hope of recovery. That's difficult to do within Wicheong. We need to send him to Nahmgyo."

  Joon gestured towards the room where Ryang lay, his occasional cries echoing through the closed door. "But in his state, how can we possibly move him to Nahmgyo? The Dahnian forces will surely discover him."

  "The delirium should subside within a day or two," Norahn assured him.

  "That's not the only problem," Joon countered. "The Princess is searching for him relentlessly, convinced she's helping. If he suddenly appears in Nahmgyo in this condition, what will she think?"

  Ung, his frustration growing, retorted, "Then what do you suggest we do? Leave him here to die?!"

  A heavy silence fell over the room. Cheongro, sensing the tension, offered a suggestion. "What if we leave him near the north gate?"

  Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions a mixture of disapproval and disbelief. Norahn shared their sentiment.

  "Leave him?" he questioned. "Once the delirium subsides, he won't even be able to move. Didn't you say he's dying?"

  "That's what makes it the perfect disguise," Cheongro countered smoothly. "The Dahnian forces are searching for him, aren't they? If we leave him near a path they frequent and observe from a distance, they'll find him and take him back to the city. The Princess must have brought a physician with her, so he might even receive better treatment."

  Ung considered this. "That could work," he conceded.

  But Seong immediately rejected the idea. "It's too risky for Ryang."

  "But..." Ung began, but Seong refused to hear any more and left the room.

  He returned to his chamber, his heart heavy with worry. He paced back and forth, his fists striking the stone walls. With each blow, his hands glowed red, leaving scorch marks on the cold stone. He stared at his hands, flames flickering around his fingertips. He was still unable to control his newfound power, the Celestial power he had gained in his desperate attempt to save Ryang. It offered no protection against the poison coursing through his brother's veins.

  After Norahn's examination, they managed to restrain Ryang and bind him to the bed. He thrashed against his restraints, his delirium returning in waves, until exhaustion finally claimed him. As Norahn predicted, the delirium subsided after two days. When they cautiously opened the door, Ryang lay on the bed, his hands tied to the bedpost, his body weak and still.

  But the respite was short-lived. Once the delirium faded, Ryang was gripped by a new torment. His lips were pale, his body wracked with pain. He was consumed by thirst, yet he could barely swallow. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his lips growing drier with every drop. Though he no longer thrashed and raved, his silent suffering was a torment to those who watched over him. He lay with his eyes closed, his hands clutching the bedpost, his body wracked with tremors. He would drift in and out of consciousness, his pain intensifying with each passing hour. Whenever Ryang's agony grew unbearable, Seong would lash out at the physicians.

  "Do something!" he'd cry in despair. "Help him!"

  The physicians, their faces pale with fear, avoided Seong's gaze. Cheongro, desperate to deflect the blame, offered a solution.

  "Guardian, perhaps if we allow him to inhale more Crystal Haze, it might ease his pain..."

  "Are you insane?!" Seong roared, his fury erupting.

  Cheongro immediately fell silent. Each time Seong's anger flared, they would instinctively step back, his hands glowing red with barely contained power. Seong remained by Ryang's side, refusing to let anyone else into the room. He even insisted on administering the medicine himself. Ryang struggled to swallow, half of it spilling down his chin. Seong wiped his face with a damp cloth, his silent tears mingling with the spilled medicine.

  The physicians, desperate to ease Ryang's suffering, suggested a strong painkiller, the decoction of Sogahmcho(消感草), which was essentially no different from Crystal Haze. Seong, unable to bear the sight of Ryang's agony any longer, finally agreed. Ryang fell into a deep sleep, his face relaxed for the first time in days. He slept for half a day before finally awakening. Seong greeted him with a forced smile.

  "How are you feeling?"

  Ryang blinked slowly, his eyes acknowledging Seong with a subtle gesture of respect.

  "Guardian."

  His voice was weak, devoid of energy. He seemed to lack even the strength to express his pain. Yet, the moment he regained consciousness, he began to scold Seong.

  "Why did you come to save me?"

  Touched by the first coherent words he had heard from Ryang in days, Seong replied with a sad attempt at humor. "Your first words upon waking up are a scolding?"

  But Ryang was insistent. "It was a death trap. Didn't anyone try to stop you?"

  "Of course they did," Seong admitted. "I just didn't listen. But I saved you in the end. And I even awakened my powers as a Celestial Scion."

  "You saved me through a miracle," Ryang countered. "Miracles are not abilities. Some will follow you now, seeing that you saved me and awakened your powers. It's clear that Sahngjon's will favors you. But others will surely take note of your recklessness and disregard for your own safety."

  "Like you?"

  "Everything could have ended in that cave."

  Seong shook his head. "It wouldn't have mattered."

  Ryang sighed, his breath shallow and weak. "Guardian," he whispered, "please kill me."