Catalina screamed and, left with no choice, closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face.
Suddenly, a low hum filled the air, and her restraints abruptly vanished.
Even the grand hall around them disappeared into thin air.
As Jared lunged toward her, Catalina spun around and bolted, shouting over her shoulder, “If you dare lay a finger on me, my master and my father won’t let you off. They’ll torture you to death for sure!”
Before finishing her sentence, Catalina clutched the life-saving jade pendant in her hand, ready to shatter it.
“Hey, stop running. I’m not possessed…” Jared called out quickly, alarmed to see her in tears.
Catalina paused, her gaze narrowing as she studied him closely. Her hand remained tightly clenched around the jade pendant, prepared to use it at any moment.
“Are you sure that man didn’t possess you?” Catalina asked suspiciously.
“Of course not. Do you really think that insignificant soul remnant could take over me? I eradicated it in my consciousness field long ago. Didn’t you notice that your restraints and
even the grand hall have disappeared?” Jared explained, trying to dispel her doubts.
Catalina scrutinized him for a moment longer before finally believing his words. Her expression shifted to anger as she glared at him. “How dare you fool me! If I hadn’t run away just now, would you have…”
She trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
“Of course not. I was just teasing you. How could I possibly do such a thing? I’m not a monster, okay?” Jared reassured her with a wry smile before his tone turned curious. “Just now, you mentioned your father and master wouldn’t let me off. Who exactly are they? And that guy mentioned an old priest. Was he implying your father is a priest?”
Jared seized the moment to probe further into Catalina’s background.
Jared recalled that priests were permitted to marry and have children. Back in his time at Lagrange Monastery, he had known Erasmus, a priest who had a daughter.
It wasn’t far-fetched to consider that Catalina’s father might be a priest as well.
“My father, a priest? Please. Don’t even think about prying into my affairs. I won’t tell you anything, you j*rk! And how dare you almost
take advantage of me just now!” After speaking, she turned on her heel and stormed off.
She was clearly upset, which was understandable given how terrified she had been moments ago.
At that critical moment, she had even braced herself for the worst.
Jared wanted to chase after her, but as soon as he moved, sharp, searing pain surged through his body, forcing him to collapse onto the ground.
His recent injury had worsened with the sudden movement, leaving him writhing in agony.
Hearing his pained scream, Catalina paused and glanced back skeptically. “Stop playing games! Get up, and quit trying to fool me!” she called out, her voice laced with suspicion.
All of a sudden, Jared coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning deathly pale.
Catalina finally realized he wasn’t faking. Her expression shifted to alarm as she hurried back toward him. “Are you… okay?”
“I don’t think I’ll make it,” Jared muttered weakly.
His robust physique had allowed him to endure
until now, but he felt as though his body was crumbling under the strain.
Catalina panicked, her voice trembling. “You have to treat your injuries! Do you have any healing pills or medicine with you?”
Jared nodded faintly. “I do, but they’re all stored in my Storage Ring. My powers are sealed, so l can’t access them or heal myself right now.”
Whoosh!
Before he could say more, another fit of coughing overtook him, fresh blood spilling from his lips.
Catalina’s anxiety deepened. She knelt beside him, frantically wiping the blood from his mouth. “If you could recover your strength, could you treat yourself?”
“Of course. I’m an alchemist. But with my powers sealed, there’s no way to regain my strength,” Jared replied, his voice tinged with resignation. “You should leave me here and find help. Don’t waste your time-”
“No!” Catalina interrupted firmly, her eyes resolute. “I told you, I won’t abandon you. I have a way to help you recover!” Without waiting for a response, she stepped aside, murmuring under her breath as though summoning her courage.
