Two days later, Damien got an invitation from the crown prince Arthur in the form of a regal yet simple-looking letter.
He actually was planning to visit the emperor anyway and had already sent a request for an audience days ago.
Coincidentally, the emperor had accepted his request on the same day he got his invitation. Damien already applied for a leave today in the Xeton Ethereal Foundation. He was planning how to handle his talk with the emperor.
He also was researching ways to cure the ailment of Aurthur's mother since he felt that pills wouldn't be helpful for the initial treatment.
Soon enough, with Valentina in his soul space, he made his way towards the imperial palace.
The Xeton Imperial Palace impressively took up more than 100 million meter sq. area, and the main building of the palace was so tall as a tower that it seemed to pierce the skies.
Elegant windows were scattered through the palace with various shimmering and beautiful designs complimenting the loftiness of the grand palace.
There was a large and heavy-looking golden gate with many stern-looking guards lined up in front of it. They were dressed in golden armor, with some having sharp spears in their hands while others had long swords sheathed on their sides.
Each of these guards impressively had the aura of a Sky Ethereal Realm, and their eyes were unmoving, making people wonder whether they were just statues.
Damien could feel the blood-hardened aura from them, which was proof of the long and arduous battles and blood they had shed. He knew that these guards were not just for show but someone that could control a whole town on their own if they were in the Rong Empire. But here, they were merely just guards.
He believed that the guards were not needed since many killing arrays or formations might be in place. So, he could see that these guards were just the empire's way of showing their power and that they were not an empire to be messed with.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})He went near them and flashed his azure token, to which they suddenly bent their backs which were straight as an iron rod before, and showed a respectful expression.
Even if they didn't recognize Alchemist Azrael, they knew anyone with an azure token was someone who was seen as valuable to the empire...one's that couldn't be replaced or afford to be thrown away.
A guard escorted him towards the side, and then a beautiful and innocent-looking maid escorted him inside. He decided to visit the crown prince first since he was the first one to approach him and also because he had already let someone inform the emperor of his schedule.
As he passed through the palace halls, he hoped to catch a glimpse of Reva but knew that she probably was at the Xeton Ethereal Foundation or maybe cultivating in her residence.
The inside of the palace was so grand and refreshing, Damien felt that not even the seven-star hotels he had been to on Earth could match the elegance and grandeur of the palace he was walking in right now.
There were even separate gardens each time he walked through a different hall. These gardens had lush plots of moss-covered plants with mini ponds built on the sides, which were like a paradise for exotic glowing fishes.
Even Damien felt like taking a stroll through these gardens and meditate in the calm and peaceful atmosphere for a while to refresh his heart and mind.
Still, one shouldn't get fooled by how serene everything looked since each of these halls had various defensive formations that could pulverize the intruders upon activation.
Soon enough, Damien came upon large doors to a room, and the maid knocked politely, announcing his arrival.
The maid was none other than Lina, the personal maid of Arthur. And as the doors opened, a beautiful smile hung on her gentle-looking lips upon seeing a young man with noble handsomeness and bearings opening the doors.
Arthur gave a quick smile at Lina before his eyes moved over to the taller and shadowy figure behind her.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})He was a bit surprised to see how Alchemist Azrael looked as just as the rumors he heard.
He couldn't see his face at all, and the more he tried to look in through the mist over his face, the more he felt as if his senses were getting muddled.
He didn't probe any further to not irk the only saviour he could find, and with a polite smile, he greeted, "Welcome, Senior Azrael. I have been looking forward to meeting you. Please come in."
Lina took a good look at Arthur before bowing and was about to leave when Arthur called out, "Lina, you can stay. Senior Azrael or I might need your services."
Lina smiled happily and turned around to follow them into the room.
She thought she wouldn't be allowed to stand in a room with a powerful figure like Alchemist Azrael, but fortunately, her master called her back.
As Damien entered the room, he saw a sickly figure looking more than fifty years old and felt that she was quite in a serious condition to look so old despite her age and cultivation.
Concern and worry flashed in Arthur's eyes as he looked at his mother, who had a faint smile as she moved her eyes towards Alchemist Azrael, to see who this prodigal alchemist was.
However, since he had masked his face, she wasn't able to get a look. Still, she felt a mysterious aura from him, making her think that he was indeed a senior expert.
She wanted to acknowledge the arrival of this expert, but her condition made it hard for her to even move her limbs.
Damien saw her trying to speak and gestured with his hand, "Your Highness, please, no need to exert yourself. I am honored that you requested for my expertise, and even though I can't promise anything, I shall try my best."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Arthur smiled and spoke for his mother as well, "Senior Azrael need not feel any pressure. We only have gratitude for you even if there is no solution from your side. Please have a seat."
Damien sat on a chair put up near the bed, so he could check up on Maria and examine her condition.
Lina respectfully stood to the side, watching everything closely and praying that Alchemist Azrael cures Maria.
Arthur had already heard how Alchemist Azrael cured Luke, who had even his manhood crippled. Even he couldn't believe the news, but there were many who witnessed it and had undeniable proof.
So, he felt that Alchemist Azrael was an expert on a different level who had the best chance of curing his mother.
Damien took her frail wrist into his hand and gave a nod before sending in a wisp of his ethereal energy. He had concealed his aura using his ethereal arts, and Maria's condition was precarious for her to use her cultivation.
He had no worries about anyone finding out his true cultivation level.
Her cultivation was still present though weakened than her actual level.
However, she wasn't able to use it since her ethereal core was in a volatile state, and if she even tried to use a strand of her ethereal energy or anything involving the ethereal core, then she would be just cutting short her life.
So, practically she was no different than a cripple.
Arthur's hands were clenched tight with tension, and his brows were furrowed while trying to think optimistically about the outcome.
Since he couldn't see Alchemist Azrael's expression, he was feeling even more restless.
Maria maintained a calm expression as if she wouldn't be affected no matter the result. The only reason she was holding on and agreed to get herself examined was because of her son.
Otherwise, she wouldn't mind leaving this cruel world where she didn't get the love she deserved.
Her whole life, she had only lived and made sacrifices for someone else and never did something for herself.
Only this time, she, for the first time, had her own desire of wanting to live and spend even more time with her son. He was the only one who loved and cared about her, and because of her sickness, she wasn't able to spend happy times with her son and instead became a burden for him.
So, either way, if she lived or died, she knew she would no longer be troubling Arthur and let him finally follow his dreams.
Damien could sense that her ethereal core was like a black hole that kept on absorbing nutrients and proteins from her body at a steady rate, thus continuing to weaken her.
It would only be a matter of time before her ethereal core completely devours her body of all nutrients, and even he could only imagine how painful such a death might be.
It would be a slow and horrifying death and the main reason those who had faced the same condition would prefer to end their own life rather than waiting for their ethereal core to eat their own body.
He finally made a hum and said in a serious tone, "Her condition is too severe, and maybe things could have been made better if I had tried to treat her in the early stage of her condition."
Arthur and Lina's expression became grave while Maria still remained unperturbed. However, one could still notice a sad glint in her eyes as she thought about her son.
Arthur frantically came forward and asked in a strained voice, "I-Is there nothing that could be done? I am sure there is a way no matter how bleak the chances are."
Damien slowly nodded his head and said with a sigh, "There is indeed one way."
