Awakening

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

A strong wave of nausea and a severe headache suddenly hit!

Ugh… I feel like I'm going to vomit!

The young man lying on the bed slowly opened his eyes.

A sliver of light entered his vision, dispelling the endless darkness.

So blinding! He instinctively covered his eyes with his hand.

Ugh… Where am I?

The young man's mind was foggy, and the headache and nausea didn't ease.

He shook his head, and the pain in his head intensified, but it also made him a bit more awake.

There were swaying, blurry figures in front of him, indicating the presence of other people. He instinctively became alert.

"You're awake…"

It was a woman's voice, mixed with both relief and concern.

"Who are you…"

The young man's mind was blank. Where am I? Who am I? Who is this person next to me?

He felt a gentle touch on his head. The woman said anxiously, "Nathan, look at me properly. Don't you even recognize me?"

Nathan? That sounds familiar. Ah, that seems to be my name.

Yes, my name is Nathan, and I am a member of the Arcane Order…

Like a row of candles, various pieces of information gradually lit up in the young man's mind.

This woman is… He held back the headache and turned his head to look.

His vision gradually focused, and the blurry figure became clearer.

"Ugh, Mom… is that you?"

"Ah, you really worried me…"

The woman standing by the bed relaxed, her tone no longer as heavy as before.

Nathan asked, "How long was I unconscious?"

"Including the time on the ship, about a week," the woman replied.

"A week? That's quite a long time."

"You sustained a severe blow to the head."

"It seems so… Where are we?" Nathan felt a burning pain on his right cheek and temple.

"In the secret base at Horns Bay, the one you left from," the woman said seriously. "What exactly happened to you? How did you end up like this?"

"Our fleet…"

"I already know about the defeat of the fleet. I'm asking about your personal condition. Edward's men said that when they noticed you, you were already unconscious on the deck."

"Hmm…" Nathan closed his eyes, trying hard to recall the scene before he lost consciousness.

"I can't remember clearly either. It seems something passed by me, and then I was out of it. Ah… Given the nature of the attack, it should have been a large iron ball."

"A large iron ball?" The mother was very puzzled.

"Yes, an iron ball accelerated to a terrifying speed, about this big." He raised his hand to form a fist.

"It was so fast that even if your eyes could catch its trajectory, your body couldn't react in time."

The woman was extremely surprised. She tried to recall her knowledge of weapons, "What kind of weapon is this? A crossbow? A sling?"

Nathan shook his head, "No, it's definitely not any weapon we know. It should be a new invention. But with my knowledge, I really can't figure out what kind of method could give an object such immense power. Unless…"

The woman followed his guess, "A spellcaster… Was there a spellcaster on the enemy's ship?"

"Hmm… That's the only explanation I can think of."

"That makes sense. But what kind of method did the spellcaster use? It wasn't a direct hit; just passing close by caused such great damage. The world of magic is indeed vast."

Nathan struggled to sit up, but the woman quickly pressed him down.

She said with an irrefutable tone, "Lie down and don't move. You're lucky to be alive this time."

Nathan protested, "I've been lying down for a week… Ugh, my head still feels dizzy, and my ears are ringing."

The woman explained, "After a severe blow to the head, these symptoms are common. People may even lose some memory. Our spellcasters' brains are more fragile and sensitive than ordinary people's. Normal people usually recover after two weeks of rest, but you… will need a month."

"A month?" Nathan mocked himself, "Haha, I've never experienced such a big defeat."

He vowed angrily, "Hmph, Grayman, I'll make you pay."

"What did you say?"

A voice full of shock rang in his ears.

He turned to look at his mother, who was visibly stunned, her eyes wide open, and her body slightly trembling.

Nathan asked in confusion, "Mom, what's wrong?"

The woman was stunned for a while before reacting. She asked with concern, "Nathan, what do you mean by 'Grayman'?"

Nathan explained, "Hmph, I'm just guessing, but it's likely correct. We were defeated by the loyalist fleet from the Northwest Bay. That fleet flew a flag with a red dragon emblem."

At the mention of the 'red dragon,' the woman's body visibly shook.

"And during the reconnaissance in the western port of the Aldor Kingdom, Edward told me that a ship with a red dragon flag belonged to the Grayman family from the Northwest Bay. I think it's safe to say that the loyalist fleet was sent by the Grayman family. Haha, I've never heard of this family, but I assume they are some lord from the Northwest Bay."

He looked puzzled at why his mother had such a strong reaction.

The mother, seemingly muttering to herself, said, "How could it be? The Grayman family has always been low-key and never sticks their head out."

"Mom!" Nathan called out, "Do you know people from this family?"

The woman looked up and, seeing her son's puzzled expression, quickly returned to her usual calm tone, "Yes… sort of. Didn't I mention it before? When you were still a baby, I took you to the Northwest Bay. This family… has a past connection with me."

"Oh, I see." Nathan gritted his teeth, "But now this family is our enemy."

The woman's expression darkened, "Be quiet! Nathan, listen to me. Do not treat the Grayman family as enemies, and do not tell others about their role in this matter."

The young man looked aggrieved and said unhappily, "Why? I almost died at their hands! If that iron ball had been slightly off, half my head would have been gone!"

The woman's expression grew serious, "The Grayman family… is more than just an acquaintance… They have done us a great favor."

"Uh… Is that so?"

Nathan was at a loss. With such a past, it was indeed difficult to take action.

"What favor?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore. Just remember what I said."

"Alright, you are truly a person who repays kindness."

Nathan agreed, realizing that his mother's reluctance to discuss the matter was probably related to her identity as a spellcaster. In the spellcaster's circle, he had heard stories of ordinary people helping spellcasters, such as hiding their identities, escaping secular persecution, and avoiding church persecution.

These were extremely rare examples and did not change Nathan's disdain and hostility toward ordinary people. However, because they were so rare, such kindness was indeed valuable.

"I can let it go, but there are others who know that the loyalist fleet belongs to the Grayman family, including Edward. The red dragon flag was what he told me."

The woman's face became stern, "Just take care of yourself. Stay in Horns Bay for now and don't get involved in the affairs of the Aldor West Coast."

"Understood… but it's really frustrating. I've never been so embarrassed, and I almost lost my life. If it weren't for their favor, hmph, I would…"

The woman interrupted him, "Hmph, what? It's just a matter of differing positions. If you weren't so eager to be in the limelight, you wouldn't have such disasters. You usually don't listen to me…"

Seeing his mother about to lecture him again, Nathan quickly begged for mercy.

TL Note: I guess a mother's lecture is an absolute truth...

(End of the Chapter)

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