The smoke surrounding the two of them did not spread much. It floated lightly, like a giant ball of cotton candy.
Hughes took a deep breath.
This smoke did not cause any discomfort. Instead, it carried a slight spicy fragrance.
Hughes smelled the scent of burning pine, the roasted shell of chestnuts, and a strong caramel aroma, sweet, like brewing tea by a warm fireplace in winter.
This should be an incense used by the Buriers to ward off evil.
Hughes had some knowledge about it. It was said that everyone perceived its scent differently.
The girl’s eyes showed a trace of doubt, as if she did not understand why Hughes was unaffected despite coming into contact with the corruption. But in the end, she sighed in relief.
Then, she stopped her movements. The drifting smoke was quickly drawn back into the censer.
She nodded at Hughes and put the censer away.
There was nothing unusual. He smiled.
Good, it seemed to be working.
Now they could discuss business.
"Miss Nora, a friend of mine from another race, has been affected by corruption. Her injuries are not healing. If possible, I hope you can help treat her," Hughes said to Nora.
Nora remained silent for a long time. Her beautiful white pupils trembled slightly before she finally closed her eyes and nodded.
Hughes found it strange but did not dwell on it. He stood up and saluted Nora.
"That is great. Castel will not forget Silent Sanctum’s help at this moment," Hughes said solemnly. "This is your homeland now, too."
He did not ask what she required in return, but he could already guess.
In fact, he had long understood the current situation of the White Raven Principality, and his decision to engage with Silent Sanctum had been made after that.
Right now, saving a life was the priority.
Hughes and Nora discussed the specifics in hushed voices, and then Nora hurriedly left.
Both sides needed to make some preparations.
Hughes called Connor over and started making arrangements in advance.
The treatment could not be carried out in the manor. Aside from the risk of exposing the secret passage, Hughes had to consider the possibility of corruption spreading.
The manor was densely populated. If something went wrong, it could wipe them all out. Hughes would have to restart everything.
In the end, Hughes decided to conduct the treatment in a coastal cave.
The cave was not far from the manor, so transporting Monica there would not be a problem.
Additionally, it had a passage leading directly to the sea, allowing the Sirens to hide underwater. If anything went wrong, they could take immediate action.
Besides that, Hughes also invited Sister Chloe from the Candlelight Church to the manor as a precaution.
If Nora failed to cleanse the corruption or something went wrong, they might have no choice but to turn to the Candlelight Church for help.
To that end, Hughes prepared a carriage specifically for her.
After making all the arrangements, Connor quickly left. Hughes gave a few instructions to a nearby maid, then entered the study, locked the door, and opened the secret passage leading underground.
Following the damp cave path downward, Hughes moved effortlessly. He had been here many times and was already familiar with the route.
With the supernatural perception granted by the Symbiotic Contract, he could see clearly in the darkness.
Walking through the narrow, dark tunnel felt as easy as strolling on flat ground.
"It’s the Lord! The Lord is here!"
Upon seeing him, the Sirens gathered near the water’s edge.
Hughes looked around but did not see Ash.
"Lord, Ash was too exhausted and has entered a state of dormancy," said a blonde-haired Siren who noticed Hughes searching. "You can call me Nini."
Hughes glanced at her. She seemed mature and composed. He found the name rather odd.
Why did it sound like something only a little girl would use?
"Can Monica be moved now? How is her condition? I have found someone to help treat her. It’s just a little south of here."
Hughes’ manor was on the easternmost side of the island.
The fishermen’s docks were in the north, while the south was relatively less populated, an ideal location for treatment where they would not attract attention.
"About her condition…"
Nini’s expression turned a little strange. "We made a new discovery."
Hughes raised an eyebrow.
"You know that our Flesh Magic can forcibly maintain the stability of our bodies. That’s how we withstand water pressure."
"And we’ve discovered that Flesh Magic might also be able to prevent corruption from spreading, because…"
"Because it keeps the body in an uncorrupted state?"
No one knew how long the corruption would last or how severe its effects would be.
If the Sirens could resist corruption by maintaining their Flesh Magic, then there was hope for a solution.
Nini continued, "As for Monica, she can move for short periods now. Her condition has stabilized. However, we need to constantly replenish the Flesh Magic, which takes up a lot of manpower."
"Almost all of us," Nini sighed. "Flesh Magic consumes an enormous amount of energy. After maintaining our own magic, we barely have any left to sustain hers. We can’t even take turns casting it for her."
"If the corruption flares up and some of you can’t sustain the Flesh Magic, Monica could die on the spot?"
"Yes," Nini nodded seriously. "If the treatment requires stopping the Flesh Magic, then it must be done quickly. If we can’t reapply it in time, Monica won’t make it. She’s too young."
Hughes bit his lip, hesitating. "What if I form a Symbiotic Contract with her? The corruption shouldn’t be able to be transferred through the contract, right?"
Nini was silent for a moment. Then, she swayed her serpentine tail and swam up to Hughes.
"Monica is my best sister. Everyone in the clan loves her. I love her as much as I love my own eyes. I would give my life for her,"
"In my heart, she is even more important than you, please understand. I have spent more time with her than with you."
Hughes nodded. That was understandable.
"But if saving her would put you in danger, then I won’t allow it."
Hughes was stunned. "Didn’t you just say—"
"Lord, you still don’t understand what you mean to the Sirens."
Nini looked at Hughes seriously.
"Perhaps to you, centuries of slavery are just numbers, just words spoken lightly. But to us, they lived out, moment by moment, in torment."
"That pain makes me cherish the present even more."
"I am more practical than most. I don’t care about some promised land, nor do I believe in vague prophecies."
"I just want a home."
Nini moved a little closer, looking at Hughes with sincerity.
"Please don’t let us lose our home again."
"For our home, no sacrifice is too great, even if it’s me, even if it’s her."
Hughes looked silently at the Sirens and then at Monica.