"What on earth is wrong with her body?"
After confirming that Raphael had dealt with the maid’s issue, he made sure that he wouldn’t disturb the other party by approaching.
Ronald slowly edged closer to the dining table, maintaining a respectfully distant observation of the maid’s condition.
With his limited knowledge, the woman lying on the table seemed to have a normal complexion, and he saw no apparent wounds on the exposed parts of her skin.
Considering the place where they were—the mansion of Elva...
It was very likely that the reason for the maid’s condition was due to some kind of mysterious method from the mystical side.
Ronald had just come to that conclusion in his mind.
Raphael, standing beside him, immediately explained:
"The situation is actually quite simple."
"The organs inside this woman’s body are weakening at a peculiar rate—and the cause is particularly concerning. It’s neither poisoning nor any physiological illness but rather the application of a malicious spell on her."
"This is what led to the woman’s bodily issues."
Having received such an explanation from Raphael, Ronald immediately asked:
"Do you think this could be Elva’s doing?"
"It’s quite possible." Raphael nodded, continuing to explain to Ronald. He simultaneously scanned the room, as if the decor and arrangement revealed something to him, "As far as I know, there indeed are some schools of spellcraft in the mystical side that can enhance one’s own body by stealing the life force of others."
"That Elva, if I remember correctly, is also of no small age this year."
"In order to maintain his own health, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to engage in unsavory deeds."
This was getting interesting.
If things were as Raphael described, and Elva was harming his own female servant to exchange for his own health.
Then this fellow, or rather the organization this fellow belonged to.
Probably couldn’t be considered as anything beneficial to others.
And their contact with him was most likely not anything good.
Thinking this, Ronald had already made up his mind and then spoke:
"Raphael, let’s take a look at what’s in this house before that guy returns."
Hearing Ronald’s suggestion, Raphael smiled:
As soon as he finished speaking.
The two began their investigation of the two-story mansion.
The house wasn’t particularly large or complex, just about suitable for a family to live in, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, storage, and a guest room on the first floor, while the master’s quarters, a study, and a lounge were neatly arranged on the second floor.
At a simple glance, it looked entirely like a normal residence.
But for Ronald and Raphael.
The situation was not so straightforward.
Using his substantial knowledge base, Raphael inspected specific locations, such as the corners of the walls, in each room, and with each check, his expression also showed subtle changes.
More or less, he found some intriguing things in the house.
His approach was even simpler.
Summoning the original text from his right hand, Ronald controlled the black mist to spread inch by inch inside the house, and the unobtrusive black fog immediately transmitted the surrounding details to him.
After maintaining the inspection for a few minutes.
Just as the two reached the second floor, yet to find any particularly noteworthy clues.
The "Divine Comedy" in Ronald’s hand suddenly underwent a new change on its own!
Without any manipulation from him.
The "Heavenly Chapter," taken from Malcolm’s body, was now about to initiate its first trial!
Standing in the study on the second floor, Ronald’s expression froze.
On his right hand, the imprint of the "Heavenly Chapter" was already flickering on his skin.
The original text’s power was reminding him.
At this moment, the environment he found himself in perfectly matched the requirements of the first trial in the ninefold trials, the "Moonlit Heaven."
Although the time and place were slightly peculiar, since this was the first activation of the "Heavenly Chapter," Ronald quickly made a decision.
Immediately, unlike the requirements for casting a spell from the "Hell Chapter."
A verse recited by a soft, beautiful female voice resonated melodiously in Ronald’s mind:
When will is unshakable, it never dies;
Instead, like a flame, though twisted a thousand times by storms, it will not bend.
Once will submits, no matter how much or little;
It has already endorsed violence,
Just like those who, faced with violence, did not flee to the sanctuary.
The elegant female voice gradually faded from his mind, and the content of the "Moonlit Heaven" trial became clear to Ronald.
—To offer aid to the suffering in a place of peril.
Upon hearing the content of the trial, Ronald’s eyebrows quirked.
Instinctively, he turned to look at Raphael who was moving with him.
This guy, moving together with him, was now at the edge of the study, checking the structure between the bookshelf and the wall, his movements and posture perfectly normal.
This didn’t seem like someone in suffering, did it?
Thinking this, Ronald also spoke out loud:
"Raphael, how are you feeling now?"
Hearing Ronald’s voice, Raphael immediately stopped what he was doing.
Then, turning to face Ronald, his face showed a puzzled expression:
"I feel perfectly normal, quite good actually."
Between the question and answer, the air in the study instantly fell into silence.
Only two or three breaths later, a rather unwelcome thought popped into Ronald’s head.
If the person suffering wasn’t himself or Raphael,
It seemed that only the maid lying on the first floor remained!
Without a moment’s hesitation or further thought, Ronald waved one hand to control the black mist rushing downstairs, and he took two steps out of the study himself:
"Let’s go down and check, there might be a problem on the first floor!"
Seeing Ronald’s movements, Raphael looked startled:
While inspecting the house, he had been vigilant about the changes in their surroundings, no one approaching the vicinity of the manor, and no reaction from anyone else activating a spell nearby.
What could be the matter at this time?
Despite his great puzzlement, Raphael still held absolute trust in Ronald.
So, following close behind Ronald, he also made his way downstairs.
Passing through the staircase to the first floor,
The two immediately beheld the shocking scene before them.
The maid, who had been treated by Raphael and then laid out on the dining table,
From some unknown time, her body’s surface had begun to exude a faint pink hue.
Under the influence of this color,
The maid’s own expression had also gradually changed from its prior calm to something more sinister!