NOVEL NEXT Chapter 145: Warning (1)
As Michael, Melody and Rudy arrived at the infirmary, they saw a woman in her late forties with a frown plastered on her face, clearly annoyed about something. She had her hair in a practical bun and wore the standard faculty robe of the academy.
Upon seeing Michael floating in beside Rudy, her expression flashed with anger, causing Michael to flinch subconsciously. This woman was the one in charge of the infirmary: Hilda Flinders, or Madame Hilda as she liked to be called.
"Good afternoon Madame…" Rudy began, trying to sound polite.
"Is it?" she retorted, her anger clear. "Let me guess, you've come from your combat exam as well?"
"Err… Yes Madame." Michael replied this time, lowering his head slightly. He wasn't sure why, but being spoken to in such a fashion made it seem like he was being scolded—despite not doing anything wrong.
"That barbaric seductress…" Hilda spat through gritted teeth. "First she corrupts my young Theodore, now she's injuring all of the students. Just how long will the headmaster put up with her folly?"
Michael paled slightly, turning to Rudy beside him who also wore a reserved expression. It seemed that neither knew what to reply in that moment.
The older woman let out a huff, clearly still worked up. "Well? Are you going to bring him in? Or did you just want to stand there for the rest of the afternoon?"
"C-coming…" Rudy replied meekly.
Michael turned to check on Melody, only to see that she was swiftly walking away in the other direction.
You traitor…
However, he didn't want to call out and risk becoming the subject of Madame Hilda's anger. All he could do was suck it up and allow himself to be led into the infirmary by Rudy.
The infirmary ward was filled with beds lined up against the walls, mostly empty at this point in time. Yet in the furthest bed in the corner, a figure was laid on his back, both of his arms wrapped in tight bandages with an IV standing next to the bed.
In the bag was a red liquid, slowly dripping into the tube inserted into the youth.
Even without seeing the youth's face, Michael knew that it was Braydon. But he was alone, likely after dismissing his two lackeys Craig and Toby.
Much to his dismay, Madame Hilda waved her hand and took control of his floating body, sending him into the open bed right beside Braydon. He resisted the urge to complain, instead trying to ignore the guy now beside him.
"Quit fidgeting, I need to check the condition of your body." The older woman said harshly, placing a hand upon his chest. Despite the annoyance in her tone, her touch was gentle and professional—a sign of her many years of experience.
Michael felt a pulse of foreign mana enter his body, probing his muscles and bones. It was a little uncomfortable, but he did not resist.
After a few moments the woman took back her hand and sighed deeply. "Most of the muscles in your arms and legs are torn and your bones have more micro-fractures than I can count."
Hearing the diagnosis, Michael's expression relaxed. Though it might sound bad, he knew that it could be easily fixed with a standard healing potion—unlike the maiming of Braydon's arm's beside him.
As if seeing his pent up anxiety disappear, Madame Hilda let out a small sigh and got to her feet. "I'll go get a standard healing potion and send you on your way. I have no doubt that I'll be quite busy this afternoon…"
The woman then left the room, leaving Braydon, Michael and Rudy alone.
The atmosphere was awkward since these three had a history. But ever since Randolph and Troy had been expelled over three months ago, Braydon had made himself scarce—for one reason or another.
After a few minutes of awkward silence and no signs of Madame Hilda, it was surprisingly Braydon who spoke up first.
"Did you defeat it?" he asked, sounding rather depressed.
Michael's eyes widened slightly in surprise, his gaze turning to Rudy. The guy shrugged his shoulders before turning his head, not wanting to respond.
"Yeah we did, as a team." Michael replied truthfully. There was no point in telling a lie, the guy would find out eventually when the results were posted anyway.
"I see…"
Uncomfortable silence filled the atmosphere once more, as the three first-years sat idly by. Rudy tapped his foot on the ground impatiently, clearly wanting to get out of the room—though Michael didn't blame him.
He even considered wasting a Bloodmend Phial in order to escape before Madame Hilda returned with his healing potion.
"I'm gonna go see what's taking so long." Rudy announced, promptly getting to his feet and walking out.
Ah, another traitor! Michael cried in his heart, feeling incredulous.
As the door slammed shut, he felt awkward. Despite not butting heads with Braydon for some time, there was still an obvious tension between the two.
While it had not manifested into outright aggression like in the past, it was still tangible. Though if he had to explain it, he would class it as more competitive than active hatred.
But unexpectedly, it was Braydon who spoke up again, his voice cutting through the silence.
"You need to be careful…" he said solemnly.
"Sorry?"
Michael blinked incredulously, not knowing what the guy was referring to.
"The Bishop family… They're planning something. I don't know what it is, but that's why I've been told not to pursue Melody for now."
Huh? What the hell does he mean?
The revelation caused him to pause, his heart beginning to race inside his chest. However, Michael managed to calm himself enough to ask the most pertinent question.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
It wasn't unbelievable that the Bishop family might want revenge for their expulsion, but it made absolutely no sense why Braydon would divulge such information to him. Especially with their history.
For a moment, Michael felt his opinion change of the guy.
However, just before he was about to answer, the door shot open, revealing another first-year student who was injured from their class. Madame Hilda followed behind, her expression dark.
She tossed a small vial filled with red liquid towards him, "Drink it and get out."
"Yes Madame…"