Chapter 19: Jasper's Timely Rescue
Adrian's unconscious body lay sprawled on the cool glassy floor of the magic castle's hall.
His breath was shallow, his face pale, and the faint glow of the runes that had marked his body earlier had dimmed to almost nothing.
The remnants of his struggle could only be seen through his fatigued appearance currently, it was an unspoken testament to the magnitude of power he had wielded not too long ago in the otherworldly plane.
The silence of the chamber was broken by the faint hum of energy that preceded the arrival of Jasper.
With a resounding whoosh, the golden-robed figure materialized in the hall. Jasper's majestic appearance was impossible to overlook.
His wizardry robes shimmered with a celestial light, intricate golden embroidery depicting constellations and ancient glyphs.
His presence radiated an everlasting charm, the kind that could inspire awe even in the most hardened hearts. His eyes, a mesmerizing spectacle of true rainbows, lit up the dim hall, casting a warm, dreamlike glow on the walls.
Jasper's gaze immediately fell on Adrian, and his lips tightened into a thin line.
The boy had a knack for trouble, no doubt about it, but this… this was beyond reckless. Jasper strode toward Adrian with measured grace, each step a depiction of his unmatched authority and composure with facing unsettling situations such as this.
Kneeling beside Adrian, Jasper extended a hand, his fingers hovering just above the boy's chest.
"Vivenius Detectum," he murmured, his voice calm and steady, laced with the timeless authority of a master sorcerer.
A soft, golden glow emanated from his hand, forming a lattice of light that scanned Adrian's body.
Jasper's brows furrowed as the intricate patterns of Adrian's magic began to unfold before him.
The energy patterns were chaotic, pulsing with remnants of a force Jasper hadn't encountered in centuries.
The runes—those runes etched on Adrian's skin—were unlike anything Jasper had seen before.
They resonated with a primal, almost forbidden energy that made even his seasoned heart skip a beat.
"What have you done now, you silly kid?" Jasper muttered, his voice carrying a mix of exasperation and concern.
His mind raced as he pieced together the clues. It hadn't been long since he had set this impudent pupil of his on a seemingly impossible task—manifesting runes as proof of his readiness to learn.
Jasper had been irritated during their first lecture, frustrated by Adrian's cheeky attitude and apparent lack of discipline.
Ordering Adrian to achieve such a draining feat had been meant as a lesson in humility and focus. He never expected the boy to actually do it, let alone in a matter of days.
"Three runes," Jasper whispered, his voice barely audible. His rainbow-hued eyes narrowed as he examined the glowing symbols now embedded in Adrian's aura. "And not just any runes… these are ancient. It's strange that they're actually foreign to me."
However, he was quick to cut off the deduction, he could still always find out for himself in the future, he was probably a bit listless now and couldn't concentrate which would explain why it turned out that he was unable to identify the runes with a glance.
His hand moved slightly to hover over Adrian's forehead, and he calmly closed his eyes, delving deeper into the boy's condition.
Adrian's consciousness was badly fractured but holding together, barely. Jasper could sense the echoes of something extraordinary—a chaotic yet harmonious force that had latched onto Adrian's essence.
It wasn't just the runes. There was something else though, and it was something Jasper could quickly figure out.
"The Neon Stone…" Jasper's eyes snapped open, realization dawning. He had sensed its presence earlier but dismissed it as a faint anomaly.
Now, the connection was clear. Adrian had been drawn into the mysterious substance's influence. He was actually transmigrated temporarily to a sub existent world with little magic power.
These sub existent worlds were quite common and they were associated with the use of neon stone. However, the weirdness of these worlds made it such that only a few dared to even acknowledge them, let alone explore.
And somehow, he had returned alive, albeit with a fractured consciousness.
Jasper exhaled deeply, a mixture of relief and disbelief flooding his features.
He allowed the golden glowing light of the magical scan to fade. A few minutes later, the golden light began dissipating into the air.
Adrian's breathing, though still shallow, was slowly getting steady. His body was recovering, albeit slowly.
"Well, you never fail to surprise this Lord, do you?" Jasper said softly, his tone carrying a hint of admiration despite being annoyed himself.
He placed a hand gently on Adrian's forehead, his touch infused with soothing magic. Right then, his tense muscles relaxed slightly, his expression softening as the spell took effect.
"Silly kid," Jasper muttered, a rare, affectionate smile tugging at his lips. "You've managed to manifest runes, tap into weird magic, and nearly destroy yourself—all in less than a week. How very… Adrian of you."
Jasper stood, his golden robes flowing around him like liquid light. With a graceful motion, he lifted Adrian into his arms.
Despite his evident annoyance, his hold was careful and also protective. Adrian might have been reckless, but he was also extraordinary—a diamond in the rough that Jasper knew he could polish into something truly magnificent with the passing of time.
"You need to take a breather," Jasper said warmly, his voice tinged with gentle reproach.
Without another word, Jasper ascended into the air, carrying Adrian with him. The world around them blurred as he flew effortlessly through the castle's vast corridors, the magic of the place responding to his presence like a well-tuned instrument.
The destination was unspoken, but Jasper had already decided. Adrian needed rest, and he needed answers. And Jasper, for all his wisdom and power, was determined to find them.
Just like that, the two fleeted out of sight, their destination – Jasper's chambers. It was likely going to be quite a session of intense 'healing'.