Chapter 22: Master's Invitation
Percy shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "How many times have you been warned not to underestimate your enemy in a battlefield? That's the first step in losing a battle. You're very lucky you escaped powerless, barely with your life hanging by a thread," he remarked sarcastically, his tone mocking yet laced with a hint of disdain.
The Shrouded One, now struggling to lift his weakened body, turned his red eyes toward Percy. Despite the exhaustion and frustration clouding his expression, he managed a bitter smile. "I know I made a mistake underestimating them. You don't have to rub salt in my wounds, Percy." His voice was hoarse, as though speaking took all his remaining strength.
Percy merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "So, how did you lose your power? You've always been confident in your abilities. What happened?"
The Shrouded One leaned back, wincing as he shifted his weight. His mind wandered to the chaotic moment of their encounter. "When they engulfed me with their power and lifted me into the air, I tried to release fire at them. But it... backfired on me. The fire I intended for them turned against me. I was burning instead. In that instant, I had no choice but to use whatever power I had left to break free. I think I overexerted myself, Percy. That's why I'm so weak now."
Percy was silent for a moment, pondering this revelation. He couldn't quite grasp how such powerful girls—mere children, by all accounts—could defeat someone as strong as the Shrouded One. The very thought made him uneasy. "I never expected them to be this strong. They've humbled you, haven't they? Their power must be something else entirely if they can render you like this."
The Shrouded One gritted his teeth but remained silent. He knew Percy was right, but his pride would not allow him to admit it fully. Percy continued, his voice cold yet purposeful. "What's blocking your powers now must be the wounds on your body. You're not going to get better by sitting here sulking. Drink the decoction," he said, gesturing to the steaming dish beside the bed. "It'll help nourish you. Once you're well enough, the Master wants to see you. You're not getting out of that one."
The Shrouded One shifted painfully on the bed, exposing the burnt side of his body. The wounds, still raw and red, made him look ghastly. He barely had the strength to move his limbs. "Why don't you just heal my wounds and be done with it?" he asked weakly, though a dark smile twisted on his lips, making him appear even more monstrous.
Percy rolled his eyes, standing up and walking toward him. "Come on, you know I can't do that. You're too weak now, and I'm not risking the Master's wrath. If I heal you at this state, he'll have my head for killing his favorite son."
"That's not true," the Shrouded One muttered, a faint glint of irritation flashing in his eyes. "He loves us all equally. You're just looking for an excuse to make me suffer."
Percy laughed bitterly. "You think that, but you've never been through the kind of treatment we've been through. If the Master had treated us all equally, maybe you wouldn't have underestimated those girls. I should thank the Master, in fact. If it weren't for him, I might not have been able to endure the things I've learned."
The Shrouded One, still leaning against the bed, shot Percy a sharp look. "Well, if there's nothing else, I'd like to be left alone. The Master's invitation didn't need you to deliver it personally. He has his ways of sending messages. You must have come here to gloat at my sorry state."
Percy didn't rise to the bait. He simply sighed and gave a weary shrug. "Fine, wallow in your misery, then. I'll leave you to it. But remember, the Master will want to see you as soon as you're able. We'll both be in trouble if you keep pretending like this doesn't matter."
The Shrouded One's eyes flickered with a flicker of annoyance but said nothing further. As Percy turned to leave, the room felt even colder than before. Alone now, the Shrouded One stared at the ceiling, his thoughts consumed by the defeat he had just experienced. How long would it take before he could rise again? And what would the Master expect from him next?