A grim silence filled the hall as soon as Prithvi announced his current situation to them.
Albestros, who was his old-time friend, was rooted on the spot. Both he and Kahn hadn't imagined that the person they had come to meet was at death's door.
"What? How's that possible? Don't all Leshens live for at least two centuries? You're not even a hundred years old yet." asked the old blacksmith.
"To be honest.. I too was surprised when I found out 3 years ago. But the reason for my dwindling health is an incurable disease. And the cause is also something ironic." spoke Prithvi.
"What do you mean?"
"You know how I used to study & experiment with various alchemy potions, poisons and medicines back in the day, right?"
"Yes. We used to warn you a lot to stop trying to make new types of medicines & potions because of the harmful manufacturing procedures." replied Albestros.
"Well.. Recently I found that due to various of my research that helped me become a Grandmaster Alchemist also affected my body adversely over the decades. And their toxicity has reduced my life force by hundred folds. Now I am barely able to walk on my feet. The blood in my body keeps destroying itself after some months and recently.. My body also stopped creating new blood." revealed Prithvi.
"I… I'm sorry to hear that. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you." spoke Albestros in a saddened tone.
"But.. Where are your children? And why are you left alone like this? Why isn't anyone here to look after you?" He asked next.
To his query, the leshen only gave a light smile and explained.
"After the diagnosis of my disease, I had a breakdown. And I could no longer work knowing that I was about to die. It affected my reputation and my company. I used all the resources and money I made over the decades to look for a cure, hire Saint Rank Healers and even used every connection I had to get rare materials to concoct a cure myself."
The next second, his expression turned full of grief..
"But when it became clear that I would not live for more than two more years.. The first one to give up on me was my own family.
Both of my sons said that they lost too much money on herbs and resources that I ordered, and there was no point in looking for any other way. That I should accept my fate and make peace with it.
They even conspired to remove me from the very company I created with my sweat and blood.. All the board members felt like the company itself was a sinking ship and wanted to sell it off. But because of my opposition.. In the end, I was voted against by the majority.
I worked to the bone to give my family a good life and a stable future. Yet…
Everything I earned was snatched away right in front of my eyes by those same people. And from the past one year.. I have been living by myself.
This house and the old building of my company is all I have left to my name."
Heavy tears dropped from his eyes as he expressed his suffering.
Both Kahn & Albestros felt sad for the old leshen.
Albestros was someone who saw his world crumble to dust in a single week when his children were brutally murdered years ago.
And Kahn was someone who was shunned by his own family in his previous life.
Although their circumstances weren't identical to the old leshen, it had a form of relevance to both of them.
"Those selfish bastards.. To condemn their own father to a fate of suffering and death.." spoke Albestros as his fist clenched tightly.
Suddenly, Kahn spoke.
"How long do you have if I may ask, sir?"
Prithvi replied with a somber voice..
"At this rate.. I barely have a week left. I don't think I'll survive more than that."
The next second, Albestros glanced at Kahn and softly spoke.
"Kid.."
Kahn gave him a nod as a form of understanding what the old man wanted to say.
"If you don't mind sir Prithvi.. We would like to stay with you till that time comes." replied Kahn before the old man could make a suggestion. Both of them understood the gravity of the situation.
The Grandmaster Alchemist was already on his last straw. And to leave someone like him who had suffered too much betrayal, backstabbing and treachery by his own people and family.. They were not that type of heartless people.
So both of them made a decision on the spot to at least have leshen pass peacefully. And not like someone who died alone in a dilapidated house while having no one by their side during their last moments.
"Th.. Thank you. I don't know how to repay you." more tears fell off Prithvi's eyes as if a dam was finally broken.
Albestros grabbed his hand and the shoulder.
All three of them were men. They knew that grown men don't usually cry unless it's something they had been suffering from for far too long.
To Kahn, this moment was no different than the night when he cried for several hours on that roof before he committed suicide.
Although he came here hoping to make beneficial connections and gain the support of someone influential.. After hearing the tragic story of the pitiful leshen, he felt like the old Alchemist at least deserved a peaceful passing.
Because there was so much a single person could endure before it breaks them completely. He had lived through it once so a sense of obligation formed in his mind.
As the night came, a conversation between long-time friends arose between Prithvi and Albestros.
And eventually.. The topic shifted to his children.
Prithvi, who was already waiting for his inevitable death, felt like he had wronged Albestros by not looking for him or trying to help his children get justice from all these years.
Albestros explained the whole ordeal and how the noble clans had smothered the incident and put him and everyone related to him under surveillance.
Kahn willingly revealed his identity as Azrael and told him how they avenged Gerald and Synthia.
That night.. Three grown men had long conversation from heart to heart.
Each of them having suffered by the hand they've been dealt by Fate.
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Author : Reference Art for Prithvi in chapter comments. Check it out.