Immediately Everly’s parents’ faces darkened like the sky before a terrible storm. Their eyes narrowed to angry slits as they glared at Tyler.
“You!” her father shouted, jabbing a finger at Tyler’s chest.
“You are nothing but an enemy to this family! An evil person who wants our beloved father to die!” Spit flew from his mouth as he yelled.
Immediately her mother grabbed Tyler’s arm with surprising strength and undermining the Smell.
“We should have never let you in! You bring nothing but bad luck and lies!”
She tried to drag him toward the door.
Without wasting anymore time the guards moved forward, ready to throw Tyler out like yesterday’s trash. Their large hands reached for him from all sides.
“Wait!” Luis’s voice cut through the chaos. He raised one elegant hand, and everyone froze.
“Let Tyler stay.”
A cruel smile spread across Luis’s handsome face.
“Since Tyler claims I can’t heal the old man, I’ll show him exactly who I truly am.” He rolled up his expensive silk sleeves. “I will cure Master Jonathan with just a few hand movements.”
Immediately Tyler’s eyebrows shut up. Cold fear washed over him as he realized what Luis was about to do. “No! You don’t understand!” he said.
“This isn’t a tier one old age sickness like you think! You’re completely wrong!”
Immediately Luis shot Tyler a look that could freeze fire.
“Keep quiet,” he snapped.
“What would someone like you know about medicine? You’re nothing but a failed student.”
Luis raised his hands above the old man’s chest. His fingers began to form strange shapes as he prepared to channel his medicine energy.
In a flash, Tyler appeared at Luis’s side, grabbing his wrists in an iron grip.
“I won’t let you kill the old master,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“Your ‘cure’ will only speed up his death!”
“Tyler! SHUT UP!”
Everly’s angry voice cracked like thunder across the room. Everyone turned to see her standing by the door, her eyes burning with hatred.
“Let Luis do his job!” she spat. “What do you know about anything?” Her beautiful face twisted with disgust as she looked at him.
“You were eliminated by the divine doctor just hours after everyone entered the Supreme Forest! Five years you disappeared without a word, and now you return claiming you actually completed your training only?”
She let out a bitter laugh that cut Tyler to the bone.
“What does that make you, Tyler? A liar! A coward! A failure!” Her words fell like hammer blows. “Unlike Luis, who actually went through the process and earned his title. Who would you have us believe?”
At that moment Luis smiled brightly as Tyler let go of his hands. However The smile didn’t reach his cold eyes.
“Know your place, failure,” he whispered so only Tyler could hear.
Luis raised his hands again over the old master’s chest. His fingers began to glow with a faint blue light. Just as he was about to press them down, Tyler lunged forward and grabbed his wrists again, squeezing hard.
“I can’t let you do this,” Tyler said through his clenched teeth.
“CRACK!”
The sound of Everly’s hand striking Tyler’s face echoed through the room. A red handprint bloomed on his cheek.
“Let go of Luis’s hands NOW!” Everly screamed, her face twisted with rage.
“How dare you touch him!”
Nobody saw the flash of pain that crossed Luis’s face. Tyler’s grip was crushing his wrists, bending them at an odd angle. If Tyler wouldn’t let go soon, the bones would snap like dry twigs.
Tyler stood frozen, the sting of Everly’s slap burning deeper than skin. Five years of dreams shattered in that single moment. The love in her eyes was gone, replaced by pure hatred.
Slowly, he released Luis’s hands and stepped back.
“Fine,” Tyler said, his voice hollow as an empty well.
“Let Luis do what he wants. I’ll just watch.”
Luis rubbed his wrists, wincing slightly. Then he pointed a shaking finger at Tyler.
“If it wasn’t for Everly, I would have cursed you just now when you grabbed me,” he hissed.
“Consider this your final warning.”
With everyone watching, Luis turned back to the old master. His hands moved in a complex pattern above the frail body. Golden light flowed from his fingertips into Jonathan’s chest.
To everyone’s amazement, the old master’s skin began to change. The ashy gray color faded, replaced by a healthier pink tone. The deep wrinkles seemed to smooth slightly. His breathing became stronger, more even.
At that moment Jonathan’s eyelids fluttered. Then, for the first time in months, he opened his eyes and spoke in a raspy voice.
“What… is going on.”
Immediately the family burst into cheers and tears of joy. They surrounded Luis like bees around honey, their faces glowing with happiness and relief.
“A miracle!” Everly’s father shouted, pumping Luis’s hand up and down.
“A true miracle doctor!”
Her mother wiped away tears.
“We can never thank you enough!”
Everly hugged Luis tightly, her eyes shining with admiration. Old Master Jonathan smiled weakly from his bed still unaware of what was happening, color returning to his face.
“Two hours.”
At that moment Tyler’s cold voice cut through their celebration like a winter wind. Everyone turned to stare at him.
“Two hours from now,” Tyler continued, his face hard as stone, “Old Master Jonathan’s skin will turn gray again. red dots will begin to appear all over his body.” His eyes locked with Luis’s.
“Before the sun sets tomorrow, he will be dead.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“Luis didn’t cure him,” Tyler said quietly.
“He just gave the sickness more channels to spread. The Mountain Age will take full control soon, and it will be unstoppable then.”
At that moment Everly’s face turned red with fury. She stepped toward Tyler, fists clenched at her sides.
“Get out!” she screamed, her voice cracking.
“I never want to see your face again! Never!”
Tyler looked at her for a long moment, memorizing the face he once loved.
“And I never want to see yours,” he replied, his voice empty of emotion. “I need to find my mother—the one you all sent away like garbage.”
Immediately he turned and walked out without looking back. The sound of the door slamming behind him echoed through the grand house.
Tyler angrily came out and stood outside Everly’s parents’ house, his mind racing with thoughts of finding his mother. Suddenly, the quiet street was disturbed by the purr of an expensive car that pulled up right in front of him.
Immediately he recognized the sleek black vehicle. He had seen that car before – it was the very first car he saw when he came out from the supreme Forrest.
Immediately the car stopped and the door swung open, and lady from earlier stepped out. her fancy dress was wrinkled, and her eyes were red from crying. Her perfect hair now hung in messy strands around her pale face.
“Doctor! Please wait!” she called, rushing toward him with her hands outstretched.
Tyler took a step back, keeping his distance now.
“I was wrong to doubt you,” she said, her voice breaking.
“My Grandfather is dying right now. Please help him!”
