Koyuki wasted no time dialing the Golden Empire Hospital, a facility catering specifically to the denizens of the Curtained World: mages, vampires, werewolves, and even elves. Here, everyone, from the top brass to the nurses and doctors, were sworn to secrecy about the world hidden in the shadows. They possessed the knowledge and expertise to heal these extraordinary patients.
Envy stared at the meager amount of blood in the syringe. Most of Pride's lifeblood had been transmuted into magical essence, an ethereal substance suspended between material and immaterial form. This deeply concerned Envy – it hinted that Pride's blood might never fully return, jeopardizing her very life.
A flicker of movement caught her eye. Sat, their loyal guardian, sat nearby, head tilted in confusion as Envy's gaze met his. His tail thumped expectantly, hopeful for a familiar pat or belly rub.
"Sat, come here, boy," Envy called softly. The dog responded with a happy woof and trotted over, reveling in the touch of his master's hand.
Envy's heart ached as she revealed a large syringe. "Sat," she said, her voice heavy, "I need your blood to save her life."
The playful canine's demeanor shifted. His tail drooped, and his eyes pleaded with a mournful whimper. Envy couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"Oh boy," she cooed apologetically, "I'm so sorry, but this is truly necessary."
Sat, a picture of canine resignation, reluctantly accepted his fate. He held still, his big brown eyes filled with an understanding that defied his playful nature.
Envy offered a weak smile, torn between her need and Sat's unwavering loyalty. But the situation was dire. Sat's blood, infused with the essence of a Hell Lord, held potent restorative properties. It could revitalize Pride's waning magic and aid in her recovery.
A normal doctor might scoff at the idea of dog's blood helping a human. Witches, after all, weren't strictly human. DNA tests might show similarities, but they were distinct beings, much like the difference between humans and chimpanzees.
Sat? He wasn't just any dog. He was a Hell Lord in disguise, a powerful entity masquerading as a furry companion. And as such, his blood held the potential to tip the scales in Pride's favor.
With a deep breath, Envy drew blood from Sat's foreleg. The dog yelped, perhaps a touch more dramatically than necessary (Author Note: classic Siberian Husky), but held firm. Touched by his unwavering loyalty, Envy made a silent promise to reward him later. She would increase his daily ration of Philosopher's Stone, a luxurious treat gifted by Daniel, that would surely lift his spirits.
The crimson liquid drawn from Sat's foreleg wasn't blood in the conventional sense. It resembled molten magma, a vibrant intensity Envy hadn't encountered in her long life, even amongst other Hell Lords.
"Yes," Envy confirmed, exhaustion etching lines on her face. "Inform the hospital director that this is a top-secret case. Use Greed's name, or mine, to emphasize the urgency and importance."
A furry nudge broke the tension. Sat, sensing Envy's emotional state, sidled up to her, his soft fur brushing against her side, a silent plea for a reward for his contribution.
"Alright, alright," Envy conceded with a weak sigh, the ordeal leaving her drained. Reaching into her robe, she produced a small porcelain jar. The moment the lid clicked open, the furball's nose twitched with excitement. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and his tail went into overdrive, a blur of wagging that almost defied physics.
Envy chuckled softly and tossed a shimmering Philosopher's Stone, its colors swirling like a miniature nebula, into the air. In a flash, Sat launched himself upwards, snatching the treat mid-air in a dazzling display of canine acrobatics. Koyuki watched, a bemused expression on her face, as the playful creature gobbled down the Stone with gusto.
The scene brought back a complicated tangle of emotions for her. This goofy furball, now her companion, was once a fearsome enemy who had nearly taken her and Michaela's lives. Daniel's intervention had transformed it into this... well, goofball.
While she could tolerate Sat's presence, earning her genuine affection would require more than a well-timed sacrifice and a few adorable dog tricks.
—
As Daniel traveled towards New Mexico, night had descended upon him. However, he found himself surrounded by luxury within Ragnar Stenmark's extravagant bus. This wasn't your ordinary vehicle; it was more akin to a lavish mobile home, complete with a private maid and butler ready to fulfill every request.
Ragnar, the head of the Stenmark family and Daniel's first genuine mage companion (aside from Koyuki), had spared no expense.
The stark difference between this opulence and Daniel's usual frugality wasn't lost on him. While he typically used his self-designed VTOL or artisanal limousines for transportation, this luxury bus was on a whole different level – the kind that only billionaires with overflowing wealth might indulge in.
During their journey, Ragnar mentioned casually that many mages were avid consumers of luxury items. Their connections with elite private entities often resulted in substantial profits.
Numerous mages owned businesses or held significant shares in them. Even apprentice-level mages received generous research grants from the Hightower, and salaries from powerful mage families, clans, and the Hightower itself were quite substantial. This placed mages squarely among society's highest earners.
However, the recent implementation of the Grand Alteration spell by the Hightower to erase memories of magical phenomena from non-magical individuals worldwide could pose a challenge for mages. This is because the support from elitist conglomerates and large corporations, which contribute significantly to mages' income, was based on their knowledge of the Curtained World's existence.
While established mages like Ragnar and those from powerful families likely have the resources to weather this change, the impact on lower-rung mages will be significant. Ultimately, this is a problem the Hightower will have to address, and not one that concerns Daniel at all.