Adam prepared to teleport the King to his carriage, as the time for the meeting drew near. He found the King enjoying his jacuzzi in the castle, who, surprised to see Adam, asked if it was already time to depart. Adam nodded, then asked if the King had anything else to do, as there was something important he needed to discuss. With nothing else on his agenda, the King led Adam to his room.
A King's Secret
Adam explained the attack on his family by one of the Seven Sins of Humanity, expecting alarm. The King, however, calmly stated that he already knew, including the implied punishment for himself. Adam was surprised by the King's composure.
"You don't need to worry, Adam," the King reassured him. "It wasn't my first time doing this."
Adam looked confused. "What are you talking about?"
The King explained that Adam was the second otherworlder he had covered for in his lifetime. The first was the very hero the Guild Master had spoken of – the one who had protected the town and fought countless dungeon breaks, even assisting The Order in clearing multiple dungeons.
"If The Order truly wanted my head," the King continued, "they would have sent a Sin of Humanity to hunt me. For them to go directly for you, trying to do it swiftly without my notice, means they don't want to cause trouble for me. I have my connections as well. The Sin of Pride was just told what he needed to hear. Don't worry about my safety. I am untouchable when it comes to The Order. They are indebted to me for saving countless lives by handing them the previous hero."
Adam sighed in relief. "So everything works out."
A Sudden Collapse
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing ringing erupted in Adam's head, echoing violently. He instantly lost consciousness. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, the King immediately ordered healers to assist Adam, who was then swiftly brought back to his family.
Lyra, understanding the King's urgent need to return to his transport for the meeting, took control of Adam's unconscious body. She found the body signature of Adam's duplicate and teleported the King to it.
"We will handle Adam," she informed the King, "but we may not be able to escort you to the meeting." The King, concerned, simply told them to ensure Adam was taken care of.
The duplicate Adam merged with the main body, which was then returned home. Lyra tried to make contact with Adam's mind, but she couldn't. Something was gravely wrong.
As she delved deeper, the loud ringing intensified, forcing her out of Adam's mind and back into her own body. Lyra explained to the family that Adam's mind was engulfed in a loud ringing sound, preventing him from regaining consciousness. Even with various potions and powerful healing, Adam remained unresponsive.
Adam's sudden collapse and the mysterious ringing in his mind introduce a critical new threat.