The Dawn of the New World

His head jerked left and right as if he was having a terrible nightmare. And seeing him struggle so much Hazel immediately ran over to his side.

"What's happening to him?!"

"The poison is doing what it was supposed to," Han Rong explained, "Now that he is the only one it can focus on, the poison's effects will have become much more potent than before."

Henrik's entire body began to shake with such force that it made even the bed move by itself. Hazel bit her lip trying to hold him down with little success.

"Will it stop if I give him more blood?"

"The poison will spread to you just like with-"

"I don't care about that. If it gives him some relief I will do it."

Han Rong and Zou Huan couldn't help but shake their heads at her suggestion.

'Aah, young love. Must be nice,' Zou Huan thought inwardly while exchanging knowing glances with Han Rong. It was obvious she would do it with or without them and there was very little they could do to stop her save from locking her up somewhere.

"Do it," he signaled to Han Rong who dragged the chair next to the bed and gently nudged Hazel to the side.

"Some space please."

He pushed her out of the way and sat down cross-legged on the chair.

"Ommmmmmm," bringing both his hands together he began making various gestures while channeling internal energy to the tips of his fingers.

Hao Xuan who was watching everything from the sides squinted hard because in his eyes there were particles of golden light gathering around his hands.

A pure refreshing feeling washed over him as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his burning body.

He moved a couple of steps closer and felt all the various elements mixed in. All the elements found innately in nature were coming together to answer Han Rong's call.

"O' spirits of the land...bless this child of light in this time of need."

Hao Xuan had to look away because the golden light had become so bright that it hurt his eyes but a moment later he felt the feeling recede and slowly turned back to see everything had returned to normal.

Henrik's body had stopped shaking and sweating, making it look like he was asleep again.

Hazel leaned down to check his wound but it was still there.

"What did you do?"

Zou Huan came forward and answered in Han Rong's stead.

"Just a supplementary spell. It relieves pain and distress with the help of the spirits of nature. Doesn't work for everyone though. Those warped by the darkness will only be harmed by it. This should at least not make him suffer as long as one of us is here to channel it."

Han Rong was still sitting in the same place with his eyes closed.

Zou Huan turned towards Hao Xuan, "We will stay here and make sure nothing else happens to him. There are only two ways of stopping the poison. Either you find the one who created it and make him dispel it or find the necessary herbs and ingredients to make an antidote."

"If we had access to one of the markets in the Greater World we could probably make the antidote ourselves but in this place that is not an option. Most of the ingredients are next to impossible to acquire in time. That means-"

"I will find him," Hao Xuan cut him off, "I will find the guy and make him fix it, don't worry. Just keep him safe."

As Hao Xuan walked out of the building a particle of golden light swayed over and landed on his right arm. He couldn't feel any changes himself because all the sensations had been cut off by Baracus but for a brief moment, a portion of his skin regained some color.

"Looks like I'm not that far gone yet, huh?" he mumbled to himself as Claudia leaned in from behind.

"Master, that was definitely Eurig's doing. Should I find him for you?"

Hao Xuan smilingly shook his head, "No need. I know exactly where he is. Let's go."

He jumped as soon as he finished speaking and disappeared behind the countless buildings leaving Claudia standing there alone. She didn't even have time to tell him that she wasn't able to keep up with him but thankfully he returned the very next moment.

"Sorry, I forgot witches aren't that strong physically. You can't fly right?"

"No...not yet," she replied dejectedly.

"Come, hold onto me," he said extending his left hand, making her run into his embrace.

"Hold on tight."

"Yes," placing both hands around his neck she closed her eyes as he pushed against the ground, leaping through the air without much effort.

*Sniff*Sniff*

She inhaled deeply through the nose taking in a lungful of Hao Xuan's scent. Her eyes rolled back not much different from when a junkie takes a hit of their favorite poison.

Her lips arched into a blissful smile because everything about him was addicting and neither of them realized that in the moment.