Teacher Artemis Saves the Day

Solis watched anxiously as Teacher Artemis studied the ingredients and wrote out several formulae, trying to remember things from long ago when her own teacher had made her memorise some of these things. Noir had fainted after saying 'boil' – and he still hadn't regained consciousness. But the process should involve some boiling, and that was an important clue.

Finally, Teacher Artemis was able to finalise two formulae which matched the ingredients listed and involved boiling. However, she still wasn't sure which one would be the right cure for the toxin, so she discussed it with Solis.

"Make both," he said without hesitation. "We'll test them on my stepmother and my half-brother." There was a cold glint in his eyes that radiated anger and ruthlessness.

Teacher Artemis wasn't a soft person, either, and she had absolutely zero sympathy for the malicious members of Solis's family. She immediately busied herself with preparing both concoctions.

Two hours later, Ela and Jovis, who had been detained in separate isolation rooms within the facility, were used as test subjects by Teacher Artemis. Two lab assistants in hazmat suits entered the two rooms with two different antidotes in their hands. They slowly fed them to Ela and Jovis, and waited to observe their reactions to the concoctions.

The potion that was fed to Ela had no effect at all. It neither worsened her situation nor did it make her situation improve. The lab assistant recorded everything and walked out of the room, sealing it. There was no telling if the toxin had been contained or could still be spread.

The one given to Jovis, however, had immediate effect. His colour improved visibly, and his vital statistics stabilised in less than fifteen minutes! The lab assistant in the room was ecstatic, and called in a couple of colleagues to help him examine Jovis faster. Soon enough, they were able to confirm that the antidote indeed worked and Jovis was perfectly stable now. The effects of the toxin seemed to be dissipating slowly, and they estimated that Jovis would wake up in a matter of hours.

"It's this one!" Teacher Artemis cried happily and rushed back to where Noir was.

Solis glanced at his half-brother dispassionately. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was glad that the correct antidote was fed to Jovis instead of his stepmother. At least Jovis had tried to stop her at the crucial moment…perhaps there was still some justice left in this world.

"Take care of him properly, and ensure that he has everything he needs to dispel the toxin from his body. Keep me updated on any change in his situation or if he wakes up," Solis instructed the lab assistants and followed Teacher Artemis.

He didn't notice the slight movement of his half-brother's fingers as he left.

Teacher Artemis was waiting for Solis in front of the room Noir was in, thinking that he might want to administer the antidote to his fiancé himself. She was not mistaken. Solis didn't want anyone else to lay a finger on Noir. He quickly put on a hazmat suit and took the antidote from Teacher Artemis. He entered the isolation room hurriedly, but his movements when handling Noir were very, very gentle. With great care, he lifted the younger man in his arms, propping him against his own chest. Then he opened the antidote and slowly fed it to Noir.

Just like Jovis, Noir's colour improved rapidly and his vitals stabilised in a matter of minutes. Solis allowed two of his trusted medical researchers to enter and examine Noir thoroughly under his sharp raptor gaze. Both the researchers – one male and one female – were quite nervous in Solis's presence, but they were very efficient when it came to their work. They examined Noir, who was protectively kept in Boss Soli's arms, quickly and confirmed that his vitals were stable and the toxin was dispersing rapidly.

Solis heaved a sigh of relief and put Noir gently back into a resting position on the bed.

He was about to leave when he noticed Noir's eyelashes flutter. Solis immediately pulled up a chair and sat down. He gestured for the two researchers to wait in the room as well.

Noir really did open his eyes a few moments later. He saw Solis in a hazmat suit sitting by his side and asked hoarsely, "Solis…?"

The large boulder that had been pressing against Solis's chest this entire time suddenly disappeared, and he was able to breathe freely. He blinked rapidly and nodded. "How do you feel?" he asked.

Noir was silent for a moment as he circulated his energy within himself to check. "The toxin is almost gone," he murmured in surprise. "How did you…?"

"Teacher Artemis made the antidote based on the ingredients you listed before you fainted," Solis said quietly.

Noir brightened. "May I see the antidote?" he asked.

Solis handed him a small vial right away.

Noir opened the vial and sniffed delicately at it. "It is very well made," he murmured. "But we need another one to fully combat the poison. It uses the same set of ingredients and brewing method is similar…"

Teacher Artemis, who had been listening outside, knocked on the glass.

Solis and Noir looked up.

Teacher Artemis pointed at a vial of the other concoction she had brewed, and got a lab assistant to send it in for Noir to examine. Meanwhile, she sent someone to fetch her a hazmat suit as well. She really wanted to go in and speak with Noir right away!

Noir was pleasantly surprised when he opened the second vial. "Perfect," he murmured and drank it in one gulp.

He closed his eyes and circulated his energy through his body again. Then he opened his eyes and smiled at Solis. "All done," he said cheerfully.

Solis gestured for the two researchers to examine Noir again. They obeyed wordlessly, quick and efficient as ever.

"Boss Solis, Mr. Noir is perfectly fine now. There is no toxin in his body anymore," the female told him.

"Good," Solis said. "Have someone administer the second antidote to Jovis as well."