All Chapters of Adrian Cole; Return of the Lost Heir: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
43 chapters
What do you mean want?
Chapter Twenty-OneDr. Corvus stiffened, his pride warring with the fear flickering in his eyes. “Miss Moretti, I—”Catherine’s father cut him off, his voice like iron. “You disgraced this family and endangered our patriarch. You are finished here, Corvus. From this day forward, you will never again set foot in a Morritis household.”Dr. Corvus’s face turned ashen, his career crumbling before him. His disciples shifted uneasily, some even stepping away from him as if afraid to share in his downfall.Adrian, quiet through it all, finally spoke. “Exile is punishment enough. Men like him destroy themselves without help.”His calm dismissal stung worse than any curse. Dr. Corvus bowed his head, humiliated, and staggered out of the ward with his disgraced disciple crawling after him.The family turned back to Adrian. Gratitude, awe, and no small amount of fear shone in their eyes.Catherine’s grandfather, still weak but sitting upright now, fixed Adrian with a steady gaze. “Young man… our
Let them come
Chapter Twenty-TwoMr. Morritis slowly shifted against the pillows. His strength had not yet returned, but his voice, though hoarse, carried its usual authority. “Adrian,” he began, his eyes fixing on the young man, “there is something you should know.” The entire family turned toward him. Catherine’s father, mother, and cousin straightened, their curiosity piqued. The doctors who lingered at the edge of the room leaned in as well. The old man’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “I am not merely the head of this family. I also serve as the president of the City Medical Association.” The words fell heavily into the air. “The… president?” Catherine repeated, startled. She had grown up admiring her grandfather, but even she had not realized the full weight of his position. Her father frowned slightly. “Father, you’ve never spoken about this publicly. Why reveal it now?” “Because,” Mr. Morritis replied, his tone solemn, “it matters. In three days, the Association will be hosting its ann
The Grand Assemble Hall
Three says later, the Grand Assembly Hall had never been this alive. Outside, an endless line of carriages waited their turn, the crests of noble families and medical clans gleaming under the morning sun. Inside, the hall was already roaring with voices—renowned physicians, their disciples, and countless hopefuls, each straining to be seen and remembered.At the main doors, ushers in crisp uniforms shouted out names. Each arrival was announced like royalty:“Master Chen of Westbrook!”“Elder Han of the Eastern Valley School!”“Dr. Rivera, senior consultant to the governor!”Every name carried weight, and with each one, the crowd inside stirred. Whispers darted like sparks. Who had come to compete? Who would rise or fall?Then came the moment that turned heads.“The Moretti Family!”The hall seemed to exhale as Catherine entered, her posture elegant, her grandfather walking with measured steps beside her. Behind them trailed Adrian, calm and unreadable, his presence subtle but strangel
Challenge
The hall had never been this quiet. After Adrian’s defiant words—“Your judgment means nothing to me”—the entire gathering held its breath.Dr. Lander’s face was dark as thunderclouds. His reputation, his authority, his pride—everything had been challenged before hundreds of witnesses. If he didn’t crush Adrian here, his name would become a laughingstock.The presiding elder cleared his throat, his voice booming over the crowd. “This is the Medical Conference, not a marketplace for insults. If grievances exist, they shall be resolved by the traditional method.”A ripple went through the crowd.“The medical duel…” someone whispered.Adrian’s brows lifted slightly. He had read of such things in the knowledge granted by the ring, but this was his first time seeing one firsthand.Dr. Lander turned, his voice cutting like a blade. “Then let it be a duel. Before this entire assembly, we shall test our skill and prove who truly understands medicine.”His disciples erupted in cheers. “Master w
Arrogant
Chapter Twenty-FiveThe hall had not yet settled after the shocking duel. Murmurs still filled the air, some praising Adrian, others questioning if what they saw was even possible. But before order could be restored, another voice rose.“Sir, please… please help me!”Heads turned. One of the patients who had been brought for demonstration earlier, a thin elderly man, struggled forward. His breathing was ragged, his face pale with desperation. He knelt directly before Adrian, ignoring the disapproving gasps from the crowd.“I heard what you did just now,” the man pleaded. “I don’t trust anyone else. Please, I beg you—treat me!”The request struck the room like lightning. To bypass the conference physicians and directly beg the unknown youth? It was unthinkable.Dr. Lander’s face turned crimson. “Ridiculous!” he thundered. “This patient is already under my care. My method is prepared, tested, and absolute. He will be treated by me.”But the old man shook his head frantically. “No! His m
Magic accusations
Chapter Twenty-SixDr. Lander’s chest heaved as though every breath scraped his pride raw. His patient had nearly choked under his so-called “proven method,” while Adrian’s patient had stabilized in minutes. The shame of it burned deeper than fire.And yet, the hall was still unsettled.Murmurs swelled like a tide returning to shore.“It was too quick…”“No illness can be solved in mere minutes.”“He used… what, ginger and needles? That’s not medicine—that’s sorcery.”“What if the man collapses tomorrow? What if the side effects kill him?”The voices twisted into one another, doubt spreading like a plague.Dr. Lander seized on it, sitting up straighter, his expression hard. His voice carried clearly across the hall. “Exactly so. A temporary trick! If you fools are so easily dazzled, then you’ve forgotten what medicine truly is. What he did was not healing—it was superstition dressed as skill.”The crowd stirred, emboldened by his words. Heads nodded. The certainty of Adrian’s victory
Gifted
Chapter Twenty-SevenThe hall had barely settled after the parasite incident when Dr. Lander, his face still twisted with fury, suddenly turned toward the presiding elder. His voice rang sharp as a blade, carrying above the low murmur of the assembly.“Elder,” he said coldly, “this boy’s so-called acupuncture… it is far too refined for his age. I ask you—does it not resemble the lost methods of the Charleston family?”The word Charleston fell like a spark into dry kindling. The crowd erupted at once.“The Charleston family?”“Impossible—they’ve been gone for generations!”“But the techniques—didn’t you see the precision? It did look like the old records!”Gasps, whispers, and startled voices rolled like waves across the assembly hall. For many, the Charleston name was legend—something mentioned in hushed tones, half-myth and half-warning.The presiding elder frowned deeply. He had been silent until now, watching Adrian with sharp, discerning eyes. Slowly, he rose, lifting a hand for q
Test
Chapter Twenty-EightThe air in the Grand Assembly Hall grew taut, every whisper sharp enough to cut through silence. Elder Vaughn, still standing at the center, looked from Adrian to the presiding elder, his expression grave yet curious—as though weighing something ancient against the present moment.“Since the boy refuses to speak,” Elder Vaughn said finally, his tone slow, deliberate, and heavy with authority, “there is another way to uncover the truth.”The murmur of the crowd thickened instantly.“What way?”“Elder Vaughn knows something…”“If anyone can reveal it, it’s him!”Elder Vaughn turned toward the presiding elder. “With your permission, I shall conduct a verification—a spiritual test that exposes the nature of one’s power. We will see, before all witnesses, whether this youth carries the Charleston bloodline… or wields forbidden sorcery.”The presiding elder hesitated. “Elder Vaughn… that is a dangerous practice. Are you certain—”But Vaughn cut him off with a flick of h
True gift
Chapter Twenty-NineThe hall held its breath.The two hearts pulsed faintly upon the altar—one golden, one crimson—casting long, trembling shadows across the marble floor. The silence was so complete that even the faint hum of the preservation seals could be heard.Adrian stepped forward, calm but resolute. His eyes flicked once toward Elder Vaughn, who gave a brief, firm nod. The crowd leaned in, a thousand breaths drawn tight in anticipation.He reached out slowly, steady as if measuring every movement against the weight of history.When his palm finally hovered over the first heart—the golden one—the glow faded. The once vibrant light dimmed into dull amber, almost lifeless, as though rejecting his touch.Gasps rippled through the hall.“He’s not Charleston bloodline,” someone whispered.“It didn’t react!”“Then he’s—”But before the murmurs could swell into chaos, a sudden flicker of light burst from the other heart.A pulse of blue—brilliant, pure, and alive—lit the chamber.The
Poisoned
Chapter ThirtyThe great symposium resumed at last.The tension that had hovered over the hall like a storm had finally eased, though faint ripples of curiosity still danced through the crowd. After everything that had transpired—the duel, the test, the blue light that defied history—everyone waited with sharpened attention for what Adrian would do next.Tables had been rearranged at the center of the grand hall, lined with rows of crystal jars, sealed vials, and trays of fresh herbs and rare roots. The air was thick with fragrance—earthy, sharp, and faintly bitter. The servants moved carefully, setting each specimen in its proper place while the presiding elder explained the purpose of the exhibition.“This,” the elder announced, “is the night’s scholarly exchange—the unveiling of new herbs and elements discovered across the regions. Some are documented, others remain unclassified. Tonight, we discuss their nature and possible uses.”Elder Vaughn sat to one side, watching quietly, ar