Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) Chapter 10: Chapter 10: A Magical Fitting

Read chapter 10 of Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Duncan rubbed his head gingerly as he helped Hilda to her feet. Yuri was certainly much more powerful than he had initially assumed, considering how he could still feel the dispelling charm’s power in his bones even at this moment. Where did she get such potent magic? Despite Yuri’s seemingly lengthy explanation earlier, Duncan had a nagging feeling that the woman was still hiding something. Her sense of ‘urgency’ to stop Miguel seemed forced as well. It felt more like she was worried that someone might catch them instead. But any musing had to wait for now. Best figure out which part of the world that magic spell had thrown them into. To his surprise, a familiar sight greeted him. Or rather, a puff of cigar smoke did. Duncan backed away from the scantily-clad woman grinning seductively at him, blowing smoke in his face as though it would reel him closer. He was back in London, alright. To be precise, he was in London’s most seedy street: Soho. Or rather, what was more commonly known as the Red Light District. Duncan backed away immediately, almost stumbling over his feet in the process. Prostitutes stood half-hidden in the shadows, cheap decorations for the closely packed slums behind them. Pimps and drug dealers skulked around in the alleys further back, keeping a relaxed but watchful eye on their turf. “Hey there, good sir.” The blonde woman winked as she ran a finger down Duncan’s tie. “Oh my, here’s a handsome lad. Come on into our place; I’ll give you a discount.” The prostitute pulled him by the tie, much to the horror of Hilda watching from behind. Duncan blushed slightly, still trying his best not to push the woman away by her chest in case she got the wrong idea. “W— Wait, I’m not here to—” he sputtered as the rosewood doors opened, revealing an ordinary-looking brothel instead of the abandoned hospital earlier. Duncan gawked in shock; that cult base was in a liminal space? “Dad!” Both the prostitute and Duncan turned back in surprise as Hilda stomped up to them, mock indignation all over her face. “How dare you come here!” The girl grabbed him by his arm and began dragging him out of the brothel. “You better come home with me right now before Mom finds out!” Duncan flashed a sheepish grin at the pouting prostitute as he scurried close behind Hilda. Thank god the kid was quick-thinking enough. The two of them practically ran onto the streets and didn’t stop until they were at least several hundred metres away from that alleyway. Hilda stopped to catch her breath, leaning up against a wall as though she had sprinted a whole kilometre instead. “My thanks, lass.” Duncan patted the girl on the back. “Those ladies would’ve eaten me alive.” “Aren’t you five hundred years old?” Hilda rolled her eyes, still wheezing like an asthmatic patient. “What are you, still afraid of women?” “They didn’t use to be this aggressive.” Duncan shrugged lamely. “Women in this century can be pure terrifying. Back when I was a wee lad, a lady used to be far more demure and—” “Alright, gramps. I didn’t ask for a history lesson.” Hilda finally mustered enough stamina to stand up straight. “What was that back there, anyway? How are you acquainted with my mother?” Duncan creased his eyebrows. “Remember the warlord I was telling you about on the Witch’s Train? His daughter is your mother. My elixir of immortality was originally meant for her, but she clearly doesn’t need it anymore.” It was Hilda’s turn to frown. “Mother… Duncan, please! We have to help her!” “Yes, yes. Worry not.” Duncan placated her. “I have questions of my own as well. But clear and present is the ‘site’ near the English Channel that your mother was talking about. I reckon we’d stand a high chance of seeing her again if we head there as well.” “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” “Not so fast, Hilda. I may be a Sorcerer, but I can’t protect you all the time.” Hilda stomped her feet like a child. “No. Absolutely not. You’re not sending me away as well. I won’t be shunned again!”