Russell was very shocked.
He certainly knew that Gilbert's condition wasn't good... but it wasn't this bad.
The disturbance in the mental sea is indeed painful, he had tried it before, but the goal was too distant, and after feeling that discomfort, he completely gave up.
However, the discomfort of the spirit would only make a person physically uncomfortable, perhaps looking unwell, with white hair, but under the nourishment of the elements, the body would not deteriorate too badly.
Mage, Russell only knew that in a very distant corner of the continent, there was a Tower of Necromancy, where such people with only skin and bones would appear.
After all, to them, skin is like clothing.
To have tortured himself like this can only prove that Gilbert had long been struggling painfully on the brink of death... just unwilling to give up for the sake of the family.
No wonder Ulrich is always so worried.
