Solomon's messages made Arthur less sure of his choice. He had to choose between kidnaping Dia and trying to get close to Solomon after he goes to Freda or to help Dia take over the kingdom and talk to Solomon as Dia's follower, which should be easier than doing so as a citizen.
Both options seemed equally risky. However, Arthur's current mission was the same. He decided to do what he was supposed to do until he needs to choose between curing Dia and delaying it.
The next day, he wore his formal clothes again as he wondered why Traitor told him Dia liked formal clothing. If she couldn't see, why would she like this clothing?
He also remembered Larza's words about avoiding Dia since she could charm everyone she met. Arthur had to admit that was true, as Dia's exotic appearance made her look like an angel.
'I guess her blindness was recent.' Arthur concluded. 'This means her body is getting worse.' He adjusted his bowtie. 'Can she handle a delay?'
He left the room and found the butler waiting for him. After that, he was led to a garden for some tea with a few nobles. The Duke was also present and Arthur was asked to report what happened yesterday.
"The Princess's body should be cured in two weeks if nothing goes wrong," Arthur reported. "She would need to adjust slowly to the herb's power as well, rushing things might cause her traits to retrace back to their roots."
"What do you mean?" The Duke stroked his beard gently. "Are you saying her power would be greater than now?"
"That's true, but it would mean the princess's body will be destroyed." Arthur had read a book about merging traits under Larza's instructions. "From my understanding of this herb, merging too hastily can make the princess's body go into an overdrive."
"Can this retracement happen if you go over the process slowly?" The Duke asked making Arthur frown. He was less knowledgeable about many things than this world's people, but he knew what the Duke was getting at.
"That would only happen if we amplified the power of the herb further," Arthur said, trying to advise otherwise. "This process can make the princess lose more of her body's functions, even if her powers awakened. She might even lose herself."
"I see," The Duke nodded. "Try to avoid this at all costs!" He said and gestured for Gala to step forward. "Gala will help you in understanding how to extract the herb's powers through mana agents."
"As you command, your grace." Gala stepped forward and bowed. "I'll make sure our little Seika knows what he's doing." She winked at Arthur but he gave a stoic expression. "Let's go, Seika."
Arthur followed after her as they left the party. She kept walking slowly while revealing her thighs with each step as if her sole mission in this world was to seduce all of its creatures.
They reached a different part of the mansion where a library was located. Gala pushed the door open and walked toward the tables in the middle.
Each of the tables had several tubes and vials of different materials. Gala took off her hat and placed it on one of the tables before turning to Arthur.
As he looked at her forehead, Arthur could see the only thing separating her from humans. It was a rhomboid crystal in the middle of her forehead that gave a sinister glow.
"I guess you have never met a witch." Gala smiled at his gaze. "This crystal is the holder of our spirits, and it's also our weak spots."
"Why would you tell me that?" Arthur stared at her. "Isn't that something you would normally hide?"
"I just wanted to make sure you hunt us witches probably." Gala smiled in amusement. "You hid your intentions well; too bad I know that gaze."
"Gaze?"
"The gaze of witches hunters. You, humans, fear everything that resembles you but isn't human. Being prone to corruption made you doubt everything that looks like you."
"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned. "Prone to corruption?"
"You've seen it, I'm sure." Gala snickered as if she was talking about a funny story. "A human who looked like a human, but was nothing like one."
'A fallen being.' Arthur realized. The Enders existed in his world, why couldn't that be the case for this one as well?
"Ah, that look. Terror, fear, and loath. You hate them too; you aren't any different from the rest." Gala clasped her hands around her knee while sitting on a chair. "This is the reason humans and Demis can never coexist. Your race is prone to corruption while Demis are prone to madness. There's so much to fear."
"Is this the lesson the Duke mentioned?"
"A part of it, yes. You need to know that it's futile to hope. I see it in your eyes, you think we can be equals. We cannot. It doesn't matter who's superior, as long as someone is."
"Feeding me this ideology can't be without purpose. What's your aim?" Arthur developed a sense of when someone wanted to coax him.
"I can turn you into something... less human. You can't be a witch, but you can be something similar."
"How?"
"It's a risky process, but if you succeed, you can wield the power of spirits. After that, humanity will seem like a limiting shell that you took off."
"What if it fails?"
"Well, you'll be haunted by a cursed spirit." Gala laughed. "Your memories will be lost and your powers will be gone. You will be hunted by the spirit for trying to invade their world. Whenever you use mana, the spirit will stop you."
"Is there a way to reverse this?" Arthur asked, recognizing this as Rae's case. However, this realization is what gave him away.
"Ah," Gala's body trembled. "There is a desire in your eyes." She looked at Arthur with amusement. "You know a haunted person, don't you? Someone who has been cursed by us witches."
"..." Arthur closed his mouth and opened it, only to close it again.
"Are they dear to you?" Gala asked with an arched mouth. She was enjoying this. "I know a way to help them, the only way."
"I don't think you would tell me easily." Arthur sighed. "Everyone has their own agenda."
"Correct. Nothing is free. The price can be cheap, but it can be expensive. It depends on how much you want to save your beloved."
"What is it?"
"Tell me."
"In a month, come to this place." Gala took out a scroll and handed it. As Arthur unfolded it, he found it to be a map. "I'll grant you the power of spirit in return of a favor. If you succeed in controlling a spirit, I'll have you kill a witch. That's all."
"Which witch?" Arthur furrowed his brows. "Can I even do it?"
"Hehe, don't worry." Gala smiled. "She wouldn't resist, because that witch is me."
***
He placed the map in his subspace while also pushing the questions aside. Gala didn't answer him when he asked why she wanted him to kill her, but Arthur would do it if it meant lifting the curse off Rae.
He was glad that she didn't ask him to kill Dia or something because the situation was a mess on its own. When it was late at night, he went to the garden again to find Dia sitting in her chair.
"You're here." Dia stood up as she looked at him with eagerness. "Do it again."
"No," Arthur shook his head. "Today, I'll teach you how to control the herb."
"That can wait." Dia pouted. "My body has never felt lighter. I feel like it's close to being how it originally was."
"When did things change?"
"The moment my father gave me a fraction of his power. It's done to awaken powers, but my powers had yet to merge." Dia revealed easily.
'She's really vulnerable at the moment.' Arthur realized that she answered whatever he asked. She was like an addict that has gotten hold of a powerful drug. However, that was usually the relationship between those who suffer and their escape from the suffering.
"I think your father wants to strengthen those powers further," Arthur revealed, knowing that Dia wanted to go against her father. "He asked me to avoid it, but I think he desires it."
"I know that already." Dia smiled. "My father still believes that I'm the weapon that can end this war, and he would never stop treating me like one. He treasures me not because I'm of his own flesh, but because of the powers he so desperately seeks."
"He can't control you." Arthur frowned. "If you grew more powerful than him, he would have no way of controlling you."
"You're clueless, my Seika." Dia shook her head. She raised her sleeve and revealed the engravings that ran across her body. "Bloodline Order, a price you pay in return for the power you get from your parents."