After listening to their conversation, Arthur returned to the restricted section to read again. At the moment, he couldn't use his mana of creation. The aura, however, was what fed the herbs his powers.
He couldn't control it willingly, but the aura was more than enough to make Larza buy him over the other slaves even though he was a 'Sakal,' a cripple.
As he read the technique, Arthur was sure that it could work on Dia. The only issue was how he would do it without her sensing something wrong. He would have to integrate it into their sessions without her finding out.
The night stretched but dawn soon arrived. Arthur left the library under the cover of Gala's spirit and arrived at his room. As soon as he was alone in his room, the little spirit coagulated and tiredly swayed in front of him.
"Thank you, little one." Arthur patted it and the little orb rubbed itself against his finger before disappearing, returning to its master. "Such a cutie." Arthur smiled.
He slept until he was awakened by Rinzo in the morning. After meeting with the duke and reporting, he was sent again toward Gala's workshop to study.
"How was your little adventure?" Gala asked with a smile. "I held my end of the bargain; you need to hold yours." She stretched her hand.
"I'll need the restricted section for a few more days," Arthur asked and Gala nodded.
"I'll give you the key and the spirit for your stay here as long as you give me the Phoenix's Tear." Arthur found that it was reasonable. For the rest of his time here, he could learn about this world.
The Bestial Order technique was already memorized by him. That was the advantage of having high stats, even though his body would break down if he exerted any physical movements.
"Alright, here you go." Arthur gave her the tear and she held it with both hands, revering. He found it empowering that something that can be bought by hunting for two days would be like a treasure for others.
Gala didn't hesitate to swallow the tear. Arthur admired her resolution but stemmed from her desperation for living. The tear worked instantly and her body exploded with a powerful light.
"This is..." Gala's voice came from within the light, but Arthur was squinting his eyes. "Truly a miracle. Young Seika, if you can hand over something like this easily, I'll happily follow you for the rest of my life." Gala's words were genuine.
"I have never seen someone clinging to life as much as you do." Arthur smiled. "What is it that you seek by living for thousands of years?"
"Seek is inaccurate, Young Seika." Gala's face appeared after the light died down. Even though she looked young, to begin with, it was nothing in comparison to now. The dark aura around her dissipated greatly and was replaced by an aura of youth and vigor.
She made others feel warm just by standing next to them. Her hair carried a luster that made it as if she was sparkling. Following over her shoulder, she was nothing like thousands of years old witch. She stood up as she continued talking.
"I am waiting for a man to come back. I can't die before then." Gala's eyes held unbridled yearning. "You gave me another year, for that you have my thanks."
"Would you tell me how to lift a curse then?" Arthur asked but Gala shook her head.
"Now is not the time," Gala said. "You have a great adversary ahead of you. I fear that I alone can't protect you, Young Seika."
"I never asked that you do." Arthur smiled. "When the time comes, who's side would you change?"
"The side of the living, of course." Gala smiled back at him. "If that means leaving the Duke, I'll happily follow you."
"I'll make sure that's the case, for my sake more than anything," Arthur said before he stood up. "Now, let's see what agents you have here."
***
His session with Dia took place in the garden like always and he found her waiting for him, as eager as always to get rid of this curse. Arthur acted his part and bowed.
"Let's start again, your grace." Arthur took her hand as the leaf floated between them. "Today, I'll help you control the leaf yourself. Once the process is done, you can consume it without the help of anyone."
"You shall be handsomely rewarded once that happens." Dia smiled. "You'll stand by my side as I take over the kingdom."
Arthur didn't know if she was lying to him about keeping him alive or to her father about letting him kill Arthur. He wouldn't risk his life by placing his trust in her ability to keep a promise.
As their hands touched, his aura seeped into her. Arthur could feel Dia growing stronger. He allowed the aura seeping from his cracked soul to enter her body and enhance it.
'Now, I need to guide it toward her core.'
He read yesterday that the core was usually in the naval point of Demi's body. Arthur let go of her hand, because he had only one, to take out something from his bag.
"Please hold this, Princess." He handed over the crystal. "Gala said this would make transferring the power to you easier. All we need to do is make the herb mistake you for me for a short while."
Dia took the crystal and Arthur held her hand again with the crystal in between them. The power transferred grew stronger with the crystal acting as a medium.
Arthur took this chance and directed the power toward her core. Dia frowned as his power seeped into her core and snapped her eyes open.
"It's the crystal assimilating the power as yours," Arthur said with a serious expression. Dia grew doubtful but nodded. The process continued and Arthur's powers began taking root in her core.
***
The days went by and they fell into a tedious routine. Arthur would read in the library, sleep a little, report to the Duke, go to Gala's workshop, and then 'help' Dia take over the herb.
Neray didn't bother him after the night he eavesdropped on the Duke's conversation with Dia. He was treated in a well and respectful manner, until the awakening ceremony.
Three days before the ceremony, Rinzo visited his room again. This time, he carried another message from Solomon.
"Greetings, Seika." Solomon's voice was as majestic as last time. "I heard that the ceremony is happening in three days, you've done well in timing it. A knight of mine will be attending the ceremony as an envoy. You can work with him to lure the duke's daughter away."
The message went on detailing how the mission would happen. Arthur listened to it quietly while thinking how betrayed Solomon would feel. Would he trust Arthur afterward? Arthur didn't have an answer, but he couldn't keep being weak.
He didn't go to the library and slept instead. His body needed recovering but he wasn't giving it any time to do so. Even still, his recovery has been going smoothly.
[Recovery percentage: 33%]
He had two-thirds before he could use his skills and runes again. It felt unusual to think about them now. It had been so long since he last used them. The face he needed to make things work using his wits only was something he got used to.
On the morning two days before the ceremony, the Duke wanted Arthur to report to him in the hall. As Arthur walked in, he found an extra guest that he hadn't thought he would see.
"It's good to see you again, my Little Seika." Larza smiled. "You've done well in preserving my face in front of the duke until now."
"My Lady," Arthur knelt on the ground while cursing himself. "I didn't expect to see you here, I'm glad."
"After princess Dia started seeing again, the duke invited a lot of nobles to attend the ceremony." Larza smiled as she gestured for him to rise. "I arrived earlier because I wanted to make sure that there won't be any hiccups."
"There will be none," Arthur assured. "The process has been going smoothly. It should be over in two days."
"One." Duke Zenos interrupted. Arthur looked at him with puzzlement. "The ceremony will be tomorrow."
"Your grace, as I said before, hastily using the herb can result in adverse reactions and great risk. The Princess will be in danger of..."
"She can handle it, gardener." The Duke rose, his fire wings spreading through the hall. "Do as I say and make sure the ice and fire traits merge."
"The princess might lose her self-awareness," Arthur said, frowning. "Merging the two traits might result in self-destruction. I beg of you to reconsider!"
"Silence!" The Duke Roared, red light surrounding his body as the chair beneath him turned to ashes. "I am the Duke of Fire and my commands shall be followed. Do it or die here."