Adrian let out a nervous laugh before replying to Arthur's threat "to tell you who i am it must only be the two of us in this room"
Arthur looked at adrian before scoffing "what reason would i have to stay with a presumed criminal?"
"i thought you just said i am not midnight's blossom?" Adrian replied with a quick quip
Arthur replied even quicker "doesn't mean you aren't a criminal"
"in the first place i am tied up you know? and i doubt i could win against you anyway"
Arthur remained quiet
"think about it, aren't you even a little bit curious about what i am going to ask?
Arthur rubbed his chin in deep thought before replying...
"take this fool to the cellar with all the other vermin" he commanded the nearby guards
Adrian caught wildly off guard by this exclaims "wait! your majesty!" but Arthur didn't bother to turn his head around at the plea
as he was getting taking outside of the audience room the world seemed to stop as he yelled out
"I know the cure to your daughter's ailment!!"
suddenly a dangerous red aura seemed to exude from arthur and in the next second Arthurs cheek was bleeding as Arthurs black hued sword hit the wall next to him by an inch
"Don't you dare speak of her."
Adrian remained composed "an illness that leaves the afflicted with red spots all over their body, left in a comatose state leaving the organs to slowly fail"
Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief "how do you know that? no one should know her symptoms other than the physicians"
Adrian a small smile now formed on his face said "are you willing to hear me out now?"
-------------------------------------------
"your daughter has a rare disease called 'lily of the valley' your majesty." the imperial physician paused for a second before giving news of an unavoidable fate
"... and currently we have no way of treating it"
such a sentence left the Flamehand king broken, a shell of his former self he succumbed to everything ranging from drugs to alcoholism all to escape his grief
'if i can just heal his daughter he should become an ally' Adrian thought to himself while looking at Arthur still in deep thought unmoving
"..." a dreadful silence fell over the audience room leaving everyone suffocating
"if what you promise is true, ill hear you out"
arthur let out a sigh of relief
"But if its a lie then" dangerous sword aura emitted from the engraved sword in the wall followed by vibrations, and then
Swoosh a sword flew at unbelievable speeds back into Arthurs hand
"ill make sure your death isn't an easy one."
after a period of silence he gestured towards Adrian "follow me, we'll head to my quarters"
"yes sir!"
as the door was closed behind them Arthur sat down on a chair rather crudely and pulled out a silver flask while drinking it he asked
"before we proceed take off that cloak i have noticed that ambiguousness spell and i want to check if you're who i think you are"
Arthur stared deep into Adrian's soul
Adrian stared back
"so you did notice, well that's fine with me" Adrian took off his cloak revealing his green cleanly wolf cut hair
Arthur started laughing "So i was right!?" he started wiping tears from his eyes "i knew i heard rumors that stated you've changed to think they were correct!! and to this extent"
Adrian with a smile on his face said "it's great to see you again, lord Arthur"
Arthur stayed silent while studying Adrian
"you really have changed from the last time i have seen you, martial arts is it?"
Adrian replied solemnly "the topic we are about to discuss is related with that"
Arthur's expression changed into a serious one "what do you mean?"
"the only way to save your daughter, is to gain the saintess's tears"
Arthur's expression changed into one of frustration "do you really think i haven't tried bringing the saintness here to try and help? it didn't work"
Adrian replied "that's because all she did was course divine power through her body temporarily, she must have seemed a little healthier after that visit day, yes?"
Arthur thought about it for a while "now that you mention it... the spots seemed less for a bit, before coming back in full power"
Adrian clicked his fingers " then what if she had divine power coursing through her not temporarily but forever? what im trying to say is what if she could use divine power?"
Arthur's eyes widened and he got up energetically slamming his hands on the desk making the tea cup spill
"in that case i must head now and get it" as Arthur was getting ready to leave Adrian stopped him
"you cant get the saintess tears that way"
and why is that Arthur said his hand already on the door handle
"its a one in 10 years event prize which is held by the holy kingdom which has power compared to the empire, i doubt you could convince them to give such a prize to you"
"in that case i will force them." Arthur declared
"and wage war? no one will be by your side, Arthur."
"what are you trying to say?" the hand on the handle began hesitating a bit
"all we have to do is win the competition, while you cant participate due to your status, i can."
Arthur got down on one knee his head to the floor and his hand on his heart
"sir Arthur von flamehand, please take me as your disciple"
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elsewhere Aria can be seen training in her personal zone
"that fool" she muttered while using an ice spear spell
"it's been two weeks since that day and he hasn't come a single day for class, feigning sickness"
she used four different spells back to back with impressive speed, all four being of different elements aswell leaving a black crater in the place of the training dummy meant to withstand magic
"but the person i saw that day wasn't the kind to cave in due to a cold, just what is he preparing?"
she frustratedly grabbed at her hair
"and i cant even check his status window since he needs to be nearby for it to synchronize"
she took deep breathes to calm herself down and thought positively 'well whatever the case it doesn't matter, what matters right now is that i prepared thoroughly for the competition next week"
she hummed happily to herself excited at the prospect of the elixer "if i can get that elixer it should be a great deal of help for me"
"but a bit more preparation never hurt anyone now did it?" she said as she got another dummy
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Adrian could be seen meditating under a waterfall as Arthur watched
"Master! may i ask how this helps?" Adrian said, shivering
"Aren't you the one who said you wanted to become my disciple? then be a good disciple and don't question your masters way and dont forget to circulate ki!"
blood can be seen dripping out of Adrian's mouth whispered to himself "what part of i can only hold my ki for so long do you not understand"
"did u say something?" Arthur put his ear outwards
"no master sorry master!"
"thats a good disciple now here drink this" he threw a healing potion towards adrian
"get ready now boy, its going to be a long week"
---------------------------------
deep inside the The Apostolic Palace laid the pope sitting on a throne of white and a blonde haired of androgenous beauty knelt infront of him
"Holy father, i am prepared." the man's eyes held reverence for the pope
"that pleases me very much so my child i trust you wont fail, may god bless you in your way's"
"yes father."