"I know how difficult it is—choosing between the knowledge you’re hearing now... and the one you’ve trusted for months. The reality you’ve built your understanding on is cracking, and I know exactly what that feels like."
Her voice grew softer, almost haunted by her own experience.
"When I was with you, in my father’s inheritance realm, I lived through the sa thing; it’s too similar. Everything I thought I knew about myself, about my enemies, about the people my mom relied on—none of it was real. Every truth I held onto turned out to be a fabrication. My past, my pain, my goal... all manipulated."
She looked away for a mont, eyes distant as if staring back into that illusion.
"It becos hard to trust anything—even your own mories,"
Arthur said nothing, his fists clenched. There was only one thing that could get Arthur this emotional, and it was Charlotte’s well-being.
"But Charlotte..." Jasmine continued, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty, "She did awaken early. All signs point to that. The way you explained her symptoms months ago, the way her mana behaved, the irregularities in her pathways—it all suggests an active core long before the rge. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen. As for how or why... I don’t know. Not yet."
She t Arthur’s gaze, her own steady now.
"But this changes things, Arthur. If soone awakened before the system arrived, that ans the rules aren’t as fixed as we thought. And that maybe..." she hesitated, "maybe soone—so thing—had their hand in this long before Armageddon ca."
The room fell silent again, the implications of her words sinking in. For the first ti in a long while, Arthur felt truly unanchored—not by power, nor by battle, but by the quiet, creeping dread of truths rewritten.
"The equipnt you provided stabilised the imdiate crisis. But her power continues growing exponentially."
Growing. Still growing.
Jasmine’s hands twisted in her lap. "It might be days, on a good estimate, a week, before enhancent items can’t compensate anymore."
Days, or a week...
Arthur’s aura erupted without warning, pressure waves causing glass to vibrate and tal to groan. The mayor’s building shuddered under forces that could crack mountains.
I need to calm down. I have to control my emotions...this can’t keep happening. Otherwise, people will use this as a weakness.
Arthur knew that his emotional turmoil whenever sothing was related to Charlotte was a weakness that he needed to work on. He could still worry about his sister without losing control of his emotions.
After calming his emotion down, Arthur realised that Charlotte wouldn’t just speak like this. Since she had told him the problem, with her current capabilities she should have the solution.
"Okay, so what’s the solution?" He asked, his voice becoming neutral again.
"There are two solutions that I’ve co up with, the first is like the one I’ve said before, epic-rank herbs or above that strengthen the body and mind. These will provide her own body a chance to contain this power.
From my knowledge, you should be able to gather a few of those herbs in Caldera. The city is developed enough to contain such things, as for its price or conditions, that’s sothing I can’t help with. As you know, I still don’t know about the place.
Also...If you are really unable to find any...I-I can perhaps go to my uncle, the current king, he would be able to help...although I’m not sure if he would do it...for . " Jasmine’s voice carried hope wrapped in impossible complexity.
Caldera. There are only a few places I could get those herbs: the Thornwycks’ dicine Hall, the elite families, royalty... and finally, the secret realm.
"The second one?" Arthur asked, nodding his acknowledgent of the first solution.
While the herb-gathering wasn’t inherently difficult, Arthur wanted complete information before tackling Charlotte’s early awakening crisis.
He wanted to know all the options to choose the best path.
Jasmine looked at him with golden-silver eyes that held depths of worry. "As you know, I’ve gotten the inheritance of Sylvia, the Queen of Healing. From that inheritance, I gained the skill Blood Steal."
Arthur nodded.
"Whilst using Blood Steal, I can burn the blood of powerful beings to heal or strengthen anyone I want."
Arthur’s eyes flickered with possibilities. Blood magic represented renewable resources he could acquire through his own power. It was the most straightforward way. He would be able to gain what he wants using his own strength.
"If things truly go south, and you’re unable to find the herbs in ti," Jasmine said quietly, "we can hunt powerful demons. Their blood will be enough—for a while. I can use it to continuously strengthen her body while you continue the search."
She paused, letting the weight of the alternative settle between them before adding:"And you won’t need to gather it endlessly. I have another skill—Blood Regeneration. It allows to replicate the blood I already have, using my own mana as fuel."
Arthur’s eyes widened. The skill combination was simply insane, both skills complented each other so well that it felt like a cheat.
The elegance appealed to Arthur’s tactical mind. Hunt powerful creatures, harvest their life essence, and use it to strengthen Charlotte’s cellular structure.
"Okay, so the rank of the demon affects your skill I’m assuming. The stronger the beast, the stronger the effects, correct?" He asked, already expecting yes as an answer.
"Yes," She nodded her head.
"Then, why do we need to wait? Take my blood, multiply it, and use it to strengthen my sister."
Jasmine stared at him before shaking her head.
"That’s not advisable. You think that I’m rely talking about blood, the one that can regenerate with ti and nutrition, and you couldn’t be more wrong.
When I say blood, I’m referring to is blood essence. Once I take the blood essence from you, you will never be able to regenerate that part back. This will weaken your strength, your final potential and have many complications. Therefore, there is no need for you to hurt yourself when we can simply get the blood of our enemies." Jasmine explained.
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