Zachary still had not left his room, even though it was already nearing high noon. Normally, he would never be allowed to sleep until the sun was high in the sky—Dr. Dwargo absolutely would not permit it.
The strengthening schedule had begun several days ago, after Zachary was granted a full day of rest. The rehabilitation period had also come to an end then, concluding three whole months of recovery.
It was now near the end of the sixth month of Year 402 AR—roughly four months since Zachary had awakened from his coma.
Inside his room, Zachary was on the verge of losing consciousness, sprawled on the floor. His face pressed against the cold surface as he struggled to crawl toward the door.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder with each step. When they stopped right in front of his door, a flicker of hope lit Zachary's fading consciousness. With great difficulty, he lifted his head, his right hand stretching forward shakily.
"Wa… water…" he whispered, his voice completely gone, barely forcing out a hoarse sound.
The door unlocked with a click and slowly began to open from the outside.
"Water…!" Zachary croaked again, his hoarse voice echoing weakly through the room.
The moment the door opened, the figure outside was met with the sight of a human body sprawled on the floor like a corpse clawing forward.
Dr. Dwargo froze.
The dim lighting only made it worse—the scene looked straight out of a horror movie.
"AARGHH!! Z–ZOMBIE!!" Dr. Dwargo screamed at the top of his lungs, slamming the door shut before bolting away like a gust of wind.
Dr. Dwargo was fast.
In less than ten seconds, he sprinted across the entire second-floor corridor, leapt over the arched staircase railing, and landed squarely on the first floor. It was an impressive display of speed and agility, especially considering he was wearing slack pants and leather shoes.
The fact that he managed to land safely after dropping nearly four meters—without rolling or using any proper landing technique—was shocking enough.
Instead, he landed stiffly on both feet like a rigid twig, yet still generated enough momentum to propel himself forward and continue running.
He finally came to a stop only when he nearly collided with Elis.
Naturally, Elis was bewildered by her boss's behavior. She had never seen the doctor—usually calm and composed even in critical situations—so pale and shaken.
"El–Elis! Bad news!" Dr. Dwargo grabbed her shoulders, shaking her frantically. "That boy turned into a zombie! He tried to eat me!"
He shook her hard and fast enough that Elis felt dizzy.
"Doctor—stop!" Elis shouted as she struggled to break free from his grip.
"Do you hear me, Elis?! W–We need to get the hell out of here, now!" Dr. Dwargo resumed shaking her shoulders.
Meanwhile, the commotion he caused naturally drew the attention of the nearby maids. Curious, they gathered outside Zachary's room, whispering among themselves.
"Does anyone know what that was?" one maid asked. "Who was screaming just now?"
The maid across from her shook her head and looked to the others, receiving the same response.
"Did something happen to the young master?" one of them asked anxiously.
"Since we're already here, let's check—just to be sure," a braver maid suggested.
A few other maid nodded in agreement.
"Alright then." The braver one said and then knocked on the door.
knock. knock. knock.
"Young master Zachary, may I come in?" She said and hoped he'd reply from inside.
"Young master?" She knocked on the the door a bit harder this time and called out again.
Hearing no reply, she got worried and twist the doorknob, finding it unlocked. She paused for a moment but then twist it all the way before pushing the door open.
"Young master!" She gasped after seeing Zachary laying sprawled on the floor. She ran to his side and flip his body, struggling a bit because of Zachary's body weight. She manage to do it though, as she wasn't alone.
The other maids helped her flip Zachary's body around onto his back.
"water..." Zachary whispered in a barely audible voice. The maid leaned her ear lower to Zachary's mouth because she didn't quite catch what he's saying.
"He wants water. Mika, you go fetch a glass of water." She told her fellow colleague and the maid named Mika immediately exit the room to go get a glass of water.
Not long later, Mika came back. A glass of water in her hand.
"Here, Ria." Mika gave the water to Ria the brave maid and the latter slowly put the glass to Zachary's lips, tilting it up carefully.
After a few mouthful, Zachary suddenly sprang up to his feet, stunning the maids. He dashed out of his room and ran straight to the water dispenser located at the end of the second floor's corridor.
After drinking nearly 2 gallons of water straight from the outlet of the water dispenser, Zachary heaved a contented and relieved breath.
His experiment ended up with greater results than he suspected, but his once mundane mortal body still end up taking the brunt of the side effect.
The Eli's Staff and his Soul Energy work so damn well together and had transformed his entire Material Edict into something else completely. Though the process doesn't cause pain or discomfort, every drop of moisture was completely drained from his system. The fact that the aftertaste of Eli's Staff lingers like a stubborn mule in his mouth, helps nothing. Even worsening his condition.
He had thought his suffering would end once Dr. Dwargo saw him—never expecting the man to scream like a child seeing a ghost—or rather, a zombie—and run away.
When all hope was lost, an angel descend from the heaven.
The first thing Zachary saw was her pretty mature face. The second, her big che- ahem, personality.
Finally, when she gently guide the water into his mouth, it felt as though he were drinking straight from her bosoms itself. That bliss doesn't last for long as he was swiftly pulled into his right state of mind.
Sometimes, having a powerful body isn't so great.
"Hey, did the young master always had that hot body all this time?" One young maid couldn't help but whispered a comment to her colleague.
"Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe? The young master likes to wear baggy clothes despite the weather at this time of the year." Her friend snickered, though the sight clearly making them drool.
Zachary didn't yet realize he's currently only wearing a short pants. Courtesy of himself removing everything last night to escape the heat, though that clearly doesn't work.
"Zachary! Why are you exposing so much skin in public?!" The grave questioning tone of Neil snapped Zachary out of his daydream.
"Public?" Zachary tilted his head in genuine confusion—until his eyes finally landed on the maids.
More specifically, on the younger maids.
They weren't even trying to hide it anymore. Their gazes were practically drilling holes into his exposed upper body.
'…This is still the family mansion, though.'
The thought crossed his mind naturally.
But Zachary kept it to himself. There's no good outcome if he voiced that out. Zachary raised his hands in placating manner with a wry smile on his face,
"Hold on, Dad! It's an accident! I didn't mean to come out underdressed..." Zachary's voice trailed off as he tries to think of an excuse.
"Hmm?" Neil hummed sharply. He look at Zachary from top to bottom, closed his eyes, turn around and walk away.
Not without saying anything more, though, "Go get dressed. Find me in the study.... Zombie, my ass." Neil said the last part under his breath. Clearly his irritation is being directed toward a certain doctor he had personally hired months ago.
"Aye Sir!" Zachary performed a salute and swiftly turn around to go back to his room.
Ria saw that Zachary wasn't in a critical condition anymore. She stood quietly near the wall on the opposite side of Zachary room's door, watching the young man When Zachary turned around to get back to his room after that little exchange with his father, she was about to leave. There's still some work she has to do elsewhere after all.
That's when she heard Zachary's voice, "Wait!"
Ria look over her shoulder to see who's being told to wait by the young master, but saw that he's looking and beelining straight at her.
Ria stopped in her track, wondering why the young master told her to wait.
She wait for him to come closer quietly and politely. Her front already facing the man approaching her position. When he finally stopped in front of her, around half a feet away, "Yes, Young Master?" she inquired.
"May I know the name of this lady standing before me?" Zachary asked. His tone was low and warm, a faint upward curve playing at the corner of his lips.
"Your maid Ria, at your service, young master Zachary." Ria answered with professional tone and ethics, just like how she learned years ago, when her superiors, or employers, asked of her identity.
"Thank you for saving my life, Ria. I'm grateful." Zachary gently took her hand and caressed it with care. His grip firm but he wasn't exerting force.
Ria was momentarily stunned by the young man's romantic gesture.
'What a gentleman. Worthy of being the heir of Lord Malais.' she mused internally.
Ria smiled gently at Zachary but doesn't read too much into his action. Instead, Ria gently pull her hand away and answered, "It's my duty to ensure the wellbeing of the family, young master Zachary. Anyone else in my position would have done the same."
Zachary doesn't seem offended by Ria and even internally applauded her composure. Seeing that the maid clearly have no further interest in having a conversation with him, Zachary matched her smile and politely see her off.
Zachary watch her back as she walk away. His eyes narrowing as he examined her Life Code for a brief moment before dismissing it. Though his gaze shift down lower, settling on her swaying hips. 'Damn, the loose skirt barely even do it's job' he commented internally, accompanied with impressed whistling.
Shaking his head, Zachary shook away all budding imaginations attempting to take things farther, wilder, and definitely lewder.
He heaved a breath and walk right back into his room to take a shower, get dressed, and head to his Dad's home office.
The last part is still a mystery to Zachary as he couldn't think of anything bad he had done lately.
Well, unless if that damn Dr. 'Yell'ex Dwargo ratted off about him skipping a few sessions here and there to his father....
"Zombie, my ass." Zachary deadpanned when he remembered what happened barely half an hour ago.
Though Zachary had to admit that seeing the guy's horrified face was quite satisfying. He couldn't help but broke into a laugh as everything was hilarious in his mind.
'I am gonna exploit the hell out of this weakness you've shown me, doctor... heh! hehe! ZEEHAHAHAHA!!'
Half an hour later, Zachary walked out of his room all fresh and dressed in his usual baggy clothes. An oversized blue shirt with a large "OKEY" caption printed at the chest area, a track pants, and a casual blue colored flip-flops.
it took him so long to get ready because he just can't take the word and image of zombies out of his mind and ending up breaking into short laughter here and there.
He'd chuckle in the midst of brushing himself, drying his body with the towel, and even when he's putting on clothes.
Half an hour ago, Zachary had confirmed that seeing others' Life Code is now possible. His Truesoul is slowly operating at higher intensity, growing above the bare minimum at a steady rate.
It's potential are slowly being unlocked, and the Soul Edict which had been considerably influenced by his experiment last night, is providing continuous benefits not only in tempering and strengthening his physique, but also his mind.
As his body became stronger, the Soul Energy that it could contain simultaneously increase. The more powerful his body become, the higher the intensity of Soul Energy needed to strengthen it.
It's resulting in a looping effect entirely beneficial to Zachary, especially in the long run. Also, the cut on his left thumb had healed completely. Not even scarring.