(Arin's Perspective)
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy with tension. Elena held the glass vial, her eyes fixed on the glowing blue liquid with a mix of hope and fear.
"Drink it," I commanded, my voice low but firm. "Do not hesitate, Lady. If you hesitate, your mana circuits will perceive it as a threat and reject the foreign flow."
Elena nodded slowly. A bead of cold sweat trickled down her pale temple.
"Alright. I trust you," she whispered, more to convince herself than me.
Her hand holding the vial trembled slightly. Not because of the cold emanating from the elixir, but because of the weight of the immense hope she placed upon it. This was her last gamble.
She took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and downed the glowing blue liquid in one gulp.
Gulp.
The initial reaction? Silence.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
I held my breath. My hand discreetly reached for the scalpel handle in my pocket, preparing for the worst-case scenario. Just in case there was an anaphylactic reaction or a fatal mana rejection, I had to be ready to make an emergency incision to drain the toxin.
After all, this was the first prototype tested on a living human. If it failed and I accidentally killed a Duke's daughter, my life was over. There would be nowhere to run on this continent.
"Ugh..."
Suddenly, Elena's eyes snapped open.
Her golden pupils shone brightly, illuminating the dim room with magical light. Cold vapor began to billow from her pores, creating a thin mist on the floor. But strangely, the vapor didn't freeze the surrounding air. It swirled gently, as if hugging her body warmly.
Elena stared at her hands in disbelief. She touched her face and neck.
"Arin..." she whispered, her voice sounding amazed and trembling. "It feels... strange. Cold, but... it doesn't hurt? How is this possible?"
She raised her hands high, examining them under the lamplight. Usually, whenever she channeled mana without her vitality necklace, the veins in her arms would bulge blue and her skin would turn corpse-pale and stiff.
But this time, her skin remained a healthy pink. Rosy and warm.
"That is because your mana circuits are now coated with an etheric membrane from the Crystal Flower extract," I explained with a clinical tone, trying hard to hide my own relief. "Think of it as a thermal insulator. Your body heat stays locked inside, and your magic's cold stays outside. No more energy leakage. Congratulations, Lady. The leak has been plugged."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
I applauded softly, celebrating the salvation of the Duke's daughter's life with a casual flair.
"So... am I cured?" she asked, still not entirely convinced.
"Technically, yes. But the best proof is to test it. Go ahead, Lady."
Elena stared at her palm. She took a deep breath, then her lips began to move, chanting a spell. Slowly, ice particles began to gather in her palm, swirling to form a beautiful fractal pattern.
Usually, she would wince in pain at this stage. Her heart would beat abnormally to withstand the strain. But this time, her face remained calm and peaceful.
Ting.
A soft chiming sound was heard. A perfect ice rose formed above her palm. Its petals were so detailed and sharp, reflecting the oil lamp's light beautifully.
Second Circle Magic: Ice Rose.
It was the purest and most stable manifestation of magic I had ever seen from her. Without the distraction of pain, her mana control had improved drastically to a terrifying level.
Elena stood transfixed, staring at her own creation. Her lips trembled as if she had longed for this feeling for an eternity.
"For three years..." Elena muttered, her eyes tearing up as she looked at the ice rose. "For three years, I felt like I was holding a handful of needles every time I used my magic. It felt like my blood was being forcibly frozen. I thought it was a curse of my bloodline. I thought I was born broken and unworthy of being a mage."
She crushed the ice rose until it shattered into glittering snow dust, then looked at me intensely. Tears began to pool in the corners of her beautiful eyes.
"But you... you saved me in less than a week. Even though the kingdom's best healers gave up on me."
Unstoppable tears fell, wetting her cheeks that now glowed with health. Her noble defenses crumbled instantly, replaced by pure joy at the return of the life she had been denied for three years.
Elena sobbed for a moment, covering her face with her hands. I just watched her silently, giving her space.
It was okay to look pathetic once in a while. She had borne the pain alone for so long behind her cold mask.
After a while, her sobbing subsided. Elena wiped her tears and stepped forward. The distance between us vanished instantly.
Her scent, usually sharp and cold like a blizzard, now smelled softer and warmer, like morning air in winter.
"Thank you, Arin," she said, her voice hoarse but firm.
This time, there was no arrogant tone. No 'Lady Elena' or 'Duke's Daughter' keeping distance. Just an ordinary girl whose life had just been saved.
Receiving this sincere gratitude triggered a memory from my childhood. When I brewed simple medicines with my mother in our shack, and our patients would thank us repeatedly with tears of emotion.
At that time, I was very happy. Even though I wasn't the one healed, seeing someone happy because they were free from the shackles of illness made me feel that happiness too.
Regardless of the expensive drug costs or political compensation, I was always grateful to help others return to happiness. Perhaps that was the only legacy my mother left me.
I scratched the back of my head, feeling awkward with this sudden and intense sincerity.
"Hey, don't cry," I said with a thin smile, trying to melt this melancholic atmosphere. "Tears will change the salt composition in your body and could interfere with drug absorption. Save your emotions for later when you celebrate."
Elena was stunned for a moment, then laughed softly. A laugh that was loose and light. As if she had returned to her happy childhood before the illness struck.
"You really are an expert mood ruiner, Arin. What an insensitive man," she teased between laughs.
She wiped the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes with an elegant motion, then her expression returned to serious. Her 'Duke's Daughter' aura enveloped her again, but this time it felt more solid and authoritative, not fragile like glass.
"Arin, listen to me." Elena looked into my eyes sharply. "As per our agreement. From this second on, the House of Rhyms is your shield. Anyone who dares to touch a single hair on your head will have to step over my dead body first. That is my oath as the heir of Rhyms."
She extended her hand. Not the back of her hand to be kissed like typical noble custom, but an open palm for an equal handshake.
I smiled widely, accepting her hand. Her grip was warm and strong. A warm greeting because I was happy for her recovery, and of course, happy to have secured the strongest political protection in the academy.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Partner. I hope our cooperation lasts," I replied.
Elena smiled; she seemed to want to talk more with me. Maybe about the past, or about future plans. However, a little hesitation was visible in her eyes as she glanced at the wall clock.
I understood. She had a family waiting for this good news.
"Treatment is complete, Lady. You surely want to share this happy news with your beloved family immediately, right? Your grandmother must be waiting for a report from you. I won't keep you any longer in this cramped place," I said understandingly.
Elena nodded slowly. "You're right. Grandmother must be anxious waiting for the results."
She straightened her cloak, preparing to leave.
"Alright, thank you very much once again, Arin. I won't forget tonight."
Elena smiled warmly, then glanced briefly at Erika, who was still snoring softly on the bed next to us, fast asleep from the exhaustion of guarding me.
Elena's gaze softened when she saw the girl, but a slight glint of envy leaked into her eyes.
"Take care of her," Elena ordered suddenly. "She is a good and loyal girl, even if a bit... noisy and possessive."
"I'll pass that compliment on to her when she wakes up," I replied with a chuckle.
With steady steps and a fluttering winter cloak, Elena turned and walked out of the infirmary. Her back was straight, her steps steady and full of confidence.
She was no longer the dying, freezing patient. She was the Winter Queen who had just regained her crown.
The door closed. Click.
Silence returned to the room, punctuated only by the sound of Erika's rhythmic breathing.
I let out a long sigh, leaning my body against the messy workbench. I felt completely drained.
The adrenaline that had peaked earlier now receded, leaving a comfortable fatigue. Even so, deep down, I felt very satisfied.
"One problem solved," I muttered, staring at the empty vial in my hand.
Experiment successfully confirmed. Alliance with a great noble established. Our future was a little brighter tonight.
But as I looked out the window, snow began to fall more heavily, covering the academy landscape with a white blanket. The Semester Exam was only days away.
Karl Benzzi certainly wouldn't stay quiet after being humiliated in the cafeteria. He would come with a more cunning plan.
I glanced at Erika, who shifted in her sleep, mumbling incoherently. Her face was peaceful, unaware of the storm that was coming.
"Rest while you can, Erika," I whispered softly to the silence of the night. "Because tomorrow... we start the real war."
I turned off the magic lamp, letting the darkness of the night hide my thin smile.
I was ready.