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"Anyway, both of you, it's time to practice your Mana Cultivation Methods..." Louis said. "Here, I've snatched some Mana Cultivation Tonics from my father's laboratory for you. Be thankful I am such a benevolent prince."
"Oh! Thank you so much!" Zorba exclaimed. "With this, cultivating those three methods will be much easier... From where I came from, such methods didn't exist."
"That's likely because the Vultarn High Dominion has been mostly influenced by the militaristic world of Spiritias," Louis explained. "They prohibit any sort of knowledge and methods from other countries and Fantasy Worlds, right?"
"Yes, it's an awful place," Zorba sighed. "I am glad I am now in the Frostbane Kingdom, a country founded by someone as incredible as your great mother, Master Louis! Surely, if her son is so great, the mother must be even more amazing!"
"Hah, well, I'm glad you recognize the greatness of the Frostbane Kingdom," Louis replied, easily flattered when it came to praise for his country and his mother.
Louis decided to assist Mirai and Zorba with their training in the Mana-related Cultivation Methods. Mirai had mostly grasped them on her own and needed little guidance, but Zorba was completely lost and required both instruction and occasional encouragement.
"Ugh, I apologize, Master Louis. I am useless in these things... I never really trained in any Cultivation Methods before," Zorba admitted.
"That's fine. You were simply ignorant. However, did you never learn any technique related to Spirit Orbs or anything connected to Spirits from the world your mother came from?" Louis asked.
"Hmm. I never had the talent; I lack a Spirit Orb unlike my brother, and besides my appearance, I lack Demonic Energy too. But I remember reading Spirit Cultivation Methods. They were not that good though. Do you want to know about them?" Zorba asked. "I can give you the formulas, but..."
"What?" Louis pressed.
"Well, they're complicated and don't really work on those without a Spirit Orb, as they require an internal Spiritual Energy Source," Zorba explained. "Aside from that, they also need a Contracted Spirit. The people from Spiritias are born with Spirit Orbs and develop their Natal Spirit within the Orb, which they are born with. I've heard that there are other races that contract wild spirits, but these methods are specifically designed for the types of spirits you find in Spiritias."
"I see..." Louis nodded. "Even then, tell me everything you know."
"Yes," Zorba agreed, beginning to write down everything he remembered.
Surprisingly, Zorba possessed an almost computer-like memory. In two hours, while Louis helped him regulate his Mana, spread it through his body to reinforce it, and gather more inside, Zorba produced an entire short book of fifty pages.
"I'm done with the first book I ever read, the Spirit Bond Method," Zorba explained. "This is the one my brother learned and almost mastered. It allows for a greater and deeper bond between master and their contracted spirit."
"That's it?" Louis asked.
"It seems that the deeper the connection and the bond, the stronger both the master and the spirit become, sharing power with one another," Zorba continued. "Of course, this Method relies almost exclusively on the fact that the master has a spirit orb."
"Hm..." Louis nodded and began reading the book, memorizing it word for word. "Go on, write the others. If you need more ink and paper, they will bring it to you."
"Very well."
Zorba and Louis spent the rest of the day and night practicing Mana Cultivation Methods while writing and reading Spirit Cultivation Method books. By the morning of the next day, Louis had finished transcribing the fourth book with everything Zorba remembered, and Zorba had reached the Middle Stage of all three Mana Methods thanks to Louis' constant guidance.
"Incredible! Thank you so much, Master Louis!" Zorba exclaimed. "I feel so much stronger now. So these are the Methods of Yggdrasil...!"
"Hm," Louis nodded, closing the fourth book with a loud sigh. "I see. I understand now. I certainly cannot learn any of the four Methods."
The four Spirit Cultivation Methods Zorba had shared were Spirit Bond, Spirit Soul, Spirit Weaponization, and Spirit Transformation. They all focused on forging a deeper bond with the contracted spirit and helping it transform into various forms.
The people of Spiritias could even transform their Spirits into Unique Weapons similar to Soul Weapons, yet far stronger and sentient beings. Their Spirits could take any shape: living weapons, floating empty armors, beasts, insects, birds, ghosts, giants, angels, demons, vampires, anything.
Spiritias was a Fantasy World that revolved around Spirits. Everything could become a Spirit, and perhaps everything had once been a Spirit. From the history Zorba recalled, Spiritias was born from the Fragment of a Heavenly Domain created by an entity called Heavenly Father.
It gave birth to Nine Holy Spirits, each representing an element. These Holy Spirits shaped Spirits based on the Nine Spiritual Elements. However, people being born with Spirit Orbs was not original. It was the work of an Ancient Hero known as the God of Spirits, a Summoner.
Before dying, using his power, he bestowed an Eternal Blessing upon all Intelligent Beings in Spiritias: Spirit Orbs, a secondary heart every child from that moment was born with, developing their own companion, a Spirit.
Zorba explained that this was the Summoner's final attempt to give his people a chance for survival against the Invasion of Demons from the Hell Realm.
The war ended thousands of years later when a new Summoner that inherited all the power of the previous one and more brought the endless conflict to a close.
The Prince of Pride, Lucifer, was slain. Hell, collapsing upon its "core" being destroyed, was ultimately merged with Spiritias out of mercy from this Summoner and the Nine Holy Spirits, turning Hell into a gigantic continent where the demons of Spiritias originate.
"To think I would learn the history of Spiritias before the history of Yggdrasil," Louis scoffed. "Well, it's not as if Yggdrasil's history is that deep either..."
Thanks to William, Louis already knew much of Yggdrasil's history through the game knowledge that soul had brought along. In his childhood, his mother had only taught him a few things, never the full story, perhaps because she feared he might feel sad knowing the truth.
"Master Louis, where did that girl go?" Zorba wondered, glaring around as he stood and brushed the dirt from his pants.
"Mirai? She left a couple of hours ago," Louis replied. "She had already reached Grand Perfection in all three methods on her own."
"...?!" Zorba felt ashamed. "W-What?! And I needed your help...!"
"Yeah, you're not that talented, huh?" Louis mused. "Well, maybe for some things."
Louis had learned a great deal regardless. Though he could not practice the four methods himself, he had grasped many of their principles. Now he planned to create his own method, using his transformation technique as the foundation. His target was not a spirit he would contract, no, he had no intention of implanting a Spirit Orb into his chest; his Fantasy Heart and the "thing" inside his Spiral would likely devour it. His target was Handy.
"W-What's that?" Zorba asked in surprise when he saw Louis feeding a black arm that sprouted from his shoulder. Its palm opened and absorbed a small Fantasium Crystal into its pitch-black skin.
"It's an Entity that followed me from the Dimensional Labyrinth," Louis explained. "It is useless in combat, but it can heal me. So it has become my first Bonded Entity. Sinners and Espers are the only ones capable of Bonding with Entities and Grievances, did you know? Though the number we can bond with depends on various factors."
"I had no idea..." Zorba said. "Hmm, then the Entity I choose must be special and compatible with my magic and my ideals... I wonder if I'll ever meet this fated partner."
"Well, who knows," Louis replied, walking away. "Rest for now. We'll meet at lunchtime."
"Ah, yes, Master Louis!" Zorba bowed deeply even though Louis wasn't looking.
Once back in his room, Louis sat in lotus position on his bed and continued practicing the Heaven and Earth Essence Gathering Method. He was only a few days from reaching Grand Perfection. His Aura of Ki surged beautifully from his body, enveloping him in golden flames born of his ever-growing lifeforce.
"Once I reach Grand Perfection, I'll be able to reinforce my physical body strength even further," Louis thought. "However, once that's done, I'll need something else... Robert said he would procure a merchant from Zipangu, but there hasn't been any news since then. Annoying."
Louis didn't need sleep; he had plenty of energy to spare. He quickly began formulating ideas in his mind while walking outside in the morning sun, searching for Robert. He noticed Catrise and Anastasia chuckling together over breakfast in the servants' dining room on the first floor.
"Ah, your majesty? What are you doing awake this early?" Catrise wondered.
"Good morning, Prince Louis. It's a nice day today," the rabbit-eared Anastasia said.
"I will soon achieve Grand Perfection of the Heaven and Earth Essence Gathering Method, so I don't really need to sleep for several days," Louis explained. "Have you seen Robert? Where is he?"
"Oh, Sir Robert?" Catrise replied. "He's in his office doing paperwork."
"Hm." Louis headed straight to Robert's office, finding the old, muscular butler buried in paperwork, mostly requisitions for daily necessities like materials and food for the castle.
"Robert," Louis said, stepping inside. "Been a while. What have you been doing?"
"Ah! Your majesty, good morning," Robert said, startled. "I have been—"
"Over a week ago I asked you to find me new methods from Zipangu. You said you would find a merchant. How's that going?" Louis asked directly.
"I sincerely apologize. I have been trying to contact some merchants that sell those methods, but every one of them is quite rare to find!" Robert said. "However, just today I managed to find someone. I was waiting until lunch to tell you about him."
"Is that so? Just today, this morning, just when I came here to tell you about it?" Louis asked. "Robert, you should be aware that a Spiralwalker can read through a person's lies by reading their hearts. It is a fundamental power we have as we possess a Fantasy Heart, and we can impose our own vision of reality upon those without it... of course, the stronger that person is, the harder it becomes. It's almost impossible when they're Spiralwalkers themselves. But you do understand what I am trying to imply here, right? No lies, okay?"
"I... wasn't lying, sir," Robert swallowed.
"Oh, you did," Louis said with a gentle smile. "Tell me something. Why did you only decide to start searching a day and a half ago?"
"...?!" Robert was stunned.
"You told the truth about finding someone this morning, but you lied when you said you had been looking for over a week," Louis continued. "Is this implying something? Perhaps treason? I would like to know why you have not prioritized my request—that of the Prince—above everything else."
"...!" Robert's eyes widened as he felt Louis' immense pressure bearing down on him.
"Since I came back from the Dimensional Labyrinth, I have noticed that a lot of people lack loyalty toward me," Louis said. "Some even mock me, or... actively work against me. I don't want to believe it, Robert. You're a butler who has worked under my house for decades. My mother herself chose you... but your attitude toward me, your indifference, tells me something else."
"T-That's...! Your majesty, it's a misunderstanding. Yes, I lied, but that's because I was prioritizing all my work. Now I understand that was a great mistake!" Robert said.
"Maybe before you could walk all over me because I was weak and couldn't even exert the title my mother bestowed upon me. But now that I am here, I am going to make things right and straighten every single individual I see slacking off... or acting suspiciously," Louis declared. "I will be merciful because you've worked so much under us. Fool me once, your fault. Fool me twice, my fault. If this happens again, Robert, I will not hesitate to fire you."
"I... I understand..." Robert nodded.
"And if that second time happens to be really bad—to the point I am infuriated—I might also kill you if I lose my composure. So watch out," Louis laughed. "As the rumors say, I am indeed mad!"
"...!" Robert, a seasoned old war priest, felt a chill run down his spine.
How could this young man be the son of someone as holy and saintly as Queen Benladra?
How could the Saintess and that Brilliant Scientist give birth to such a madman?
Never had he been threatened so shamelessly before, especially in a position where he had no way to fight back.
"Now tell me with sincerity! Is your loyalty toward this country still there?" Louis asked.
"Of course!" Robert lowered his head.
"Hm, good," Louis said. "And your loyalty toward my mother?"
"Naturally!" Robert agreed.
"And... the loyalty toward her son?" Louis asked, gripping the handle of his sword.
"Yes... from now on I swear loyalty to the crown prince!" Robert nodded.
Louis sighed in relief. "Thank you! Well, that's it for now. Tell me, who is this merchant?"
"I will contact them right now. Please wait a moment..." Robert replied, tapping his wristwatch. "They will get here by lunchtime. Is that quite alright with you, your majesty?"
"It is," Louis said. "Now, move aside."
"...What?" Robert was confused.
"I said to move," Louis repeated, forcing Robert away from his seat.
Louis sat down and began overseeing the paperwork. "Tell me what this is all about, and why you are doing it."
"Well..." Robert explained everything he had been handling, mostly duties the prince was supposed to manage.
"Okay, instruct me on what to do with each one of these things. Just for today. I will learn by tomorrow," Louis said.
"...?!" Robert was stunned. "Y-Your majesty, you don't really need to—"
"Silence!" Louis snapped. "This is my job as the prince! I won't let anybody else have it. Now tell me what to do and do it quickly! Do not provoke me, Robert."
"A-Ah, yes..." Robert replied. He couldn't tell whether Louis was being kind or tyrannical, it was simply too hard to discern when the prince truly meant kindness or if it was all pretense.
Yet while silently practicing the Heaven and Earth Essence Gathering Method, Louis completed the paperwork in record time, finishing what would have taken the old Robert several days in just three hours.
"I'm done. If there's any more of this, call me and I will do it," Louis said. "As the Prince of Frostbane, and to honor my mother, this is my duty, not yours. You are a servant. Do what servants do and serve me. You have no right to work on this paperwork!"
"I understand..." Robert nodded, smiling. He had already begun to admire the "new" Prince Louis. "I know that you're trying to be kind, your majesty... I suppose it's quite hard to show your sincerity."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you want me to cut you down?" Louis asked, gripping his sword's handle.
"A-Ahahaha! I'm sorry. I'll be going then! The Zipangu Merchant should arrive in an hour, I believe, so I shall prepare a banquet to receive them," Robert said gently, walking away.
"Hmph..." Louis sighed, sipping from a cup of tea. He noticed his Incarnation, the Gravewalker, staring at him with blank eyes and its mouth wide open, as if shocked. "What are you staring at?!"
"...!" The Gravewalker quickly dissolved into ashes and fled.
Then, as the Gravewalker vanished, Handy emerged from Louis' back and began massaging his shoulders with their Healing Prayer Ability.
"Stop touching me!" Louis snapped angrily, and Handy retreated as well. "Ugh, bunch of annoying creatures..."
As Louis read the news, the door opened again. It was Robert once more.
"Your majesty, I discussed something with Catrise, and the knights and I have learned you've been training diligently for a while now..." Robert began unexpectedly. "Somehow, seeing you change for the better has inspired me... Wouldn't you like to train under me? You may not have the Light Element Affinity, but perhaps you could learn a thing or two from the Holy Lance Style taught in the Church of your Mother!"
"Hoh? Well, you're finally speaking my language, Robert. Let's spar," Louis said with a wicked smile. "I want to see how strong a veteran war priest truly is."
"W-Wait, I didn't mean sparring, I meant—"
"Quickly! Move!"
"Your majesty, why are you like this...?"
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