Arthur took in one last deep breath. With his eyes tightly shut and his body in a meditation position, he hoped that this attempt would yield different results from the previous ones. He wasn't doing anything different, but he had a good feeling.

  The only noticeable difference was the now dim, purple light emanating from under his skin. The Daffodil Paste pill made his Ley Lines visible to the naked eye, but it didn't do much more than that. He still couldn't get a clear feeling on Ark or the circuits.

  A rush of fresh air entered his nose, raising his hands as if to mimic the movements of his diaphragm. Thanks to the same medicine, it felt like he had just eaten a cool, mint flavoured candy. His nostrils felt fresh and chilly.

  Initially, he wanted to utilize that cold and comfortable sensation to direct his senses to the Ley Lines. However, it was quickly starting to fade. He tried to focus on the remaining freshness in his body, to latch onto the feeling of the Ark flowing throughout his body.

  Before he could do that, the effects of the medicine had already disappeared. It was fast acting, and the side effects didn't last long enough for him to experiment with it. He sighed, breaking his concentration and falling backwards on the bed.

  “You got any suggestions, Archive?”

  He waved at the air, prompting a text window to appear. He was getting bored of meditating over and over again, with no results whatsoever despite his efforts. He hoped that his Gift held some tips or tricks.

  Immediately, the air was filled by the sound of electrical static and the clicking of a mechanical keyboard. Arthur's lips curved upwards slightly, it wasn't too useless of a Gift after all.

  However, the typing suddenly stopped. A singular word was written on top of the floating, computer-like screen.

  [No.]

  Arthur furrowed his brows in confusion, before raising his right one. This was new. Usually, if the Archive couldn't provide any information, it opted to simply not manifest at all. Or, in the case of dangerous information, the usual response would appear.

  However, this time, it took the time to write an answer, as brief as it was. It was clear to Arthur that something was up with the Archive's response. He definitely heard the usual clicking noises, followed by a sudden stop.

  He squinted at the text window, with an accusing glare in his eyes. Surely, it couldn't be the case, but just to be sure. He asked a question.

  “Are you hiding the answer from me? You bastard, did you delete the suggestion you typed out?!”

  Even if he knew he couldn't really touch the Archive, he extended his arms, grasping the text window with his hands. Maybe it was the residual tiredness from the reading session, or the exasperation from still having made no progress in Dipping.

  Arthur found himself ‘strangling’ and shaking the text window around. He knew that it wasn't alive, and it couldn't possibly feel pain or be disturbed by those actions, but he was mostly doing it out of annoyance. Surprisingly, the Archive caved in.

  [If Arthur Luria attempted to do it right now, he would be in danger. Ask the Archive for the method twelve hours from now.]

  He looked down at the text. It would be dangerous to attempt that method at the moment, but he could try half a day later. He tilted his head, trying to figure out what that mysterious method entailed. Did it require nighttime?

  While thinking, one hand moved to cover his mouth, and the other lowered towards his garments. Sticking a few fingers into a pocket, he started toying with the tin container. Then, it suddenly clicked.

  “Wait… Do I have to try immediately after? Yeah, that could work, right?”

  He nodded to himself. It made sense. He should take the next pill twelve hours from that moment, so that part of the statement checked out. However, why would the Archive go as far as to hold back its answer?

  Reading his thoughts, a text window promptly appeared, regarding the material of the Phantom Shark scales. A toxin potent enough to melt down anyone that consumed it undiluted, or without any other counter agents.

  Arthur once again tilted his head, and smugly laughed at the non-existent Archive's face. Sure thing, it would have been dangerous if he was only consuming Phantom Shark scale extract, but the pills were balanced. Truly, the Archive didn't know much of medicine.

  He produced the tin container from his clothes, taking out one of the purple pills. He rolled it around in his fingers for a few moments, examining it. And lastly, despite the Archive's many warnings, he flicked it into his own mouth.

  “Alright, let's do this thing…”

  He closed his eyes, and immediately focused on the feelings that spread throughout his body as he ingested the medicine. Perhaps it was due to his concentration, but the chill propagated quicker, and in a far more intense manner.

  His thoughts were focused solely on that sensation. He built a mental image of the spots and area through which the cold passed, trying to make a mental map of his Ley Lines system. It was working.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  From his stomach, spreading out into countless veins. Wrapping around his torso, reaching out to the heart and the legs. Then, it spread to the shoulders and arms, from the top of his head to his fingertips and toes.

  His entire body was burning with that intense cold. Arthur smirked. He traced lines with his imagination wherever the medicine's effects spread, he had a good idea of the patterns the circuits formed, now.

  He tried to fine tune his senses. Only feeling the Ley Lines wasn't enough, he had to feel the Ark inside, and the Archê surrounding him. It felt like his fingertips were just barely breaking the water's surface, he wasn't completely submerged yet.

  But, how could he completely enter the Dipping state? Almost unconsciously, he extended his right index finger. The combination of muscles and skin moving, the nerves transferring all the sensations to Arthur's brain.

  In that instant, where all of his concentration shifted on the tip of his finger, the cold broke through the water's tension. The clear, mirror-like surface froze over, before cracking and breaking.

  Arthur's consciousness was pulled beneath the water. It was a completely new sensation, although similar to the one he felt initially, inside the dream.

  He felt like he was taking a bath in ice water, completely naked, surrounded only by freezing liquid. The cold was somewhat soothing to his body, more than enough to create frost on his skin, but comfortable.

  He could feel the water swirling around him. He opened his eyes. His vision was filled with a surreal view, Ley Lines traced over the air transporting energy through and around him. He was simply a bystander.

  Arthur looked down at his hands, and finally saw his Ley Lines. There wasn't any correct or appropriate way to describe them, so he didn't try to find any.

  His mind and body were both slowly relaxing. His eyes slowly closed, shutting themselves tightly. That state of Dipping was more comfortable than he thought it would be, simply staying afloat under the waves.

  He took a deep breath. Freezing water rushed in his nose. Not a single bubble of oxygen left his orifices.

  “Shit… Are you trying to get yourself killed, kid?!”

  His concentration was suddenly broken, by the sound of the medical bay's doors being swung open and slamming against the wall. Immediately after, he felt his body being shaken around. He tried to open his eyes, but it was difficult.

  Once he managed, he noticed his sight was blurry and unfocused. He was watching the world while still being underwater, through the distorting water surface. He tried to tilt his head, confused as to why that figure was in such a hurry.

  He could barely make out some features on the figure's body. A pair of antlers, which glimmered like the night sky, caught his attention. It was the Tribefolk woman.

  Arthur tried to raise his hand, to wave at the familiar face, managing to do so slowly and with much effort. He turned his head around, to look at his arm. It felt heavy and cold, and numb. Looking at it, he saw a mass of water, melting down and reflecting his face.

  He moved the hand towards his lips. There was a layer of, something, separating his head with the rest of the world. Trying to grasp his own skin, his fingers slammed against a dense, thick, watery substance.

  Immediately, his senses returned in full force. His relaxed mind entered a flight or fight response, once he noticed that air bubbles were leaving his mouth when he tried to talk, and he couldn't breathe at all.

  His arm was melting down into water, and a bubble was suffocating him. He tried to claw away at the suffocating liquid, with his good arm, but to no avail. His head turned towards the Tribefolk woman, busy mixing materials on the working table.

  “Shit, shit, shit, shit…”

  After muttering some profanities and prayers under her breath, which hopefully didn't affect the preparation of the concoction, the woman shoved a large piece of paper into the bubble. A bright light spread from it, and in a matter of seconds, Arthur was no longer trapped.

  She kept her eyes closed, repeating words in a language Arthur didn't understand, pouring Ark and prayers into the piece of paper. Slowly, his arm was reverting back to flesh and bone, and he could breathe normally.

  He quickly took some deep breaths, coughing out some water in the process. He brought his hands towards his neck, to make sure his lungs were working properly. Only after making sure he wasn't trapped in water anymore, did he breathe a sigh of relief.

  “I, er, thanks, I don't know what…”

  The woman stormed towards Arthur, an angered expression on her face.

  “You little idiot… Did no one teach you– no, calm down… What the hell were you trying to do? Overdose on Phantom Shark scale essence? What, was your dream as a kid becoming a shark? Huh? You idiot? Dumbass? What did you think you were doing? Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

  Arthur moved backwards slightly on the bed. Her speech reminded him of a certain someone, but unlike that short haired elf, she actually scared him.

  “I… I was trying to Dip, I thought the medicine could help me…”

  He responded meekly, lowering his gaze. He couldn't see the woman's expression, but he heard her wait a moment before sighing in exasperation. Then, she leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulders.

  “Listen, what you did, kid, is extremely dangerous. You have to be careful with medicine, especially when it's this kind. More than that… That asshole Sol, he still didn't teach you?”

  He raised his head at the last question, with a confused expression.

  “Seriously…? Listen, I was the same as you. He gave me an opportunity. Usually, when he offers someone a deal, he takes the time to train them properly and thoroughly… That dumbass…”

  Arthur interrupted her. “Oh, that's probably because I didn't accept his offer yet. I'm still… Unsure.”

  She sighed once again, before letting herself fall to the bed, sitting down. She wrapped an arm around Arthur's shoulders, making him slightly uncomfortable, before speaking once again.

  “Alright, let me tell you something. I was like you in that sense, too, when I was younger. I didn't trust Sol. I don't trust him now, either. He's a witty, conniving, manipulating, double faced bastard. However, I know one thing, that he doesn't go back on his words. And that he's a damn good instructor.”

  She pulled the boy closer, moving a finger in front of her lips in a shushing motion.

  “Even if you want to kill him, or beat him to a pulp, trust me, take his offer while you can. Use him, let him use you, and once you find what you need, leave him and run away. That's what I did!”

  After saying that with a hearty laugh, the woman stood back up, stretching her arms and legs. She put back the ingredients she had brought inside her coat, and headed towards the door. She turned around one last time.

  “Oh, and remember, don't lose sight of your path. Your desires, your ambitions– whatever they are, keep them close to you. Don't forget them.”

  Arthur nodded, lowering his gaze momentarily. “I see… Thank you for the tips.

  “By the way, you still haven't told me your name.”

  The woman turned around after a second, with a surprised expression on her face. She thought for a second.

  “You can call me Eida.”

  She immediately left the room, closing the door behind herself, leaving Arthur alone to his thoughts. He let himself lay down onto the bed.

  He felt like he knew what he wanted to do, now.