Abyssal Awakening

Standing before the Queen, Alice couldn't help but stay silent and observe the woman in front of her.

She's had two situations where she's met the 'rulers' of a nation. First was Velouria. The second is Verona.

When she first met Velouria, it was when she was sitting amongst a sea of energy strands. The smile on her face as she joked about her own fated demise. In that aspect, Velouria didn't feel like a ruler but rather a neighbour. She felt like a normal girl you could meet on the street.

Yet strangely at the same time, it felt as though there was a veil between them. As though Velouria was living in her own world, knowing things that only she knew. Seeing sights that only she saw.

A rose in a glass case. Slowly withering but no one could help.

Verona on the other hand felt completely different.

The way she composed herself on the throne, how her gaze observed Alice, judging her internally. It was the complete opposite of Velouria. On top of that, there was a cold air around her as she was scrutinising Alice.

To Verona, Alice's appearance was too… coincidental and useful to the point it was suspicious.

An outbreak that only her blood could hold off and heal, allies that pushed back the strange human beast hybrids, a contract with Sigurd that lets him use strange fires that negate Abyss abilities and finally, Caera's acknowledgement that Alice was someone she had been looking for.

Far too many events occurred around her and it was only natural that Verona was suspicious of her origins.

Did the enemy send her as a spy? To earn merit and rewards? Information on her current state? She didn't know.

Was the 'favours' she's done for the nation truly favours or did she have a hidden intention?

"Aiya~ Hostile glares already when you two have only just met. Common~ Relax a bit okay?" Caera spoke up. She couldn't handle the silence and decided to jump in after all. Even though her original intention was to just wait outside.

Jumping next to Verona, she gave her shoulder a pat.

"Alice has been wanting to organise a… 'curing event' for the people who fought during the attack. The curse placed on them basically stops them from continuing as Warriors but with this method, they can fight for a little longer." Caera explained, handing a stack of paper to her.

Reading through the contents, a frown appeared on her face.

"This is definitely your doing isn't it?" Verona gave Caera a glare.

"Why do you say that?"

"Who else treats life like this that can make a report of such quality?" Verona sighed.

The benefits of this cure were plain to see. It'll help her defend her nation if another attack was to occur and in fact, might even make her defences stronger.

But the drawbacks…

She's essentially dooming everyone who says yes to the procedure.

Turning away from Caera, she looked at Alice who was distracting herself by looking around the throne room.

"Alice, is there no way for them to live without the side effects of becoming mindless beasts?" She asked as Alice glanced over.

"There is. But they'll have to give up the fight and become normal civilians. The curse decreases their combat potential to an absurd level. Either keep fighting until you lose your mind and die or live normally. It's a choice between the two. I don't recommend the cure honestly since I've already stabilized their bodies when I used my lilies." Alice shrugged.

However, she understands that some would rather control their own fate with their own hands. They would rather fight on the frontlines and try to make a difference rather than waiting at home.

This was the reason she didn't fully reject Caera's proposal.

Hearing Alice's reply, Verona was silent. She could see some of Alice's notes on these sheets and it was clear that she tried to eliminate the side effects as much as possible. But in order to retain their fighting prowess, some compromises had to be made.

"Do we know how many… 'transformations' it'll take before they lose their mind?"

"Nope. It's entirely dependent on the person. You can kick the bucket after one go or you can go on for tens maybe even hundreds. The moment you go down this path, you won't be able to stop." Caera spoke up.

Flipping the sheets, she tapped her finger on one of Alice's notes.

After the first transformation, they'll keep accumulating this 'curse' within their bodies. Only through the transformation can they discharge it and maintain a balance. If they don't…

"And about this second method then. To use our enemy's weapon against them." Verona asked as she noticed that there were notes regarding Alice's ideas on making hybrids.

Notes saying that Caera risked the mind while her method risked the body.

"Can you explain that a little more for me?"

Scratching her hair, Alice nodded her head.

She began to explain the method of bloodline release, to manifest the soul and turn it into an anchor.

By forming a balance between the Sigils, curse and the user's soul, they'll be able to achieve a fake hybrid state.

.net

However, the duration of this state is entirely dependent on how long they can maintain their bloodline release. Those who can't maintain it for long can't fight for long. Of course, there might be hidden conditions that she doesn't know about.

In Egil's case, he requires blood to keep fighting.

And of course, the biggest risk of this procedure is that even if they have the talent for bloodline release, they still need to be able to withstand the corruption of her blood. It was a fine delicate balance that had to be achieved.

Compared to Caera's cure, Alice's had a much higher chance of death.

Massaging her forehead, Verona contemplated the choices.

"Is there any way to reduce the chance of death?"

"None that I've found so far." Alice replied truthfully.

It was entirely up to Verona and her warriors on what they wanted.

"I see…"

In the end, Verona had one request for Alice.

If the Warriors agree to keep fighting, Verona wanted Alice to test if they have any potential to become a hybrid first. If they do, she'll give them the option to undergo the operation.

With this, they'll be given three paths. First, live normally. Second, live as a berserker and lastly, live as a hybrid.

The ideal scenario would be for them to live as a hybrid or as a normal civilian.

After all, berserkers are fated to lose their minds with no way out. There might be a solution in the future but for now, it was impossible.

"Alright. I'll test them for the potential of being a hybrid first."

With the main talk out of the way, it was time for rewards.

Licking her lips, Alice revealed a smile.

Verona knew what was coming as well and let out a sigh.

"Is there any particular reward that you wish to have? I'll try my best to supply it if it's within my control." She offered.

After everything Alice had done for the North, choosing a reward for her wasn't exactly fitting considering the fact that she didn't have anything worth the lives of all of her subjects. The best thing she could do in this situation is to just let Alice have her pick.

The North wasn't exactly wealthy either and in terms of a reward for a fighter, Sigurd's weapons are probably the best choice.

"How good are the mead makers in the north?" Alice asked with a smile.

Her question baffled both Verona and Caera as they thought she would've wanted to get a weapon, armour or even medicine.

But her question was… on how good mead makers are in the north?

"Mead making has never been a priority in the north, but if you wish to hire some mead makers, I believe their skills are on par with those from the other nations." Verona replied, unsure as to what Alice was aiming for.

"My request is a simple one then. I want them to replicate a certain type of mead for me. One that is lost to time and cannot be made by anyone anymore. I want them to reverse engineer it and supply it only to me."

"And what mead is that?" Verona raised an eyebrow.

What kind of mead was good enough for Alice to choose it as a reward for saving the capital of a nation?

"I believe Caera is familiar with it. Here, catch." Alice chuckled.

Grabbing a bottle from her pouch, she pushed it through a portal for Caera.

Tilting her head in confusion, she saw the familiar label on the bottle and froze up. Her fingers trembled as she opened the bottle and breathed in the scent of Ayrian mead.

Taking a sip, a small tear rolled down her cheek as she was reminded of her home.

"Yes, indeed this kind of mead is lost to time and cannot be made by anyone. Deploying an entire nation to figure out the recipe and reverse engineer it might not even be enough." Caera chuckled.

"If that's what you wish then so be it. I'll have it arranged but I believe we need samples to recreate such a drink." Verona sighed and waved her hand.

Caera was already eccentric with her demands and now there was another one.

"I can spare three bottles but what I have is limited in quantity. I hope they can figure it out with just these three." Alice handed over three bottles as Verona nodded her head.

They discussed the requirements of her reward. Once the Ayrian mead is done, it is only to be supplied to Alice. It cannot be sold elsewhere without Alice's knowledge and if it is to be discovered, Verona will dispatch warriors to figure out the culprit.

Anyone involved with the production once the recipe is done will be placed under a Law of Agreement.

The final and most important requirement for Alice was a limitless supply of Ayrian mead for free once it was done.

While this was happening, Cayla was speechless.

This was the first time in her life that she had seen anyone mobilize an entire nation just for… mead???

Who the hell does that???