Ch. 43 - An Alliance

Robb thought for a moment, then stood from his chair and clapped Arnor on the shoulder.

"Cheer up. Don't look so defeated. I've never seen the great Thirteenth Prince like this before."

He walked over to his cabinet, rummaging through it while teasing.

"Hey, if those adoring young ladies back in the capital could see you moping like this, they'd be absolutely heartbroken!"

Arnor had been wallowing in gloom, but the quip drew a reluctant laugh. "Don't bring up those tedious social functions. Nothing but empty flattery."

He shook his head, though the shadow in his eyes lightened a touch.

"Here, have a look at this." Robb produced an elegant crystal vial from the back of the cabinet. Inside was a faintly glowing blood-red liquid. He tossed it casually to Arnor.

Arnor snatched it out of the air, nearly fumbling the catch. "Hey! Careful, this isn't a game of marbles."

He held the bottle up to the light, curious. "What is this? Smells a bit like... liquor?"

"Ha! If liquor sold for five Mana Crystal Fragments a bottle, I'd have opened a tavern ages ago."

Robb grinned. "This is a 'Vitality Elixir' I brewed yesterday under Lady Elena's guidance. Specifically formulated for knight training."

Arnor's eyes lit up instantly. "You're joking. I know what this is, you can't buy these anywhere on the market!"

He scrutinized the liquid within. "Hold on... you can actually brew something at this level now? Your progress is terrifying. From a sixth-magnitude Initiate to this... you're a completely different person."

"Please, you're not actually starting to think I'm some kind of monster, are you?" Robb fished out several more small bottles of varying colors from the cabinet, arranging them casually on the table.

"Look, these are all recent 'masterpieces.' This blue one stabilizes your soul fluctuations. The green one relieves bodily pain..."

He picked up a bottle of clear liquid and swirled it. "And this little beauty is especially effective for breath training, boosts efficiency by at least thirty percent."

Arnor reached for it, and Robb swatted his hand away. "Hands off. These are my personal stash. Each one costs roughly ten Mana Crystal Fragments."

"You were never this stingy before." Arnor pretended to complain, though anticipation gleamed in his eyes. "Is it really that miraculous?"

"Want to try one?" Robb raised an eyebrow. "Take a bottle home, I guarantee your breathing technique will advance by leaps and bounds."

Arnor blinked, then asked warily. "What's the catch? Spell it out first. We may be close, but my backside is not for sale."

"Oh piss off, I don't have that weird fetish!" Robb laughed and shook his head, throwing a punch that nearly sent Arnor stumbling.

"You, on the other hand, definitely raised in the royal court. That paranoia is something else."

He stowed the potion bottles, then suddenly dropped the joking tone. "But seriously, Arnor, after my breakthrough, Lady Elena agreed to teach me a Gem-tier meditation method."

Arnor's smile froze. "What did you just say? A Gem-tier meditation method?"

Seeing that Robb wasn't kidding, he was nearly speechless with shock. "Good lord! She actually has... Aren't those supposed to be core knowledge the Black Mist Order guards with their lives?"

"The condition is that I collect some special materials for her." Robb shrugged. "Honestly, the stuff on that list won't be easy to get. But an opportunity like this is too rare to pass up. I'm going to try."

"You know, Robb..." Arnor shook his head in wonder. "I'm starting to regret that I ever dismissed you as nothing but a wastrel. If I'd known you had this kind of potential..."

"Don't dwell on it." Robb waved a hand, also recalling the places they'd visited together back in those days. "I really was a piece of work back then. All I cared about was drinking and sleeping around."

Both burst into laughter at the same time, the atmosphere immediately lighter.

"Seriously, though." Arnor composed himself and looked at Robb earnestly. "If you can truly help me through this, I'm willing to serve as your guardian knight."

Robb had been sipping his tea. At this, he raised an eyebrow with interest. "You mean that?"

"I've never been more serious in my life." Arnor's gaze was rock-steady. "I'd rather follow a friend I know and trust than be some madwoman's plaything."

He laughed self-deprecatingly.

"As far as the royal family is concerned, I'm already a failed product. But my talent for knight training really isn't bad. Following you... at least I'd keep my dignity. Right?"

Robb set down his teacup, his expression turning equally serious. "Then I won't hold back when I need to put you to work. But here's a suggestion for you to consider, pour everything you have into advancing your knight abilities."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it." He tapped the table with his finger. "If you could break through to become a Grand Knight, things would look very different in front of the royal family. Even your brothers and sisters would have to show some respect to a Grand Knight, wouldn't they?"

Arnor felt as if he'd found the answer he'd been searching for. "You crafty bastard, your mind works fast. You're right. A Grand Knight holds independent standing within the kingdom. Even the royal family can't just order one around."

"Exactly." Robb smiled smugly.

"I provide potion support, you focus on training. Everybody wins."

"Wait..." Arnor eyed him suspiciously. "What exactly do you mean by 'potion support'? I know perfectly well how expensive this stuff is."

"You source the materials yourself. I'll give you a discount on the brewing fee." Robb winked, weighing the Mana Crystal pouch at his waist. "Friends-and-family rate. Slightly cheaper than market price."

"You little...!" Arnor laughed and cursed at the same time. "You've really turned into quite the merchant. But..."

His expression turned earnest. "I accept the deal. I gather intelligence and supplies for you, and I'm on call whenever you need muscle or legwork. You help me grow stronger. Fair and square."

"Then it's settled!" Robb extended his hand.

Arnor clasped it. They looked at each other and grinned. "Deal!"

"Oh, one more thing." Robb suddenly remembered something. "That Cynthia you mentioned, does she have a thing for purple dresses and speak with a southern accent?"

"You know her?" Arnor asked in surprise.

"Of course I don't." Robb's smile turned cryptic. "But I've heard her name at Lady Elena's shop. Apparently she recently took some kind of potion, got the properties wrong, and nearly poisoned herself to death."

Arnor's eyes went wide. "Seriously?"

"Dead serious." Robb spread his hands. "Lady Elena was muttering something about a 'big-breasted brainless bimbo,' or words to that effect."

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