Takes place in episodes 11-12.
"Hm..." Alaric is putting another herb in a stone bowl, as he mixes them all together... He has been hard at work, doing so to... Well... Fix Rudeus. Well, he did inform that Fitz might be a woman... Alaric can't disclose it but... Rudeus is finally on the path to rediscovering Sylphy herself.
And upon another test...
"Seems we got a working one." Says others, as Alaric was over the moon! Finally, a working mix!
"But... If we let this out to the public... So please, do not attempt to sell this until we're finished finalizing the formula. Since we've verified that the facility that made these aphrodisiacs was destroyed alongside its recipes." Says the assistant, as Alaric nods, wearing a white coat.
"Ever since I graduated I was imminently taken in by the Magic Guild. I've been helping them progress in different cures and the such for different diseases and poisons. Millis being the far most medically developed kingdom, I was hoping maybe someday I too can learn something from them." Alaric thinks as that was from 8 to 3 in the afternoon. He should be tired but his large mana pool allows him to use a ton of it without much worry.
But then... It happened.
...
...
...
The marriage...
It all happened.
But ever since then, the worries of the overdue baby, things weren't looking so hot.
"... Everything will be alright, Kristene." Lilia sat on a chair next to her bed, as she was worried,
"I-I never expected... I... This isn't right..." She pats her stomach, the baby was supposed to be due!
"It'll be alright. A few babies were overdue... And you have Alaric to help keep the baby safe." She explained as Kristene sniffed,
"R-Really...?" She wondered as a ring made of brilliant gems was on her finger. Sparkling with light, it was beautiful...
"Yes... I'm sure Alaric is working hard to ensure the baby is safe and healthy... I read that some babies stay in the womb for a whole year... Granted, these pregnancies are due to the baby not developing quickly enough." Lilia explained as Kristene felt a little bit better.
"... Do you think they'll grow up normally?" She wondered as Lilia assured her,
"Everything will be fine." She explained, as inside the Magic Guild...
"Mr. Greyrat?" Says a researcher, as they knock on the wooden door.
"Come in," Alaric says, in a uniform unspecified over his linen shirt.
"We just got word that this "pill" thing you call affects certain men. Some show signs of overcirculation of the blood and some don't feel the effects at all. It seems we still have work to do if you want to continue this project." Says the researcher, a magician, as Alaric sighs,
"I have a question." Asked Alaric, as the researcher wondered,
"What is it?" They wondered, a higher ranking B Ranked in the guild,
"I've heard overdue pregnancies are thanks to the baby being underdeveloped... Is this common amongst women?" He wondered as the researcher could tell he was nervous.
"Being a father must be nerve-racking, especially after you took a good month's break. Don't worry, Alaric, as long as you're properly monitoring your wife, everything will be fine." They explained, as Alaric thanked them, before being handed some papers.
"..." He reads them.
"Overcirculation... No effects... Seems there is a result in both pills I've made... Maybe if I balance them out... I can make something... Then get back to my research." Alaric was helping with the development of cures that treat certain diseases and poisons. Using Healing Magic, he uses various methods to try and purify these diseased organisms and using potions made from specific herbs. Of course... Detoxification Magic is the true key to this, but he can't practice it beyond the Beginner Rank. He'll need some sort of access to higher ranks...
But... Ever since he studied, he has gotten the hang of King Class Healing Magic. Capable of healing even limbs, he was special in the guild.
"Alaric?" Says...
"!" His eyes widened, as incomes...
"August? What are you doing here?" Alaric closed a book where he placed his papers, as the man smirked,
"Wanted to see a man in uniform. You look great." August smiled a bit, as Alaric chuckled,
"You know you shouldn't be here, right? Pretty serious research is going on here." Alaric states, as herbs were growing, vials were containing animals of dead or alive kinds, etc.
"..." August looked around. He didn't think they'd provide him with his room so quickly.
"To think my husband would be living only a dream for others... I'm proud of you." August says as Alaric smiles a bit as well,
"I couldn't have gotten this far without everyone. Including you." Alaric says, pressing his hand on the slightly exposed chest.
"Heh..." August says, as... Well... He dropped out. He realized adventuring was his passion, and even his sister too. They fight monsters of various kinds, accepting jobs here and there, they weren't as great as Alaric but they make a good living.
"Alright... So what did ya get?" Alaric wondered as it was lunch, as he pulled out a...
"Those weird "san-witch" things. They're pretty popular for these hours so I ordered one. It is that weird... Erm... Turkkai... Ch... Chis?" August had issues pronouncing the words.
"Turkey, cheese, and lettuce," Alaric explained, as behind the scenes he had a few farms where animals and the such were raised including food grown. He is a prominent face in Ranoa and is respected too. He was rich, very rich.
"Right... Right." August says, as he looked around, clearly something was on his mind.
"What is it?" Alaric wondered what he had to think, as August gulped a bit,
"I..." He attempts to say, but...
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" Sounds a bell, as Alaric groans,
"Sorry, August, I gotta run. I have a meeting to disgust about the project of mine..." Alaric says as he holds three different-shaped bottles. One with a pile of small round balls, and two with liquids of sorts.
"Wait...!" August stopped him, as he was wanting more.
"No time... Sorry, August...! I promise I'll make it up to you!" Alaric rushes out, as August stands there.
Ever since that night... Everything was amazing. He merely wanted to feel that again... But he looked around, this is his husband's lab, right? So he looked. A whiteboard with various formulas was seen.
"..." August was surprised by how much work he got done in such little time...
"Steel Serpent Antidote... Woah..." August had trouble with Steel Serpents. Their poison is the most toxic around. Well, unlike their Emerald and Ruby brothers.
"You never fail to impress me," August states, as he suddenly sees...
"?" He noticed two bottles...
Sample 1 and Sample 2.
"?" He noticed them, as he held the small glass vial.
"This must be the project for his brother... Yeah..." August heard of Rudeus, his brother-in-law's, certain... Aliment.
"Er...Ere... Disfun..." August never knows how to pronounce these outlandish words.
...
...
...
"Erectile Disfunction?" Says higher-ups, as Alaric places the vial on the table.
"Correct. My brother, I'm sure you know him, has an issue regarding this illness. I'm sure none of you heard of it but some men suffer from this. My research, although far beyond my previous work, is to help these men. Currently, I and lower-ranked magicians have distributed this to those with wives of their own. Even I tried some with my husband. The results varied but we've been able to gain positive and negative feedback. Those with more potent mixes made others suffer from overcirculation, like their... Urm... They couldn't rest. It was overcirculating with blood so me and my assistant helped and gave them relief by releasing blood. Some don't have an effect but some feel a slight rush. If I manage to perfect and combine these two small pills... I think we have a cure for this... Disfunction." Alaric explained as the higher-ups spoke amongst one another.
"And your other two projects?" The main one asked as Alaric placed down two liquids.
"These are potions for ridding the poisons the Steel Serpent injects into the victims. The other one is a poison utilizing the venom inside of a mostly intact sack of a Steel Serpent." Alaric shows said poison, a green and yellowish colored liquid in a jar and another with a bit of a blueish-green color.
"I hope this cure can make its way into the markets, and for the poison to be kept secret like other countries do with their discoveries. Steel Serpents are native here like the Emerald and Ruby is in Asura. I hope to start research into Bronze Serpents as their poison is weaker due to their development." Alaric ends it, as the higher-ups are impressed.
"Not even a year in and you have potential, Alaric. I am glad we've reached out before other countries do." The higher up says as Alaric nods.
"But... Of course, we'd like to sample this "pill" of yours when it's perfected. I have quite the troubles with my wife."
"Same here."
"My husband would love these!" They were excited, as Alaric knew it was a hit,
"Have you also... Tried... The "Protection" I gifted you all?" Alaric wondered, as he also improved on a certain barrier that protects both husband and wife. Or husband and husband...
"Indeed. It was a marvelous invention." A male says as a woman chuckles,
"My husband wouldn't dare have another child... So this was the best thing to do, especially with those hideous other methods." The woman shivered a bit, as Alaric was relieved...
...
...
...
Another month passed... And soon...
"Huh? A pill?" Rudeus says as Alaric gets news that Sylphy revealed herself to Rudeus. Well, it was harder since the party, due to her not taking the wine so calmly...
"Yes. Ever since you've suffered from your dysfunction, I wanted to make something to help. It doesn't have the effects of the sampled aphrodisiac I used... But it helps. I'm sure of it." Alaric was, as Rudeus started, clearly red in the face.
"I-I don't know what to say-" Rudeus was then hugged by the boy, as he explained,
"Don't be. You might not have been my brother in whatever lives we lived... But right now, you're in need. And we've had a lot of experiences together back home. Just..." Alaric soon hands...
"Don't get carried away." Alaric showed...
"W-What the!?!" Rudeus is shocked,
"What? I'm married too! I need to ensure my protection-"
"Ugh..." Rudeus was not exactly ready to show such a side so comfortably. Alaric was washed of any sort of innocence when he had to test the pills. Rudeus wasn't. But hey, things seemed brighter all of a sudden...
Especially...
"Wah!!!" Sounds like a baby...
"Lucia Lowel Greyrat..." Kristene held a baby with blonde hair... The small amount of it was pressed against the head of the bundle of joy...
"Lucia...! What a beautiful name!!!" Han was here too, crying as the rest of the family including others watch, as Alaric kissed Kristene's forehead,
"You did great, Kristene." He smiled, as August walked up, crouching down with Alaric, he held his hands,
"Seems my husband also became a father. Isn't that amazing?" August says as he pushes the hair back from Lucia's eye area,
"I... I am so happy... That you're healthy and here..." Lucia was in tears... But beyond the world...
Lucinda floats...
"Do you... Think this is the end, then?" Lucinda wondered, as Ace nods,
"Correct. You'll be sent to this world... But retain no memory. This is the best I could do." Ace explained as Lucinda's body sparkled a bit, as particles absorbed into the leaf that bloomed on the large tree.
"Hehe... Guess this is goodbye?" Lucinda wondered, as Ace nods,
"Hm." He agreed,
"Goodbye... Lucinda..." The voice fades, as from the baby's perspective... They calmed. Before its eyes opened...
"!!!" Everyone's eyes widened.
"Red?" They were so confused, as the baby cried afterward, as that...
Is the end...
For now...
...
...
...
Alaric sits across the table, and Luke is impressed.
"So... This "pill" reproduces the effects of the aphrodisiac but you're conscious still?" Luke wondered as Sylphy was off to see Rudeus one more time.
"Correct... Ever since I joined the Magics Guild I've been making a ton of samples. This one will grant regular circulation to the designated part of a male's body, and of course, you're in full control of yourself." Alaric explained as he grabbed a small notebook,
"MY recipe is right here. But now Ranoa is in control of the makings of the pills. Whether this is kept a country secret and the such." Alaric explained as Luke sniffed it. It was sour and bitter in scent.
"You're truly remarkable, Alaric." Ariel Asura says as Alaric thanks her,
"Thank you kindly, Your Highness," Alaric says as Ariel explains,
"Rudeus and Sylphy will hopefully make it official between the two. And how's Lucia doing?" Ariel wondered as Alaric smiled,
"She'd doing wonderfully." He explained that he loved the girl to death.
"I also... Got you some, Luke." Alaric surprised the boy, as his eyes widened, a whole vial of 10 small brown ball-like objects being placed.
"... Are you sure? This is a country secret-"
"Pah! I have special permission! After all... The C Rank member created these after all. But I am forbidden to share the recipe outside of Ranoa. The pill required that full bottle of aphrodisiac replicate... And special herbs and the such from the guild. So even if I share the pills with the outside they won't have any means to replicate it." Alaric explained as he continued,
"The previous ones had horrible effects. But after about maybe 1-3 hours the second effect should be released to calm down blood flow in the desired area. I'm sure you know what I mean, Luke?" Alaric wondered, as Luke nods,
"Quite the contrary, I do." Luke agreed...
...
...
...
The morning came as Alaric, Slyphy, Ariel, and Luke stood before Rudeus. Who bowed in respect.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Rudeus Greyrat, at your service." Rudeus says,
"Your reputation resounds around the school like a thunderclap. What brings you here to see me today, Rudeus?" Ariel wondered as it seemed like the pill worked. Slyphy after all was overjoyed.
"I'd imagine that Sylphy... Sylphiette rather... Has told you mostly everything. But there's one thing that I wanted to say in person. Your Highness, Sylphy was so good as to cure my condition... And I'm given to understand that you and Master Luke including my brother helped her into doing so. Therefore... If I can ever be of service to you, you'll only need but ask." Rudeus states as Ariel turns to Luke, and he nods.
"Generous. But I'd thought you'd shy AWAY from power struggles between Asuran Nobles." Luke wondered as Rudeus agreed,
"True enough, I'd rather not stick my nose into a political dispute... However... If my beloved is caught up in one of them THAT changes things." Rudeus says, as Alaric smiles, Sylphy is in awe as her face and part of her ears turn red.
"Oh? Sister-in-law huh? Welcome to the-"
"I-It's not like that yet!" Sylphy argued as Ariel quieted them quickly.
"I would be extremely glad of your support. You're a valuable ally as well as your brother here." Ariel explained as such,
"Now then... What's next for you, Rudeus?" Ariel wondered as they continued to speak. But then the conversation that involved him and Sylphy... The idea that even though Rudeus had a duty... Rudeus wanted to MARRY the woman.
"Ah...!" Luke is in shock, as Alaric smiles in awe,
"Sylphiette Greyrat..." Ariel says as Alaric is excited for this new addition to the family. Luke shoved her, as Sylphy was. Well...
"Well, I guess... I mean... What I wanna say..."
"Y-Yes?" Rudeus responded as Alaric watched... It was like his own engagement all over again. And Sylphy asked the boy to take really good care of her.
"Of course... Always." Rudeus looked down, as Alaric soon walked over to Rudeus, before shoving him closer to Sylphy. She watched him, as she smiled as she looked at the man...
"Seems Sylphy will be my sister, huh, Rudy?" Alaric hugged the both of them, as Luke and Ariel smiled in the back.
Everything... Became the happiest thing to Alaric...
Especially since...
"B Rank!?!" Alaric is in awe of this promotion!
"Correct. Ever since you joined, we've seen some great things coming from that "pill" and the poison you produced. Although, we'll need far more greater formulas for future projects in the upcoming future." Says a higher-up, as Alaric bowed in respect,
"Thank you for this opportunity! I... This is all so much!" Alaric is in amazement, as he didn't-
"And for that... I want your ideas shortly. You've studied about Magic Items and Magic Tools since, correct?" The magician wondered, as Alaric nodded, being walked into the facility by them.
"I've received some news from your old boss. Pilphar, is it?" He wondered as Alaric was in awe,
"PILPHAR! Yes, of course! He helped me so much-"
"... He died via assassination not too long ago." The magician says, completely freezing Alaric.
"E... Excuse me?" Alaric is unsure if what the magician says is true...
"... Unfortunately, it is. Pilphar Everette... Was murdered by assassins and robbed of all his things." They explained, as Alaric was... Silent. He fiddles, trying to find a chair, as he sat down,
"... How long ago was this?" Alaric wondered as the man sighed,
"A month or two ago. We're unfortunate to say that news like this travels slowly. But Asura made sure to tell you of the findings, and they underwent the destruction of the magic circles to transport items from one place to another to also ensure the inability to access our country. However..." The man grabbed a case, and as Alaric looked at it, his eyes started to grow heavy.
"His research, instructions, and all his secrets to making his unique "Enhancement Items" were preserved. He kept them hidden. He had no living relatives and a man insisted that these items were given to you. I want you to continue his work in his honor, and help us improve our standings in the world. I know... This may seem selfish-"
"Nope." Alaric stopped the magician, as he paused.
"... I will continue his work. I don't care who I am working under... I know enough about Magic Items to know his work requires a skilled adventurer..." Alaric sighed, he needed to think, as he grabbed the case.
He was so bright... But now... Things seemed to spiral in the worst way possible.
End of chapter 12.