Lost in contemplation, a peculiar sensation began to stir within Arthur's heart, prompting his eyes to widen in disbelief.
Whispering to himself, he pondered, "Could it be that the seal has finally been shattered?"
Closing his eyes, he directed his attention towards perceiving the flow of mana surrounding his body, focusing intently on the newfound sensations.
Despite having his core sealed, he could still perceive the movement of mana throughout his entire being.
The moment he became aware of it, a sense of astonishment and joy washed over him.
"This is truly an awakening!"
"My core has finally been unsealed, and I have transformed into an elemental!" Arthur's face lit up with immense joy as he closed his eyes.
"I must make my way to the library and delve into the knowledge of elemental arts stored within," he whispered, his mind already filled with anticipation for the numerous scrolls on elemental magic that awaited him in the mansion's vast library.
Moreover, being a stronghold of great power, Duke Asvold's mansion had amassed a diverse collection of elemental arts from various elements.
Among them, the element of fire held a special significance, representing the very essence and emblem of Duke Asvold's ancestral home.
Contemplating this fact, Arthur couldn't help but release a sigh, feeling a mixture of emotions as he inwardly examined the state of his own heart once again.
He could sense a singular core spinning around his heart, emitting an overwhelming surge of power.
"So, this is what it truly means to possess power," he pondered, finally comprehending the essence of David's words from that fateful moment.
"However," he sneered at the thought, "I will not succumb to the same fate as you, David, who lost your humanity due to the very power you sought."
With that declaration, Arthur gradually rose from his chair, made his way to the bed, and settled down upon it, deep in thought.
"Now it's time for me to examine the core of space!" With determination in his voice, he precipitously focused on perceiving the flow within the other core, searching for the presence of a black chain.
The black chain that encased his space core exhibited a sluggish flicker, catching Arthur's attention and causing him to furrow his brow.
"What could happen?" he questioned aloud.
"Is the chain on the verge of breaking, allowing me to harness the power of space instantly?" he pondered, his mind racing with anticipation.
However, his expectations were abruptly shattered when he sensed the chain, instead of weakening, growing stronger.
"What?!" He shouted in surprise, and suddenly he felt an excruciating pain in his chest.
"Damn it!"
"Why has this pain resurfaced?" Arthur cried out in disbelief, clutching his chest tightly as he curled up in agonizing pain.
"Arghhh!" he let out a loud, guttural scream that echoed through the entire room.
Unfortunately, to his dismay, there were no guards or servants stationed outside his room to witness or assist him.
Covered in a sheen of cold sweat, Arthur's agony escalated to the point where he teetered on the brink of losing consciousness.
"I... I..." Arthur managed to utter it with great difficulty, his arms outstretched as if reaching for something.
However, the excruciating pain overwhelmed him, surpassing the limits his body could endure.
Ultimately, he succumbed to unconsciousness, his body giving way to the relentless torment.
...
"Ugh, what happened?" Arthur asked, his eyes fluttering open to reveal his surroundings bathed in white.
"This... Isn't this the white room where I first encountered that peculiar woman?" Arthur murmured softly to himself.
However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a soft, breathy sigh near his ear, causing a chill to run down his spine.
"Oh, am I the enigmatic woman in your perception, dear Arthur?" A gentle voice resonated in his ears, causing his eyes to widen as he instinctively turned his body.
Before him stood a woman clad in a white dress adorned with intricate black spiderweb patterns.
Her figure was exquisitely beautiful, and her flowing white hair added to her ethereal presence.
Regrettably, her face remained obscured, veiled by a shimmering curtain of light.
At the sight of this woman, Arthur's heart skipped a beat, and he pointed directly at her.
"You! You are that mysterious woman!" he exclaimed.
The encounter with this woman was etched into his memory, destined never to fade.
She exuded an aura of unfathomable mystery, intertwined with a palpable sense of overwhelming power.
In Arthur's mind, he couldn't help but believe that she was none other than the goddess Mivas herself, although he was aware that this was purely his own assumption.
Now, before him, stood the very woman he had encountered in that fateful incident ten years ago. Her presence brought forth a flood of memories.
The woman giggled, gracefully advancing towards Arthur, her arms outstretched as if beckoning for an embrace.
"My dear Arthur, have you missed me?" She softly uttered them, her words resonating in his ears.
Instinctively, Arthur recoiled at the woman's approach; his response was born out of natural instinct, which left him perplexed by his own reaction.
Observing Arthur's inexplicable retreat, the woman paused briefly before teasingly remarking, "My dear, come here."
Her tone carried an air of playful allure.
Arthur let out a sigh and took a step forward, embracing the woman in his arms.
He was well aware of her formidable strength, and he had no intention of provoking her ire.
He understood that crossing her would be an act of foolishness, but Arthur was no fool himself.
Their embrace grew tighter, and their bodies pressed closely together.
The woman nestled her face into Arthur's chest, breathing in the familiar scent of his body.
"I'll never forget this scent for the rest of my life," the woman murmured, her words reaching Arthur's ears.
Arthur's gaze shifted towards the woman in his arms, his curiosity piqued by her enigmatic statement.
There was something undeniably familiar about her.
Once their embrace reached its contented conclusion, they gently released each other.
Although her face remained concealed within the radiant glow, for some reason, Arthur could discern a subtle smile adorning her lips.
"So, how did I end up in this place again?" Arthur inquired with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
In response, the woman gracefully lowered herself to the floor, patting the space next to her invitingly.
"Take a seat beside me, and I'll provide the answers you seek~," she purred in a flirtatious tone.
Without hesitation, Arthur moved towards her and settled down beside her.
As he glanced at the woman beside him, his voice softened, and he repeated his question.
"So, is my presence in this white room somehow connected to you?" He inquired.
The woman turned to face him, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she replied, "Indeed."
"It was I who orchestrated your arrival here."
Arthur's brows furrowed in response, sensing manipulation at play from the woman seated beside him.
Before he could voice his concerns, she continued speaking.
"By the way, this will be our final encounter, as there are still some things I must bestow upon you," she uttered casually, her hand extending towards Arthur's palm, seamlessly intertwining their fingers.
Arthur appeared oblivious to or unbothered by the gesture, offering no resistance as he allowed her to proceed.
Perplexed, he questioned, "What do you mean by giving me something?"
A sense of bewilderment enveloped Arthur as he grappled with the mysterious behavior of the woman before him.
It seemed that this woman had a persistent desire to assist him, yet Arthur couldn't shake the feeling of unfamiliarity towards her, having never encountered her before in his life.
Taking a deep breath, he regarded the woman with earnestness.
"I honestly have no knowledge of your identity."
"However, I am truly grateful for your aid in awakening my space core and safeguarding it from those who might exploit or harm me if they were aware of its existence," he expressed sincerely, devoid of any hint of insincerity.
Truly, everything he had achieved was indebted to the woman by his side.
Without her intervention, his fate might have taken a drastically different course.
As Arthur's sincere words reached her ears, the woman froze, her hand instinctively reaching out towards Arthur's face and gently caressing him in a tender gesture.
"Don't thank me, my dear," she whispered, her voice filled with an unusual tenderness that could send shivers down any man's spine.
Arthur nodded, comprehending the depth of her words, and gently clasped the woman's hand against his face.
"No, I am truly grateful to you, sincerely."
His voice held a tone of genuine appreciation as he asked, "How can I ever repay you?"
The woman pondered for a moment, a playful chuckle escaping her lips.
"Well, if you truly wish to repay me, how about softly whispering 'I love you' in my ear?" She teased, her words carrying a lighthearted jest.
To her surprise, Arthur leaned closer to her ear, his breath caressing her skin as he whispered, "I love you."
The woman froze, her astonishment momentarily paralyzing her.
Arthur, noticing her reaction, became concerned.
"Are you alright?" he asked, genuine worry evident in his voice.
Slowly regaining her composure, the woman looked up at Arthur.
"I'm fine; I'm simply overwhelmed with joy," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
"It feels as though all my efforts have finally paid off."
Upon hearing her words, Arthur couldn't shake off a sense of déjà vu, as if he had experienced a similar scene before.
"What is happening?" he wondered, furrowing his brow and gripping his head.
"Perhaps it's just an illusion," he reasoned, attributing the strange sensation to a mere hallucination.
Resolving to disregard it, he refocused on the matter at hand.
"By the way, what is it that you wish to bestow upon me?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
The woman's awareness returned; her gaze was fixed directly on Arthur, as if he were the sole focus of her attention.
Then she uttered words that caught Arthur completely off guard.
"What I wish to give you is what you once possessed, or rather, to return it to its rightful owner."