Bringing into consideration the feeling Arthur had experienced in Empress Raka's embrace, it was truly the best feeling he had ever known. He wished he could have lingered in that hug a little longer. Walking out that night, he carried a strange sense of renewed strength. He felt lighter, as though a burden he had dragged for years had quietly been lifted from his chest.Taking the prison passageway route again, Arthur immediately began cursing himself for choosing that particular path. Unfortunately, it remained the quickest way to the upper deck. He had no interest in food anymore. Empress Raka's generous meal had left him comfortably filled, and for once, his stomach had no reason to complain.What surprised him even more was that the vessel's Empress had never asked about The Manifestations spellbook. She had simply comforted him in that warm embrace, assured him with gentle words, and then asked if he wished to leave.Arthur assumed the Empress merely wanted some quiet afterwards

The poor woman let out a deafening scream before hurrying out. And that's when Arthur realized he had touched water. He wiped himself clean and re-cast the spell. But it wouldn't work. He was a little too late from gathering the scales from the stubborn fishes.He skulked beneath a table in the hope that he would escape whatever was coming. And luckily, there was a rectangular hole leading out of the hall through the wall. It was difficult, having to extricate himself to the other side, but he did it anyway.His shoulders scraped against the narrow edges as he forced himself through, and for a moment, Arthur wondered if the woman would return with the guards before he could get himself out. He held his breath until his body finally slipped through the opening.Outside, dawn was already close by, and that meant the guards were back at their posts. There was this freezing dread Arthur felt; he feared whether Asuka could still be alive.Without waiting, he took the way to the upper deck.