The process of opening the body's circulatory points with mana was far harder than Tyler had ever imagined.
It wasn't just tiring,it was painfully slow too.
At first, he had foolishly believed it would take a day or two at most.
Surprisingly, twenty-seven long days had already passed, and he was still at it. The good news was that he could finally sense that he was nearing completion.
Of course, it wasn't without risks. There had been one time when Tyler almost got caught by one of the Magus.
"Something feels different!" said one of them.
It was the Magus leading today's chanting, standing in for Great Magus Gulepas.
"Yeah, this guy's body is giving out more blood than he did yesterday," another Magus replied, frowning. "It's like his body's become some kind of endless blood channel."
The leading Magus didn't know how to explain what she was sensing.
Tyler's condition was strange, unnatural even.
Others like him who were also used as blood donors, had their blood supply decreasing with each passing day. Their bodies were weakening fast, and getting blood out of them had become difficult.
But Tyler? He was the complete opposite.
His body produced blood in large amounts, no matter how often they cut him. His wounds closed quickly too, faster than normal.
"Don't you guys remember? He's the one with the Sage Physique!"
"Sage Physique?!"
The other Magus murmured among themselves, clearly surprised. Tyler had never heard them talk so much before.
"Sage Physique or not," said the leading Magus, "don't you feel that strange difference? Something about this guy's body isn't normal."
Still, without clear proof, she decided to drop it, thinking maybe she was just being paranoid.
Inside, Tyler cursed silently. Damn it. I can't afford to waste more time now.
The Magus were beginning to notice something. That meant his secret was at risk of being discovered. Time, which had once been on his side, was now slipping away quickly.
And what was that about a Sage Physique? He had no idea what it meant, nor did he care. What mattered now was survival.
If Great Magus Gulepas ever came in person, Tyler knew without a doubt that he'd be exposed. The man was sharp, too sharp to not see what was going on with Tyler's body.
On that same day, Tyler's maid came in as usual, carrying a basket of food. But this time, she had something new.
She entered the cell quietly and gave him her usual soft smile. Over time, they had grown close since the day they first spoke.
She was the only one who talked to him like he was human, the only friend he has here.
Every time she came, she fed him slowly, gently, as if trying to ease his suffering in the little way she could.
"Here," she said cheerfully after setting down the basket, "I'm sure you'll love this."
She slipped a hand into her clothes and pulled something out.
"What is it?" Tyler asked curiously.
The maid opened her palm. It was a ripe persimmon, fresh, bright, and beautiful.
Tyler's eyes widened. "A… persimmon?"
"Yes. Go on, try it," she said with a small smile.
Without hesitation, Tyler bit into it. The sweet juice filled his mouth instantly. His eyes closed in delight, it had been so long since he had tasted anything like this.
She was right. It was incredible. He wanted more. The sweetness, the texture, it was a moment of pure comfort in a place that offered none.
He almost asked her for another but stopped himself. Tyler knew how hard it must have been for her to sneak even this one fruit inside.
It was one of the many small kindnesses she'd shown him. Aside from the bland rice he usually got, she sometimes brought little treats, sweets, bread, even dried fruits. She risked punishment every time.
Tyler couldn't imagine what would happen to her if she got caught. He didn't even want to think about it.
To him, she was more than just a maid. She was the only person in this world who had shown him even the smallest bit of kindness.
She had gone out of her way to make his miserable existence a little more bearable.
And for that, there were not enough words of appreciation Tyler could say to express the value he placed on her.
"It's sweet, isn't it?" she asked with a gentle laugh.
He nodded. "Yeah… it's really good."
She smiled softly. "I bet you'd love to go out one day, pick as many of these as you want from the trees. Wouldn't that be nice?"
For a moment, Tyler stopped chewing. Her words hit him like a knife.
Is she trying to mess with me? he thought bitterly.
If she was, she didn't need to. He was already miserable enough without anyone reminding him of what he couldn't have.
Still, he forced a calm smile and said, "I guess anyone would want that."
He decided to play along. He didn't want to upset her, especially not someone who risked so much just to bring him a bit of comfort.
"We're on the same page then, aren't we?" she asked with a knowing smile.
He had no idea what she meant, but he nodded anyway. "Yeah, I guess we are."
She seemed pleased with that answer. Then, she put the basket down and walked behind him.
"Hey… what are you doing?" Tyler asked, confused.
The next moment, he felt her tugging at the chain attached to his wrists, the same thick metal chain that held him to the ceiling.
The sound of the chain rattling filled the room. Tyler winced as pain shot through his arms.
"Hey! Stop that! That hurts!" he said quickly.
"Hold still," she said in a firm but calm tone. "I'm trying to see if I can loosen it… so I can set you free."
"…What did you just say?"
Tyler froze. His eyes went wide.
Did he hear that right? She didn't just say she would set him free now, did she?!
Yeah, he definitely heard her wrong.