Chapter 15: Meditative State
Octavia's mind drifted, and she began thinking strange thoughts. Though she appeared to be a mature young woman, she was only 17 yers old. Despite her fear of Arthur, she couldn't respond to him directly. Yet contrary to her expectations, she heard no harsh rebuke. In fact, Arthur's expression was gentle and calm—very unlike his usual sinister coldness.
After a brief silence, she answered with fear in her voice,
"Your will is my command, my lord. I am yours already—to do with me as you please."
Sigh...
Octavia's answer was perfect—enough to please the heart of any tyrant. But Arthur had no desire to hear such nonsense. What he wanted was her genuine loyalty, born of her own will, not out of fear of punishment.
'Let's leave the formalities for later. If I guide her strictly, she could become an E-rank mage in two weeks—or even less if I resort to more extreme methods.'
With no time to waste, he gave a firm command:
"Come closer."
Octavia walked forward slowly and hesitantly, stopping in front of him. He could smell a faint, fragrant aroma of soap coming from her. His sharp gaze swept her from head to toe, noticing that she looked much cleaner than before.
'Looks like she's using the soap I gave her properly.
His mind went into overdrive, searching for the best training technique he knew. After a brief moment of thought, he asked the system: