Arthur's gaze lingered on the air in front of him. He didn't know whether to think of this as bad or good timing, but he had been waiting for the Archive to finish writing for a while now. Gunnhildr kept talking about the rarity of Phantom Sharks, which while it was a topic Arthur was curious about, wasn't important at all at the moment.

  ‘Give me a summary.’

  He could hear the mechanical clicking in his ears, prompting a response from the Archive. He just needed the short version for now, he would read the extended text back at the dorms, hoping that other guy wouldn't bother him.

  [Summarizing the required information any further would take more time. Does Arthur Luria agree to it?]

  He clicked his tongue, he should have expected that response. He could have waited some more time to read the summarized version, but by that time it was ready, he most likely would have already returned to the dormitories.

  And he didn't want to just ignore Gunnhildr and read the extended version in her company, that was rude. At that point, he might as well just wait to leave the workshop.

  [Asking someone else for an explanation might be a preferable course of action. Refer to the ‘Ark Downpour Syndrome’.]

  Arthur's eyes widened. This was new, the Archive telling him to ask someone else for information, instead of showing it to him itself. Though, he quickly understood why it said that.

  ‘Whatever that syndrome is, it has to do with my condition!’

  His body was too tired for the Archive to work quickly, but if it only provided the key pieces of information, he could get the rest by asking someone knowledgeable about it. Luckily, in front of him was someone that seemed quite knowledgeable.

  He had no idea what that syndrome was, but with any luck, Gunnhildr would. As if reading his thoughts, she tilted her head and tapped Arthur on the shoulder.

  “Are you alright? You seem kind of distracted.”

  “Ah, sorry, yes.”

  He smiled at her and nodded his head. He didn't listen to all she had been saying up to that point, but she didn't seem to be too offended by it. She moved towards the workbench, grabbing a few items while muttering something to herself.

  “By the way, can I ask you something?”

  He spoke out, holding his hands interlocked behind his back. She turned her head towards him.

  “What’s up?”

  “Do you know anything about Ark Downpour Syndrome?”

  She froze. Arthur grinned, she seemed and was a smart person, surely she would know something about it. If that syndrome was connected to his current condition, or something he had contracted from the damage to his Ley Lines, knowing how to fix it would be a huge achievement.

  Guessing from the name alone, it definitely had something to do with the way his reserves of Ark were completely drained after a single usage of a Gemstone appliance.

  “That's a weird question.”

  Arthur's smile faltered following her response. She squinted her eyes slightly, as if there was something wrong with what he had asked. Arthur swallowed quietly. Could she suffer from that syndrome, and he had accidentally struck a nerve?

  “Ah, you see, I've been told I suffer from it, but I don't really understand… What it means.”

  He swallowed once more, and hoped she would buy the excuse. He smiled inwardly, he truly did a fine job lying about being an amnesiac. He let out a quiet breath of relief as he saw Gunnhildr's features soften, believing him.

  She crossed her arms and nodded a few times at his words, before chuckling to herself.

  “Amnesia, I forgot. Heh, pun not intended.”

  She turned back towards the workbench, looking for something while speaking.

  “Ark Downpour Syndrome… It's nasty, but it's nothing too troubling. Did they give you any medicine for it? Any prescription?”

  Arthur leaned towards the workbench, curious as to what she was doing. He stopped for a moment, thinking whether the nurses had told him anything. However, the only medicine he was taking was the one fixing his Ley Lines.

  “Not that I can think of.”

  “I see. Well, let's start with the basics… Oh, there it is.”

  From the fairly chaotic workbench, she managed to pull out some sort of Gemstone appliance. It looked like a lightbulb, like the ones he was used to, with a Gemstone directly below it. He could see pieces of wiring inside.

  Gunnhildr placed the small item on the workbench, and tapped on it to draw his attention. She cleared her throat, before explaining.

  “You want to know about that syndrome, right? It's very easy to explain, actually. As far as I know, there are multiple reasons for someone to contract Ark Downpour, and the effects vary slightly from case to case, but the main symptom is the same for everybody. Here, take this, real quick…”

  She grabbed his hand, gesturing at him to open his palm. As he did, she placed the lightbulb into his hand.

  A searing pain spread through his palm, and he felt his body falling downwards. Gunnhildr quickly extended her arms, holding him up, and casting away the now shattered lightbulb. His palms were scorched.

  “That's… Hm. Sorry, your case is more severe than I thought. Here, sit down.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Arthur took in quick, deep breaths, and sat down on a stool with her help. Once again, his body was drained of energy. That dreadful chill had spread throughout his entire body, bringing along vertigo and dizziness.

  He lifted his wrist, trying to summon the Archive, but as he suspected, it only weakly manifested for a few moments. The window flickered, before disappearing into thin air.

  “So this… Is Ark Downpour Syndrome…?”

  He let out words with difficulty, wincing in pain. He felt like he understood what that syndrome entailed, somewhat. His Ark was being forcibly pulled out of his body, regardless of his control over it.

  He was slightly confused as to why it had happened again, since he hadn't tried to use his Ark to activate that Gemstone. But she would probably explain that, so he didn't bother asking.

  “Hmhm. Ark Downpour Syndrome, also known as Leaking Barrel Syndrome colloquially. Whenever someone affected tries to use their Ark, no matter how refined their control over it is, or how little they want to use, the entirety of their reserves are forcibly drawn out. It can severely damage Ley Lines or one's Core in the long run, and there's no easy method to fix it.”

  Gunnhildr once again pulled on Arthur's hand, examining his palm. She closed one eye to focus her sight better, tracing lines with her finger.

  “I see, I see. Your's comes from having damaged Ley Lines. They've been healing finely for the most part, but if you continue using Ark while ignoring the syndrome, it might become permanent.”

  He looked down at his palm. The scorch marks left by the Gemstone were thin, long and dark, spreading through his palm and down his arm. He squinted, and noticed they overlapped almost perfectly with his Ley Lines.

  “That's… An interesting tool.”

  After properly catching his breath, he nodded towards the shattered lightbulb. Gunnhildr raised her eyebrows, surprised that he understood its purpose.

  “It's really useful, too. Shame it breaks after a single use. Look at your fingertips, you see how badly they got burnt? That means your Ley Lines are especially damaged there. Ark is probably leaking out of them nonstop, and it will only get worse if you don't treat it.”

  That Gemstone tool was able to ‘burn’ one's Ley Lines into their skin somehow, allowing anyone to spot any irregularities. That was his guess as to how it worked.

  He focused his attention on the tips of his fingers, and glanced at them. That chilling sensation was most noticeable on them, although he hadn't noticed it before.

  He clicked his tongue.

  “If I keep trying to use Ark, it will only get worse…”

  If his syndrome was a result of the damage to his Ley Lines, healing them should be enough to treat it, too. However, he had already consumed a number of the pills.

  “At this rate, I won't be able to use any magic…”

  He frowned, glaring at the floor. If that syndrome persisted, he wouldn't be able to properly utilize Ark. That would mean Sol would give up on him, and if he were to be cast back into prison, he would have no chance at living a new life.

  “Not really, though. Here, catch.”

  His head jolted towards her, his reaction time just quick enough for an item to land in his hands. It was a holster of sorts, like the one she used for the Tyrfingr she had shown him earlier. Judging from the weight, there was something inside.

  Arthur opened it, undoing the button which held it close, and pulled out the item. It was a small dagger, larger than any pocket or kitchen knife, but shorter than an actual sword. He could see glowing circuits on its surface, as well as a bundle of lines in the hilt.

  “That's one of my personal Tyrfingrs. Hold onto it. Now, once you're all good and rested-”

  She stopped for a second, looking at him. His eyes were focused on the tip of the blade. With one finger, she pushed the weapon downwards.

  “Not right now, unless you want to blow up your Ley Lines, or something like that. When you're rested, just try and charge it. It's not much, but you should be able to use some Primary-Type magic with it, at least.”

  Arthur stared in awe at the weapon, before slipping it back into its sheath.

  “But… Is it fine, giving me this?”

  She laughed, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, the air between them became much more tense. Her eyes were trained on him.

  “I'm lending this to you. If this has so much as a chip on its blade when you give it back, I'll work you to the bones in here.”

  He gulped.

  “Y-Yes Ma'am.”

  She let go of him with another laughter, before pulling out a second stool from under the table and sitting on it. After a few moments, she dropped her head low and let out a sigh.

  “Honestly, if it weren't for the mess going, I'd get you a Tyrfingr made. Even a Remembrance Stone would be fine.”

  Arthur tilted his head, his interest piqued. He was curious about the unfamiliar term, probably some sort of Gemstone, but more than that he was interested in what mess she was referring to, exactly.

  She understood that he wanted to know more, even without asking any questions out loud, and raised her gaze towards him.

  “We've been having some problems with the supply lines. Right now, Tyrfingr production is being limited to military usage only… You better thank me properly for that dagger.”

  Arthur stroked his chin.

  “I'm guessing the Empire is at war?”

  Gunnhildr shook her head while nodding, a gesture between a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’. He clicked his tongue, his guess was off.

  “There’s been some battles here and there, but nothing too serious. Made deliveries from and to the mainland really annoying, though.”

  She clicked her tongue, and placed her chin on the back of her own hand. Arthur had a good grasp of the situation, even if she explained little. Another kingdom or empire was attacking Teiws, cutting off their supply lines to minimize the spread of Tyrfingrs.

  Limiting their biggest weapon was a good idea, and it was seeming to be working, seeing how annoyed Gunnhildr was by the situation. He raised his gaze to look at her, he was still curious about something.

  “And what about Remembrance Stones?”

  He didn't know what those were. She raised a brow, and after a few moments of silence, pointed to the sheathed dagger in his hands.

  “Confidential information… Or at least, the full description would be. They're specific Gemstones that can store extremely high amounts of Ark to release at a later point, and what allows Tyrfingrs like that dagger to work as they do.”

  She looked smug about it, causing Arthur to let out a chuckle.

  “I see. I guess, there's no chance you'd tell me how they're made, then.”

  He was interested in how exactly they worked, and more than that, whether he could make use of one to utilize Ark properly, following the same basis as that dagger. But as expected, Gunnhildr shook her head.

  Even if he was part of the special team, the Moirai, and was getting friendly with Gunnhildr, she wouldn't just tell him classified information. He glanced at the sheath, and squinted his eyes. The bundle of circuits glowed dimly, inside the dagger's hilt.

  ‘Maybe I can figure it out myself… Or even better…’

  He raised his gaze.

  “I’m just putting this out there, but… The only thing keeping you from making any more Tyrfingrs like this one is the lack of materials, correct?”

  Gunnhildr raised an eyebrow.

  “In short, yes…?”

  Arthur leaned forward, with a grin on his face, and his hands interlocked under his chin.

  “So, if I got my hands on the needed materials, the problem would be gone.”

  Her eyes widened for a second. She threw her head back and laughed, finding his implied proposal funny, for whatever reason. Arthur stayed still, awkwardly.

  “Nice try, but I can't just tell you how to make a Remembrance Stone. Still, just as a prize for effort…”

  She leaned towards Arthur, moving close to his ear, and cupping a hand in front of her mouth.

  “I can tell you this, one of the ingredients is Bombardier Ants. If you actually manage to figure out the rest, I'll personally make you a brand new Tyrfingr.”

  Arthur smiled. Now, he had something else to look forward to. That evening, after heading back to the dormitories, he inspected every nook and cranny of the Tyrfingr to find any clues about the Remembrance Stone's makeup, before passing out in his bed from the tiredness.