40. Desperate Measures

Arganan woke up the next day. The first thing he did was write a letter.

Dear Calista,

I'm mostly healed at this point, though I thank you for your concern. Zael arrived yesterday, and handed your letter to me.

I will not beat around the bush: I know that you want to take me back to Lazulis. However, I must decline this opportunity. Though it leaves me in further danger, you should consider the following:

Firstly, I have no political power. If Ethelberd captures me at any point in time and tries to use me as a hostage, given that I am your uncle and Zael's uncle-in-law, I'm not worth saving. If you try to do that, you will start a four-way war. Given your peace treaty with the Gurak, you'll simply end up pulling more innocent people into the mess that lies mainly between Selphia and the Sechs, and that will not end well for anyone. When you add the point that Lazulis and the Gurak are both still economically recovering from their previous war with each other, which happened most recently before I came to Selphia in the first place, we both know it would be reckless to try rescuing me.

Secondly, I can see that my behaviour towards you reflects how you now act towards me. I'm aware of the techniques of worry for one's safety as justification for controlling them. It is my fault that you act this way, and I know apologies are not enough. Should I survive all that happens between Selphia and the Sechs, I will do anything and everything I can to remedy what has soured between us.

However: I do plan on helping Princess Frey in any way I can. Not just because I want a bloody war to end as fast as possible, though that is a major factor, but also because she is my friend. I have grown to love her as a friend, as well as Selphia as a whole. In a way, Frey reminds me very much of you. She has a determined heart, and never gives up on helping those close to her. Though she is still amnesiac and does not know who she is, she is a fine person. A good-hearted person, and has the makings of a wise ruler, given her current reign as Princess of Selphia so far. It would be a shame to see her perish in this war against the Sechs, and I have no intention of letting her die now, even at the cost of my life.

I hope to exchange more letters with you, Calista, or perhaps see you again in person, but only time will tell. Just focus on helping Selphia end the war, even if the cost of it might be me. That is all I ask of you.

Sincerely, Your Uncle

After he wrote the letter, he sealed it in an envelope. At breakfast, he asked Dolce to send it for him.

"A letter for your niece?" Dolce asked, looking up at him. "And you want me to send it?"

"If you're not too busy, I hope. I'd do it myself, but I need to go see Frey." He managed. "I should help her against the Sechs."

"Frey?" Dr. Jones looked up from sipping his cup of coffee. "She, Arthur, Zael and Therius all left for the Sechs Empire late last night."

"What?" The former Count's good eye widened at that. "Already? They just…left?" Without me? "Why?"

"She told me to relay the news to you. She and Zael agreed that it would be risky to send you out there along with them."

"I wanted to help." The former Count leaned against the back of his chair, shaking his head. He resisted the urge to clench his jaw. "So Selphia won't lose her."

"She's survived before." Dolce managed, frowning softly. From the corner of Arganan's eye, he noticed Nancy and Jones moving to clear and wash the dishes. Pico hovered around Dolce's shoulder as usual, finishing the last of her breakfast as she listened in, but Dolce paid her no attention. Arganan figured that the former marionette was more than used to Pico by now, given how long they were together as is. "I'm sure she'll survive again. Right?"

The former Count shook his head, recalling when Frey went on her own to save Leon from within the Forest of Beginnings. "Last time Frey went on her own, she might not have ever come back if Venti didn't save her, post-reecovery. Who knows how she'll fare against the Sechs? I don't have any doubt of Arthur, Sir Therius and Zael's abilities, but Frey is still relatively new to being an Earthmate…"

"Just like how you're new to your own powers?" Dolce noted.

Arganan frowned, sighing as he looked her in the eye. "I've had a handle on it for about a year now."

"Same with Frey. You both came to Selphia at around the same time." She sipped her tea, averting her gaze from him briefly before looking him in the eye in return. "Shouldn't you have more faith in her abilities?"

"I do have faith in her abilities." He stressed. "So why can't she just have the same faith in me and bring me along, too? I could have helped, Dolce."

"You could have." She concluded. "But I think she's taking your own safety into consideration – something that you yourself neglects often."

He frowned. "Is this because of the airship incident? Or do you think Zael or Therius might've persuaded her to not bring me along?"

"Probably both those factors." She finished the last of her tea, before getting up from her chair. "Besides, I'm sure Illuminata and Amber would like to have your help at the florist shop, packing up things in case the Sechs directly attack the town, anytime."

Arganan wasn't sure how much he could argue more about this. He still felt upset that Frey left him behind, but Dolce had some good points. Zael was more experienced than him in using the Outsider's power, anyway. Frey would manage without him, Arganan supposed.

All he had to do was wait, like last time. Wait and hope that they get back safely.

It would work out, right?

Before he could move to do anything else, however, Dylas and Doug both dashed upstairs and into the kitchen area. Both of them looked mildly concerned, and Arganan noticed that they were panting, likely from running all the way here.

"Dylas? Doug?" Nancy turned to face them as she finished washing the dishes. "Good morning…is everything okay?"

"Hey. Morning." Dylas cleared his throat a little, before looking towards Arganan. "Sorry to interrupt, but…you illegally drove an airship before, right? Any chance you can get a license in five minutes from now?"

"What?" Arganan stared back at the two. "Why?"

"We need someone to drive." Doug offered Arganan a sheepish grin. "and, honestly, neither of us could pass the test. We have an idea of how we can help Frey against Ethelberd, but we need an airship to get there. No offense, but we'd rather not have a massive debt to pay afterwards for driving one illegally like you did."

Arganan did his best to not audibly groan. "You do know that I'm still paying off my current debt, right? If I die, Calista will be forced to pay for the remainder. I'd rather not make things worse."

"Don't you need Princess Points to get one, though?" Dolce frowned. "Or some sort of way to pay for the test?"

Doug shook his head. "That's the thing: Arganan probably can take the test as is. I was thinking of how you came here as a former noble, and…maybe you might have points?"

Me? Have the same type of points like Frey does? "And why do you assume this?" the former Count asked.

"Because you've been doing a lot of good and helping out Frey and all of Selphia for the whole past year." Dylas pointed out, looking him in the eye. "You've been helping out Frey since the first few days you came here, right? And you might not be a noble, anymore, but you're still related to one. Princess Points are only calculated by how much good you do for people in general, like fulfilling requests and stuff like that. It only makes sense if you have Princess points, or former Count points, or whatever points you have now."

"Well…" Arganan paused, thinking. Could that be true? Could he possibly have points of his own that he accumulated, without realizing it? He was already a former noble when he first arrived, but he was still related to one, and he had helped out quite a bit in Selphia regarding larger matters (like the Rune Spheres, back when Venti was first sick for example) so far. But could that actually be possible with someone like him?

Then again, there were many things he thought were impossible. Having the Outsider's power, the chances to reconcile with his niece, and playing an active role in helping Frey and Selphia as a whole.

"Maybe…that's something we should investigate." He managed, finally looking both men in the eyes. "Where do we start?"