The infirmary was cold, dark, and ominous. Talismans of unknown origin were plastered on nearly every facet of the room.
The looming wires overhead, the bed on which I rested, even the floor, ceilings, and walls were all decorated in arcanic symbology and mysticism.
At my right sat the ever-mysterious Arda, Fourth Seat of the Divine Generals, hitting me with a mischievous grin.
"Wow oh wow~ You're vitals are far better than expected! Even with Mang fortification, healing of this level is not typical by any means. Being an automata must be awfully convenient."
"Yes. Indeed it is."
It was a question that could very well come off as demeaning or insensitive, but quite frankly, I took it as a compliment. To be acknowledged for who I was, as...different as my construction may seem, was a pleasant experience.
Adra manifested countless magic circles that I could hardly comprehend. From rough approximations, I could at least understand that she was reviewing some sort of data.
"Are those my diagnostics?"
"That's right. It gives me a broad description of your Mang, including factors such as vitality, color, density, and other statistics that I may deem mildly interesting."
With an inquisitive gaze, Adra zoomed in on a particular magic circle. "Ah, so that's what His Majesty was talking about."
"...?"
"It's true, your self-proclaimed Uniqueness is false. Well- maybe fall is the wrong term. Shallow would be the better term."
"All of this is way too confusing...just what exactly did he mean by shallow?"
Adra sighed with a tinge of irritation, as though she were forced to explain basic arithmetic to a grown man.
"Uniqueness, and Mang as a whole, is an energy system based on our desires. The stronger the innate desire, the more powerful the Uniqueness becomes. This isn't an issue of quantity. In fact, you have more Mang than most of the Divine Generals, perhaps on par with that freak Jiro. This is a matter of whether those ideals are merely inherited or organic. It's likely that, while you truly do wish to become the Immortal Sword Saint, it is coming from a place of obedience rather than self-actualization."
"I see...so the source of my desire is external?"
"Bingo~"
Adra's facial expression wheeled through a vast range of emotions throughout our conversation. Joy, annoyance, glee, inquisitive, seriousness, and flirtatiousness. Her true self remained obscured, hidden behind countless veils and identities.
I cannot understand this woman.
She continued on with her lecture. "Every one of the Divine Generals holds a Uniqueness that is deeply ingrained within our hearts. They've been shaped through a lifetime of experiences that comprise our ego."
Even with all the knowledge in the world, it won't mean anything within such a stagnant, pitiful world like this.
Once again, the words of my father gave me a newfound understanding. Simply having enough knowledge and technical skill was not enough to grow stronger. The Eternal Twilight was a comfortable, yet stagnant existence. For the past 1000 years of my existence, I have lived as but an infant in a vast, infinite world.
"So how exactly do I get stronger?"
Adra placed a pen on her life as she went deep into thought. "Well...there are a few methods. The first method involves refining your preexisting Uniqueness until it fully matures. The second method would be to scrap the old, shoddy Uniqueness entirely and forge your own path. From the king's perspective, it's likely that the second option is far better."
My face sunk in dejection at the thought of abandoning my Uniqueness. I didn't care about the power necessarily, but everything it represented.
1000 years of training had led me to this moment. I relied on my father's techniques to carry me through the grueling training of the Eternal Twilight, though deep down, I knew it would never be enough.
Could I really overcome 1000 years just like that?
"Hey, don't give me that sad look. I hate dealing with kids that don't know how to be painfully optimistic."
Yet again, another personality shift. Was this why Xerxes told me to not get involved with her?
"There's still a third option that combines the methods of both 1 and 2. To reinvent your uniqueness is the final method to gaining strength. It maintains your preexisting, while reintegrating it into your personal philosophy. Think of it more like evolution of the self rather than reinforcement or destruction."
"That...does not sound like a bad option."
I wished to cling onto these ideals, though flawed and fragile. Despite this wish, I knew that my Uniqueness as of now would not suffice in the coming warfare.
No matter what, I must grow stronger.
"Ah, on that topic, what's your Uniqueness?"
"In exchange for [Make me the fairest woman in the land], I must [seduce 100 men per day.]"
...She said that with such an earnest tone that I could barely tell that she was joking.
"Your jokes are awful."
"Hmph." She pouted like a child. "Fine, fine, it was a joke, but we can't just go around telling people our Uniqueness willy-nilly okay?"
"Why? I see no reason to hide such a thing."
"A Uniqueness is the closest you can get to one's soul - their true self. To know one's Uniqueness can give you a major advantage against them, for both a combat sense and a personal sense."
"I see, sorry to ask something so personal them."
Adra looked at a bit miffed before saying, "Well...I can't just leave ya hanging, especially since you're unofficially the Eight Seat now, so I'll leave you with something at least."
[A fragmentary passage that shall lead to no finale]
"That's my Cost. A Cost is basically the price you must pay in exchange for a gained Uniqueness, so you can often guess the power from there. They're incredibly restrictive, ya know?"
I looked at her, puzzled. "But your Cost is...quite obtuse to say the least. Without any context, it's impossible to guess."
Adra let out a mischievous grin. "I am famous for being rather obtuse, boy~"
Obtuse - that was the only way to describe her.
Inconvenient, irrational, strange, bizarre, peculiar, alien. Even such descriptors could hardly encapsulate Adra.
It was then that I realized that Adra was simply Adra. Her existence was constantly in flux. She encapsulates all and everything, yet nothing at all.
Perhaps that was the secret behind her cost, and by extension, her true Uniqueness.
After some more meager conversation, Adra stretched her back and yawned, closing the various magic circles surrounding my body. "Aaaaaah...you're free to go. I've gotten all the data I need, and your body should be fine for now. Just try not to push it too far next time, okay?"
"Got it. Thank you, Adra."
"No problem, Ereth. Oh, and just a reminder, you've got the initiation ceremony tomorrow, so don't do anything embarrassing like showing up late."
"Alright, Adra. I promise I won't be late."