Chapitre 407: Regression I
Waking up felt like clawing my way out of a deep pit. The air was too crisp, the light too bright. My body felt… strange. Not in the way it usually did after a tough fight, but smaller, weaker. My limbs felt alien, as though they belonged to someone else entirely.
I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft glow of the room. The walls were sleek, lined with intricate mana inscriptions that pulsed faintly, a blend of magic and technology. The Tower of Magic. I recognized it immediately, but something felt off.
I shifted, lifting a hand to my face—and froze. My fingers were slender, smaller than they should have been. My breath caught as I bolted upright, taking in the childlike limbs beneath the blankets. Panic surged in my chest.
"What… the hell?" My voice cracked. Higher. Lighter. A child's voice.
"Arthur!" Cecilia's voice cut through the fog in my mind, sharp with worry. She rushed to my side, her crimson eyes wide and brimming with concern. Rachel and Seraphina weren't far behind, both wearing expressions that ranged from relief to confusion.
"Arthur, don't panic," Rachel said softly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her gaze flickered over me like she was trying to piece together what she was seeing. "You're… different, but you're okay."
"Different?" I demanded, though my voice betrayed me with its childish pitch. "I'm a damn kid! What's going on?"
Before they could answer, a soft, melodic laugh filled the room. I turned sharply—well, as sharply as my new, clumsy body would allow—to see Charlotte leaning casually against the doorframe. Her emerald eyes sparkled with amusement as she pushed off the wall and strode toward me, every step oozing confidence.
"Arthur," she said, shaking her head. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Tower Master, what's happening to me?" I snapped, glaring up at her. The effect was, I assumed, far less intimidating given my current state.
Charlotte's smile softened as she pulled a chair closer and sat down beside me. "You tried to twist the space-time axis at mid Ascendant-rank, Arthur. That's what happened."
Her words hit like a hammer, the memories of the battle flooding back. The Paladin. God Flash: Singularity. The sheer force of the technique. My jaw tightened. "I didn't have a choice."
"No," she agreed, though her tone carried a hint of chastisement. "But you pushed yourself too far. Your body couldn't handle it. Twisting the axis at your level caused your physical form to regress by thirteen years."
"Regress?" I echoed, the word tasting bitter in my mouth.
Charlotte gestured at me, as though the answer was self-evident. "Your body has reverted to what it was when you were about five years old. Your soul will begin to regress as well to match your body, though you'll retain your memories." She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Don't worry—it's temporary. You'll return to normal in a few days."
I stared at her, my hands trembling as I clenched the blanket tighter. "And if I try it again?"
Her expression darkened, the amusement vanishing from her face. "You won't," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "Not unless you're at Immortal-rank. If you do… this time, it could kill you."
The room was silent, the weight of her words pressing down on all of us. My fists clenched tighter, frustration boiling in my chest. I hated being told what I couldn't do, but deep down, I knew she was right. I'd been reckless.
"Fine," I said finally, my voice quieter. "I won't use it again until I'm ready."
"Good." Charlotte's smile returned, though it was softer now, almost fond. "For now, focus on recovering. And enjoy your brief return to childhood. Who knows? Maybe it'll give you some perspective."
Cecilia let out a snort, though her eyes still glistened with unshed tears. "You're lucky she thinks this is funny," she said, brushing her hand across my hair. "Because I don't."
Rachel leaned closer, a teasing grin on her lips. "You look adorable, though. Like a tiny version of yourself."
I scowled at her, though the effect was undoubtedly ruined by my new features. "Stop."
Even Seraphina, usually stoic, allowed herself a faint smile. "It's… unsettling, but temporary," she said, her voice calm. "You'll be back to yourself soon enough."
Charlotte stood, brushing off her robes. "Try not to cause too much trouble while you recover, Arthur. And remember what I said—no more twisting space-time until you're strong enough."
She paused at the door, glancing back with a smirk. "Though I will admit, for someone at mid Ascendant-rank, what you did was… impressive. Reckless, but impressive."
With that, she left, leaving me alone with the girls. I leaned back against the pillows, exhaustion tugging at my mind despite the swirl of frustration in my chest.
"Well," I muttered, my voice carrying the faintest edge of resignation. "Looks like I'm stuck like this for a bit."
Cecilia, who hadn't left my side, rested her hand gently on mine. "You'll be fine, Arthur. You always are."
Rachel grinned, ruffling my hair. "At least we get to tease you for a few days."
I glared at her but didn't respond. For now, I needed to focus on recovery. Everything else could wait.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Cecilia stepped into Arthur's room, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. The moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived. Teasing Arthur was a joy she rarely denied herself, but now? Now, with him stuck in the body of an five-year-old? This was going to be something special.
She was already imagining his indignant expressions, his childish voice trying to bark out orders, his futile attempts to reclaim the authority he wielded so effortlessly as an adult. The anticipation bubbled in her chest, nearly making her giddy.
But as soon as she stepped inside, her amusement faltered. Her crimson eyes narrowed, locking onto the cozy scene playing out before her.
Rachel.
Arthur was perched comfortably between Rachel's legs, the latter leaning back against a plush cushion with an air of smug serenity. A soft glow emanated from the tablet in her hands as she read aloud, her voice lilting with exaggerated emotion. Arthur, his smaller frame making him look utterly defenseless, sat rapt with attention—or perhaps just too tired to protest.
The final straw? Rachel's radiant smile as she glanced down at him, her fingers occasionally smoothing his disheveled hair.
Cecilia's fingers twitched at her sides.
'I should've come sooner,' she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. She wasn't sure what rank jealousy fell into when it came to sins, but whatever it was, she was probably teetering on the edge.
Arthur fidgeted slightly, clearly caught between listening and sulking. It was adorable in a way Cecilia wasn't prepared to admit—not aloud, anyway. Her eyes flicked back to Rachel, whose serene expression had morphed into something mischievous.
Rachel's saintly demeanor cracked just slightly as she bit her lower lip, her thoughts clear as day.
'I want to tease him,' Rachel thought, barely restraining a giggle. 'Just a little fun. It's harmless, right? He's so cute like this!'
Rachel's hands darted forward without hesitation, pinching Arthur's cheeks gently but firmly. "Oh, you're just too precious!" she cooed, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained glee.
Arthur flinched, batting at her hands ineffectively. "No! Don't pull on my cheeks!" he protested, his words muffled as his tiny hands tried—and failed—to pry hers away.
"Oh, but I can't help it," Rachel replied with mock innocence, her tone dripping with faux regret. "Your cheeks are so squishy now! They're practically begging to be pulled."
"Stop it!" Arthur squeaked, his face reddening, though whether it was from indignation or embarrassment, even he probably couldn't tell.
Cecilia cleared her throat loudly, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe with an exaggerated air of nonchalance. "Having fun, are we?" she asked, her voice sugary sweet but carrying an undertone sharp enough to cut glass.
Rachel looked up, her mischievous grin fading into something more sheepish, though her hands didn't immediately retreat. "Oh, Cecilia! I didn't see you there."
"Clearly," Cecilia replied dryly, her crimson eyes narrowing further. She strode into the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor with deliberate precision. "I leave for one moment, and you've already turned him into your personal stress toy."
Rachel huffed, her saintly facade slipping back into place with practiced ease. "I'm simply keeping him entertained. It's not every day you get to see Arthur this… adorable."
Arthur, meanwhile, looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. His ears were pink, his cheeks still puffed from Rachel's assault. "Can both of you stop talking about me like I'm not here?"
Cecilia tilted her head, her smirk returning with full force. "But you're so small now, Arthur. It's hard to take you seriously."
"Cecilia!" he groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is temporary, okay? Temporary!"
"Oh, we know," Cecilia said, her tone far too agreeable. She crouched beside him, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "But while it lasts, you might as well enjoy the perks of being this cute."
"I am not cute!" Arthur snapped, his childish voice doing absolutely nothing to support his argument.
Rachel chuckled, clearly enjoying his predicament. "Of course not," she said, her tone patronizing enough to rival Cecilia's. "You're very scary, little Arthur. Terrifying, really."
Arthur glared at her, his pout only deepening.
Cecilia, sensing an opening, plopped down on the other side of him, boxing him in. "Don't pout, Arthur. It's unbecoming of someone as mighty as you."
Arthur groaned again, his head flopping back against Rachel's leg in defeat. "I can't win with you two, can I?"
"Nope," they chimed in unison, their laughter filling the room.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone