"We are here to help and to learn" [Princess Siti]
"Princess Siti! Teacher Tiara!" [Diana]
"It looks like Master has already told everyone about this" [Tiara]
"You are right. This is just us further discussing what to do and what not to do. Even some minor adjustments here and there" [Merlin]
"Depending on what we can do, we can make it even better."
"Better than Empire's moving castle. It will be hard, but hell, nobody here is a snob" [Brokkr].
"But the deadline?"
"We're the best of the best! You want us to do something shameful?" [Brokkr]
"I'm sure it will be hard. Very hard indeed, but if you can do it, no, if anyone can do it, it's all of you" [Merlin].
"Of course, we will be here to help you as well" [Sas].
"Just say the word and I will help for sure!" [Diana]
"Tchh. Damn it. I can't believe I just chickened out. All right! Do something that puts the Empire to shame!"
"That's more like it. Let us make something that even Rhineheart will crawl to and beg us to work for him" [Brokkr].
"Knowing you, he already has, hasn't he?" [Nar]
"Mind your business, hero!" [Brokkr]
"Yeah! Mind your own business brother Nar" [Diana]
"True. Mind your own business" [Sas]
"I can take it from Master Brokkr and Sas, but come here, you!" [Nar]
"Tyranny! Tyranny!" [Diana]
Retreat! Retreat! Hide behind Princess Siti and Teacher Tiara! Don't let Nar pinch my cheek! It will surely hurt, especially when he is so angry!
While the researcher, the carpenter, the blacksmith, the engineer and others have their own conversations, Master Merlin begins to explain what we have to do. While the plank we painstakingly made from the branches of the Hanging Treant will help a lot, the first phase is of the utmost importance.
"If we fail to make the coffin and the Werehouse having a mutualism kind of relationship, we can kiss this project goodbye" [Merlin].
"In other words, our contribution is just as important" [Diana].
"Correct. Don't worry, I'm here to guide you all" [Merlin].
What Master Merlin wanted to do was to connect the two souls... It feels forbidden, and knowing Master Merlin, I'm sure it is! Well, we are witches who manipulate souls, so...
"But just connecting the two souls doesn't mean the bodies are compatible" [Princess Siti].
"Coffin Turtle and Werehouse have different habitats, different foods, and most obviously, different species. In order to change that, we need to change their biological function as well. This is something that Gastrium and Empire have done. Will we follow in their footsteps?" [Tiara]
"If you two put it that way, I feel like we are on the same level as them." [Diana]
"Hush now, my apprentices! Let me explain" [Merlin]
While what the two of them said is indeed nothing but the truth, Master Merlin also mentioned that she specifically wanted the detached part of the coffin turtle because if we don't do anything, it will just die naturally. As for the Werehouse, it is technically just a Werehouse that houses the coffin. That's their justification. As for the biological changes
"I have no way to argue that, so I can only say sorry if you feel uncomfortable" [Merlin].
"Well... Not really" [Tiara]
"What we do is similar, but we do it with ethics in mind" [Princess Siti].
"True. Unlike the Chimera and others, at least we didn't force it on them" [Tiara]
"This really feels better" [Diana].
"This is the ethics of experimentation. A higher subject if you want to continue your study" [Tiara].
"Feel like it will just be a headache, but... I'm sure it will be useful in the future" [Diana].
First we talk to the coffin and Werehouse. We explain to them what we are going to do. Well, we have explained it to them before, so this is just us saying the same thing again. Nervous as they are, they both agree again.
"I'm sure I don't have to ask, but all three of you can sense their souls, right?" [Merlin]
"Right" [Tiara]
"Absolutely" [Princess Siti].
"Sure" [Diana]
"Good. Now let me guide you" [Merlin]
Put them into a deep sleep so they won't feel any pain. Make sure they're really asleep. Fairy Queen Titania, help me. I don't want them to feel any pain or discomfort.
Dissect their souls. See to it that their essence is carefully separated from their soul. Once that is done, make sure that we connect the two, both physically and spiritually.
(Now) [Nar]
(This coffin is indeed heavy.) [Sas]
(Careful. Don't interrupt the witches) [Brokkr]
The others carefully place the coffin next to the mana core. After Master Merlin nods, they carefully place the Werehouse Mana Core inside the coffin. Once they did that, we intertwined the two souls together. Not as a whole, just the essence of being for both of them, and even that, just a part of it. So they're like two souls sharing one whole body spiritually. Physically, we left it to each other. With the materials we collected and the ones Master Merlin provided, they slowly but surely replaced the coffin with the necessary materials. They also made an extension so that the coffin is physically connected to Werehouse. I am needed to connect the "blood vessels" of Werehouse to the coffin.
The process takes hours and hours. Literally one mistake and the two will die. None of us wanted this to fail. There's no small talk among us. Just instruction upon instruction followed by affirmation and confirmation. Slowly but surely, as the souls connect and their bodies connect, like a spider's legs connecting to its body, we all breathe a sigh of relief.
"For now, let us all rest" [Merlin].
"These two say they're in pain. I'll be with them and cast Flora Healing" [Diana].
"I'll get Elegast and Farhana to help. I'm sure they know the spell too" [Nar].
"Thank you" [Diana]
I feel mentally exhausted. I can cast the spell, but I wanted to rest as well. It's tiring. My arm hurts. My mind is foggy. I feel like going to bed early tonight and skipping school tomorrow morning. It shows in my face, which is why Nar quickly searches for the two of them. It didn't take long, especially with the magic motion orb, contacting them is a breeze and they gladly take my place and continue with the magic. It calmed my heart to see Werehouse and the coffin in good shape.
"I will sleep in Werehouse today. That way, I can cast a healing spell on it if needed" [Diana].
"Agreed. Just skip school tomorrow. I'll write the formal letter" [Sas].
"Right. You should also get some rest" [Nar]
"I'll allow it. I also want to go to my hut early today. I'm sure my apprentice can take care of it" [Merlin]
Yaaa! I get to skip school tomorrow! I'm so happy! Well, my concern is for Werehouse, that's true, but skipping school is just an added bonus.
"Hmm..." [Princess Siti]
"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" [Elegast]
"Theoretically... It's possible... Yes. Yes, it is" [Princess Siti].
"Something on your mind Siti?" [Merlin]
"I may have been joking before, but I am seriously considering joining my soul with my country , with the land of Emas itself, just like Her Highness Ophelia did with Amleth, and then... to create a moving city myself. No, a moving country, that way my citizens can be safely evacuated when the Devil King rises" [Princess Siti].
"WHAT!?"
"Your Highness!?"
"Are you serious?" [Farhana]
That statement made us dropped our jaws to the ground. Princess Siti isn't joking. We can all see that she has really made up her mind.
"Let's just think about it tomorrow. Sleep first" [Merlin].
"Master... Right!" [Princess Siti]
"Master Merlin!" [Tiara]
"Sleep first, discuss tomorrow" [Merlin]