“Hey! Stop making a fuss this early in the morning!” a guard shouted, approaching my cell.

I hurried to the door, stark naked.

“What the—get some clothes on, will you?” the guard said, averting his eyes.

“Listen, there's something seriously wrong with my body. Can you get a doctor or a healer?” I pleaded.

The guard glanced at me, his eyes widening as he finally noticed my condition. “Oh, alright! Just settle down.”

With that, the guard hurried away.

I took a deep breath and dressed quickly. This was a really tricky situation I was dealing with.

Is this some kind of skin disease? I have no clue. I haven’t heard or read about such a condition before. Hopefully, I can get this resolved.

Just then, I heard snickering from one of my fellow inmates in the adjacent cell. I glanced over at him.

He was a slender, tall man with blonde hair, likely a noble from some region of the kingdom.

He was smiling slyly as he looked at me.

"What is it? What are you finding so amusing?" I asked.

His smile widened, "You’ll find out soon enough."

An ominous vibe began to spread, hinting at something troubling. I had a bad feeling for some reason.

I waited for the guard to return with the healer, but there was no sign of him. Time ticked by, and it was already 10:30 AM with still no sign of any guards. Usually, two guards would come to take me to the blessing ritual at 9 AM, and they had never missed it even once. This felt quite odd.

Was the blessing ritual canceled for today?

After waiting a few more hours, it was already noon. Finally, I heard footsteps approaching.

I quickly rushed to the fence, hoping to see the guards. Instead, I saw a short little man walking arrogantly, holding a staff and wearing a crooked hat. He had a big smile on his face. It seemed he was heading to my cell.

Behind the man were four people dressed in familiar white robes, following him. Out of four, three were my personal tutor sent by Celestia’s Mercy and the last man was the old priest from the courtyard.

The shorty with the staff was a new face.

Is that the healer?

Finally, the group came to a halt in front of my cell.

“Thank you for coming down here to see me,” I began, turning my attention to the short man. “You must be the healer. Look at this, something is wrong with my skin! I woke up this morning and found my body like this. I tried peeling it off, but it seems like it's part of my body. Could you please check—”

Suddenly, the short man raised his hand, signaling me to stop. “Calm down, kiddo. I know exactly what's happening.”

I was taken aback. This guy must be a highly skilled healer to diagnose me with just a glance.

“Okay. Thank you, doctor. Please do something about this. As for payment, I’ll work hard to pay you back once I get out.”

Suddenly, the short man looked surprised and burst out laughing. “Hahaha! This guy is funny, isn’t he? By the way, you are not going anywhere.”

My brows furrowed. “Excuse me? What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said,” he responded.

A guard quickly brought a chair and placed it in front of my cell. The short man sat down arrogantly, using his staff for support.

A closer look confirmed he was a noble. The way the guards, the priest, and my teachers behaved around him indicated he was of high status. The staff he held suggested he was a mage, not a healer.

“Ah! Where are my manners? I never got a chance to introduce myself. I am Ferdinand Arlington, the warden of this citadel. Yes, the very same pervert warden who can peek in your arsehole if he wants,” he said with an innocent smile.

Sweat trickled down my brow. “Oh, so you overheard that little talk, did you? Don’t worry, I don’t believe the rumors of nobodies.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Ferdinand waved his hand nonchalantly. “Yeah, yeah! It’s all water under the bridge. I’m not angry anymore. After all, why should I be angry with someone who will soon become a martyr for the well-being of this kingdom?”

“Oi! Oi! What’s the meaning of this? Are you plotting to kill me? Is that why this is happening to me?” I asked.

“Now, why would I do such a horrendous thing to the Apostle of Mother Grimshaw?” he said in a mock-surprised tone. “No, this new transformation is actually what Mother Grimshaw wills herself.”

He was using my tricks on me.

It all sounded like a big sarcasm and bad acting.

He continued, “After all, people with the Special Eternal Dendrite Body constitution have an average lifespan of 18 years, leaving a heavenly treasure trove for their ailing people. Don’t worry, the kingdom shall make good use of your remains after you depart.”

My brain froze for a second. “Hold on a minute! What the fuck are you even talking about? Special Eternal? Heavenly treasure? I think you skipped a few pieces of critical information, please elaborate.”

“Now, don’t you worry, everything will be explained by your teachers here. Anyway, I came to inform you that our contract will be void since you were not able to complete 3,000 blessing sessions as promised,” said the shorty, taking out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

That was the written contract that promised my freedom after 3,000 blessing rituals.

“Hey! I’m so close now! I can still do it!” I protested.

“No! You can’t make a public appearance in this gruesome transformation. It’s specifically mentioned in our contract, clause 1.7, that the apostle should be presentable during all your blessing ritual sessions in front of your audience. If he cannot be presentable in front of his audience, then the contract can be terminated. See, right here,” said the shorty, pointing at something.

“What the hell are you talking about? Why don’t you just fix this problem, and I will deliver the remaining 456 rituals? That way we both kill two birds with one stone,” I responded.

The shorty suddenly stood up from his seat.

"Listen, kiddo, there's nothing we can do here," he said as he tore apart our contract. "You were just unlucky this time. Anyway, this transformation cannot be stopped now; only death awaits you. But don't you worry, your remains will be taken care of. I will even donate a bench to the central garden with your name inscribed on it for your contributions to the kingdom."

With those words, he walked away. The old priest followed the warden, smiling at me with an evil grin.

The only people who remained were my three teachers: Miss Rita, Miss Fenicia, and Madam Gate. They had taught me plant magic and healing arts, the theory of mana, and human anatomy and medical science, respectively.

They all looked at me with pity and guilt.

"So now would be a good time if I could get some explanation," I said firmly.

"Rita, you should tell him everything," Madam Gate spoke suddenly. "Fenicia and I will start making preparations for the harvest."

Miss Rita nodded. "Yes, please notify the grandmaster about this as well."

With that, my other two teachers left, leaving only Miss Rita behind.

Miss Rita took a seat in the empty chair, her expression stern.

"Benjamin, do you understand why you were selected as an exemplary candidate?" she asked.

I furrowed my brows. "Because I showed exceptional control over mana?"

"All candidates from wealthy backgrounds can achieve that within a few weeks. That's not why you were chosen. Do you really not know?" Her tone was serious.

I paused, realizing she wasn't joking. "Okay, tell me then. Why was I chosen?"

"You were selected because you possess the Special Eternal Dendrite Body constitution," she explained calmly. "Individuals with this condition appear once every hundred years. They typically live only 18 to 19 years before their body undergoes a transformation into what we call the Eternal Divine Tree Sapling. This transformation, as you're experiencing now, is highly sought after by the kingdom."

I absorbed this information quietly.

"Previous holders of this constitution have faced similar circumstances. At the end of their lives, their bodies transform into a special form of wood that is revered as a divine treasure," she continued.

"So, I'm going to die and become some kind of tree wood. And the kingdom wants to use my remains for..." I trailed off, seeking clarification.

"Your remains will be used to create medicinal herbs, specifically for crafting a legendary potion that grants immortality," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh, so that's what this is all about," I muttered, nodding. "I guess donating a bench with my name isn't quite enough. How about a big statue in my honor?" I attempted a joke.

Miss Rita remained serious. "This is serious, Benjamin. Please understand the gravity of the situation."

"Why not joke about it? My life has become a joke anyway," I responded with a half-hearted attempt at humor.

Miss Rita sighed, her expression softening with sympathy.

"So I'm really going to die? There's no way to save me?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

Miss Rita sighed sadly and shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. Individuals with a constitution like yours are born once every hundred years, and historical records show that they all meet the same fate. Some have tried to intervene, especially during conflicts over ownership of those with this constitution, but ultimately, the transformation cannot be stopped."

"So, I'm destined to die like this. That's it," I said softly, feeling numb.

"It's a tragedy, especially considering you have a special mana core," Miss Rita said with sympathy.

"I have a special mana core?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. Over the years, many healers and scholars have studied the Eternal Dendrite Body constitution. One theory suggests that your unique mana core may be the reason why you are facing this fate. Would you like to hear more about it?" she offered.

"I don't see why not. It's not like I have better things to do. Go ahead," I replied, resigned.

"Alright then, consider this your final lesson," Miss Rita began.

"To put it simply, your mana core is hosting the divine spirit of the Eternal Dendrite Tree. Normally, a divine spirit can only occupy a mage’s mana core when it upgrades to a mana heart. This upgrade involves forming a contract that grants the mage new powers and abilities, making them one of the Elite Mages. However, the Eternal Dendrite Tree is an exception. This spirit freely chooses its host, targeting young mages with newborn mana cores. How and why it does this is still a mystery, but according to ancient tales, the Eternal Dendrite Tree holds the key to immortality. It's said to be one of the five essential ingredients for creating the legendary immortality potion.

Here's where it gets grim: a young mana core cannot contain the power of the Eternal Dendrite Tree. Over time, the spirit erodes the core, slowly taking over your body and ultimately killing its host. This process transforms the host into a young tree sapling, which is incredibly valuable as a medicinal herb. Your body parts turned into wood become a treasure trove of medicinal ingredients, with new branches and leaves sprouting from within you. The sapling lives for a few weeks before it withers and dies, and the spirit begins its cycle of reincarnation, seeking out a new host for the next hundred years. As soon as the Eternal Dendrite Tree chose your mana core as its host, your fate was sealed."

I stared at her, trying to process everything she said.

"So, no matter what I do, I'm doomed to die and become some kind of magical tree?"

Miss Rita nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. The kingdom will use your remains to create powerful medicines, and your sacrifice will be honored. But there's no way to stop the transformation or save you. Your destiny was set the moment the Eternal Dendrite Tree spirit chose you."

The weight of her words settled over me like a heavy blanket. I couldn't help but feel a mix of anger, despair, and resignation. "What a lackluster way to die. Getting killed by some fucking dumb tree spirit."

Miss Rita's expression softened. "It's a cruel fate, Benjamin. But know that your sacrifice will help many people with your remains. Your contribution will not be forgotten."

“I don’t give two shits about saving people. The only saving I care about is saving me. This has to be some kind of joke. Shit!”

I stared blankly ahead, grappling with the reality of my impending transformation and inevitable death.

Miss Rita stood up from her seat. "You were a good student, potty mouth, but a good student nevertheless. Don’t worry, I’ll try to support you till the end. Now, I must prepare. Nobles have already begun placing orders for parts of your body once your body becomes the wood sapling—your eyeballs, nails, tongue, testicles —all prized for their medicinal properties.”

“It would have been a lot better if I had been kept in the dark. You might want to work on your bedside manner for dying kids. It's not your strong suit,” I said with a heavy sigh.

Soon after Miss Rita left and I reclined on my bed leaving me with my thoughts of despair.