While Eren remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, Zia looked at him with anticipation. Her gaze kept shifting to the herb in his hand.
"I have prepared a gift for you," Eren finally spoke up.
"Zia would humbly accept Master's gift," Zia replied, reaching out her hand to accept the herb.
However, Eren didn't hand over the herb. Instead, he took another sip of the ceremony tea.
"I would love to give you the gift right now as well, but something has been troubling your poor master. Can my dear disciple help her poor master with one more thing?" Eren asked, his voice filled with concern.
Eren could hear the sound of Zia's cracking knuckles, a clear indication that she was resisting the urge to punch him.
"Zia would love to help master in any way she can," she replied, trying to keep her frustration in check.
"That is great. In that case, please help my Phoenix. She was injured while trying to protect me," Eren requested as he stood up.
He kept both the sofas and the glass table in his storage ring to clear the space.
"She is in a very bad condition. So don't waste a single second when I bring her out. I'm sure you understand, right?"
"I hope this is the last demand from 'Master'," she stated, putting special emphasis on one particular word that she hated.
"Don't worry. I am not stingy. Not just this herb, I'll provide you many more useful things that can help you reach an even higher realm in Alchemy in the coming future."
Eren opened his inventory and brought the Phoenix out.
When in the Inventory, the time for the Phoenix had stopped. She remained frozen in time until the point she was brought out. She looked no different than she had been on the island.
Her wings were bleeding, some of the flesh was also gone.
"This... Just who did you fight to get her hurt so badly?"
After seeing the pitiful condition of the Phoenix, Zia quickly rushed to her. She was an Alchemist, but she was also a beast master. If anything, she cared more about the beasts than she did about humans.
As she started trying to treat the Phoenix, she even forgot about the Crystalline Herb at the moment.
Zia nodded briefly.
"It is my duty as your disciple to protect and heal those who are important to you, Master," she replied, her voice filled with sarcasm. Her gaze again went to the herb in his hand.
She made a lot of things clear with just a simple gaze.
"Don't worry. I will keep my promise," Eren assured as he placed the crystalline herb in Zia's hand while walking past her.
He then sat before his Phoenix, who had fallen asleep under the effect of the medicine.
"You have worked hard, little girl. Sleep peacefully," he patted the Phoenix's head, his voice filled with relief.
"She is very weak. If I take her with me, it will be bad for her. Can she stay here? " he asked Zia.
"That's fine with me. Even if you wanted to take her away, I wouldn't agree. If she is here, I can help her more. Moreover idiots like you can't take care of a hurt beast as good as me."
"That's quite a rude way to talk to your Master, isn't it?" Eren jokingly asked.
"Hmph," Zia scoffed.
"I will come to see you often, until I have to leave this sect. So sleep well, little one." Eren gently caressed the head of his Phoenix before standing up.
He turned to leave the place, not wanting to annoy the Great Elder anymore.
"Although I used an underhanded method to make you my disciple, but I do promise you. You will not regret this decision. If anything, you will bless your stars one day."
Eren pushed the door open and left the room, ending the meeting with the Great Elder.
Zia rolled her eyes, not believing Eren in the slightest.
She still didn't understand why he wanted her as his disciple to the point he was even willing to hand over such a precious herb?
It was the same when he suddenly asked him to become his disciple when he hadn't known her identity.
"What a strange man..."