Hilde shook her head. "It's impossible to judge precisely from the outside. But based on the load fluctuations in the Energy Conduits, it's at least sixty percent complete. If Kame used his modified method, the remaining portion may go even faster."
Faster meant the Old Dean's burden was also rising at an accelerating rate.
Klaus looked through the Protective Gate at the old man lying in the Sarcophagus, convulsing without pause, and fell silent for several seconds.
"Where's Calvin?"
"Upstairs, organizing the evacuation," Hilde answered. "He gathered all the mentors who can still move and split them into three groups to take turns stabilizing the outer Inscription barriers. But that's all they can do."
Klaus rubbed the corner of his eye helplessly. The corridor held only the low hum of the Energy Conduits and the dull pulse of resonating Inscriptions from the Main Control Room beyond the Protective Gate. The two sounds blended together, making the air feel stifling.
Arthur folded the sketch and stuffed it back into his pocket, then pushed himself upright with both hands braced on his knees.
"What if he completes the harvest?" Arthur's voice was very soft. "According to him, everything will come to an end once the harvest is over. How do you think he'll wrap this up?"
"He can't."
Klaus's answer was brief.
"The Old Dean was forcibly connected as a medium. His body has already held out for hours. Kame's modified method reduces the instability of the passage, but it transfers all the pressure onto the medium. If he wants to complete the harvest, the Old Dean has to endure it until the end." His gaze fell upon the Sarcophagus.
"But the Old Dean can't hold on much longer. So are you still going to deceive yourself?"
Arthur's expression changed, but he