Arc 4: What families entail
Road to a Hero:
Three chances in another world
Chapter 32. A Civil War’s attempt at peace.
The sky fills with storm clouds, blocking the sunlight and making everything a somber gray. Leo travels in an old carriage, barely holding itself together. Once they get to the Castle, Leo looks up to see a figure in the top window of the castle. Leo walks with a few Red Arrows to the main castle door. He knocks and is greeted by Calgary, who bows to him.
Leo: “Show me to my brother please.”
Calgary: “Will do sir…where are your other friends?”
Leo: “Didn’t need them. I can solve this issue myself...and these fellows here.”
Calgary: “Well let's hope we can solve this difference in ideals and end this war.”
Leo: “Don't we all.”
They walk up to the top floor. The big iron door opens, and for the first time since before the war, Leo and Bearugard look at each other with peace in mind. Beauregard sits on one of the four couches laid out in the room. He points to a couch right across from him, so Leo obliges and sits down.
Beauregard: “Brother, did you have a nice ride here?”
Leo: “Yeah, it was fine.”
Caesar tumbles into the room and sits down on one of the other couches. He looks around the room attentively, then he drops the act and starts laughing.
Beauregard: “What’s so funny might I ask?”
Caesar: “Nothing, just thought of something funny.”
Julius walks out of a side room and stands beside a seated Beauregard.
Leo: “JULIUS!? Are you okay?”
Julius: “I am quite alright, now we only have to wait for one more guest.”
Leo {I assume it’s Moro right?}
Deep in the sky, Dema sours through the air and flies down near the top of the castle.
Peter: “AHHHH!”
Gray: “I know it’s freaky, but you gotta be quiet!”
Soku: “What are we gonna do?”
Gray: “I’ll seep through the ceiling and peer in.”
Dema lands softly on the roof, letting Gray, Peter, and Soku get off.
Gray: “Soku, I see you haven't changed your coat or your sword, but what’s with the staff?”
Soku: “It’s a glider, I can use it…kinda.”
Gray: “A glider? That shouldn’t work at all…magic physics I guess.”
Peter: “SHHHH…”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Gray: “Sorry, sorry.”
Gray puts on his cloak as well as his mask. He then gets into a meditation position and takes a deep breath after a breath. And his astral body falls out of his physical body. He seeps into Beauregard's room, and he floats in the air watching the conversation play out.
Leo: “Where’s Rosemary?”
Beauregard: “She attacked Calgary…and we put her here in a cell down in the dungeon. We were gonna wait till you got here and give her to you, to celebrate the ending of the war.”
Leo: “Okay…”
Gray {WHAT! ROSEMARY'S IN A DAMN CELL!}
Gray focuses and speaks out on his physical body.
Gray: “Soku…Rosemary…in a cell…in a dungeon…”
They all sip tea in silence, except for Leo, weary of anything given to him. Then more steps are heard and in walks the last guest.
Leo: “Who is…”
In walks a familiar man, a man with messy hot red hair, a scruffy red beard, and a newly made burn scar around his eye.
Gray {ARTHUR!?}
The sudden sight shocks Gray back to his physical form, which Arthur seems to notice, or at least he feels something off in the room. Gray tumbles back into his body, shocking Peter and Soku.
Peter: “What happened?”
Gray: “Soku…”
Soku: “What? What happened?”
Gray: “Arthur is down there…”
Soku: “WHAT!”
Gray: “Calm down…I’m going back in…just don’t alert him.”
So Gray once again seeps his mind back into the astral plane and floats into the room.
Beauregard: “Oh good you made it.”
Arthur: “Yeah sorry I was running a bit late.”
Leo: “Wait, I thought Moro was coming?”
Beauregard: “Oh no, he works for me. He is not in a position to attend these meetings.”
Leo: “I’m surprised you hired a demi-human with the fact you hate them and all.”
Beauregard: “My hate for them will not falter my work.”
Julius: “It seems we’re off track.”
Arthur: “Oh Julius, strange to see you here…the last time I saw you it was when we were attacked by the Sect of Anarchy…I thought you had perished…I’m glad to see you’re still alive!”
Julius: “Yes I did make it out alive, I went back to my father to tell him everything and he told me to come here and try to mend things in Athens.”
Arthur: “Y’know I never got why you wear what you wear.”
Julius: “What do you mean?”
Arthur: “All of the countries have their color schemes, Walgonia is white, black, and light blue. Ravoria is a strong purple, Athens with brown, and funny enough Beauregard is wearing a nice brown suit. And Valatrositce has red, black, and gold. The robes I’m wearing are all the Valatrositce colors, see. Black robes, red roses, gold cuffs on the pant legs, and armholes.”
Julius: “So what’s the issue?”
Arthur: “No issue…your black pants and shoes, your white coat with the light purple fluff on the cuffs, and color. It just doesn't fit.”
Julius: “I'm surprised you do not know, white and purple represent coming together."
Beauregard: “Now then, that that’s all settled we need to move on to the reason we are all here. Leo wants to end this war and give up.”
Leo: “I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP!”
Julius: “Settle down.”
Beauregard: ‘Well what do you want then?”
Leo: “What does Arthur want?”
Arthur: “I just want to make good with the ruler, that’s all. I mean, shouldn’t I? I mean I’m the new king of Walgonia. What about this…how do I say it…bum here.”
Caesar: “I am no bum…I’m here for the same thing you are, I’m just on Leo's side more than Beauregard here.”
Arthur: “Alright then…”
Beauregard: “What are your terms brother?”
Leo: “You have no right to call me that…not after what you’ve done to this once great country…no wonder our father left.”
Beauregard: “Leo…please stick to the point.”
Leo: “THAT IS THE GOD DAMN POINT! YOU…you did all this fucked up shit and you just wanna brush it under the rug? I won’t let that happen NO GODDAMN WAY!”
Beauregard: “Well I’m sorry for trying to mend things…what are your terms?”
Leo: “MY TERMS!... My terms are ours, one I want you to change the rules back to what they were before you became king. Second, I want you to publicly apologize and mourn every fallen soldier, no matter what side. And last I want you to give up the place as king.”
Beauregard: “I…I’m sorry I can not meet your terms, brother. Would you like to change your terms?”
Leo: “No…they are what they are and won’t change.”
Arthur: “Alright then…this wasn’t a waste of time was it?”
Beauregard: “NO…no it was not…this war will end.”
Leo: “And why do you say that?”
Beauregard stares at Leo with his sharp, scary eyes digging into his spirit. Gray watches as tension builds in the room, Leo slowly moves his hand toward his spear, Beauregard stands up, Arthur starts to heat up his hand, and Calgary slowly pours mana throughout his body all while Caesar picks his nose thoughtlessly.
Gray {SHIT!}
Gray rushes back to his body which is being pulled onto Dema. Before any words could be spoken loud quakes erupt from the room below.
Gray: “DAMMIT!”
Soku: “WHAT DO WE DO?”
Peter: “WE HAVE TO SAVE HIM!”
Gray: “NO! We can’t…Soku and I can’t show our faces to Arthur…and Leo can hold his own.”
Peter: “And Julius!? Or Caesar?”
Gray: “I trust them, they can handle themselves for a bit…how strong is Beauregard?”
Peter: “Strong enough, but even you could beat him…and he's nowhere near as strong as Leo.”
Gray: “Good, now I have something better to do, wouldn't you say Soku?”
Soku: “You got it.”
Peter: “What are you talking about!?”
Gray: “We’re going to rescue Rosemary.”
Peter: "Ohhhh, alright."
END OF Chapter Thirty-two.