Arthur's Point of View

Hollow Forest

"Fuck." I said in clear annoyance and glared at Ayda for a moment before looking back to the Priestess. "My name is Arthur Pendragon. What's yours?"

"You bathe in the presence of Priestess Elincia Delmaris." The Priestess replied.

"Bathe?" I repeated in an unsure manner. "That doesn't sound appropriate. In fact, it's borderline kinky." Wiggling my eyebrows didn't impress her.

Her eyes narrowed as she lowered to the ground, but I did see a small smile. "You jest. Most amusing." Blocking off any chance of attacking the others, I saw her look around the area. "What has happened here? Surely this wasn't caused by one man alone. Not to mention a human."

Gesturing to the dead Ghouls, I replied. "I'm the victim of a horrible crime." Was my overly dramatic response.

"Victim isn't the word I would use," Elincia said as she surveyed the area. "This carnage is most impressive. It's also disturbing."

I shrugged. "I was attacked and defended myself. There were fourteen of them, so I couldn't exactly play nice."

"And them? What of Ayda, Cassidy, Floyd, and Kine?"

Gesturing to Kine, I replied. "He attacked me without warning. With a knife, I might add. Two actually!" Then I continued more nonchalantly. "Made me a little skeptical of believing anything the group had to say after that. After all, it's the exact same way my first altercation began."

Elincia eyed Cassidy, Floyd, and Ayda, all of which, looked away from her gaze. "I see. Did you need to be so rough with them?"

Again, I gestured to Kine, and then Floyd. "I don't know Kine, but I'm not a fan of being assaulted. So, I took care of him quick and hoped that it would act as a lesson to the others." Shrugging, I continued. "It didn't."

"While I do not know the full circumstances surrounding the events that led to our current situation, I cannot overlook someone who would kill in such a manner. Even if it was self-defense, as you claim." The Priestess replied. "I ask that you come peacefully."

Even though she asked, her magic aura that covered her hands didn't disappear. This told me she was still on guard, which was smart. However, I was also very wary about her just from the stories I'd heard about the two Priestesses so far. Plus, going with her would essentially be the same as being surrounded by her guards.

Using my hands to gesture around the area, I spoke evenly. "After the night I've had, I'm afraid I must decline. My trust isn't something so easily won." Then I tilted my head towards the unconscious Zugal. "Especially after being attacked by one your own."

The Priestess studied me for a moment before summoning several magical swords that floated around the area. There were dozens of them, and I must admit, it did surprise me. They circled, twisted, and spun overhead. A clever tactic to try and get me to surrender. All were white, with gold accents, and exactly the same.

"I insist." Elincia said sternly.

Watching me carefully, I smirked as I shrugged overdramatically and lifted my hands into the air. "Since you insist…"

Swords began swinging at me as soon as my hand touched my pommel. A chuckle escaped my lips that the Priestess didn't believe me for a second. Drawing Defiance from my back, I deflected several of the swords and destroyed others. Immediately, it was made clear that the Priestess was far above Ayda and those Ghouls. Gritting my teeth, I felt my sword resonating with me.

My right eye also began to act up under the bandage. "Ugh." I groaned out, annoyed as I darted about. "Can't catch a fucking break."

Naturally, I needed to get close to the Priestess, but she flew up ever so slightly. Practically hovering in the air with barely flapping her wings, which told me magic was likely involved in that as well. She was smart and been in battle before, but I was new to these types of fights. However, she kept a close eye on me and redirected me when I got to close to Ayda and the others.

"I must admit, I did not expect you to last this long. You've impressed me." Elincia called from on high.

"I can go all night long, baby!" I strained out a response, taking advantage of her double entendre in an effort to force her to make a mistake. "How about you come down here and do the dirty work yourself!?"

She gave me an icy stare before replying. "You'd have to give me a reason to. As it stands, there isn't one."

Growling at that, I grabbed one of her magic swords from the air and flung it at her. "I'll give you a fucking reason." Was my mumbled response.

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The sword disappeared inches before it hit her leg, but she looked startled that it got so close. "You're not like any human I've ever encountered before." Elincia focused her gaze on the area as if to find some clue. "If you're even human at all." She added.

"Again," I called out. "You could come down here and find out whenever you want!"

"The view from up here is just fine." Came the Priestess's reply as she watched and moved her fingers in a puppeteer fashion as the swords moved to her will.

Her magical swords paused when she was put under pressure. So, hitting the tips of her blades with Defiance, I began to pull them out of the air one after the other. With Defiance in my right hand immobilizing Elincia's spell, I used my left hand to grab and throw the swords. This caused the Priestess to fly around to avoid the incoming swords.

As she moved around, she started getting distracted and was more aware of her own swords than me. Jumping up in front of her, the Priestess's eyes widened in horror at seeing me before her in midair. I had my sword raised, but quickly decided not to wound her grievously, and instead planted my foot in her stomach. Elincia was launched toward the ground and hit a tree. Causing it to tilt and fall over on top of her.

"Priestess!" Cassidy shouted.

Ayda summoned her magic again, and I merely glanced at her, then went back to Elincia. "Stay away from her!" The Elf shouted.

Strutting over towards Elincia, I replied. "You really think that was enough to hurt her? She took that like a champ! Didn't you, Priestess?"

The tree, fucking, blew up. "I've not had a serious battle since the last time my sister and I fought." Priestess Elincia stated as she slowly floated herself onto the ground. "Not many would dare lay a hand on me." Then her eyes flicked up to me as she dusted herself off. "Never mind kick me."

"You're welcome." Was my cool reply as I put one hand on my hip and the Priestess frowned. "If you don't have people around willing to kick you while your down, are you even living?" Then I shrugged more playfully. "Besides, I did invite you to come down twice. I just stopped asking so politely."

Igniting her magic, I saw Elincia's swords all disappeared, and two moved to her hands. "Then I suppose I should respond in kind."

"It's the only logical thing to do!" I stated, pointing at her with a smile.

A smirk could be seen on her face, which I noticed, but it vanished faded due to her disappearing entirely. Elincia, much like Ayda, could teleport. Unfortunately, this wasn't something where she was one and done. The Priestess was able to teleport continually. Behind me, on my sides, even directly in my face, she appeared and then disappeared.

Rolling my eyes as I blocked incoming attacks, and swiping at only air, I shouted. "That's a little annoying! Perhaps you could show some real skill instead of acting like a fucking assassin who got caught and is going all in!" Bringing up Defiance to block the smirking Priestess, I groaned when she disappeared after her attack failed. "Fine. Fine!" I said irritated and planted Defiance into the ground then spread my arms.

Elincia saw this and teleported away from me. Giving me a cautious look, she appeared before me and then moved away quickly. In that moment, she was trying to see if it was a trap of some sort, but I didn't even move. Quirking a brow, the Priestess disappeared entirely from view. While I couldn't see her, mostly because I wasn't looking too hard, I knew she could see me.

What I had planned was ballsy. Even for me. Especially given I didn't know how strong my healing factor was and only had a few examples of it in action. Add the fact that I had been restraining myself this entire fight, so my right eye didn't go crazy or transform on accident. The moment of truth came when Elincia appeared at my side.

Running one of her blades through the right side of my lower abdomen and all the way out through the left, she gasped in horror. As if she didn't think it would happen or didn���t mean to deal such a fatal wound. Of course, blood flowed into my mouth, and I certainly felt pain from the wound. However, it wasn't the excruciating amount of pain you would expect.

Grabbing her wrist as she tried to let go of her sword, she looked up at me. "Arthur-" She began, but I didn't let her finish.

"Finally." I said simply.

Immediately, I began slamming her into anything I could. Trees, the ground, bushes, and my foot. Treating her like a rag doll made the group watching gasp in disbelief. Eventually, I tossed her into the air lightly and grabbed her by her throat. Upon halting the thrashing, I was giving her and studying her, I noticed her wounds were healing rapidly. Cuts, bruises, and more were fading in a matter of seconds.

"Jesus Christ. You heal almost as quick as I do." I said through a strained voice and gritted my teeth as I yanked her sword out of my side. "Damn. You really went balls deep, didn't you?" Holding up the blade that pierced my body, I showed it to Cassidy. "Do you see how deep inside me your Priestess was?" All of them blanched at the sexual jabs, and I turned back to Elincia, who grabbed my arm. "I don't think I've ever had someone know me inside and out like you do."

"Unhand me!" The Priestess ordered.

Looking up and thoughtfully puckering my lips, I replied. "Mmh. I could, but I'm not going to. All that teleporting was getting on my nerves." Then I chuckled. "I am surprised you can still talk though. This isn't a light grip I have on your neck." I pointed out.

"I will admit that you surprised me. Never did I think you would let me injure you in such a manner, but this farce has gone on long enough. Release me, or there will be real repercussions unlike before." Elincia informed me.

My amused expression seemed to upset her more. "Look, Priestess, clearly, you seem to think I am an idiot. I regret to inform you that I am not." Looking around the area, I continued. "Not sure a single person here hasn't completely tried to fuck me in some manner, and not in a fun way." Holding up her sword in front of her, I gestured towards it. "Face it, Priestess, you've lost."

"Let her go!" A new voice called out.

"Typhon!" Ayda shouted out.

The boy from earlier with black hair ran at me. "Who is this?" I asked curiously as he jumped at me, and I dropped the Priestess's sword.

"Stop!" Elincia ordered.

Not sure if it was directed at me or the boy, but I grabbed him by his throat as well. "Not going to lie, I can't tell if this is a trick of some sort." I stated and then looked at the boy more closely as he narrowed his eyes at me. "That, or you're very brave and foolish. Brave to come out here and try to save your Priestess, but it was also foolish to think you could do anything to stop me."

"Let. Her. Go." The boy ordered.

Quirking a brow, my attention was focused on him now. "What's your name, boy?"

Trying to escape my grasp, he eventually replied. "Typhon. Typhon Delmaris."

"Delmaris, you say?" Tilting my head back towards Elincia, amused by this sudden revelation, I asked her a question. "He your son?"

"Don't you dare harm him!"

"So, your son?" I asked again.

Gritting her teeth, she replied. "He isn't my son. Nor is he my sisters. Typhon is a part of our family, though, and has paid you no insult. Let the child go." Elincia informed me and then ordered.

Looking back at Typhon, I held him up a little higher. "What race are you?" I asked out in a mumbled voice.

Swiping at me, I moved my head back slightly. "I'm a Dragon!" He roared and opened his mouth.

Flames shot out and into my face. Closing my eyes from the sudden attack, I dropped him on the ground and wiped my face. The boy wrapped his arms around my body and tried to move me. When that didn't work, he tried to help free Elincia by trying to grab my fingers. Eventually, he started throwing punches into my stomach, and it did nothing.

"A boy who wants to play at hero, huh?" Placing a hand on his chest, I pushed him away carefully, so he wasn't hurt, but enough where I'd get my point across. "I'm a little busy at the moment, so go play pretend somewhere else." My eye then turned back to Elincia. "Now, I believe we were talking about you losing this fight."

Gritting her teeth in anger, I saw her expression completely changed, and her hair turned slightly darker. "I don't lose!" Elincia said in a raised tone filled with anger. "And you've made enough of a mockery here tonight!"

Lifting one of her hands up, I saw magic begin gathering in it, but I quickly grabbed her wrist with my free hand. When I did so, her breathing got faster, and her magic seemed to keep growing. Confused as to what she was trying to do, I shook her lightly to stop her, but the white soon faded. The Priestess's magic started to turn black, and I was honestly concerned by this.

Magic seemed to be filling the area, and I raised my free hand to stop her. "You, Arthur Pendragon, will feel my wrath and suffer-" Before anything else could happen, something slammed into Elincia's back, and I dropped her in surprise.