Arthur's Point of View

Deep Forest

‘Kill her!’ Aydan’s voice echoed in my thoughts. ‘You look terrible.’ My eyes closed in irritation. ‘Arthur!!!’ Flashes of Aydan appeared. ‘Arthur…’

“Stop.” I mumbled out.

“Arthur…’ Images of Aien and Augustus flashed before my eyes.

Gritting my teeth, I spoke again. “Stop!”

So much noise could be heard despite the forest being silent as the grave. Voices of the past. Even ones from recently. All of them playing my head over and over. My energy wasn’t low, but even with my transformation, it didn’t change the fact that I was still vulnerable right now.

‘John!’ Her voice cut through everyone else, and my eyes slammed open.

Another comforting voice called out. ‘You need a hand, John?’

Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly as my chest fell. “Winter. Jake…” Looking up at the stars, my frown diminished ever so slightly. “Thanks.” My eyes came back to the surrounding trees. “Camoa? You there?”

It didn’t surprise me that a collection of plants burst from the earth in a pod before revealing the Druid. “You called?” She inquired as she stepped out onto the grass. “Is this perhaps about the situation in Helmsforth? I felt the presence of a great Demon there.” Then her gaze fell to my arm. “It was also said that you had lost your arm and were cursed.”

Holding my arm with the Demon Stone Sword, I eyed it for a moment before I replied. “A lot has happened tonight. There was an attack by several Demons. However, I came because I was hoping you’d be able to help me find somebody.”

She nodded. “That is entirely possible, but until I can verify how you recovered your arm and that your supposed curses are no more, I must pry further.” At my look, the Druid shook her head. “This isn’t for my safety, but the forests. Demonic curses can spread.”

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Obviously, I couldn’t tell her everything. “Alright. I’ll let you know what happened.”

Arthur's Point of View

Inside the Void

Before Credo’s Party Arrived

With everyone else gone, my body changed violently. My missing arm burst to life as my energy shot from the bandages. Blue and purple energies mixed before my arm had returned entirely, but in its transformed state. Flexing the digits that had returned, my gaze quickly shifted to Graham and the other Demon with him.

“I must admit, it took me a little bit to understand how you pulled it off.” I spoke in my distorted voice. “A real-life Benjamin Button. With some differences here and there.”

“What are you?!” Graham demanded as he stepped further into the void.

“An excellent question, but one that doesn’t matter.” With a snap of his fingers, his grotesque creature attacked me. “I admit,” Grabbing her by the throat and squeezing before pumping my energy throughout her body violently, I felt her go limp in my hand. “Part of me assumed that Arceana and Elincia would be able to hold this thing off.”

My energy started to shoot through the Demon’s body as it overflowed. “What manner of being can do such a thing?” Graham asked, but I ignored his questions.

“But this thing isn’t even a Demon Lord. I would ask you what it is…” He glared at me. “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d answer.” Wriggling the Demon for a moment in thought, my smirk returned. “Benjamin Button! See, I thought you were using some spell-based illusions. I was wrong. You’re also cursed in some manner, or your body was purposefully made that way. By Thana perhaps?”

Screaming, Graham rushed me, but I merely smacked him with his dead companion. “You have no right to speak the Queen’s name!” He called out from the ground.

Shifting my energy towards the places I was cursed, they soon broke entirely like shattered glass. “Mmh. Much better.” Stepping towards Graham, he tried to flee but ultimately returned near me once more. “Whenever you die, you literally get younger. Just like how old people get weaker due to their age, you get stronger the more you return to your prime.” My grip tightened on the female in my hand as some wax oozed from her orifices and other wounds. “I must admit, you played me good.”

Graham finally smirked confidently. “You finally realized there is no point in killing me. So that puts us at an impasse.” He said before gesturing to me. “If you kill me, that’ll only put me closer to killing you, but if I kill you, I cannot leave this place.”

“Mmh, not exactly.” I shot back before gesturing to myself. “You see, this form is rather intimidating and would likely frighten my own allies.” He nodded in agreement. “However, it also handles my energy far better. Bulky though it may be, there is another I also use that is a more complete version of this. Thanks to that, and the Priestesses being utterly useless, I don’t want to show this form.”

“Where does that leave us?”

“I’m getting there. You see, if I reveal this form, I’ll likely be ousted regardless of the help I’ve given, and I need Lestrania. I was put here for a reason with a task to complete. The problem is, I’ve no idea what it is I’m supposed to be doing.” Walking closer to him, I looked down at him. “Thus, my dilemma.”

“You’re talking in circles. Make a decision and get on with it.” He glared up at me with a smirk. “I’m fine with either.”

“Is that so?” My own grin must’ve revealed how wrong he was as his expression fell. “There is something you seem to be misunderstanding here. I have another option.” A familiar flower floated over to me, and I held it in my hand for a moment before letting it float back off. “I can just leave.”