Thana's Point of View

Unknown Location

“What?” My tone made the Ghoul flinch.

He dared not look at me directly. “The prisoners that were captured…” He repeated. “One removed their mask.”

Flare decided to speak up. “Breeders. Nothing more. They know nothing.”

Raising my hand, my mist slammed into him and pinned him against the wall. “It doesn’t matter what they know. What matters is that they’re talking!” I said through clenched teeth. “We wanted to find out how well the poison worked; we’re going to get our chance.”

My mist dispersed, and he fell to the ground coughing. “What do you suggest?” Tor inquired.

Leaning back in my chair, I felt my eye twitch in anger. “Head to Dwardew, where they’re holding the prisoners and kill the breeders. We don’t need them anyway. See how Arthur responds.” My eyes shifted to him as I stayed completely still. “Do not fully engage.”

Tor bowed. “As you wish.” He disappeared into a portal, and I looked over the room.

“Anything else?”

The Ghoul shook his head while he stared at the floor. “Nothing, my Queen.”

Crossing my legs, I leaned back in my decrepit throne. “Then I suppose we will have to wait for Tor to return.”

Arthur's Point of View

Dwardew Ruins

“I know.” I told her. “I’ve always admitted to being a liar. No matter what happened, the truth is, I did leave you and your people behind. Even if it wasn’t intentional, all of you have suffered.”

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Letting go of me, she huffed. “So what?” Her tone was mocking me. “You think we’ll just forgive you? That because it wasn’t intentional that we would understand?” I watched her arms fall to her sides. “We do understand, and we don’t care.”

Moving closer, I spoke earnestly. “I could protect you four. It may not be much, but I can give you a new life. The Priestesses owe me-“

“What!?” She quickly cut in. “What do they owe you!?” I heard the door from behind me open, but I kept my eyes on the Elf. “The Priestesses owe you their lives? They did nothing! They’re just as guilty as you! At least you had an excuse!” Spitting on my face, I kept her glare with an understanding gaze. “False deities and a false king! Lies and hypocrisy is your creed.”

“The Priestesses are not themselves. Their memories were tampered with.” I informed the Elf as I wiped my cheek.

She then poked my chest. “To forget you!” Anger once again flared up in her. “Not us! We were abandoned by every one of you that we believed in!” Flailing wildly in frustration, she gestured behind me. “Let’s ask her then!”

Looking over my shoulder, I saw Elincia looking at me, very confused. “I heard shouting.” The Priestess informed me.

Ignoring her, I turned back to the Elf. “Your Queen is the one who is false. You’ve been bred for loyalty to a person who experiments on you. Indoctrination is easy over time.” I stepped back and spread my arms. “Your hatred is understandable, but I can help you. All of you can have a new life. One where you don’t have to worry about-“

“Leave.” The Elf cut me off in a low tone.

With a sigh, I gestured to Elincia and myself. “Please… This will likely be the only chance you get at a fresh start. You won’t have to worry about killing your own people anymore. No longer will you be breeders. You can be free!”

Wrapping her arms around the bars, the female Elf placed her face in-between two of them as she spoke. “And trade a Queen for a King?” Her voice was dead and devoid of any emotion. “I think not. Don’t pretend you’re any better when you’re the one who slaughtered us. Killing our own? Isn’t that all you do?” All life vanished from her eyes as she stared at me blankly. “Even when you don’t act, thousands of children die because of you. The horrors we were forced to endure at her hands, but even then, I would still choose her over you every time.”

The male quickly added with a small chuckle. “As you said, our indoctrination is complete. Loyalty was literally bred into us. So do us a favor and kill us now rather than later.” He removed his mask as well, and a rather ragged Human face greeted us. “A choice between a King or a Queen doesn’t matter. After all, the results are the same. Either way, we will always lose.”

With a deep frown now etched into my face, I gave them a single bow. “I am truly sorry.” Was all I said before I left the room.

Passing by her without looking at her, Elincia quickly followed behind me as we heard a few chuckles from behind us. As we moved up the stairs, my fists clenched involuntarily. So hard that blood started to evaporate from the wounds I was causing. General Dwar saw this and looked down the stairs behind us before he followed us with a few others taking his place. We exited the building, as Elincia grabbed my arm to stop me.

“We need to talk.” She said firmly, which grabbed everyone’s attention. “I need an explanation, Arthur.”

“I’m really not in the mood, Elincia.” I replied.

Ventari and the others quickly moved to intervene. “What happened?” She asked as she looked to the General, who merely shrugged and shook his head. “The Priestess entered when we heard shouting. We thought, perhaps, things had taken a turn for the worst.”

Elincia let go of my hand and gestured to me. “Why did they refer to you as a king, Arthur?” She demanded and turned me to face her. “They said we were made to forget you! Who did it, and why?”

Bringing my hands up to my head, my annoyances only grew. “Can we not?” I asked back. “Seriously, for once, can you just let this go!?”

“You were a King!” She exclaimed. “How am I supposed to let that go?! What else are you hiding!?”

Running my hands down my face, they eventually flopped down to my sides. “Apparently not.” I mumbled.