Arthur's Point of View

Kandma’s Head

“Where am I?” I asked out in a daze.

“Atop Kandma’s head.”

“Aydalia?”

Her deformed face came into view, but she was blurry as my vision faded in and out. “Yes, Arthur.” Aydalia confirmed.

A blurry redheaded individual leaned over me. “Cass?”

“Yeah! Ah’m here. Yer safe.”

“Where are we going?” I inquired.

Another voice cut in. “A place where you will be taken care of. Whispers tell me that it is a place you created long ago.” Camoa stated. “Somewhere with creatures unlike anything ever seen.”

My breathing steadied as my eyes focused on nothing in the sky. “You’re taking me to Rock, Marina, and Breeze?”

The Druid responded with a question of her own. “Is that their names?”

“Whose?” Cass asked.

Aydalia answered. “Arthur and Aydan created them. They’re…” She trailed off.

“My children.” I finished for her. “Camoa,” Calling out to her as my head lazily shifted to her; I continued. “Can I see her?” I asked as a few tears came to my eyes. “Please… Please bring her to me… I’d like to see her… Even if she-”

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The Druid cut me off. “There seems to be a mistake.” She told me. “Lady Lucia is still alive.”

Cassidy's Point of View

Kandma’s Head

“What?” Arthur whispered out as his eyes seemed to fill with tears.

“She’s alive!?” Alwin immediately shouted. “Where is she!? You shou-“

Aydalia immediately covered her son’s mouth as she looked at Arthur’s prone form. The man was staring in disbelief. His body seemed to tremble as he tried to move but to no avail. Arthur’s breathing quickened as a few tears fell from his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he tried to get rid of them. It didn’t work.

“Camoa, if you’re lying to me-“

“I’m doing no such thing. Would you like to see her?” Camoa asked, but Arthur only nodded in response. “You were right to look for me. She’s still in danger, but nowhere near what she was.” Vines began to slither down from the top of Kandma’s head. “Truthfully, if not for you, she would’ve died.”

We watched as the vines created a path of sorts from the creature’s back. From above, we watched something be carried by the plants from the top of Kandma’s head. While on her snout, the vines stopped next to Arthur as he waited, but I could tell he was anxious. His breathing became jagged from trying to stop himself from crying. A pod was moved along the vines until it stopped beside Arthur.

It opened to reveal Lucia. “Oh, god…” Arthur whispered in disbelief as she lay there unconscious while his lips trembled.

Lucia was in horrible condition, but she was breathing. “Lucia!” Alwin cried out.

Aydalia, Greigh, and Ayda moved to stop him as he fell to his knees. No one wanted to come between Arthur and Lucia. Not after his claims of being her father. Plus, if he was going to kill Arceana to get revenge, it was best he saw her first. More so than anyone else.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he weakly lifted a hand to Lucia’s cheek. “How?” He whispered.

“From what I could tell, Lady Lucia was on the verge of dying. She was low on her magic reserves, had severe blood loss, and was physically and mentally exhausted.” Camoa stated. “I’m guessing you poured quite a bit of your energy into her?” She asked, and Arthur nodded as a relieved sob escaped his lips. “That’s what saved her, but it also caused her quite the shock.”

“If Lucia was in such horrible condition and you flooded her body with your energy, which is incredibly more potent than our magic, it is likely her body couldn’t handle the sudden shock.” Ayda explained rather monotonal before she looked to the Druid. “It likely put Lucia in a comatose state since her body was in no condition to handle it. Physically or mentally. Thus, it makes sense why her body shut down, and why you thought she had passed…”

Camoa nodded. “Exactly so. However, it also saved her life and allowed me to address her more serious wounds.” Arthur’s breathing was shaky as he listened. “Lady Lucia is very much alive, Arthur.”

Arthur was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “Ayda.” He called out to the young Elf.

“Y-Yes?” She was surprised he called for her.

“How long will it take for her to wake up from this?” Arthur asked. “Will Lucia be okay?”

Ayda nodded, not that Arthur could see it. “Lucia should awaken after her body acclimates to all the energy you poured into her. It will also help if we heal her injuries before she wakes up. I cannot be completely certain, but she should not be comatose for an excessive amount of time.”

Everyone calmed down as we watched Arthur. Alwin slowly moved toward Lucia with his mother and sister in tow. He stepped beside the High Elf before kneeling down next to her. The man reached out to touch her with his magic activated but flinched in pain as he was pushed onto his back. Slowly getting to his feet, Alwin looked back to Lucia.

Arthur laid there with a glare on his face as his strange eyes were fading. “Don’t you fucking touch her, Alwin!” He warned the Elf in a threatening manner.