Arthur's Point of View

Depths of the Hollow Forest

“Given the options, I’m not sure I want to know.” I told him in an exasperated tone before I looked at him with tears in my eyes. “Did I make a mistake? Should I have just married her and hidden her away?”

Reaching across, Aydan put a hand on my shoulder. “I know Varvara, and I decided to remove our children from the turmoil of the world, but not everyone gets that choice.”

“Varvara, huh?” I asked back, knowingly.

He chuckled. “Yeah. You may have gotten a few princesses to fall in love with you, but never forget that I got a Queen.”

I rolled my eyes at that. “After everything that happened, I wish so much that I would’ve done things differently… But at the same time, I’m scared it would mean Lucia would no longer be here.”

“Varvara was no longer Queen when she moved our children, and we were able to visit them often. No one could’ve imagined that almost all the old leaders would’ve been massacred along with you and me.” He told me. “At least we know why history was recorded the way it was. Rudnurth must’ve despised both of us.”

“Still does. He’s locked away underneath Helmsforth. Thinking about paying him another visit.”

“I’ll not comment on that. Even though I understand how you feel, I still helped raise that boy.” Aydan took his hand back and looked at it. “Despite the fact I was reduced to no more than this…” He trailed off. “Breeze!” Aydan called out. “Would you bring down Lucia for us? Just Lucia!”

My gaze drifted up, and I saw the wind guardian nod before I looked back to Aydan. “She’s in a coma, Aydan.”

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He raised a brow at that. “So? I plan on helping with that too.”

I was skeptical, to say the least. “You can bring someone out of a coma?”

“Again, Aydan fucking Farro.” The man gestured to himself confidently as he stood up and started stretching. “Can I just say that I’m rather excited to meet her?”

His stretching seemed unnecessary, given his current state. “Just… Don’t say anything you shouldn’t. She doesn’t know anything yet.”

The amount of exasperation that he sighed out as he gave me a look of disbelief was tangible. “You and your secrets.” Was all he said in return.

A slight gust whipped my clothes about, and I looked up to see Breeze. He had Lucia next to him as she slowly floated down toward us. The guardian stayed above as she was laid between us. Aydan wasted no time in placing his hand on her forehead. After a moment, his magic activated, and I saw him look up at me.

“You should tell her.” He told me with a small smile.

“Aydan-“

“If you could see the expression on your face right now, you’d say the same thing.” Aydan quickly cut in.

Lucia's Point of View

Depths of the Hollow Forest

“…dan.”

“It… Don’t… Se…”

My mind felt like it was in a haze. “…ghter!”

“This isn’t…” Although it felt like it was slowly lifting.

“…Lucia!” Arthur called, but it didn’t sound like he was actually talking to me. “Mine, Ayd…” His voice sounded agitated. “My daughter! Mine!” They sounded like they were arguing. “By the… I’m… Dad!”

“Mmh?” I was able to let out as my eyes opened.

“She’s wa… Up.” Another voice chimed.

Startled, I finally felt my arms start moving. “Arfur…?” My words sounded slurred.

Moments later, my body was picked up and held in someone’s arms. “…cia…” My head lazily rolled back and forth as I struggled coming to. “Lucia!” Arthur’s voice came in again.

My vision cleared, and I was greeted by Arthur’s worried expression. “Ugh… Arthur?”

“Yeah! Yeah, it’s me!” He said with a barely contained joyous sob.

“What happened?” I asked.

His smile quickly faded. “What’s the last thing you remember?” Arthur inquired.

Holding my head as I tried to sit up with his help, I answered. “We were in a clearing. Alwin and I were talking.” A hiss escaped my lips as I felt sore all over. “I think we came under attack?” My eyes then met his. “Weren’t you in the east? Did everything in Vithari go okay?”

“Vithari is fine. Well, mostly.” He added after a moment. “Are you feeling okay?”

“A little confused. Sore.” Then my eyes narrowed in confusion as I looked down. “My thoughts seem a little hazy.”

That voice from before pitched in. “That’s probably because Arthur took your memories of the last few weeks.”

Arthur’s head snapped to the side as he admonished the unfamiliar voice. “Aydan!”

Following his gaze revealed some manner of ghost floating there. “What?” The ghost asked back with a shrug. “She asked.”

“Jesus Christ…” Arthur whispered in disbelief.

“So, this is Mara’s daughter.” My eyes widened at that as Arthur shook his head in annoyance.

“Can you not be you for fifteen minutes!?”

“I might only have fifteen minutes left, so no!” The ghost gestured to himself cockily. “I’m Aydan fucking Farro, remember?”

“Oh, my god…” Arthur let out, annoyed.