Arthur's Point of View

Klasteris

"What do you mean 'you don't know'?!" He yelled at me with a glare as tears ran down his cheeks. "Why did my little sister and Aer-" Elias paused as he looked at the severed head in his arms. "How did this happen?"

Elias, who was the most collected out of all of us, used his magic to use the curtains to cover our friend's remains. "As a king, you must collect yourself, King Elias. The people will look to you and King Mordred." I was the furthest thing from collected, but Aydan knew that. "Our King will not let this go, and I assure you, Princess Elincia will be saved."

That was one of my main goals at this point. Find and save Elincia. Figure out who else was dead and who was alive. Make sure Lestrania and Klasteris survive this nightmare. Unfortunately, all those questions could be answered by the one responsible. Thana was likely still in the area if this was all set up for me.

"The Demon Queen just revealed herself, and she is as terrifying as many of us thought," Aydan stated. "How she was able to attack Lestrania in such a short time is beyond me, but if her power is anything like what she displayed, then we might be outmatched."

"Then how are we supposed to move forward from this!?" Elias roared as his rasher nature kicked in. "Why could you see her and not me!?"

Once Varvara, Aerowyn, and Robert were all taken care of, Aydan rested his hands on Elias's shoulders. "Apparently, she can move through the world unseen by those beneath her. It would appear you are not strong enough to face her."

Elias placed his face in his hands angrily before stepping away from Aydan. "I never should have left."

Aydan quickly replied. "Had you been there, what would you have changed?" The king went silent.

"So, we just sit here and do nothing?" Gesturing to The Sage, he continued. "You were just as useless as I was. If you were left unable to-"

"Your mistake is thinking that I am the one who would face her. There is another here who retaliated and wounded her." Aydan pointed out, and all eyes were once again on me. "King Mordred was able to challenge her."

Turning away from them, I looked down at the bloodstains by my feet. Aydan was right. I could put up more of a challenge to her than anyone else present, but without my sword, I fear it would be a quick fight. Thana had complete control the entire time she was here and cared little for losing her arm. Such a being would be hard to defeat, and I wasn't sure I was up to the task.

"What about Mara, Arceana, and Rudnurth?" Elias asked after I didn't reply.

"Probably dead." My response got them all to turn to me sharply. "Or rather, they will be if we don't figure out what the Demons are planning and fast." Crossing my arms, I turned my attention to Aydan. "We know they have Elincia, but that's all we know. Whether or not they have Mara, Arceana, and Rudnurth is speculation. Until we see them, we can't be sure of their whereabouts."

Aydan nodded in agreement. "So, our top priority should be to rescue Princess Elincia due to the immediate danger she is in."

Elias continued in a more rushed manner. "While doing so, we can figure out whether they were telling the truth about Lestrania and my other siblings!" Wiping his cheeks, he tried to collect himself. "How do we proceed?" He asked me.

Before anything else could happen, a Zugal messenger burst into the throne room. "Your majesties! The Demons are pulling back!"

The Klasteris King moved past Aydan and I in shock to address the messenger. "Have they surrendered, or are they retreating!?" He questioned.

If it was a retreat, that was a problem. It meant that they were taking Elincia and leaving.

Saluting Elias, the Zugal replied. "No, my King! They have merely stopped attacking the shield and are requesting an audience with you!" He frowned as he continued. "There is a lone Demon waiting by the shield that is requesting an audience with you for negotiations."

"You tell the soldiers that if a single Demon steps inside my city, they are to be killed on sight!" Elias ordered out.

Stepping next to him, I grabbed the messenger before he could leave before I turned to Elias. "You kill that Envoy, and we may end up killing Elincia." Then I turned back to the messenger. "Most Demons won't be allowed inside the shield, so make the Demon aware that we will be coming to see it momentarily."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The messenger looked to Elias for approval, which was smart. "Do as he says." My student then looked to me as the Zugal ran off. "I hope you know what you are doing."

Aydan nodded in approval before turning to me. "What is the plan?"

Taking a deep breath, I looked to them. "While I had other plans, it appears it no longer matters." Taking my hood off, both Elias and Aydan gaped in shock. "Lestrania is yours, Elias. I will do what I can to save your siblings. In the meantime, work with Aydan to figure out how best to salvage this situation."

"Your eyes…" Elias commented softly for a moment as he seemed stunned.

Aydan, on the other hand, frowned softly. "What are you doing?" He asked me warily.

"Let's be honest. Thana will want me first. Whether it's for a fight, test, or to kill, is anyone's guess. Once I fall, Elias will be next. We were her main targets, and I'm sure you're likely on her list as well." Stretching my neck, I looked out one of the windows.

"So, you're just going to see what she wants by going out in the middle of her army by yourself!?" Aydan inquired like it was a stupid plan, but to be fair, it was. "You can't be serious…" He trailed off in disbelief when I didn't respond. "Talk some sense into this fool!" The Sage turned to Elias for aid.

"If I cannot protect my family, how am I to protect my country?" The young king said softly before turning to me. "Please." Elias began before falling to his knees in front of me. "Save my sisters!" Tears began to pour down his cheeks as he grabbed my hands and bowed. "They mean everything to me, and I am lacking the power to save them myself!" He beseeched.

In my time here, there were certain things I had come to know about Elias. He was a proud man. Just as proud as Rudnurth, if not more so. However, the way he took pride in things was different. His abilities were held in the same regard, but the biggest difference was how he treated his family. The King of Klasteris loved his family. Whenever they accomplished something, he would be first to congratulate them, and he would be the first to praise them.

Crouching down in response, as he looked away from me, I spoke softly. "A king does not need to bow to ask for help. He merely has to ask a friend for it." Putting my hand on his shoulder, he looked up at me. "I will save your family, Elias. If it is the last thing I do. I promise…" Those were my last words to him as I left the throne room.

Aydan quickly caught up to me a moment later. "You know this is a horrible idea."

"I know." Was my response.

"Yet, you're determined to see this through." He pointed out.

"If I can do one thing right, Aydan, I pray that it is this." I told him.

He was quiet for a moment as many looked on in shock from seeing my face. "This wasn't your fault, you know?" I didn't reply. "This was all supposed to happen."

Gritting my teeth, I answered. "I know. You told me."

"Is that why you removed your hood?" Aydan inquired softly. "You don't think anyone will be around to remember what you look like?"

"There were no mentions or markings for Klasteris on a map in the future, which means…" I trailed off.

"That it's likely destroyed, and everyone here is going to die…" Aydan finished for me, and I nodded.

We were now out of the courtyard as Aydan sat in thought, but I spoke up once more as we approached the shield. "You want to know what the worst part about all of this is?" The Sage looked at me in confusion from the sudden question. "Everything in the future is the way it is because of me, and nothing can change that."

"You're right." He replied sincerely, and I turned to him more confused. "Nothing will change, and that's fine. If something were to change, then things would be different as well, and the future would no longer be as peaceful as it is." Aydan placed his arm around my shoulder and brought me close. "If our lives are needed to secure peace, then all of this will be worth it." He smiled at me , and I just looked at him in shock. "Maybe you are responsible, but if you truly take responsibility, then tell me, is the future truly that bad?"

My shoulders sagged in response. "I knew that people would die, and I tried to distance myself from them, but I was hoping for once that it wouldn't be because of me."

Aydan's arm quickly disappeared from my shoulders before his fist slammed into my cheek. Falling onto the ground from the sudden attack, I looked up at the angry Elf. Tears were in his eyes as he stood over me and glared down at me. His hands and body shook in anger as he spoke.

"Had you not come, it's likely that all of us would've died three years ago, and those that do survive would already be dead. You are a man who focuses on his failures, but never stops to look at his accomplishments. I do not know the life you led before coming here. You only told me parts of it." Aydan stated as he seethed. "Everything changed for the better since your arrival, and I am certain that the only reason any of us will survive this is because of you."

Rubbing my cheek as he spoke, I waited for him to stop, but he didn't. Instead, the Elf leaned down towards me with a forced smile on his face as he tried to get his emotions under control.

"I once told you that you changed since you came here, and I truly believe that." Wiping his face, he looked at me. "Now, we need you to be the man you've been for the last few years. A just king and noble friend." Then he chuckled. "Who is also stronger than all of us combined." Taking a knee, Aydan summoned his magic. "You are the only one who can stop her. It can be Mordred, or it can be Arthur, but either way, you need to rise to this occasion unlike anything ever before."

A weak chuckle escaped my lips. "You're right." I told him and stood. "You're always right." Smacking him gently with the back of my hand, I continued. "Thanks."

"You done moping around like a bitch?" He asked me playfully.

Rolling my eyes more playfully, I replied. "I regret ever teaching you and Kandma such things." Then I gestured to the shield. "Come on. Let's go."

However, before we got much farther, shouting from behind drew our gaze. "Your majesty! You are needed here!" All manner of servants and aids that I was somewhat unfamiliar with followed Elias towards us.

The young king came to a stop in front of us as he ignored the others. "I thought I would accompany you." He stated.

I didn't respond. Who was I to tell him no? It was his family after all. So, I turned back around and started moving to the shield once more. Aydan, however, had a few words to say on the matter.

"Klasteris and Lestrania will look to you should the worst happen. You may be the only Royal-" Aydan stopped suddenly, but I paid no attention to it.

Whatever happened, the two fell in beside me with serious expressions. We saw a small gathering next to the shield with soldiers staring down Flare, who was apparently Thana's Envoy. Many were stunned by my appearance, but all of them moved out of the way regardless. Even Flare seemed surprised to see my eyes but said nothing as we approached. However, above him was a cloaked Ghoul watching silently and likely there as aid should things go south.

After a moment, once all the whispering calmed down, Flare looked down at me. "I admit, I was curious as to what you looked like."

"Your curiosity isn't why I'm here. We're here to negotiate." I told him, and he stepped back as I walked out to him.

"By now, it is no secret that we have several members of the Royal Family." Flare began and looked to Elias. "Almost all of them. "However, our Queen has found a much more fitting prize than the failures your call your students." My hand twitched at that, but I just listened. "The Queen proposes a trade. All members of the Royal Family will be returned if you are exchanged for them."

"Deal!" Gesturing to where we stood, I continued. "Bring them to the shield, and we-"

"No." Flare cut me off as smoke billowed off his body in the breeze and turned his gaze towards one of the nearby mountains. "We will the exchange at the mountain top. The Queen cares not for the Royal Family but refuses to give you an opportunity to escape. So, you will deliver yourself to us within the next hour."

Figures. "Very well." I began and looked back to Flare from the mountain in question. "But we don't need an hour. If you're here to escort us, by all means."

Before Flare could reply, a strange sound could be heard coming from the distance. All of us turned to see a long bridge extending from the mountain where we were supposed to meet. It was a white bridge clearly made of magic that belonged to Thana. For I doubted even Aydan could do something like this so easily.

"It would seem the Queen agrees." Flare pointed towards the bridge. "Follow."