Arthur Leywin
"Ellie, nice shot." I told my sister as I watched an arrow fly into the target behind the tree as she manipulated pure mana.
"Thanks!" She exclaimed. "Do you think I am ready to join the war?" I shook my head, seeing her smile disappear. "Come on!" She rolled on Boo's back, and then fell off, walking over to me. "How has Veer been? You spoke to Elder Virion this morning about it, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did." I told her honestly, not needing to keep it a secret. "He is alive, I wouldn't say he is fine though." I didn't want to worry here at all, but Ellie knew of his Beast Will. "He's having some mental problems, but Sylvie is watching him."
"That's good to hear, and it seems like the two of them have gotten very close." Ellie said, and I nodded, knowing that Sylvie had romantic feelings for Veer. "Anyways, when will I be able to participate in the war, you see that I can handle myself."
"That isn't my decision, but you know mom and dad won't approve, El." She took a seat next to me at a table on the balcony, we were the only two out here at the moment, usually there are young noble children playing out here. "However, I'll talk to them for you, see if you can come with me on my next mission, but only to watch and stay out of harm's way." Veer told me that Ellie was at the wall with me, and nothing happened, so I am not against bringing her again.
"Really?!" Ellie was looking at me with her eyes widened in excitement.
"Yes, I'll talk to them." I said, and then sent a mental message to Sylvie. 'What are you up to? Veer doing okay?'
'We are currently leading the way towards another camp Veer found, so nothing is happening, Veer is still a little different, quiet, but he seems okay.' My bond replied. 'How about you? How's your training going?'
'Training has been good, I'm still a little on edge all the time with Veer and you out there without me, but other than that, everything is going fine.' I knew I needed to do all of this, but I still felt, I wouldn't say left out, more like left behind. I still needed to train, were as Sylvie and Veer were strong enough to fight on, I might be too, but I know I can get a lot stronger.
"Arthur?" Ellie said, interrupting my conversation with Sylvie.
"Sorry, I was speaking with Sylvie." I rubbed my head. "You know who I saw this morning, the Director, the person Veer and I saved."
"Oh, the one who was cursed?"
"Yeah." I said. "She wasn't looking to good, but I think she'll make a complete recovery."
"That's good to hear." Ellie sent me a smile. "What is Veer up too anyways? All you tell me is that he is fine, alive, and slightly losing his mind, but you never tell me what he's doing."
I tried to keep the fact that Veer is killing people on a mass scale out of my mouth, I didn't like saying it. "He is helping a division out, making sure they survive, and win battles when they have them."
"He's been in battles?" Ellie asked, not knowing what he'd been up to. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"First, I didn't want to worry you, I knew it would, and second, I didn't want you thinking that it was time for you to join him." I thought I had a reasonable excuse; she was already asking me to join the war. "And to be honest, I wouldn't say Veer was in battles, it's been more like massacres."
"Massacres?"
"General!" A young elven soldier said as he walked out onto the balcony, looking at me. "Elder Virion has sent me, he told me to let you know that you should head to the dungeon, Lance Varay is there waiting for you."
"The dungeon? Did he say why?" The elf shook his head. "Alright, I'll be there." He bowed, and then left the balcony. "Sorry, El, looks like duty calls." I stood up from my seat, wondering why I had to go to the dungeon.
"It's fine, I'll just shoot up here some more, and Boo is with me, so I'll have someone still." Ellie got up and started toward Boo.
I started walking toward the exit and said. "Alright, I'll be back for dinner, I hope, I don't know what the Elders want to do, so I might go through another training session with them."
"Okay, normal time if you don't have training?" She shouted as I stepped into the hallway.
I quickly said. "Yes."
The dungeon was far below, so it took me a decent amount of time to get there, but when I did, standing outside the entrance was Lance Varay, Gentry, and another elven guard, it wasn't Abold like usual.
"Here comes the young Lance." Gentry said as I approached. "Took your sweet time."
I shrugged. "I came as soon as I was told." I looked at the human Lance. "Lance Varay, what's this all about."
"Arthur, you can drop the Lance, I already told you that." She said, showing no sign of emotion still, but it seemed she was trying to be nice. "The one prison would like to see you, and Elder Virion thinks it is a good idea for you to go."
"Who?" I asked, slightly confused by all this.
"Rahdeas." Gentry said. "That old man is a pain in the ass, but I got him to break slightly."
"Why would he want to see me?"
"We don't know, that's why we want you to see him." Lance Varay said. "If you don't though, it is okay, we know the connection is pretty harsh for you."
"It's no big deal." To be honest, knowing he didn't raise Nico, that he was only a fake father, meant that he was nothing but a pawn that I didn't need to be mad at. I knew Veer wanted to kill him, but there is zero reason for him to do that.
"Okay then, let's get our asses in there." Gentry, Lance Varay, and I all walked into the dungeon, making our way down the stairs, and into the cell rooms. I knew Uto was at the end, he was in a more secure vault, I hadn't seen Olfred, nor did I want to, I didn't know where he was, and Rahdeas was in a smaller vault like room. "Here we are."
We stopped in front of a door, and he began to open it. "He said he only wants to speak to you, so we'll be outside the door if needed." Lance Varay told me, and I nodded my head in understanding.
The door opened, and the sight of Rahdeas came into view, and as I stepped into the room, he spoke. "Arthur, finally, you have come." He sat on the floor, only moving his arms as he waved them for me to come in closer.
"Rahdeas." I said as I looked behind me at the Lance and dungeon master one last time. "Why did you want me to come here? Please, do not waste my time." I told him, not knowing if this happens in that novel Veer speaks about.
"I have two things to tell you." He said, and I gestured for him to go on and talk. "First, I have a poem about you." He said, and I looked at him confused. "A lad from humble origins, born wrapped in rags for a towel, Within, however, he was more."
I waved my arms at him. "Never mind, I'm not listening to this, we both know who I really am." I said, the look of annoyance appeared on his face after I interrupted him. "I also know, Elijah is from Alacrya." The look of annoyance vanished and transformed into one of wonder and confusion. "I also know, Elijah isn't real, Elijah is my friend Nico, so if you are going to tell me some poem to confuse me, please don't waste anymore of my time, Rahdeas."
The cell fell silent as we both stared at one another, my face showing no emotion, his in shock mostly. "H-how can you possibly know all of that? That should not be, it shouldn't be." One thought came to my head, thank you Veer for telling me the truth.
"Was that all, Rahdeas, or is there something else you need to tell me?" I asked, turning to the side slightly, about to knock on the door to leave already. The dwarf didn't know what to say, so I spoke again. "Don't ever request to see me again."
"Wait." He spoke up. "It was your brother, wasn't it." I faced him, daring him to say something bad about Veer. "A King and a Prince, the boy who defied the gods' ambitions, and became one himself."
"What?" I said questioningly. "Are you saying my brother is a god? That is ridiculous." I know Veer told me that I became a god like figure in the novel when I obtain an aether core somehow, but he is saying that Veer is a god now.
"The Devil of Dicathen, Lance of Death, Prince of Darkness, all those names represent what he is, the God of War, Death, Ruler of Hell, your brother is considered a monster, a god, don't you understand, I'm sure while I've been in here, he's done more to prove it, that's why no one wants to see him on the battlefield, yet, hopes to be the one to take him down."
I shook my head at him. "Veer is no god, he is a child, that is all." Truth was, he had a point, Veer has done a lot more while Rahdeas was locked up, proving his strength, and nicknames.
"A child able to control blood, I know the High Sovereign is regretting not capturing him sooner." I'm sure he was. "Here's the second thing I wanted you to know, your brother will be captured at some point, I hope you know that there is no escape for him, in the end, god or no god, he will belong to the High Sovereign."
"No, he won't." I knocked on the door to let me out. "I won't let my brother be captured, Rahdeas, he will never belong to Agrona."
"But where are you now? You are here, and he is out there." He smirked; my eyes widened.
"How do you know this?!" I exclaimed as the door began to open, and I pulled it shut. "How? Explain yourself now!" I got closer to him, bent down, grabbed his shirt, and lifted him up.
'Arthur? What's wrong?' Sylvie asked with a worried tone, sensing my anger, shock, and confusion.
I didn't respond, I waited to hear Rahdeas's response, but he just continued to smirk. "Rahdeas!" I felt the door open again. "Tell me! How!"
"No, no, no." He put his finger in my face. "I hope you said bye to your brother, General." I felt someone grab my shoulder, it was Lance Varay.
"Arthur, put him down." I released him, spun around, and made my way out of the room. "What did he say?" She asked, following me, Gentry shut the door, and began to lock it.
'Sylvie, I think Veer is being targeted, I don't know for sure, but I think they are coming for him now.' I voiced my concern to her. 'I just spoke to Rahdeas, get him out of there, I'm heading there myself.'
'What?' She exclaimed in my mind. 'I'll get him out of here immediately.'
'Thanks.' I turned to Lance Varay. "Where's Virion?"
"I don't know, why?" She asked, and I stopped moving as we walked up the stairs. "What did he say?"
"He told me that they were going to capture Veer, he knew somehow that he wasn't in the castle, basically telling me that I would never see him again." The normal calm demeanor I usually had in front of others was not on my face, my brother, my bond, were in trouble, and I was here. "I need you go and let Virion know right away, if you can."
"I'm sure he is fine, but I'll go and let Commander Virion know right away." I started for the exit again, they followed. "The child can handle himself."
"That old fart spoke that much?!" Gentry asked, but we ignored him as we exited, and went our separate ways. I needed to get to my room and change, I need to head out as soon as possible, so I can help if needed.
'It's too late.' Sylvie sent a message to me, stopping me in my tracks. 'And, Arthur, we may be in some serious trouble.' My thoughts went everywhere, how was this possible? How did they time this so perfectly, how?