Arthur leaned against the chair, arms crossed, as he considered her question. He wasn't obligated to explain anything, but at the same time, she had gone out of her way to check on him when she thought he was dead. And she even saved him, even if it was not necessary, but she didn't know that.
He studied her for a moment. Her golden eyes were curious and waiting for an answer. Arthur sighed.
"…I didn't die," he finally said. "I just left this world for a while."
Her expression didn't change, but he could tell he had her full attention.
Arthur continued, "The spell you placed on me must have been linked to this world's plane of existence. But when I left, the connection was severed."
She remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "You left… this world?"
Arthur nodded. "I come from another world. And I can travel back and forth." but he didn't mention anything about the Obelisk.
For the first time since their conversation started, a surprised expression appeared on her face.
Arthur watched her reaction carefully. He expected skepticism, maybe shock or disbelief. Instead, she simply nodded after a few seconds of processing the information.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
Arthur blinked. That was it?
She wasn't going to question him, on how he did that?
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "That's all you have to say?"
The woman smiled faintly. "Did you expect me to be surprised?"
Arthur gave a forced smile. "Well, yeah. Most people would have trouble accepting something like that."
She tilted her head. "Perhaps. But I think that anything is possible in this world."
Arthur frowned slightly. That wasn't an ordinary statement.
There was weight behind her words, like she knew something he wasn't aware of.
His curiosity grew, but before he could question her further, she spoke again.
"…Your ability reminds me of a story."
Arthur straightened slightly. "A story?"
She turned, walking toward a nearby shelf. Her fingers brushed against the spines of ancient tomes before stopping at one and took out that book.
"This was written long before the world as you know it today," she said, flipping through the pages. "A record from an era that has been long forgotten by most."
Arthur's interest was piqued.
She turned her gaze toward him, her golden eyes gleaming under the dim candlelight.
"Thousands of years ago, during a great conflict across this continent, the humans… summoned a hero from another world."
Arthur was surprised to hear there was something like that. He hadn't read something like that in the history books he read about Thyrandel.
He asked "…Summoned?"
She nodded. "At that time, the human kingdoms were fragmented, frequently warring against each other, and on top of that there was also an invasion by an unknown species coming through portals, they had to fight against those invading while not being united, humanity was on the brink of collapse. Desperate, the rulers of that era conducted a ritual, one powerful enough to bring forth a warrior from another realm."
Arthur remained silent, listening intently.
"The hero was strong," she continued. "Far beyond what ordinary humans were capable of. He wielded power that defied logic, weapons and abilities unknown to this world."
Arthur's grip on his arm tightened slightly.
This sounded eerily familiar.
She closed the book, setting it aside. "With his strength, he ended the wars against the invaders. He united the human continent under one rule and ushered in an era of prosperity. His name was praised, his deeds immortalized in stories…"
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "But I'm guessing the story doesn't end there."
She smiled faintly. "No. It does not."
She walked closer, stopping a few feet away from him. "You see… once humanity was united, their rulers grew ambitious. The human continent was not enough for them. They turned their gaze toward the Demi-human Continent."
Arthur had read about the Demi-human Continent in the history books. It was previously the home to various species, beastkin, elves, dwarves, and more, but now demons occupied the land. But it was a story for another time.
She continued, "The hero, however, refused. He had fought for peace, not for conquest. To him, uniting humanity was one thing, but invading another race's land? That was something he could not accept."
Arthur exhaled slowly. "And let me guess… that didn't sit well with the rulers."
She nodded. "The emperor at the time saw the hero as a pawn. When he refused to march against the demi-humans, the emperor ordered his execution."
Arthur's expression darkened. 'Of course.'
She crossed her arms. "But it was not so easy to kill the man who had single handedly ended the invasion and united the continent. The hero resisted. They sent assassins after him, but he cut them down. Over and over again, they tried, and over and over again, they failed."
Arthur could almost picture it. A man who had fought and bled for a world that was not his own… only to be betrayed by the very people he saved.
The woman sighed. "Sick of the endless pursuit, the hero disappeared. He left the human continent, and from that moment on… no human has ever heard of him or has seen him again."
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
Arthur leaned back slightly, digesting the story.
"…But why haven't I found it in the history books?"
She nodded. "Well…The records of the hero's existence have been erased from most books. Only a few old texts remain that tell the truth."
Arthur furrowed his brows. If this was real…
Then that meant someone like him, someone from another world, had already been here before.
She smiled and continued. "You remind me of him."
Arthur looked up. "Him?"
"The hero."
Arthur was confused and asked. "Why, because I came from another world?"
She tilted her head. "No. Because you refused to kneel, even when fighting an opponent you can't possibly defeat."
Arthur blinked.
She smiled. "Despite the odds, despite your weakness, you do not submit. That is something only a select few can do."
Arthur wasn't sure how to respond to that. Although he would never submit to his enemies, for a fact he knew the martial artist couldn't kill him is undeniable. He knew he would have won if the fight dragged on for longer.
He sighed, looking away for a moment. His thoughts were swirling, trying to piece everything together.
After a moment, he finally spoke. "…Do you think the hero is still alive?"
The woman chuckled in amusement as she looked at Arthur. "Who knows? He vanished long ago. If he was alive, he would be thousands of years old by now."
Arthur leaned against the table again, processing everything.
Arthur looked at her, still slightly suspicious. "Why tell me this?"
She met his gaze. "Because knowledge is power."
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly. "And what do you want from me?"
She smiled. "Nothing… for now."
Arthur let out a dry chuckle. 'Of course.'
One thing was clear, this woman knew far more than she let on.
…
After that Arthur left Drakmire in his shuttle. While he was returning to the academy he was going through the memories of the martial artist. Unlike the assassins sent after him the martial artist didn't have any restrictions put on him. And he found the reason why, because he was hired and was not a subordinate of the mastermind.
He finally saw the face of the man who ordered the hit.
Elaric Bahram.
The third son of Count Bahram. A low-talent noble who clung to delusions of power, desperate to use the Dragon Core to enhance his magical ability. The memory revealed everything the martial artist knew about Elaric. The man was obsessed with acquiring the Dragon core to improve his talent.
Arthur scoffed. 'Another entitled noble who thought the world should bow to him.'
But this one had already crossed a line.
Arthur's gaze darkened.
Sending a Peak Martial Artist was one thing. It had failed. Now what? Would Elaric let it go, or would he keep trying?
Arthur exhaled slowly, already knowing the answer.
As the shuttle descended, he pushed those thoughts aside. He would deal with Elaric soon enough.
…
Arthur entered through the gates of Brightwater as the sun started to set. The streets were still lively, with merchants closing up shop and common folk bustling about their last errands before nightfall.
But Arthur felt a few eyes watching him the moment he entered the city.
His gaze flicked to the corners of the street, the rooftops, the shifting silhouettes within the alleyways. He didn't need his 'Map' to tell him that someone was keeping tabs on him.
'Elaric's men.' He sighed internally.
'Let them watch. I want him to know I'm alive.'
Arthur kept his pace steady, his expression indifferent, as he made his way through the city streets. His first instinct was to go back to his spell experiments, but with the time spent in Drakmire, it was already late. He decided to push them back to tomorrow.
…
Count Bahram's Manor
Elaric Bahram swirled the amber liquid in his crystal glass, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. He was in his private lounge, the dim candlelight casting long shadows across the richly decorated room.
He took a slow sip, savoring the taste of imported whiskey.
Everything was going perfectly.
That Arthur kid should be dead by now. And once he got his hands on the Dragon Core, his talent as a mage would finally…
Knock. Knock.
The heavy wooden doors of his lounge creaked open, and an attendant stepped in, his head bowed.
Elaric didn't even glance at him. "Speak."
The attendant hesitated. "…M-My lord. That student has returned to Brightwater."
Crack.
Elaric's glass shattered in his hand, whiskey dripping from his fingers onto the fine carpet.
The room was silent for a few seconds.
"WHAT?!"
His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he shot up, his face twisting in fury. "How is he alive!?"
The attendant flinched at the raw rage in his voice. "Y-Yes, my lord. And there has been no sign of the martial artist returning you sent after that student."
Elaric's breathing grew heavy. His fingers dug into the table's surface as his mind raced.
That bastard killed the assassin. That was the only explanation.
His fury boiled over, and in one swift motion, he grabbed the edge of the table and flipped it, sending glasses and fine silverware crashing to the ground.
"Useless! That martial artist was supposed to be an expert!" he spat, pacing back and forth. "How the hell did he lose to that brat?"
The attendant stayed silent, too afraid to speak.
Elaric took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He had to think.
If assassins didn't work… if he couldn't kill Arthur directly… then what was the next best thing?
He tapped his fingers against his armrest, his anger twisting into something else, a cruel grin.
Yes… If he couldn't take Arthur's life, he could take something else.
"His orphanage," Elaric murmured, his smirk widening.
The attendant stiffened but wisely said nothing. He thought it was despicable to involve children into this but he knew he couldn't say anything in this matter.
Elaric chuckled. "Oh, Arthur. You really should have kept your head down."
He turned back to the attendant. "Get me Gerald and Voss."
The attendant's expression paled slightly but nodded. "Yes, my lord."
After that the attendant left the room to call the two of them.
***
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