Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Arthur's Point of View
Temple atop Helmsforth
"A Captain?" I repeated, confused.
"Indeed. This is quite the offer, and I know Elincia will agree." Arceana stated.
"No thanks." I sneered, mockingly. "As much as I would love to join your Guard, I must decline." Was my sarcastic reply.
Arceana smirked. "I didn't think such a position would entice you. What about something more personal in nature?" She inquired, and I gave her a bored look in return. "Becoming a personal bodyguard to my sister and I is quite a sought-after position."
"Again, I'll pass," I told her. "I don't really care about joining your Guard. I'm not really the kind of guy to listen to other people's orders." I shrugged. "Been that way my whole life. I've done it before, but it's not something I'm going to do with you."
The Priestess went silent for a moment as she kept her little smile the entire time I declined each offer. "What if I gave you a position no one has held in thousands of years? In terms of rank, you'd be second to only me and my sister."
Scoffing, I replied as I stretched my arms across the back of the couch. "What position is that? Priest?"
Shaking her head, Arceana answered. "There has never been a Priest, but how would you feel about becoming a Lestranian Knight?" The chapters is up by N0vEI__bin
One of the guards stepped forward and pointed at me with hate. "Priestess, why would you offer this man such a renowned position!? The last Knight of Lestrania perished thousands of years ago! Why now would you choose someone who isn't even from your own guard or nation!?"
It amused me that one of the guards pointed out some of the same things I was thinking. "I agree with what's his face," I said as I pointed at the guard. "You don't know me. All you know is that I defeated some Ghouls and that I pose some manner of threat to you and your sister. I cannot possibly fathom the logic behind this offer, and so I must decline."
Arceana looked amused. "The logic is quite sound. Not only did you refrain from dealing a fatal blow to my sister, but you also were patient enough with my subjects that you only injured them so they could no longer fight." Then she tapped the Ghoul's body with her foot. "Of course, we can't forget your biggest accomplishment. Taking care of demons inside our borders with vigor gives you more than enough merit for me to make such an offer."
"The answer is still no. I'm not here to be your Knight or a hero. You want a knight, go find someone who gives a shit about people, because I don't." I told her and stood up. "If there was nothing else you wanted me to come here for, I think I'll be on my way." Then I moved to leave.
"What do you crave?" The Priestess suddenly asked, and I stopped. "Surely, there must be something your heart desires. I know you need information. Ayda has informed me as such." Arceana then gestured to the Temple as a whole. "There are books, scrolls, and parchments here that cannot be found anywhere else. Whatever you're looking for, I can likely provide."
None of this made sense. "Why are you so invested in me to go to such lengths? Someone you just met has no purpose in getting such a rank and title. Things that I care very little for." I told her and thought about why she seemed so determined to have me under her thumb. "Yet, you're negotiating as if me leaving would be catastrophic. Why?"
Arceana kept her small little smile. "That's for me to know. If you agree to become our Knight, I will tell you what I know. Your questions will be answered, and anything you might need will be provided." Ringing her scepter, she eyed me. "This isn't just some random deal. I can give you anything your heart desires."
"No, you can't." Was all I said and left the room.
A few guards gave me dirty glares, while others seemed relieved, I turned the offer down. Not paying them any mind, I moved through the temple without an escort. This seemed a little odd to me, and figured it was all a part of Arceana's plan to make me a knight.
It wasn't until I was walking past some windows that I noticed a small garden of sorts on the side of the temple. Curious about this, I moved closer. The garden was small and simple. A small pond was off towards the side, with a few small trees and flowers decorating the area. However, the person sitting at a lonely stone bench caught my eye. To my surprise, another High Elf was sitting there by herself.
For a moment, I thought it was Arceana because of the pink hair, but she turned, and the faces didn't match. Although, I did see purple eyes, and she seemed to be much younger. While she looked like she was in her twenties, she actually might've been unlike Arceana and Elincia. A red dress covered her, and I noticed she wasn't wearing a crown like the other two Priestesses. This just made me more intrigued.
My gaze turned wide eyed to the Captain of the Town's Guard. "I could ask you the same thing. What're you doing here, Greigh?"
"That's Captain to you, Arthur." Ziah said from my other side.
"It's 'dead man, if you're involved in this." Was my retort as I kept my lifeless stare focused on Greigh.
"Are you threatening me, Arthur?" The Captain asked.
I nodded. "By all means, take this as a threat or a warning, but I want to know what you're doing here. Now." Reaching up, I wrapped my hand around the handle of Defiance.
Both seemed on edge from me admitting that but looked more nervous once I grabbed Defiance. "We've been tracking this group for some time. Never to this location due to their magic and the illusions they cast, but you seemed to have no issues seeing through them." Greigh stated.
"In fact, you followed them without any issues at all." Ziah commented from the other side of me. "Normally, their magic helps them escape. We noticed you trailing them, so we decided to follow you instead." The female Zugal stated.
"Then, you know what they've been doing?" I asked as my hand slowly moved from Defiance.
The two Zugal relaxed at this but weren't happy I threatened them in the first place. "Kidnappings have been happening rather periodically as of late. We knew some talented spellcasters had to be involved, but we couldn't pinpoint the location or the Elves behind it."
Looking back to the warehouse, I spoke. "It's not just Elves. There were a few Humans present as well. They worked as a group when they kidnapped a woman from the rung above us. She appeared to be an Elf, but they cornered her quickly. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, no one would've ever heard them." Steepling my fingers together, I continued. "A real group of professionals, wouldn't you say?"
Both guards glanced at each other before Greigh spoke up again. "That brings us back to my initial question. Why are you here, Arthur?"
"To kill every slaver inside," I answered, and both blanched at me. "What? I'm not of a fan of slavery. Don't care if it's illegal or not. Each person responsible in there is going to die if they were apart of such an atrocious group of people."
"That's not for you to decide." Greigh said back in a firm tone.
"Who gets to decide then? The Priestesses? I don't care about them or their rules. If injustice is only addressed by the rulers of the nation or their guards, what is the point of having an opinion? Having your own personal ethics in place is for moments like this."
Greigh stood. "Were already planning on going in, and you don't need to get involved. We just need the rest of our-"
Cutting him off, I spoke. "I'm not waiting, and I don't need your help."
Finally drawing Defiance, I stood as well as I ignored the Zugal. "How do you know if someone is a victim or a criminal?" Ziah asked.
"Oh, I'll know. Don't worry about that." Was my reply.
"We cannot allow you to-" Ziah started, but Greigh moved towards her and stopped her.
"I only ask that you spare those who surrender since we can't stop you. Just know that this will be reported to the Priestesses themselves." The Captain informed me.
A smirk made its way to my lips. "Tell you what, you let them know that if I get to wipe out any other slave rings like this, I'll consider accepting their deal." Without any further prompting, I jumped from my perch and to the warehouse.
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We didn't hit our goal, but that's okay! I've decided to lower it down to 650 Power Stones for an extra chapter this week since we were so close to that! We got over 630, so I think we should be set to hit at least 650! However, if we hit 700 Power Stones, I will release an additional extra chapter as well! That's two extra chapters for Sunday if we reach 700 Power Stones!