Chapter 27: Chapter 27
Arthur's Point of View
Reed Farmstead The chapters is up by N0vEI__bin
While I did put Defiance on my back, I was still on edge after our talk about Ghouls. Approaching the front door carefully, Augustus and I tried to see who it was. However, before we could, it flung open while I was reaching for the door handle. The door slammed open and collided with my face, where it shattered upon impact.
Splinters and chunks of the door fell to the ground. "Oops." Looking up, I saw Kine standing there on one leg with Ayda and Typhon in tow.
"You kick in doors often?" I asked the Zugal as I brushed off some of the wood that landed on me.
Ayda teleported in front of me as she began bouncing up and down. "No sign of discomfort or pain!" Rubbing my nose, I gave her an annoyed look that she ignored. "Nose isn't broken, and it would appear that the door has lost this bout."
Slapping her hand got her to step back. "Kine," Grandpa Reed stepped forward and gave a disheartening glare towards the Zugal. "What've Ah told ya about kicking ma door?! Darn thing survived getting pawed at by a manticore, but ya just broke it for no reason!"
"I had a reason!" He looked somewhat ashamed but also ready with an excuse.
"What might that be?" Augustus asked back as he crossed his hands over his cane.
"I thought you might've finally kicked the bucket!"
As if knowing it was coming, the old man used his cane to smack the Zugal on the head. "Ah ain't dead yet, ya little whippersnapper!"
"Sorry!" Rubbing his head, Kine hissed in pain before looking at me. "So..."
"So?" I repeated.
"How's your face?" He asked with an unfriendly glare.
I shrugged. "Just fine. How're your wings?"
Kine stomped forward but was hit in the head with a cane again. "None of that now!" Grandpa Reed warned with a swing of his cane. "Yer here ta help Arthur. Not get in another tussle."
"It didn't go too well for him last time either." My offhanded comment got another glare from the Zugal. "Calm down, Kine." I said in a mocking manner. "He's doing you a favor. I'm going to be your commanding officer!"
"I'm not apart of the Town's Guard!" Kine said through gritted teeth.
"You're not?"
My raised brow got Ayda to answer my unasked question. "Kine likes to wear the armor and pretend he is military since he is a student like Cassidy, Floyd, and I. It makes him feel tough."
A small blush made its way to the young Zugal's face. "It does not! I wear this because we should represent-"
Cutting them off, Grandpa Reed waddle off into the kitchen. "Stop standin there and come on in already! Ah'll fix up some grub while y'all are talkin!" The three newcomers came inside, but Kine groaned at Augustus's next comment. "And yer gonna fix that door Kine, or Ah'm a sick Cassidy on ya!"
Grunting he covered his face in annoyance, Ayda took the opportunity to speak. "Good to see you are well, Arthur." Then she looked at the broken door. "Seems like nothing fazes you."
However, another thought also crossed my mind. "How long do dragons tend to live?"
Kine joined our small group and spoke. "We don't really know. They usually keep to themselves, so information is scarce, but from my understanding, they're like the Priestesses. None of them really die of old age."
An immortal weapon at that. "Interesting. Well, I'm assuming you three are here to help me get ready for my Knighting ceremony."
"We are, but I was also wondering if I could perhaps run some tests on you while we talk." Ayda told me with eyes full of hope.
"Because you don't think that will be distracting in the slightest?" I asked back as we moved to the kitchen.
"I'm sure you can handle it." Kine with crossed arms and a mischievous smirk.
I nodded. "I'm sure I can, but I won't get anything out of it, so no."
Ayda pouted, and Kine wasn't impressed. Not that it mattered to me. The meal came and went. Typhon mostly sat and listened as the other two informed me of what would be happening. They were making a custom outfit to present me to the Lestranian people and told me how the ceremony would be performed. They had gone through something similar when they were taken in to be students of the Priestesses.
Cassidy was apparently helping with other things to get prepared for me, but I wasn't too interested. I was informed that my duties would vary from military affairs to going on missions. Ayda was in the Temple on standby when I was talking with the Priestesses. Apparently, she said that I would be most likely handling the more dangerous tasks that might arrive.
Now, I was alone in my room sitting with my back against the wall on my bed. "What did I get myself into?"
A knock at the door made me quickly wrap my right eye. "Arthur? It's Cass. Can Ah come in?"
Once my eye was wrapped, I let the back of my head rest against the wooden wall. "Door's open, Cass."
The redhead came in and looked at me with a small smirk. "Heard ya accepted the offer and yer askin ta be stationed down here at the base." She said with a large grin, however, something felt off about it.
"Your Grandpa actually pointed out that I forgot to ask to be stationed down here." Then I smirked. "Remind me to thank him. After seeing the upper rungs, not sure I would've been able to live there without going on a killing spree."
"That's a lil disturbin." Cassidy said and moved across from me. Leaning on a dresser, she continued. "However, Ah understand the urge ta knock some sense into some of those high and mighty jerks." Her mirth quickly faded as she got more comfortable in the room.
"Maybe one day we'll get the chance. One day soon." Was my knowing reply as I thought of Duke Jhaane Syltar. "What brings you to my room?"
Biting her lip, a few tears seemed to well up in her eyes. "Ah wanted ta thank ya." She said sincerely and I just looked at her confused. "Rennal told me what ya did for her. Ah may not agree with yer extreme methods, but it made sure she was safe, and ya healed her."
"Ah." Was my lacking response.
"She don't know how ya healed her, but Ah saw her clothes and the tarp. Thank ya for doing everything that ya did." Wiping her cheeks, she continued. "It means a lot."
Not sure how to respond, I sighed. "The Town's Guard was gathering for a raid on the warehouse right before I went in and dealt with the Slavers. She would've been fine either way."
Cassidy seemed unsure of how to reply as I looked away from her. "Maybe so, but Ah talked ta Greigh about the raid and he told me they only were able ta find her because ya trailed them." She then gestured to me as she shook slightly. "Without ya, it's possible she never would've been found. Ya did enough where it mattered, Arthur, and for that ya have my thanks."
Looking at the quivering farmer who'd been so strong the entire time I'd been here, I nodded as I looked her in the eye. "You're welcome." Was my soft reply and it left me with an odd feeling that this meant more to her than she let on.
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We hit 798 Power Stones! We were so close to 800 and it should've been easy, but I think people were just super excited about the bonus chapters they forgot to use their Power Stones! It happens. Lol! Glad you guys and gals are still enjoying the story! This is the second bonus chapter! The next chapter will be out for our regularly scheduled release tomorrow!
The new goal for this week is to hit 800 Power Stones again for another extra chapter! We were so close, and I'm positive we should've been able to hit it, so I think it's a fair goal. If we hit 850 as well, I will release an additional bonus chapter for hitting that goal as well! We know we can hit 750 easy, but can we hit 850? Let's find out! Hope you guys are still looking forward to the coming chapters!