Chapter 28: Chapter 28
Arthur's Point of View
Temple atop Helmsforth
"This is total bullshit!" I said through gritted teeth.
The streets were lined with people, and I had to walk through a parade as people celebrated me. Only the thought of wringing either Priestesses neck was helping me through the day. After our little walk through parts of the rungs, we ended up at the Temple. Hundreds if not thousands of people were present. Guards lined the halls, and I had an escort with me.
I was supposed to be wearing some manner of noble Elven robes that were delivered to the Reed Farmstead. Needless to say, I kept my armor and sword on instead. Figured it'd be best to let the people see exactly how I looked and let them know who I was.
Now in a grand hall, the Priestesses were the first two to come into view. "Welcome, Arthur Pendragon." Elincia and Arceana said simultaneously, but I saw a quick disapproving look at my attire.
In the hall were several Elves, Humans, and Zugal. All ranging from Noble to Town's Guard officers. However, all that were present were likely considered the most important individuals in the nation. Many eyes turned to me, and I ignored their gazes as I walked down the aisle between them.
Stopping in front of the two Priestesses, they smiled. "It warms my heart to see you this fine day, Arthur Pendragon." Arceana's red eyes focused on my left eye.
"For this is a day that will be remembered throughout history." Elincia continued, and murmurs could be heard throughout the room.
"Our first Knight in over two thousand years will be made today. Since the founding of our great nation, no other has taken the mantle of a Lestranian Knight." Arceana announced.
"That changes today." Elincia smiled and gestured to me. "Please, take a knee, Arthur Pendragon."
Doing as instructed, I bent the knee and was interested in seeing where they were going to start. The room quieted down as history was happening before their eyes. It made it so much better knowing that I got to give a speech after this. A rousing speech of inspiring the masses. People were going to love it.
"Arthur Pendragon," Arceana started. "Do you have your speech prepared?"
"I do."
Elincia and Arceana moved forward with Arceana's scepter in tow. "You will recite your speech after taking your oaths." Arceana and Elincia informed me as they raised the scepter together and tapped my shoulder. "Do you swear loyalty to Lestrania?" They asked simultaneously.
"I do."
"In times of peace or in times of war, will you stand as a beacon of hope for this nation?"
"I will." Alternating shoulders with the scepter, I listened for their next question.
"Will you hold justice above those who would seek to challenge it?"
"I will."
"And do you swear that if it is within your power, you will stop at nothing to keep Lestrania safe?"
"I do."
With one last wave of their magic wand above my head, they stood tall beaming and gestured to me. "Then rise and be dubbed, Sir Arthur Pendragon! Knight of Lestrania!" Both smiled at me as I rose to my feet.
Giving an expected bow, I turned and faced the audience who applauded my ceremony. Most of them anyway. The Priestesses flanked me, and Elincia summoned her magic to teleport a sword overhead. Slowly, it descended from the ceiling, and I took in familiar details.
"Sir Arthur gave me the opportunity to leave, so no word about my kidnapping would make its way to the public. He later healed me from the wounds I received while in the Slavers care for a brief period of time." Rennal bowed towards the Priestesses as they listened to her explanation.
"I see." Elincia smirked as she looked at me. "Did you know I was coming then? Is that why you told her to leave?"
Shaking my head, I shrugged. "Not at all. It was just an offer."
"An offer made out of kindness or opportunity?" Arceana whirled around toward me. "I do not know if your actions were just, and I can no longer judge the Duke for his supposed crimes, which leaves us in a bit of a conundrum. How do we know the Slaver you questioned was telling the truth, and you didn't just execute an innocent man?"
"Given the Slavers situation and condition, I doubt he had the nerve to lie. I may not look it, but I can be very convincing when I want to be. I'm also a gambling man." Pointing at her with a smile, I continued. "Looking through the Duke's home is bound to reveal something." Then I shrugged again. "If not, then too late now, I guess."
One of the guards moved forward and put his sword in my face. "You would be willing to risk killing an innocent man!?"
His sword shook slightly in front of my face, and I gave him a bored look. "Put that thing away before you hurt yourself." The guard in question bristled at that and opened his mouth to reply, but I cut him off. "Or before I hurt you." I said with a glare towards him as I stepped forward and around the sword.
"Arthur..." Cassidy said in an unsure and warning tone.
Bringing my free hand up to the guard's sword, I grabbed it and crushed it in my grip. Shards fell to the floor, and the guard backed away more fearful now. With him and the other guards cowed, I turned back to the Priestesses and focused on them once more.
Arceana tapped her scepter on the ground and looked at me in a thoughtful manner. "This is certainly not how I expected this day to go."
"I told you I didn't want a big ceremony, and you made me walk in a parade." I shot back.
Elincia giggled at that, but Arceana didn't look impressed as she shook her head, annoyed. "Elincia." Turning to her sister, the pink haired Priestess spoke. "Please take a group of guards to investigate the Duke's manor."
Moving to me, Elincia nodded and tapped my shoulder. "To prove if Arthur was correct?"
"Indeed. We must get to the bottom of this." Red eyes stared at me. "Our dearest Knight has made this a priority."
"I take my work very seriously and told you I would start as soon as I was Knighted. We agreed the Slavers would be dealt with by me." Gesturing to the only dead Elf in the room, I continued. "So, I did."
No longer in the mood to deal with me, Arceana tapped her scepter to the ground, and several of the guards moved to take care of the dead body. Ignoring me entirely now, she moved closer to Rennal and the others to ask further questions. Elincia smirked at me before giggling slightly.
"This has been most amusing. If you are as confident as you seem to be, I will be sure to find evidence that the Duke was involved." Blue eyes seemed to shine with mirth at the thought of me getting away with such a brazen act. "Do not worry, Sir Arthur, I have a feeling you are right."
"I sure hope so. Otherwise, I killed that asshole for no reason."
"You would not feel sorry?" Elincia's mirth disappeared for a more concerned look.
"Maybe a little." I said with a shrug. "Besides, it was one hell of a way to introduce myself to the people, don't you think?"
A little stunned and left with wide eyes, Elincia reluctantly nodded in agreement. "It certainly was."
Long story short, I was escorted to a private room while the situation was under investigation. Considering it was whether or not the new Lestranian Knight murdered someone in front of a group of people, they got to work quickly. However, much like I suspected, there were records in the Duke's home tying him to the Slavers.
Slave trade receipts from buyers, warehouse locations, colleagues, and more were all written down in a private journal hidden with magic. Unfortunately for him, when one of the Priestesses themselves come knocking, hiding things with magic is apparently incredibly difficult and next to impossible. After all, they know every trick in the book.
So, I was free to go about my day. Which I spent enjoying the ruined reception for my Knighting Ceremony. While I may not have been able to wring either of the Priestesses' necks, this was certainly a close second. I was a Knight who cherished small victories, and this was turning out to be a pretty good one.
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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!The chapters is up by N0vEI__bin