Chapter 48: Chapter 48
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Arthur's Point of View
Lestrania Thousands of Years Ago
Aydan surprised me with how well he was doing. His clones would disappear upon impact, and his precision was something to be wary of. No matter how often I weaved in and out between the common soldiery, he never hit them, nor did he waste any of his magic. It was inspiring in a way.
However, I was correct in my assumption that he would be my biggest obstacle. While he didn't have as much magic as the Royal Family, his magic seemed far more dangerous. One barely grazed my arm, and it has felt numb ever since. Aydan's magic was by no means normal. It affected me in a similar way that Tor's attacks did. The wound wasn't healing right away, which concerned me.
"You've been running around a lot." Aydan commented from all over.
Frowning, I replied. "And you've been using a lot of magic, but it doesn't look like you're running out any time soon."
"I am The Great Sage for a reason."
Something was wrong about all of this. While he was casting spell after spell and keeping his clones up, Aydan's magic wasn't deteriorating in the slightest. I underestimated him, but no Elf should be able to do this. No normal Elf anyway. Regardless of his magical capabilities, I needed to take care of him. Moving to a soldier who was watching our battle in shock, I took his spear from him.
Another spell slammed into the floor, and it quickly disintegrated. Much like the wall and other spots the spell had hit. The room was looking more run down with every spell cast by Aydan, and it still confused me that it didn't seem to follow most spells I've seen. Perhaps he really is a master of magic like no other.
With a regular spear in hand, I focused my energy into the weapon and started to cut through Aydan's attacks. This surprised him as he stopped his casting and started studying me with his duplicates. Holding the spear back under my right arm, I kept my left arm out and steady.
"Never before has anyone been able to cut through my spells." Aydan informed me through his clones.
"There's a first time for everything."
As I scanned the area, I was starting to notice fluctuations in the magic duplicates. My eyes were starting to adjust to his weird magic and see the differences. As such, finding him was now way easier. In the middle of his clones was the real Aydan, but he was still wary. Figuring there was no point in playing the long game, I launched the spear at him, which made his eyes widened.
Bringing up a magic shield, he blocked the spear, but it left cracks across his barrier. He turned to the spear as it puttered on the floor, and I used the opening to rush him. Barreling through his clones regained his attention just in time to see me slam into his shield.
Aydan was flung back from the force of his own magic shattering like glass and into the wall. Moving over him was simple since he was dazed. His clones disappeared as well, and the alarm in the room grew when I grabbed him by his throat and lifted him off of the ground. A wide-eyed Sage looked at me in horror, wondering what I was going to do.
"Then you will be taught forcefully. Clearly, none of you are fit to rule aside from Mara. She was the only one to realize the situation for what it was. Although, I'm still not convinced given how Rudnurth attacking everyone seemed to be a normal occurrence..." Then I gestured to Aydan. "Sir Aydan, on the other hand, has continually appraised the situation more than anyone. He was wise enough to try and defend you all, but it wasn't enough."
The Great Sage wasn't fooling me with his little act. While I still believed myself stronger, he barely used any of his magic but stopped the fight on purpose. Whether he was testing me or not, I was unsure. Not that it mattered. He obviously realized I could've taken a hostage at any point, and it would've been my win. Maybe he has something else planned, or he was satisfied? Who could say?
Aydan moved through the few in his way and over towards me. "You truly wish to aid us, don't you?"
I nodded. "I do." Holding out Rudnurth's crown for him to take, The Great Sage studied me. "Although, if you want to consider this the strangest hostile take over you've ever seen, you're free to do that too." My playful comment got him to eye the crown.
Reaching out his hands, he took it carefully. "Very well. If you truly do not wish to keep the crown or take over Lestrania, and instead act as a teacher, I will support you." Aydan then turned to the Royal Family. "He has shown restraint and none of you have been injured. That is enough for me to trust him." The Sage quickly turned back to me. "For the moment. We'll see if that changes in the future."
"Good," I said with a nod. "Now that that is settled, I would like to go over a few things with Sir Aydan in private. Since he is the strongest of you and the Knight of Lestrania, I would like to go over some things." Then I looked at some others in the room. "Talking to each of you privately would also be grand, but I won't force you to."
Arceana and Mara were surprised by this turn of events while their brothers were seething silently. Ignoring them for the moment, I eyed Elincia and noticed her staring at me. It wasn't a stare of hate or disdain, but more of a curious look. She was young and clearly had more magic than she did in the future, which confused me. This entire situation confused me.
"Very well. I will see to it that things are returned to their natural order." Sir Aydan informed me, and then he looked around the room at Aerowyn and Robert along with a few others. "Others may not support this, but I will talk with them to make sure everything gets back on track. The soldiers will spread the word throughout the Kingdom, and hopefully, the citizens will take the news well."
Mara spoke from the other side of the table. "Sir Mordred!" She called out, and I looked at her. "Do you wish to speak with me in private as well?"
While that was strange, I nodded, nonetheless. "I do. In fact, I'd like to speak with everyone without the fear of being judged by their peers. Rudnurth, Elias, Aerowyn, Robert, Arceana, Elincia, and the former Elf Queen if at all possible." Gesturing around the room, I explained. "Each one of you has likely seen different things and has a different assessment on things. That's what I am after."
"You'll also need to be caught up to speed on several other concerns as well." Sir Aydan replied.
It was at this point I noticed Aydan was using some manner of magic that was flowing throughout the room. While I wasn't positive, I had a feeling Aydan was helping me calm the room. Otherwise, there was no reason this would've gone over as well as it did. Whether it was a spell or something else, it didn't come near me, so I wasn't too worried. It's also possible he was trying to set up a plan against me with everyone present, but I'd have to wait to find out.
"Of course." I nodded in return as I kept a close eye on him and gestured to one of the doorways. "After you." Nervous looks were traded all around as Aydan started to walk in front of me.
However, as we left the room, I realized it wasn't directed towards Aydan. Instead, I noticed many looking back and forth between Rudnurth and me. All of them had fearful looks in their eyes. Even his siblings, but it was mostly directed at him as he stood there silently without moving. It only dawned on me that they looked at me with some small tinge of hope. A hope that was almost begging me not to be the same kind of ruler Rudnurth was.
Frowning at that, I felt bad because the past didn't matter too much to me, nor did I care if it changed the future. After all, this world had been fucking with me since I arrived. Why should I care if I did the same in return? Although looking at their faces once last time, I felt almost guilty. Perhaps I was wrong, but this wasn't the worst turn of events that could've happened to them.
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