Chapter 441 - New Fantasies
"A magnificent wall," Rae muttered as she followed the giant roots with her eyes. "As expected from a divine tree."
"It seems you are quite knowledgeable about them," Arthur was confused. "It has been less than three months since we last met, but you changed so much."
"The first month is about learning, the second is about practicing, and the third is about the truth," Rae said without much thought as if these words were imprinted to her mind.
"So, this month is about the truth?" Arthur counted. "What truth did you learn?"
"That we are all corrupted, to some degree, but some more than others. You need to know the line separating what is human and what is evil."
"That is a fine line," he said as he threw himself back and lay on the white scarf. "What if you make a mistake?"
"Then I am a murder, and the first month teaches you that it's okay to be one," Rae said as the scarf carried them gently toward the city.
"Why don't you run away from them?"
"They promised that if we help them get rid of the corrupted, then they would help us go back to our world," Rae said and continued before he could point out the obvious. "I am the only one who has no memories of that world."
"Then, you are the only one who is not tempted," he said, but she shook her head.
"I have many reasons to go: the other world is safer, the food is almost free, there are no calamities, and I can live without fighting."
"Without fighting?" Arthur almost jumped out of his surprise. The person in front of him was no longer the battle-maniac Rae, and the change was too drastic for him.
"I am tired," she said as he stared at her back. "I don't want to fight anymore."
Arthur felt as if her response was a slap to his face to remind him that the normal thing to do is avoid fighting and battle. Yet, his world was expanding, twisting, and merging into something that he would have never accepted before.
This world was filled with battle, lies, and loneliness.
'Why would anyone choose to stay in this kind of world?' Arthur understood her reasons, and he was even more intrigued by the people she served.
The Devils Hunter was more than just one person. They had an organization: a group of people dedicated to eradicating the presence of the Enders and those who chose to borrow their power.
Arthur felt like it was an excellent idea for a comic, and he was sure that there was something like that among the many that he read before. However, this was happening in real life.
'So, they must know a way to go back. Is it the same one that Solomon will use to reach the trial of the holy crown?'
Arthur didn't know yet, but it was best to avoid burning any bridges with this group. Furthermore, Arthur had to decide whether he needed to restore Rae's memories or respect her wishes of keeping her current persona.
However, if he indeed allows the current Rae to live without her memories, he would betray the person who saved him against Ellen.
"The Mernars are attacking the city," Rae stood up from her spot, unaware of his dilemma. Arthur turned toward the city, and there was indeed a similar giant to the one he fought.
An ugly mass of flesh and fins that made up a giant humanoid fish gathered a water spear above its hand before throwing it at the wall.
A figure met the spear, and it was no other than the Knight of Courage. Her sword made no flashy moves, only the tip meeting the water spear and stopping it.
Then, her sword absorbed the water into it, and lines appeared on its body. Even from afar, Arthur could tell that the Mernar stood no chance. Then, like a bullet, the water left the sword's tip like a laser, and it pierced through the Mernar's head.
The giant fell dead by a single attack that utilized its own. Rae turned toward Arthur as her slender and cracked fingertip pointed at the Titled Knight.
"You chose a fine knight to accompany you," she gave her judgment. "And I don't only mean her strength, but her character. The previous bandit is one of the few people who have to forgo pursuing personal gains."
"The only way that I got her to trust me is by promising to provide food for the kingdom," Arthur said with a smile.
Several more Mernars from within the waters rushed toward the walls without a second delay, despite the giant corpse lying in front of them.
"Let's just watch," Rae raised her to stop him as he was about to jump and aid his people. Arthur stared at her questioningly before she pointed with her other hand at a figure who stood on the walls. "A powerful person arrived."
Arthur turned to look at Diana, who had changed her clothes into a white shirt and a pair of black trousers. Dia lifted her index finger in front of her face, and a blue flame appeared on it. Then, with a flick of her finger, the blue flame flew away toward the incoming Mernars before it exploded to cover a massive area.
The Mernars screamed in pain as the ice flame froze their body and burned their souls. Then, they all fell dead without resistance to the powers of the ice phoenix, which Arthur helped awaken.
"Her existence in itself is a contradiction," Rae said. "You can tell that her power is abnormal, belonging to neither element yet carrying both of their characteristics. If you haven't intervened, then Alva might have won the war easily."
"She never wanted war," Arthur found himself defending her. Rae turned to him with a smile.
"No one wants war because war is a method, not a goal. But, unfortunately, most goals, at least if someone has power, end up causing a war."
Princess Dia scanned the surrounding with her eyes before she lifted her head upward to spot them. Her brows furrowed, and Arthur could tell that she muttered something to the Knight of Courage.
Then, her wings appeared, and she flew upward. Rae grinned before a wooden mask appeared in her hand, and she wore it to conceal her face.
A dagger appeared in Rae's hand, and she threw it at the princess. There was no reason for it, but it was enough for the cold princess to take them as a threat.
The flames exploded from her hand to create a fire dagger that met the one Rae threw. But, unfortunately, the elemental blade burned the physical one, and it continued to strike the white scarf acting as their flying ship.
"What are you doing?" Arthur asked Rae with a frown before she staggered backward, and he supported her back.
"I wanted to see if my scarf can handle her flames," Rae said with a shaky voice. "My scarf could, but my soul could not," blood leaked from the side of the mask as she finished those words, and Rae fell unconscious.
Arthur held her tightly to support her before he realized that he needed to support himself too. The white scarf disappeared from beneath his feet, and Arthur carried the unconscious Rae as he used his skill Wings of Wind.
Arthur glided downward before he stabilized. As he carried the unmoving Rae, he met Diana's confused eyes.
"A... Seika?" she asked with surprise before she looked at who he was carrying. "Why are you with this person? They attacked me, so I had no choice but to strike back."
Arthur couldn't say that a justification was what he expected at the moment, but it proved that Diana cared about his opinion. So, after a sigh and a nod from him, Arthur descended to land on Rega's walls.
"I will never understand people," Arthur sighed with emotions before he placed Rae on the ground, and her hair opened to spread beneath her.
Diana landed in front of them, still looking at them with a 'give me a moment to understand what is going on' face. Then, after checking Rae's pulse, Arthur stood up to greet the knights who gathered around them.
"Sorry for being late," Arthur stood up awkwardly as the Knight of Courage, Big Bear, and the rest of the knights gathered around them.
They all stared with confusion at what was going on. Finally, Diana stood to the side, and their Lord stood beside a woman he brought back. Their minds seemed to wander to new fantasies.
"Our Lord's mistress?" one of the junior knights muttered before closing her mouth. Arthur felt as if he was punched in the gut repeatedly when he heard her words, and Big Bear slapped the back of her head.
"What's the situation with the Mernars?" Arthur asked the Knight of Courage, who was still eyeing the unconscious Rae.
"They began their attack yesterday," Courage reported. "But it isn't serious so far, and we have sustained minimal damage."
"Well, that will change within the next couple of days," Arthur said as he crouched to pick up Rae.. "Their leader should be vising us soon."