Chapter 541 - Path Of Misery
It seems that his actions did not cause the Great Epiphany alone but changed the world itself. Oriole washed the dishes as he explained his theories, including the butterfly effect, where he proposed that the change in the timeline dated back hundreds of years.
"Runera wouldn't have existed without us," muttered Arthur with a frown. "However, it seems the memories that merged with the other world worked as an epiphany to how it was shaped. This made the timeline retain its basic structure."
"However, there are a lot of differences," muttered Oriole as he closed the water. "I did not realize it when I awakened, but the memories I have of this world are a lot different from the ones I used to have."
"It is a different timeline," sighed Arthur. "I wonder if I chose the right thing by destroying the previous one."
"I saw the reasons that made you do it," muttered Oriole as he sat back down. "I would have done the same for Ellen and everyone else. You destroyed the path of misery."
Arthur smiled as he heard it, but his worries were still immense. It seems the visions of the other world pushed the others into exploring beyond the gates, which undid the split faster.
This brings him back to the same missions he was tasked with: to stop the dungeons from being explored. But, of course, the best method to do that was to clear them himself and use the Isotox to close those points of weakness.
The Isotox would harness the worlds' tendency to merge, giving him more time. However, there was still little he could do but prevent the Nameless from descending itself.
"What is the plan?" asked Oriole. "I know that we need the two worlds from merging as Gaia told you, but we will not live forever."
"I need to find a way to defeat Nameless and the calamities," muttered Arthur with a frown. "This is my mission on this world."
"And who assigned that mission to you?" asked Oriole, and Arthur raised his head to meet his eyes. "You have broken free from every chain that bounded you to the timeline, and you did it for a reason. Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life?"
"If it is not me, then who will?" said Arthur while shaking his head. "I am the sole person who wields the power of creation."
"Are you not angry?" whispered Oriole as his hands shook. "All of them placed us in so much pain, so much misery, discarding what we feel for their grand purpose. The guardians are the true disease that this world has."
Arthur couldn't agree more, and his anger was too enormous to contain. The fight between the two sides dragged him and his loved ones through hardships after hardships. However, if he allowed the anger to break free for a moment, then Jerano would be no more.
"There is nothing but anger inside me," he said while clutching his hand. "I am not at ease, nor am I forgiving Oriole. There is too much anger within me to express. I can only allow it to burn silently, helpless."
His friend was silent as he pressed the base of his palms on his forehead while leaning back. The silence of the room left the two of them confused and helpless. Gaia did not tell him how to defeat the Ender, but she mentioned that there was no limit to the strength that he could obtain.
"However, anger will not get us anywhere," Ori rose from his chair again as the tea started boiling. "In this timeline, your identity as Alexie Linan was retained, and Rae did not suspect a thing. However, it seems she awakened memories of her own as well, as she talked to me as soon as we got into Jerano."
"What happened in the past year in Jerano?" asked Arthur as Ori started pouring tea into the cups. "Why did I need a year to meet Gaia when I did it in a few months in Alka?"
"I tried to help you without revealing my knowledge of the timeline because that would have left you more disoriented than focused. The reason that you needed so much time is that you were keeping a low profile, working in the logistic department and learning every night after everyone was gone."
"Then, what about Julia?"
"That incident was what brought her attention to you," sighed Ori as he carried the cups toward them. "You saved her life when intruders tried to break into the prison of memories inside Jerano."
"...Intruders?" asked Arthur as his eyes snapped open. "Are you aware who they are?"
"No one managed to see their faces, but some suspicions are present," sighed Ori as he handed the cup to Arthur, who received it with confusion. "Their target was not the forbidden knowledge that Jerano has, but the memories protected by the Spirit Guardian."
"Rayxin," remembered Arthur. "And how did I save her life?"
"I am unsure of the details because you never mentioned what happened at that time. However, it was a major event that shed light on several powerful students, who managed to withstand a part of the attack."
"Memories of the past," muttered Arthur with a frown. "This does not sit well with me for some reason. I have seen what kind of people there are inside."
It was then that he remembered the person that somehow caused Arthur's awakening: Yuran. It has been so long since the two of them last met that Arthur completely forgot about him.
In the prison of memories, Arthur met Yuran again, but as a child with his mother. A prisoner there knew the truth about what happened there, and it somehow felt connected.
Yuran was always kind to him, but Arthur changed, and his perspective changed as well. Master Ronin was there for Arthur because of the prophecy Arthur showed the man in this timeline, so everything had to have a cause.
As Arthur sipped on his tea, the aroma served to make him enjoy the taste, even though it tasted like hot water. The memories of Yuran and their encounters rose in his mind, and Arthur remembered one thing that bothered him.
For some reason, their last meeting was a coincidence, and Yuran was asking about Arthur's father, Seref Silvera. Arthur did not think much before he knew that his father walked around the world playing puppet master, but maybe there was more to this than just a friend's concern.
"You are daydreaming, Arthur," muttered Oriole. "This is not the most important thing at the moment."
"What are you talking about?" asked Arthur with confusion, as this was their most pressing issue. "Are you saying there is something more I need to know?"
"...a lot," laughed Oriole. "I believe that you are still in love with Diana, correct?"
Arthur did not answer straight away but introspected himself for the truth. His feelings were eroding except for his anger, which seemed to transcend time and space, but his love was still there.
Arthur longed for her gentle touch and unconditional love. You can only grow to love someone after becoming their enemy and accepting them, and it was that kind of relationship. Arthur gave a slight nod.
"Then, what about Emma?"
Arthur remained silent as his brows furrowed.
"Are you aware of the amount of time the two of you spent together?" said Ori with a serious frown. "I couldn't bring myself to tell you that this was a path of self-destruction."
"Emma," muttered Arthur, as the name brought great nostalgia to him. "She must still be with the prince, so there cannot be anything between us, right?"
Arthur hated the hopeful tone in his voice because such a thing as replacing his feelings to Emma with those of Diana would break her heart. Oriole stared at him silently and nodded with agreement, but Arthur could tell that there was more coming.
"After the death of Arthur Silvera in the Runes Apprentices Cup, which I also participated in and made sure the timeline goes as planned, Emma never believed your death."
"And I never told her the truth because the king will read her mind," assumed Arthur, and Oriole nodded. "I would have done the same thing."
"This is for the better," Ori nodded. "However, you couldn't leave her alone, Arthur. Alexie became her friend, and with time, you proved that you were the only person who cared about her in this place."
"I... don't blame my alter self," said Arthur with a smile. "Are you saying that she has feelings for me?"
"That brings us to the incident with Julia a few days ago, when Emma witnessed the two of you acting quite close. So, I am warning you that the next time you meet her, you have to prepare yourself."
"...what was I doing with Julia?"
"The scheming bastard tried to seduce you, and Emma witnessed her attempt," laughed Oriole. "Amid world-scale concerns, you still managed to land yourself in such a comical situation."