"What do you mean that we have to leave?".
Arthur let out a small sigh, just shaking his head. Taking out the Rank 3 Sky Eyes Fae, as well as the bodies of the unknown Fae Masters he had just killed a few hours earlier.
The sound of blood and meat smacking the ground didn't cause any of the others to flinch, or even be taken back at the sight of all these bodies. Not only had they gotten used to the sight of dismembered corpses, but they had also disposed and used quite a few corpses during some of their experiments....
The feeling of touching another human, only to find that all the warmth from their body had vanished, and that the light had completely faded from their eyes.... wasn't by any means unfamiliar to them all by now.
Nyssa and Henrik immediately started investigating the bodies, but Arthur just shook his head.
"I've already checked their bodies, as well as their Fae. Most of them are common Fae, able to be found near any of the Fae Grounds within the Azure Envy Continent, a very small minority from specific regions close to the White Dominion Sect and the Slavik Clan. They are more than likely from one of the other Clans within the Winter Rain Mountains....".
The faces on all the others present turned slightly ashen.
They all knew that this eventuality was going to come eventually, but they all thought they would at least have a couple more months before they were forced to leave Parachenko Village.
They were all born and raised here, and even if they were the only members of the Kovacs Clan left, they still considered this place their ancestral home. A part of them wanted to try and stay, in order to protect this place from being taken over by the other Clans within the region but....
Milena bit her bottom lip before glancing back at Arthur.
"So what do we do? Do we leave as soon as possible, or wait a little while and see how things play out?".
Arthur sent the Rank 2 Fae Master a lingering glance, before shaking his head.
"For the next seven days, try your best to complete whatever experiments or Fae Formulas you are trying to perfect. Burn whatever you cannot carry, either in a Storage Fae or in horse-drawn carriage, and then leave, head East towards the White Dominion Sect. Our goal isn't the territory of the White Dominion Sect, but from there we can head North, towards the Divine Tannhauser Empire....".
The eyes of Parvan and the others widened, and even Nyssa unconscious opened her mouth the moment Arthur mentioned those words.
All of them had access to the hidden and the secret Clan Records now that there was nothing stopping them from entering and exiting as they saw fit. They had read accounts of special Fae that could extend lifespan and heavenly treasures that were capable of granting Fae Masters Physiques!
Some had read about the History of the Azure Envy Continent, and knew that the strongest power within the Western Region of the Azure Envy Continent was the Divine Tannhauser Empire! They were overlords, an Immortal Clan possessing numerous Fae Immortals within their Ranks!
Their Bloodlines were legendary! And they had reached a point of genetic conformity where their Laws were almost innate!
They still weren't anywhere near the same level as a Myriad Race member, but in terms of talents, even their weakest and most useless member would still be a genius within a smaller Clan or Sect.
And they planned on heading there of all places!?
Arthur nodded, taking out the Half-Wolf Medallion his Father had given him, handing it towards Parvan and the others.
"Just before Elder Stas killed my Father, he gave me this and told me to head to the Southern Night City. If we head directly North, we could end up being ambushed by members of the other Clans from the Winter Rain Mountains. If we head East, we can put some distance between us and them. And from there, we can then head North towards the Empire....".
Henrik and Dagen were entranced by the design and quality of the Half-Wolf Medallion. Dagen in particular knew that it would've taken someone who possessed the rank of an actual "Blacksmith" in order to create something of this quality....
Zlatanna lifted an eyebrow, sending a glance towards Helga before turning towards Arthur.
"When were you planning on telling us about this, Arthur?".
The seventeen year turned towards his "friend" and subordinate, before shaking his head.
"I was always going to tell you all before we left Parachenko Village. You all need to know where I was planning on taking us. But since we have suddenly been presented with an ultimatum, I'm giving you all a choice right now".
Arthur pointed to the Medallion.
"You all can either follow me to the Divine Tannhauser Empire, and try and find the other half of that Medallion. Or, once we reach the territory of the White Dominion Sect, you can leave, or even stay within their territories. It is completely up to you all".
Even the normally stoic Zlatanna seemed slightly taken back by Arthur's bluntness. They all had considered themselves a group, a team by now, but would any of them actually want to leave the rest of them and go off on their own?
Parvan and Milena glanced at Eric, who was currently sitting down by the fire, a bottle of some sort of alcohol in his hand. He was the only person other than Iryna, who was silent and hadn't said anything yet.
Iryna was currently taking care of the three babies, so she was the furthest away from the fire currently.
Arthur turned his head and looked towards his nine "friends". A pensive expression marred his face.
"All of you are adults, whether you all want to be or not. I want you all to come with me, but I can't force any of you. If you all want to become stronger, strong enough to prevent something like this from happening again, then I believe that the best place to go is the Divine Tannhauser Empire. Someone who once belonged to the Kovacs Clan can be found within their Southern Night City. We'll be safe there, and possibly even be able to attend one of their Academia if our talents are high enough....".
Arthur chose his words and tone carefully, making sure that he was the one that sounded somewhat affectionate. By presenting them with them with a choice, Arthur had shown that he could "trust" and give them what seemed to be their own fates.
After the annihilation of the Kovacs Clan, most of them knew that they were weak. They were so slow, that they couldn't even get back to the Village in time to save their friends and family.
By offering a place beside him, to head to somewhere they can become stronger, Arthur already knew what their decisions were.
But-.
"What about these three? Will they be coming to Southern Night City with us as well?".
Iryna, the one who had been silent all this time, spoke up, letting Ophelia clutch at her index finger and giggle slightly while playing with it.
Arthur's expression didn't falter, but he only gazed at the three babies, smiling slightly while nodding his head.
"Of course they'll come with us. I wouldn't neglect my own children after all".
The flames seemed to deepen the shadow that Arthur cast.