A large hall, with glass cells all around, was formed, even the roof was covered with them, only the floor remained normal, it was solid and rough.
Even though the area was a closed hall, the greyish skylight inside the glass cells on the roof gave it an open sky feel. And the cells on the sides having the green and red border, gave the surrounding the feel of a mystical forest.
In the middle of all this, a big cat with golden eyes stood, baring her fangs at two individuals.
screech...
A low threatening hissing sound was thrown at them, one with black hair whose torso was clad with a dark purple shirt but an exposed chest.
And the other, also with the similar color of hair, with the same color of dress, which covered her from neck to toe, only the slender arms were visible between the cut of her dress which started from the shoulder and went all the way to her knees.
It was me and Lisa.
The cat, that emerged almost at the same time the message appeared, was humongous. Her nails at her paws and sharp teeth, thick torso, legs, and tail were intimidating.
And the red flames with golden sparkles which danced over her own red and golden fur made her even more threatening.
Most of the cells were empty but almost every cell on the ground level held people, from students to professors. They were far and some of them who screamed in desperation and terror were unhearable.
The color was drained from almost everyone's faces, terror and uncertainty were unmistakable in their eyes.
The golden eyes of the Cat looking at me flickered, and she swung her big paw in the air. It was a light swing but the entire paw became covered by the flames and a fire claw was headed towards us.
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[ Several Nubeculas are looking with anticipation. ]
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My head moved quickly to Lisa, and I found her standing completely motionless.
At first, it could be, that she just doesn't see that attack as much of a threat, could come into mind, but her expression told me otherwise.
' What the hell? Why is she not moving?! '
Hurriedly, I moved using almost all of my stats, it could not be considered as high, but it is still almost forty, which could be considered normal in this world now.
Arthur: " Zoe."
I spoke in hush, as I quickly close the distance in a few seconds. And, with my face facing her and back towards the huge cat, I stood in front of Lisa,.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is looking at you.]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you. ]
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The claw attack headed toward us was enough to engulf both of us, at the same time, but-
-Yes, My king.
Zoe replied to my call.
The silver transparent wing appeared on my back, opened in its full glory, and the wings head-on met the attack.
It might be an insignificant attack from the flame cat's perspective.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "Hasty decision." ]
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Bang!
But the attack created a huge explosion, and, although no visible wounds appeared on my body, thanks to Zoe, nevertheless, I felt like I was electrocuted by a stun gun.
Arthur: "Aa..."
My body felt stuck, I wanted to crouch, curled due to the impact, and frown. But I felt like my whole body would sting if I move even a simple muscle. I felt like my blood vessel would burst, and my eyes would melt.
Lisa: " A,Arthur you are- "
Her stammering voice reached me in the middle of the horrible sensation that I was feeling.
I focused back infront of me, I knew that I wanted to frown hard. Despite that, I could only strain my eye and look at her. Lisa was standing completely stunned, eyes wide.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "You are bleeding..!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is clicking his tongue. ]
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I felt something warm flowing through the edge of my mouth. It could have been saliva but it was blood, and the blood was dripping through the corner of my mouth.
A bit of a metallic taste on my tongue. I licked the blood on the corner of my mouth, and gulped the metallic sensation.
Arthur: " Miss Lisa? "
Lisa's eyes shifted from blood on my chin to my eyes at my words. A bit of concern, anger, and frustration that her eyes contain made me uneasy but I managed to hide it. I tried to give a forced smiling face.
Arthur: " Are you hurt? "
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with concerning eyes. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is sipping his wine. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is shaking her head. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is snorting. ]
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At my words, several messages appeared and Lisa's eyes shook like they were looking at something horrifying.
I was trying to be sarcastic since I was a little angry. Because even though she could, she didn't dodge the attack earlier, but because of the stinging pain, my voice came out hoarse.
' Does my voice sound that horrifying? ' I pondered in my mind.
Lisa: " How can you a-"
She mumbled in a low voice, when I suddenly felt the air behind me raise to an extreme degree. I grabbed Lisa's hand, and then moved my body with my now almost forty stats.
It stung, my whole body, it was demanding rest. The sensation of moving my limbs was akin to when, they are being forcefully moved after they become numb, devoid of sufficient blood circulation, but the urgency required movement.
Grabbing her wrist, I swung her to the side and raised my right arm. The wing rose on that side to make a shield, and the fire attack went past bruising the wing.
Arthur: " Aaa..."
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[ Handful of Nubeculas are excitedly looking in your direction. ]
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I groaned as I felt the sensation similar to my hand being slightly burned, which obviously wasn't burned.
' So, The wings represent my own body, but the sensation I feel is like I am being hit by a weaker form of the attacks. ' After having used the Wings once in the plaza incident and also using them now, to actually defend an attack, that was my conclusion.
When the heretics attacked the plaza using bombs, Zoe, in order to protect me, she opened the wings covering the entire plaza, and the bombs were blocked by the majestic wings.
But as explosions occurred at the wing's surface, I felt like, I was being bitten by multiple bugs. And now when the first flame attack was blocked by the whole wings, I felt stung sensation all over my body.
Lisa: " A,Arthur? "
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "You are bleeding again..!" ]
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I moved my head, but I felt a warm sensation at my lips again. Blood in the corner of my mouth which I licked earlier, was dripping again.
Her eyes were fixated on the corner of my mouth, where the blood was now dribbling. I ungripped her wrist, and clapped her cheeks with my both hands.
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' comments "hehe." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "Don't." ]
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' for some reason that 'don't' feels like a cold remark.' an unexpected intuition.
A little clapped sound resonated then, but it shouldn't hurt, since I didn't put much strength to it. I held her face and made her eyes focus on me.
Without licking the blood this time, I looked into her eyes as I spoke.
Arthur: " Hey are you alright? Talk to me. "
I asked that, to understand her behavior, which made no sense to me.
First of all, Only Me and her are here. I can not break the cells open to free others because according to Magnus, shattering the glass would just make things worse and I don't know any other method.
So I need to make her focus before we could fight. The Flame cat looked at us and hissed in a cat voice, flames danced at the corner of her mouth, threatening us.
But that is not my problem now, the problem is -
' Why is she acting like this? ' My immediate problem was Lisa, who was just stunned, standing like a frightened child.
At my words, she tried to speak, replying to me.
Lisa: " Y, Yeah. "
Arthur: " Okay good. I am here, we will defeat- "
Lisa: " We can not defeat the flame creature. "
Arthur: " Ha? "
I became perplexed at her words.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "She is giving up even before trying?" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is disappointed. ]
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Hwang Jini wasn't a warrior, but as her tales are renowned to face many challenges with only her brains, she could be called a sedulous person.
I was trying to make Lisa's mind focus, which seemed to be in shambles. But, thinking somewhat equivalent to 'Hwang Jini', I could not comprehend, how could she speak that negative remark with such a clear voice. I was confused.
Lisa: " I can not defeat it. "
Arthur: " Wha-"
Lisa: " It was undefeatable before as well.! "
She screamed, albeit it was overshadowed by the cat's hissings, it echoed in my ears. The light in her eyes became lost and the strength in my hand became weak.
Arthur: "Huh?"
Lisa: " He couldn't, I decided then-, b,but now I can not either. "
As my hand left her cheeks, her head hung down. Then, I recalled the event where her husband, the previous Archduke, died.
< ' What was the situation? ' her voice was lost of life.
one of the solider with a higher position, one of the survivors of the attack led by the Archduke, stood stiffened infront of her.
actually, everyone who was on the front line died but the one on the back who fled survived, the person standing in front of her was one of those cowards.
' Archduchess. I am deeply sorry about-'
' Just tell the details. ' She said completely uninterested. The apologies she heard were so many that she was numb now.
The man bowed in shame.
' Two thousand soldiers on the front all died, the Archduke fought bravely on the front, his deeds and bravery are like no other. The battle was tough and... and...' The man tried to talk about anything other than how Archduke, the husband of the woman sitting infront of him, died, but he ran out of words as her eyes just loomed over him.
The man could not speak gibberish, as the dead eyes kept looking at him, he was scared of the woman and sad for the woman, the generous Archduchess from before was gone.
' A,Archduke, fought the flaming Amphisbaena. It is a large snake only heard as a legend, it has two heads one at the front and one at its tail...'
The man lifted his head to look ahead but the Archduchess's eyes devoid of any interest made him shudder.
' T,The F,Flame was all around, Archduke fought with all he had, he even used the Royal Family Ice Magic, b,but it didn't faze the creature, i,it t,tore A,Archduke's l,limbs one by one as we watched. I deeply a-'
' Okay you can go. ' Her eyes were still dead, but this time her voice was coarse, the man felt ashamed as he exit..>
screeeeeeeech...
With a deafening hissing voice, my mind focused again. The source of the terror was terrifying to even listen to, it was evident on the people's faces inside the cells as well. But I couldn't turn now, I just kept looking at Lisa.
With all twist and turn her hair became loose, and both her eyes hid behind the long strands of her hair.
The part of her lips, that was visible because of the hair being parted at her nose was twisted, like she is biting them.
' What should I do?' I didn't know what to do.
' Console her? Is there a time? Force her to focus? ' I couldn't converse my thoughts, and another hissing resounded.
Screeeeeeech.....
It was like the Flame Cat was angry about being ignored. Right now I could understand her better than Lisa.
The Flame cat opened her mouth wide and the flame that danced over her fur seemed to gather at her open mouth.
As those flames condensed inside her opened maw, the temperature raised little by little until it rose to an unbelievable sweltering heat.
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "This doesn't look good." ]
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Just like 'Raziel' commented, I could feel my back being covered in sweat. But all I could do was look at the woman infront of me, all defeated, with a frown and pain in my body.
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[ The ' Flame of Abandoned Soul' has used 'Breath Attack Lvl.1' ]
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Arthur: "Fuck it."
With the message, I just turned and swung my right arm. I was angry, the situation with the script was something I somewhat predicted, but there was no story here. And Lisa who is supposed to be cold, calm, and benevolent was a mess.
She was a complete mess when her husband died but it was so long ago that she was okay now. No, she never was okay, losing her beloved was a serious blow to her heart.
People before knew Archduchess to be gentle and benevolent, but she became cold and benevolent. The only gentleness was left for her daughter and her cold appearance was what needed to be shown to be strong.
She never coped with her loss, but she will face her heart and change, but it would have been in the future.
'Why this happens?' Many times it has happened, that I see existence in this world, struggling, and I knew that they will eventually surpass those internal struggles.
'But why it keeps happening infront of me?' I have seen these lost faces on them before, just like Valerie showed in the plaza and now Lisa, but I wasn't involved.
It is foolish to think that I can go without influencing anyone. But, I don't want to be in the position to choose how their lives should form, it should flow how it suppose to, how I saw them.
Bang..!!!
Gritting my teeth, tightening my jaw, The right part of the wing that covered my right side struck with the breath attack.
Sizzle.Sizzle.
With a loud sound, the attack was neutralized but the sizzling sound rose like the wing was burning. The wings slowly disappeared from view, nothing blocking us and the flame cat.
The right side of my whole body pained like I was hit by a truck and,
Arthur: " Pukk- "
The metallic taste of fluid filled my mouth again.
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "Oh no." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is holding her mouth in gasp. ]
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I coughed up a handful of blood.
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is clicking his tongue. ]
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' Isn't this asshole, clicking his tongue too much? He will cut it, although, I don't mind if he did. '
With that thought, Reflexively I raised my right hand to cover my mouth, which felt like someone has moved my hand as it was broken.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "I don't like 'this' cat." ]
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One has to remember that, being a Guhimo, she like cats., yet she hate the humongous flame cat.
Lisa: " Ah- "
Lisa jerked her head, terrified, no, she was past the terrified stage, she looked as if I already died.
Lisa: " What are you doing? Let me see! "
Arthur: " ...I am fine. "
At my words, her hand, which was approaching mine, that was trying to hold the blood, halted.
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is sighing. ]
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Blood kept coming out, dripping, staining my hand and the shirt.
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[ The skill 'Zoe's Heart Lvl.6' has been used. ]
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-My king, are you feeling better?
Zoe's voice sounded in my head, it seemed uneasy and concerned.
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[ The skill 'Zoe's heart Lvl.6' has restored your body.]
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With the messages, I felt all the pain, the sizzling burn at my arm, the stinging sensation on my body, the feeling of the right side of my body being crunched from the inside out, all that feeling went away.
' Yes, I am feeling better. ' I replied.
Zoe's Heart is a skill that was not used for my protection from external attacks, but for all the internal pain, and fatigue.
' You are the best. ' I replied in all sincerity and confidence. For someone who doesn't like to feel overworked, it was the best skill, and being a 'Character skill' the skill worked on the violation of its own personality.
-I live for you, My King.
She sounded happy and relieved as the waterfall sound felt pleasant to hear.
Since the blood coming out of my mouth stopped, I moved my hand, which was covered with semi-dried blood, and looked at the Flame cat, she seem enraged.
Arthur: " Let's deal with this now. "
With Zoe negating all the pain and fatigue, I was feeling like I woke up from a good sleep, so I was excited and confident now.
Lisa: " What? Wait! "
But then suddenly Lisa grabbed my left arm, I looked at her, she seem desperate but that might only be like that from my perspective. With my free hand, I hold her hand, which was grabbing my arm, to push it away but her grip was strong.
' Ah. Yes, she is stronger than me. '
Although it was a shame that, despite being with a strong existence like her, I have to deal with the situation, but I understood that she is in no mental condition to fight.
Arthur: " It is alright, Miss Lisa. "
I tried so that she could let me go, I was feeling perfectly fine, but she gave an unexpected reaction.
Lisa: " No! You'll die! "
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[ Some Nubeculas are startled.]
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[ Some Nubeculas are holding their hearts.]
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Lisa: "Why don't you ever Listen to me! Call me professor! Don't take that class! Don't get yourself too involved! Don't overwork! Don't make me dependent on you! Even now! Why don't you listen! "
Arthur: "..."
I was left speechless as I tried to grasp her words.
' Overwork? I never want to do that. I loathe overwork. ' I grumbled.
Desperation rose in her eyes, intensifying at her every sentence.
' Is this the reason that the affection number didn't increase? What is this stupid reason? '
I looked at her with dead eyes, but it was not cold, but understanding, since I understand why she was that desperate in front of a flame creature.
But if I have to give a reply to her loud questioning words that would be-
Arthur: " It makes me who I am. "
Lisa flinched at my words.
Arthur: " Someone you could rely on, so rely on me one more time... Miss Lisa. "
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is snorting. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is smiling. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with fondness. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yes he is..!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "He has a good heart." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "But I also like his bad boy persona." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you. ]
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Ignoring the messages, I felt Lisa, loosen her grip.
I pushed her hand, and it slid without any effort, but she then gripped my sleeve with her fingers in the last effort, her hair covered her face.
' This is not good. ' I felt the Flame cat hissing and it was getting angry.
The flame cat that lost its flames in the last attack looked like a normal huge cat with red golden fur but the flames were gradually intensifying around her.
Arthur: " It's alright. There is no one else besides us. I will do it, I won't let it hurt you... Nobody will die. "
I chose my words carefully, and At that, I pushed her hand away, and she clenched her fist tightly.
The loss of strength, with which she grabbed my sleeve was because of her believing in my words, or having no mental strength to keep clinging on, I didn't know.
I wanted to make her mind focus, devoid of any worry, but the shortage of time and urgency to deal with the current situation didn't allow that peace.
' I think I could hold off until Lisa would calm down. ' With that thought, I turned.
I knew it won't be a cliche, her mind would calm down after a while as it should, and she wouldn't keep wallowing in the turmoil she is feeling. With little bit of time, that we didn't have right now, she could make herself focus and then she could help, I just have to hold onto it until then.
I would just let someone else do it, fight the big flame monstrous cat, the 'Flame of Abandoned Soul'. But as I said, there is no one else besides us, everyone is inside glass cells.
Ducas would have been a huge help. No, he would mess up the script just as much Persephone, their existence is just absurd.
' It is already messed up to an extent that I don't understand. ' I clicked my tongue, I was definitely annoyed.
Arthur: " Let's do it, you and me, 'Flame of the Abandoned Soul'. "
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yes! I don't like this cat!" ]
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[ Some Nubeculas are pumping their fist in the air.]
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As I stood in front of the humongous cat, which was five times my size, I raised my hand, and the silver ring on my hand shine brightly, and a sword appeared.
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[ The Chronicle-Sword of 'Dawn' has been equipped. ]
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The sword had a wide and long blade, thicker than my own arm and longer than two meters, just enough to hold with one hand.
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is looking at your sword. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "That sword looks familiar." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "...The sword of Ice and Flames." ]
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I tightly hold its hilt, which was wrapped with leather.
' The church must have spent huge points on this. It is a chronicle sword, so the story behind it is not famous, but it is original. '
Arthur: " So, it will be enough for an A-grade script. "
The script generated here is an B-grade, which should be close to the limit. The story of the woodcutter was a D-grade, and this one is already messed upto the point, that there wasn't a story to it, just a fight.
Th flame cat hissed even more threateningly, looking at the sword like she recognize the sword as a threat.
Arthur: " Let's see then. "
'Zoe, it is you and me.'
-I will support you, My king.
***
[ Several Nubeculas are clapping and looking in your direction with anticipation in their eyes.]