"....." Siana looked at Arnold blankly.
"Well? Do you?" he asked again.
"I… I…" She lowered her head and stepped back, "What does it matter what I want… The dead have no desire of achieving their goals. It's pointless to even fabricate yourself achieving those goals."
"Perhaps. But the person who will make your dream come true is standing right here." He pointed at himself.
"What…?"
"But," he then pointed up at the palace, "I want this palace in exchange for saving you."
"…."
"You see, I have a city back in my home world. It's still in the middle of its restoration phase but it will soon become one of the Empire's top military powers."
He knows all the right people to make that happen.
Meeting Selia was an unexpected but welcomed event. She's his ally so she'll provide him the army he needs.
Besides that, he knows what craftsmen and blacksmiths to employ.
He knows where treasures can be found.
He knows what to avoid doing and who not to trust.
But the one thing he's missing to make his city a military power—is a stronghold.
What better way to display your absolute power than a palace as magnificent as the one in front of him? The knights and giants will also be a welcome addition.
"You… You'll save me…? H-How?" Siana clasped her hands over her heart and panted audibly as if she was going to faint.
"I'm going to kill Kalda. You won't become a slave obeying someone you used to call your best friend. After that I'm going to have a talk with the person who wants to take your power in exchange for Kalda's soul. Once that's done your palace will become mine and you will become a normal human capable of living with others without endangering their lives."
If this person wants Kalda's soul then they'll still get it. That's once she's dead, of course.
"….." Siana just silently held her hands on her mouth. Her eyes shook.
Arnold walked over to the towering Sceptim. The monster holding him up still gave Arnold the creeps, especially since he couldn't see its face but could hear its disgusting breathing.
He couldn't see Sceptim's eyes since his helmet covered them but he could tell that Sceptim was looking down at him.
"Will you help me kill your master's former best friend?"
"You are a fool. You want to fight her with my help despite the fact that I told you that she's much stronger than I am?" Sceptim smiled, "Some would call it stupidity but I call it bravery."
Sceptim knelt down with his fist against his chest.
"My sword will be yours in this fight. My loyalty will also be yours once my master has rid her body of her cursed power."
Siana suddenly fell on the ground. Sceptim hurriedly stood up.
"Your Majesty!?" He seemed to think something was wrong.
However, a wail resounded.
She was crying yet again. Arnold scratched his head when he looked over at Rafaela.
Rafaela nodded.
"We can go back to your room if you want, Lady Siana."
Siana shook her head, "I… I want to stay here. That person… They might come and this might be my only chance to meet them… I'll ask them to wait until… until…"
--until Kalda is dead, was probably what she wanted to say.
Rafaela nodded, "I understand. I will wait with you then."
Rafaela walked up to Arnold when the three of them stepped onto the platform.
Rafaela whispered, "I hope you know what you're doing. A lot is at stake here. That includes our lives."
"….I know."
The platform began moving.
Arnold looked back at Siana.
Her expression wasn't one of sadness or hopelessness anymore.
She was genuinely smiling.
Arnold could see her beautiful smile for only a second before they vanished around the corner.
◇◇◇
The three walked down the flight of stairs leading down to the great hall.
The knights were still on both sides of the hallway, looking at them in silence.
Will they be the observers of the fight?
"So… what now? Do we just wait for her or go to meet her at the front gate?" Tanaera asked when they reached the bottom of the bottom of the stairs.
"Kalda is going to come through here to head to Her Majesty's room." Sceptim leaned against a pillar, "We might as well wait for her. It won't matter if we fight her here or outside since the great hall itself is very spacious."
Arnold sat down on the floor.
"How does this work? Do I just imagine myself as a summoner mage?" Tanaera opened the scroll.
"Yeah, it's not as complex as you might think," said Arnold, "In your case you should imagine what kind of monsters you want to summon. The rest will sort itself out."
He wanted to say "The game will analyze which monster summons you choose as your preferred target and pick the class automatically for you" but he knows that they'll just see it as gibberish he came up with on the spot.
He'll leave it up to her imagination instead.
"Where will all of you go once Kalda is defeated and Siana has her freedom back?" Arnold spoke to Sceptim.
He pondered, "Contrary to how others see her, Her Majesty likes to travel. Her wish to find a new home didn't bring on this fascination with adventure. She used to travel around a lot before her powers manifested. To others she seems like an introvert who would rather stay in her room her entire life. I often also forget how she used to be when she was younger. She had so many friends back then."
Sceptim looked across the hallway to the front doors.
"It's been years since I've set foot outside this palace. I feared that something might happen to her again like the night she almost died. I'd like to travel with her. My job is to protect her, after all."
"….."
'What will people think if they see this guy being carried around by that creature?'
People would find it terrifying knowing a creature like that is walking amongst them as if it's normal.
"Are you curious?" Sceptim probably noticed Arnold staring at him from top to bottom.
"…Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't…"
Sceptim chuckled, "No need to feel embarrassed. I've been exposed to many curious eyes. I've been like this—a cripple—since birth. I couldn't crawl. I couldn't walk. I couldn't run. The memory of my mother holding a blade over my throat when I was a child is still fresh in my mind. It must've been hard for my parents having to raise something they didn't want. Something that was their burden. But why did they persevere, I wonder? Was it parental love or just guilt from my birth? Given the amount of times both of them almost murdered me as a child, it was probably the latter."
Which means that they didn't love him. They just felt guilty because they were the ones who conceived him. No loving parent would want to hurt their child. Besides the ones who force themselves to raise the child.
"…."
"I never had an interest in fighting, as bizarre as that might seem. Interests and talent are two different things. Fighting was the latter in my case. My interests leaned to arts. I wanted to become a painter. Many praised my artistic abilities which I was dedicated to since I was young. It was merely a hobby at first before I tried to pursue a career in arts. That was a short-lived dream. I was rejected from art school and also ridiculed by my peers for how I looked. They called me the 'Bipedal Monster'. Although I had a chair capable of transporting me around with convenience, I enjoyed using my hands to get by. Others found me to be a sight for sore eyes, creepy even. I can't blame them really. I met Her Majesty one day when I was trying to paint this palace to honor the royal family," he looked up at the ceiling of the hall, "My life changed when Her Majesty began seeking my services. She had me paint many different things besides the portraits I did for her. There's even a few of my old portraits hanging in her bedroom. She told me to cover them all since she doesn't want to be reminded of her childhood. Her childhood was perhaps the only time in her life when she was happy. I remember how she dragged me to one of her favorite places in the kingdom's lands one day. She wanted me to paint a landscape for her so that she could sell it to a friend and make connections for me to enroll in a school. It was a typical day for us. The two of us found him while on our way back."
Sceptim glanced down.
"I can't be certain what kind of monster he is exactly. His body was damaged beyond repair when we found him. Her Majesty and I wanted to help him so we hid him beneath the palace and nursed him back to full health. Be that as it may, his head never managed to heal completely. I don't know why but he grew more attached to me than he did to Her Majesty. Lots of other things happened before I was announced as Her Majesty's head guard. I had proven through the years of service to her that I could make for a suitable knight. That's after the two of us bonded like this."
"How does it work exactly? When does it know when to walk or run? Also, isn't it hard to fight like that?"
"Those are questions the people often asked me back when I still served the kingdom. The two of us share a neurological relationship. Every signal my brain delivers to my muscles through my body is relayed to him. I can also feel what he feels."
"So… a symbiotic relationship, then?"
It wasn't like parasite and host since the former damages the latter's body while in control of it.
"Yes."
"Why does it hide itself under your mantle?"
"I don't know. I assume it might be because it had bad experiences with humans even before we met."
"You can't see its memories, despite your symbiotic relationship?"
"I can see it," Sceptim laughed softly, "Comprehending its memories and thoughts is the challenge. We're two different species so it shouldn't come as a surprise that we're unable to perceive each other's thoughts. Our bond is different. It feels what I feel. It moves how I want to move. It's as simple as that."
"I see…"
"What's your world like, Arnold?"
"Well, I can't say it's peaceful. We're under the constant threat of being attacked by demons and monsters."
"What are the humans like?"
"The humans are divided, unlike the other races. There's a dozen major nations comprised of only humans spread out on Diacree continent. Demihumans are like a union when it's necessary. They are spread out in tribes and other settlements but they follow only one king. There's also the Elves and Dwarves who each have their own leaders. The difference is that they aren't as divided as us humans. As far as I know, the only wars that have been started in the last two centuries was caused by humans."
Sceptim chuckled.
"Humans are such scum, don't you think? They're a weak bunch divided but can become strong when united. Why can't they follow the demihumans' example? No wonder they have wars. They're never on the same page with each other."
"Hahaha, indeed. Conflict will always exist among humans."
The arcs that come after the School Arc will reveal just how much divided humans truly are.
A light suddenly came from the front doors.
A magic circle rotated above the door before vanishing.
"She's here."
The giants began pulling the doors open.
Three individuals were standing at the other side of the entrance.
The knights that were idly standing by straightened their postures and put their right fists on their chests in a salute. Even the giants did the same thing as if they respected the person that was standing at the door.
'Winter Elves….?'
Beside the person he thought was Kalda were two female Winter Elves. They had the exact same eyes like the ones he killed.
'Is she the one controlling them…?'
They looked and walked like mindless zombies. Perhaps the scream he heard before killing that first Elf was the elf snapping out of the mind control and fearing for its life?
Arnold suddenly noticed that the person who they were expecting wasn't walking with the elves anymore.
He heard a voice coming from his side.
"—Go prepare a bath, Sceptim."
"….!"
'Fast!'
He only felt a gentle gust of wind rustle his hair before he noticed that the woman was at their side already.
"Lady Kalda…."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go already. I'll be taking those elves to my bedroom for a few hours. I can't take them in bed if they're dirty from all the sweat they accumulated before meeting up with me."
"…I was told by Her Majesty to inform you that you are not welcome in this palace anymore." Sceptim spoke calmly.
The woman tilted her head, "I'm not welcome anymore? Stop with the jokes, Sceptim. Just go draw those two a bath. I'll go up to check on my Siana in the meantime."
She walked past the three of them, ignoring Arnold and Tanaera completely.
Arnold noticed something hanging on her lower back.
'A scythe…?'
It looked small, probably like a longsword's length but the blade definitely resembled a scythe.
He recalled that Tanaera mentioned that the dead she saw at the entrance of the tomb were killed by a scythe or something resembling one.
Siana also mentioned that Kalda doesn't like new visitors coming here so she disposes of them.
He looked at the woman.
'So she's the one behind all that…'
Sceptim grabbed Kalda's arm when she was about to head upstairs.
"Have you gone deaf, Lady Kalda? You do not belong here anymore. None of us want you here. Her Majesty certainly doesn't want you here either."
The woman spoke while still facing forward, "…And who decided that?"
"All of us did," Sceptim looked at Arnold, "This young man offered to help Her Majesty. The price will be this palace and everything we've collected during our centuries-long journey through thousands of worlds. As far as Her Majesty's safety and happiness is concerned, that's a small price to pay."
Sceptim let go of her arm.
"You will have to give your life in order for that to happen. Her Majesty has suffered long enough under your—"
Sceptim suddenly crashed into one of the pillars.
The woman had moved with incredible speed and punched him so hard that he collapsed a pillar.
"So you're this young man, I take it?" the woman was suddenly standing right in front of Arnold.
She emitted no killing intent and he couldn't even gorge her strength.
Her cat-like red eyes stared deeply into his blue eyes. The hood of her skyblue robe cast a shadow over her face, making her eyes glow with a brighter red light.
"You're quite handsome. You look like a mess, though. Did Fridulf do this? I bet he did but you managed to kill him in the end, though." She approached at Tanaera, "Oh? A woman? She's cute pretty."
Tanaera looked at Arnold. She was probably wondering if she should attack.
Arnold shook his head.
He silently grabbed the greatsword on his back. He noticed that Sceptim was also slowly getting up from behind the rubble. He was doing it slowly so that Kalda doesn't notice.
"I'll leave you alive since you're so cute. You can become our maid. I've grown sick of these knights. But for that to happen, you'll need to accept my power, okay?"
The tips of her fingers were covered in black smoke. She tried to grab Tanaera head with it. However, Tanaera's body turned into smoke. She appeared right next to Arnold.
Arnold and Sceptim quickly charged at Kalda.
They swung simultaneously.
Sceptim aimed for her head and Arnold her stomach.
"Huh?"
Arnold thought that they managed to hit her but one of the Winter Elves was standing on the exact spot Kalda was standing earlier.
Her head flew after being sliced off by Sceptim's longsword and her body was skewered in two by the greatsword.
Arnold felt danger from his back so he hurriedly dodged with [Dash].
A scythe struck the spot where he was standing on earlier. A black chain was connected to the bottom of the scythe.
'I see. So, it enlargers during combat.'
The scythe was suddenly reeled in. Kalda was standing next to the other Winter Elf.
Sceptim and Tanaera approached Arnold.
"Have you decided on which monsters you want to summon?" he asked Tanaera.
"Yeah."
"Good. Pay attention to how the two of us fight and don't go overboard with the summoning," Arnold then glanced at Kalda, "She managed to almost attack me with that thing within mere seconds. Ordinary summons will be useless."
"—All of you, attack these two." Kalda ordered as she looked at the knights and giants.
"""..."""
None of them moved.
"I see. All of you will have to die as well once I kill these two. Siana doesn't need any of you since I can protect her myself. I'll keep the black haired one alive. Now is your time to forfeit, dear. I was serious when I said that we'll accept you as a maid."
Arnold looked at Tanaera.
"…." Tanaera was silently gripping the scroll in her hand.
"Hmm… No matter. I can make you obey me even if you resist." Kalda's scythe was surrounded in a thick black smoke.
It was then that Arnold felt her power level. It wasn't even necessary to check the hologram card.
He knew one thing.
She was stronger than him. Far stronger.
"Don't be discouraged, Lord Arnold," Sceptim put his hand on Arnold's shoulder. It was weird being called "Lord" by a guy who's stronger than him, "You have the two of us at your side. These knights refuse to fight alongside us just as they refuse to fight against us on Kalda's orders."
"….."
Arnold nodded silently.
"This will not be an easy fight so don't hold back."
Sceptim's body was surrounded by white energy.
Pure Ki. It was very similar to Sebastian's Ki.
Arnold thought to himself, 'Don't hold back… When was the last time I fought with my full power? Was it against Lancelot?'
He looked at his left arm. It was pretty much useless in this fight.
Thus….
'I'll use the demon lord power one more time—'
His vision darkened when he unleashed the full power of his lord factor. Jet-black armor surrounded his body. Dark red aura leaked out of the gaps of the armor, not losing out to the intensity of Sceptim's Ki.
The two of them brandished their swords.
Arnold was going to fight with his Demon Sword. He poured every single ounce of aura into it. The subtle black lines that were on the red blade became thicker and pulsed with a dark red light.
This wasn't a fight he could hold back in, especially given the fact that this woman can nullify magic so Rafaela was useless for buffs. Antimagic users can even nullify buffs.
He took out the "Great Borati Chime" and attached it to his armor's belt.
A magic barrier suddenly surrounded the giant hallway, shielding the observers.
Kalda looked at the barrier, "…Siana probably did that... So, she wants her best friend to die in a cage. That breaks my heart. Has everything I've done for her amounted to nothing?"
"It's not like that at all. Her Majesty appreciates what you've done for her. However, the Kalda today is but a shell of the one she considered her best friend. Controlling and manipulating the one you love is not something friends do."
Kalda made a deadpan expression as she pointed the top of the scythe towards the three of them.
"I want to hear from Siana's own mouth what she thinks of me. But given the fact that the two of you are standing in my way, I'll have to kill you."
· Quest started!
· First Of Its Kind(SS)
· Defeat and offer Kalda's soul to the [First of Its Kind] entity.
· Rewards – Two skill unlocks.