Chapter 54：Siers Motives (1/2)

It was a light blue colored ceiling, mottled by drawings of petals all over it. That was the first thing that Arthur saw when he opened his eyes. It took a few moments to gather his thoughts as if he just woke up from a coma. Everything felt so distant, so far away, and so surreal. The pain was too real to be called a dream, so Arthur had to accept everything, albeit with a grain of salt.

”You're awake,” Melania walked into the room, placing a basin of water and new bandages next to his bed. Arthur tried to get up, but she placed her hand on his shoulder to stop him. ”You have been too injured; your body needs to rest.” She started removing the bandages from his body, and they were stuck to it due to all the antiseptics and pus.

”Ah,” Arthur groaned as he felt a burning pain when the bandages were off. Melania started wrapping him with clean bandages before she placed her hand on his abdomen.

”Lie down,” Arthur lied down as she instructed, and he felt warm energy coming from her hands, traveling through his body. His pain lessened greatly and he felt his wounds healing faster than normal.

”Thank you, is Master Ronin here?” Arthur needed answers, and he was not about to wait for them to drop at his doorsteps.

”He is. Come outside when you get ready. They're waiting for you.” Melania said and pointed to a set of clean clothes on the side before heading out.

Arthur picked himself and started wearing the clothes. In a single month, his torso had two scars that were too hideous to look at. He looked at himself in the mirror, examining the changes he recently had.

His hair was a mess, as it was longer than it used to. A lot longer, in fact, and Arthur had to comb it backward until he gets a new haircut. Golden eyes stared back at him, a sign of the legacy that changed his life. An average looking face would still be an average looking no matter how many life-and-death battles you encounter, Arthur thought while laughing. The work he had to do all these years made his skin tanned, even though it wasn't white to being with.

His height was another noticeable change, estimated to be above 176 now. His growth spurt lacked the proper nutrition so he was on the shorter side, but his awakening was changing his bone structure as he got stronger.

Wearing the new clothes, Arthur felt bitter inside. This was the first time he wore proper clothes in almost a month and it gave him a sense of hollowness for some reason. All that suffering, the long nights, and the betrayals… They seemed meaningless.

Arthur gritted his teeth when he remembered Jin's actions, but he tried to calm down. He knew Jin was in love with Hazel, but he didn't realize he was the type of character to kill because of jealousy.

He would repay every debt, that was his iron rule in life. Gratitude or vengeance, he wouldn't forget either.

The door creaked when Arthur left the room, and he headed through the hallways toward the garden he first met Master Ronin at. The old man was sitting by the pond while Si was reading what looked like a file.

”You're hiding something, aren't you?” He skipped the chitchat, being sick of beating around the bush. He wanted some explanations, here and now.

”Have a seat first,” Si gestured toward the seat in front of him.

”I'd rather not.”

He wasn't here to drink some tea, and there was a boiling rage inside of him. He didn't know if this came from being treated like a fool or from the dream he saw at the underground hall, but he didn't feel like entertaining them.

”Okay,” Si nodded in understanding, and he placed the file down. ”I know you're upset, frustrated, and confused. You have the right to be. Please, ask what you want, and I'll answer as truthfully as I can.”

”Was our meeting a coincidence?” Arthur arranged the questions in his mind, filtering them out before he threw the first one.

”No, it was not. I knew you'd be there. I saw it with my ability.”

”Saw what?”

”The only chance I have to retain myself.”

”What are you talking about?”

”Let me explain,” Master Ronin stood up from his seat, walking toward Arthur. ”Si is a Legacy holder if you know what that is.” Arthur nodded, feeling his heart beating loudly. ”It also came at the great cost of overtaking him. He was given this ability after he was abandoned,” Master Ronin's eyes flickered with anger, seeming to recall the past.

”At first, we thought it was a blessing. A way to rise above the others from his family, and take back his position in it. His younger brothers and sisters, his mother, everything was taken away from when his father abandoned him.”

Arthur looked at Si, studying his expression as he heard this. Unlike what he had expected, he found Si to be extremely calm. Smiling, even.

”No talent, he said.” Si's voice was filled with mockery. ”Now, it seems I have too much talent that it's threatening to overtake me. Ironic, isn't it?”