Chapter 180: His Sacrifice (1/2)
”What did you see?” Arthur asked with his heart racing. Whatever made Sier this shaken can't be something good. He waited for Sier to calm down before he walked over and pulled a chair to sit on.
”Si, what did you see?” Arthur asked again after he sat on his chair, leaning forward to meet Si's eyes. Si met his eyes before falling into silence. As if he calmed down, he butted out his cigarette with a sigh.
”I saw the Enders.”
”What?” Arthur frowned, as he had already met the Enders before. ”You mean those that took over Alfred?”
”Haha,” Si laughed suddenly, an unfamiliar helpless tin in his voice. ”Those are not the Enders, but purely creatures they created. Their minions, at most.”
”You mean…”
”The Enders are far more powerful, Arthur.” Sier looked him in the eyes. As violet and purple lights flickered in his eyes, he continued. ”The only reason the world hasn't fallen is that they can't descend into this realm.”
”Why can't they?”
”I don't know,” Sier shook his head. ”Maybe there's no one powerful enough to host them.”
”Everyone calls them the Enders, and calls the one serving them the Nether Beings.”
”They're not wrong, Arthur.” Sier shook his head. ”But that's not accurate. These creatures that we see are only a part of them. A fragment they tore of themselves.”
”So, what did you see?”
”I tried seeing into the void to see their goals. I wanted to see their plans regarding…”
Sier suddenly paused as if he had been struck by lightning. He turned toward Arthur with clouded eyes as if he couldn't believe he was here.
”How long did I stay unconscious?” He asked with sudden alienation.
”A few days, barely.”
”What happened in the Runes Apprentice Cup, how come you're here?” Sier looked at him with doubt. Arthur sighed and told him what happened. As he listened, Sier fell silent. ”I see,” Sier said after a sigh. ”I'm glad everyone is safe.”
”They're resting in the fortress,” Arthur assured him. ”Ivy was injured, but she's using the mana room to heal.”
”Isn't it better to have Vihan heal her?” Sier was confused.
”She doesn't want to owe the drunk bastard, she said.” Arthur shrugged. ”She's using her ability to heal herself.”
”Overpowered ability, to be honest.” Sier laughed, diffusing the tension. Arthur wanted to say that all of Mistletoe's members had overpowered and unique abilities, but he refrained.
”That's why you chose them because you saw something in them.” Arthur smiled. Seeing that Sier was calmer now, he brought the topic back up. ”What did you see, Sier?”
”You should already know that there are two other artifacts beside the crown, right?” Sier asked. Arthur blanked for a moment before nodding. It was a long time ago, but Yuran has told him something like that in the trial.
”One of the other artifacts is as much as seen as the holy crown: never. If the holy crown makes you the king of the new world, then this one is the key to that world.”
”You mean…”
”The Enders are looking for that Artifact.” Sier massaged his temples. ”If they manage to obtain it, then…” His voice trailed but the rest was obvious.
'What Jizo fears will happen.' Arthur realized; his heart being squeezed by dread.
”We need to find it before they do.” Arthur's mouth turned into a thin line.
”The thing is… it has never appeared before.” Sier's voice shook a bit. ”Now, however, it appeared.” The room fell silent before Si continued. ”They're looking for it.”
”Do you know where it is?” Arthur asked but Si simply shook his head.
”Nothing specific, just a general direction. I've tried to look into its location, but I was obstructed by the Enders. Thus, I ended up this way.”
”What did you see?” Arthur repeated.