Chapter 215: A Manticore (1/2)

”What I know doesn't matter,” The Warden said in his stoic tone. ”What you know, however, can change things.”

”You've shown me someone who I know.”

”If that's the case, then you two must be fated to cross paths here.”

”There's no such thing as fate!” Arthur shouted, making silence descend on the hall. ”Things aren't predetermined.” He said as he stood up.

”They are not indeed,” The Warden answered. ”Yet, a few things gravitate toward each other. For example, why have you sought this place?” Space began to disappear as a narrow platform connected Arthur with another door.

”To seek answers,” Arthur said, reminded of his quest. ”I wasn't here to see someone else's past.”

”You didn't want to; it doesn't mean you don't need to.” The Warden said as his voice drifted away. ”You have passed the test. Now, you can meet me.”

With that, he disappeared. Arthur stood on the floating platform connecting him to the door as his mind raced.

He had seen Yuran's past and the reason he was shunned by the seven families. Someone has tried to inject the Ender's powers into Yuran.

”Did they succeed?” Arthur wondered as he remembered the last time that he met Yuran in the capital. He didn't feel the existence of the Ender's in him. Hopefully, they did not manage to do it.

However, what about his mother? What fate did she end up with? Arthur had so many questions but he can only shake his head and move forward.

After all that he's been through, questions have become something he must carry along with him as he finds answers for them. From the moment he accepted his legacy from Jizo, he has been carrying the responsibility of unearthing the secrets behind the world.

Arthur touched the metallic door and it opened on its own, revealing a stone corridor that was very much unlike the space he walked out of. He kept walking forward until the corridor turned into a giant hall.

The scent of flowers and soil stuck his nose as soon as he stepped into the hall. Rather than a hall, this was like an underground paradise.

With lush greens and blue skies, the space looked as if Arthur had walked into one of the most beautiful places in the world. Animals danced and birds sang as they flew through the air, passing over the water stream.

”What is this?” Arthur was stunned. He looked back and could see the corridor he walked out coming out of a giant mountain range. He had just been underneath a dessert and now he was standing in greenery.

'Maybe this is a product of the pocket-dimension.' Arthur thought to himself as he started walking through the forest. He kept himself prepared for any dangers, but there was none.

He tried to look for the Warden but didn't dare to use his detection rune. The fact that the warden knew a lot of things bothered him and made him reluctant to share any more about it.

He spent an hour walking through the forest until he found a trail. He saw footsteps that had been left there and followed them to find a giant stone ring surrounded by pillars.

With the light cascading on the white marble, the ring seemed to be shining brightly midday. Arthur's eyes widened at the serenity of the place before he saw something move in the middle of it.

Surrounded by trees that intertwined with the pillars, Arthur saw something inside. He walked forward, prepared to teleport away at the sign of danger, to see what was inside.

The first thing that Arthur saw was the fur, then the shell, and then came the giant claws. His steps slowed as horror seized his heart.

'It's a manticore.' Arthur realized, his feet not moving to make a run for it. He studied the creature in front of him with such fascination and fear that he forgot it can kill him.

With the body of a lion, the manticore looked nothing like a lion should look. Its tail was covered with hard dark purple shells with a sharp stinger at the end. Its claws were that of a lion but his feet were armored with sells as well.

Its head was the most bizarre. It had the head of a horned-lion with a large mouth covered with teeth but had a face that resembled a handsome man above its mouth.

It had its eyes close until Arthur tried to take a step back. The face's eyes opened to reveal two intersecting lines, looking like a plus in each eye, looking straight at him.

Arthur was disturbed by the monster's eyes and almost teleported away if it hadn't opened its mouth.

”I see that you fear me, child.” The Warden's voice came out from the monster and Arthur paused.

”You are not… human?” Arthur asked, hating how his voice trembled at the end of it. Manticores were things of myths even for strong awakeners.

”I never said I was.” The manticore answered as its tail swayed dangerously. ”Do you fear for your life?”

”Only a fool wouldn't,” Arthur said with a frown.