Chapter 304: Soul-Eating Fire (1/2)
The night stretched itself until it became a giant whip, torturing Arthur. His mind couldn't fall asleep no matter how tired he felt. He kept thinking about what his actions would bring and whether they were worth it.
He turned around and listened to the quiet breathing of the other members of his party. These people were strangers to him, but they were the closest he had in this world.
Sitting up, Arthur left the artificial cave they dug in and went up the dune. As soon as he did, Gala woke up because her spirit activated to hide Arthur.
”You can't sleep, kiddo? Do you need a hug?”
”Would that give me answers?” Arthur's tone was sharper than he intended. ”I'm sorry,” He rubbed his face. ”I'm just hesitant.”
”About helping Freda invade Alva?” Gala rubbed her sleepy eyes. ”There's no right answer for that, only what you want to do.”
”There must be a right answer.” Arthur frowned. ”People's lives are at stake.”
”Then that's your answer. Do you care about the people more than you care about yourself?”
”The thing is, I don't think I'm doing this for myself. The only side benefiting from this is Freda.”
”And Alva too.” Gala said, making Arthur turn to her with confusion. ”Do you know why Rinzo betrayed this kingdom?” She asked, and in response, Arthur shook his head.
”The duke killed his father before he enslaved Rinzo. Later on, Rinzo turned to be extremely cunning, encouraging the duke to make him his butler.”
”Are you saying...” Arthur was about to ask, but she interrupted him.
”Later on, Rinzo fell for a maid. They became lovers, and he was finally happy. The duke found out. He killed the maid and castrated Rinzo.” Gala said in a light tone. ”It was a demonstration of power. A slave can never take the possession of his owner and get away with it.”
”What possession?” Arthur's mouth felt dry.
”The maid, Rinzo's freedom to act, and Rinzo's happiness. It doesn't matter. Everything belongs to the strong. Laws favor the strong, and if they do not, they bend for them.”
”So, Alva is rotten.”
”The world is rotten.” Gala corrected. ”Without his ability to create artifacts, King Solomon wouldn't have uprooted the previous unjust king of Freda. That's the sad fact about life; strength is everything.”
”Even if you want to do the right things, you can't always do them the right way. You have to be the villain at some point.” Arthur nodded.
”The hero is always the villain for his enemies.” Gala stood up and walked back to the cave. ”Everyone, whether they are good or bad, are just trying to achieve their goals.”
Arthur looked at the high walls of the city and witnessed the night unpeel itself. Not only this time, but he would have to be the villain time and time again. He's the villain for Dia, but he's the savior for Gala.
'I just need to be stronger that no war would be too big to stop.' Arthur thought before going back to the cave. His mind finally rested easy, and he fell asleep.
***
The day arrived uneventfully, and Arthur left the cave, Rinzo and Gala behind him. He only took Dia and the little spirit to hide them.
It was early morning; the quietness was suffocating. No life lived here after many battles took place. As they walked together, the two didn't say a single word.
Both knew all that needed to be said of them, so it was futile to say anything. The only difference is that Arthur didn't need to do any convincing.
”That's the wall.” He saw the wall approach them in the distance. ”Use your strongest attack to destroy it.”
”Alright.” Dia nodded expressionlessly.
”I'll stand far away, just in case your attack backfires.” Arthur knew that he was still too weak to withstand even the aftermath of her strongest attack. Dia didn't say anything, as if she was hoping he would forget such a fact.
They went through tents filled with Demis without being seen. Arthur looked at them all and tried to imagine them as dead bodies, the fate that awaited them. He shook his head and approached the wall.