Chapter 318: A Warning (2/2)
”Don't worry, Seika. I'll act as a witness to your heroism!” Gala said again, but Arthur ignored her and kept talking to Dia. ”Are you punishing me with the silent treatment?” Gala sighed, but Arthur was already walking out with Dia. ”Wait for me!”
The three went to the duke's mansion, where they found the two knights and the duke sitting in a meeting room. The three of them stood up when Arthur walked in, albeit with different enthusiasm.
”Greetings, Seika.” The Knight of Courage greeted him warmly, but the other two only nodded his way. The Knight of Honesty didn't even nod but simply bobbed his head.
”Greetings.” Arthur nodded and turned to the Knight of Honesty. ”Do you have something to say?” He asked calmly, neither threateningly nor grudgingly.
”No,” The Knight's face was expressionless. The Knight of Courage glared at him for not apologizing, but Arthur raised his hand.
”Good.” Arthur smiled. ”It's alright,” He turned to the Knight of Courage. ”If he apologized for standing up to his beliefs, I would have looked down on him even more. Not that I don't look down on him now.”
”How dare you?!” The Knight of Honesty grabbed the handle of his sword as he stood up and shouted.
”Pull that sword, and you'll lose that hand.” Arthur smiled at him. ”I know that you don't like me either, but you don't see me acting savagely like you.”
”I'll tolerate this no longer!” He pulled on his sword.
”Dia,” Arthur said, his expression turning cold. Dia disappeared from her spot and appeared beside the Knight, cutting away the hand that held the sword.
It happened instantly, almost in a rehearsed manner. The hand that held the sword flew away with a trail of red blood that left its mark on Dia's flames-covered fingers.
”AGH!” The Knight screamed in pain as he grabbed his hand. ”You damn halfling!” He glared at Dia, and water covered his remaining hand, preparing to attack.
”Woah there.” A golden dagger rested on his neck as Arthur appeared on the other side of the Knight. ”Calm down. Otherwise, the next thing you'll lose is your neck.”
”Seika!” The Knight of Courage shouted as she stood up as well. ”What is the meaning of this?”
”I told you before. If this moron tries anything again, I'll kill him.”
”If you attack any of the knights, you are attacking his majesty.”
”I know that he can reattach his hand. King Solomon will understand.” Arthur smiled. ”I noticed that your hand is not bleeding. I saw a similar ability just the other day. Do you know Traitor? A nice guy.”
”He's using his water ability to stop the bleeding.” The Knight of Courage glared at Arthur. ”Back down, or this will only escalate.”
”Do you have what it takes to threaten me?” Arthur allowed the dagger to cut into the Knight's skin. ”One wrong move, and he's dead.”
”Why are you doing this?” The duke tried to appease him. ”His majesty is waiting for you in the capital.”
”And so is every noble in this kingdom. If I let every disrespect slide, then I'll be eaten alive in the Royal Court. Go on, Knight of Honesty. Tell me your honest thoughts. Beg for your life.”
”I will never!” The Knight spat.
”Dia!” Arthur smiled and commanded.
Dia appeared behind the Knight struck his knees, bringing the giant man to the floor. The wood crashed beneath his knees as Arthur's dagger kept an equal distance from his neck, a reminder that the Knight's life was in Arthur's hands.
”Enough!” The Knight of Courage appeared in front of Arthur, striking with her giant sword. The floor froze beneath the blade as it made its way toward Arthur's body.
”Don't move,” Arthur commanded, and the Knight of Courage froze. Her body couldn't move anymore, even if she struggled to. Arthur turned to the Knight kneeling on the ground. ”I'll repeat it. No one is here to save you. Beg, or die.”
”I...” Beads of sweat covered the Knight's forehead as he looked at the Knight of Courage, who could not help him. He saw fear in her eyes at the unknown ability this young man had. ”Please let me live. I'm sorry for disrespecting you.”
”See, that wasn't so hard.” Arthur removed the dagger and stopped using his Art of Creator. The Knight of Courage was able to move again, and she fell to the ground along with her sword. ”Are you okay?” Arthur offered her his hand.
”Mm,” The Knight of Courage looked at him with a complex gaze and a bit of fear. ”I am. Is there anything else?” She asked as she took his hand.
”No,” Arthur smiled. ”Everything is just fine. We can go to meet His Majesty now.” He let go of her hand as he began walking out of the conference room. ”Oh, Duke of Shades City.” Arthur turned to him with a smile. ”I allow you to tell the other nobles what happened today. Let this be a warning for them too.”