Chapter 319: Contracts City (1/2)
”Are you leaving?” Roya asked with sadness that made Gala a little teary. Arthur nodded and crouched in front of her. ”Rega will cure the illness you have, so make sure to be a good kid. Your father is a good man.”
”Thank you, Seika. Thank you.” Daniel bowed several times as he held to his daughter's hand. Arthur smiled and waved his hand.
”Take care, Daniel.” Arthur walked away after that, going to the carriage awaiting them.
”Are you sure about leaving that spirit here?” Dia asked him and Arthur nodded.
Rega has given him a core, which she called a 'seed.' Arthur can plant the seed anywhere else, and the spirit will leave this city and go there.
They got into the carriage and sat down, waiting for the wheels to start rolling. The noises of people resounded in the street, ready to bid Arthur farewell.
”I hope this is a reinforced carriage. I don't think we can survive a thousand rocks.” Arthur smiled.
”You seem calm for someone so hated,” Gala said as she twirled with her hair. ”Maybe you took Dia's offer behind my back~” Arthur ignored her again, making her pout and huff.
The carriage began moving after a while, surrounded by a giant convoy of knights. Arthur suddenly remembered the last convoy he traveled in, a slaves' convoy. Yet now, he was going to meet the King of Freda and the man with answers.
Their carriage passed through the gate of the mansion, the same route they took when they arrived. The people appeared on each side, full of hate and ungratefulness.
”Leave our kingdom!”
”Lorius! Scram!”
”Lorius!”
”Lorius!”
The people chanted, each time louder than the last. Arthur looked through the window at the faces of a thousand people hating him for saving them.
'No, it's true that I chose the lesser evil.' Arthur sighed. 'But was it the wrong choice?' He didn't believe so. The people needed to hate someone, and that someone was him. In the end, the Knight of Nobility managed to convince the people that Arthur was Lorius.
The Calamity.
As he looked through the window, he saw a hill in the distance. On top of it was the bowing Daniel and waving Roya. They were the only two in a crowd of haters who were grateful for Arthur.
”How ironic it is that the man who called me Lorius when we arrived is the only one thinking I'm not in the end?”
”The difference is that he met you and saw what happened.” Dia consoled with a solemn nod.
”By the way, Seika,” Gala asked with furrowed brows. ”Why did you try to make a deal with the wolfman at that time? You could've used your ability to get the answers directly.”
”Oh,” Arthur realized it was indeed strange if one didn't know the reason. ”I wanted to see if the Vampires Overlord's servants are capable of betraying him. It was also a good way of knowing their enemies.”
”The wolfman lied in the beginning, does that count as a betrayal?” Dia wondered.
”It doesn't matter. Traitor accepted the deal.” Arthur placed his hand under his chin. ”I wonder what kind of person that Knight is.”
”Maybe it was better to tell the other knights about Traitor's confession,” Dia muttered, but Gala shook her head.
”They will never believe the Seika,” She said as she inched closer to Arthur. ”The Seika's actions back in the meeting hall were the most appropriate one, even though it was ruthless.” She began rolling up Arthur's empty sleeve.
”What are you doing?” Arthur turned to his left with a frown.
”It's better than allowing this sleeve to hinder you in a fight,” Gala answered. ”Or would you rather keep it loose as a reminder of your arm?”
”It's not a reminder.” Arthur shook his head as he unrolled the sleeve. ”I don't want to look incomplete, that's all. It's a sign of weakness.”
”You are thinking like a noble now,” Dia observed. ”The only difference is that you are more ruthless.”
”I'm ruthless to my enemies or anyone who plans to be one.” Arthur smiled at the ice princess. ”As for my alleys, no harm will befall them as long as I'm around.”
***
After they left Shades city, they found themselves going through countless mountains. Beyond that came a forest, and on the edge of the forest was a valley with a giant road.