Chapter 397: Soul Link (2/2)

”Play around all you want. We'll be right here,” Arthur smiled as he sat to lean on the tree's trunk.

”Yay!” Rega's leaves glowed green before she flew around the tree, descending toward the forest and camp below them. Here, she had an ethereal body, allowing her to pass through things without hindrance.

”Are you truly alright, Arthur?” Dia lowered herself to his level and asked with worry.

”Well, to be honest, it hurts a lot, but it's getting better.” Arthur weakly smiled as he leaned back on the tree. ”I just need to rest a little, that's all.”

There was a pause before Dia leaned beside him, and Arthur felt her warmth beside his intact arm. She didn't say anything more, and Arthur allowed himself to drift into sleep.

He couldn't sleep in the Spirits Realm, so he wanted to lose consciousness to 'reboot' his brain. Fortunately, sleep came upon him faster than he expected, and he was soon within a dream.

There was someone in front of him, and Arthur felt as if he knew who it was. Arthur walked toward the person and grabbed him by the shoulder, and the latter turned around to see him.

It was a younger version of himself. Young Arthur flinched and retreated away from him, looking quite terrified.

”I'm sorry, I'm sorry,”

”What are you apologizing for?” Arthur was confused.

”I'm sorry for not being enough. I'm sorry.”

After that, young Arthur disappeared without a trace. Instead, a mirror appeared in front of him, reflecting his current appearance.: long hair covering his face, missing arm, and a battle-hardened sharp expression.

”I'm not enough?”

”You are more than that,” a voice answered him, snapping him awake. Arthur opened his eyes to see Dia's face before him as she held his cheek gently. ”You are so much more than that,” as she said, she rested her forehead on his, trying to calm him down.

Arthur closed his eyes again, and he calmed down. The fact that he saw his father brought out some of his feelings after he left them. They were nothing, but they left a tiny wound that festers once in a while.

A cold stream of energy seeped into his head, cooling him down. Then, finally, Arthur felt Dia retract her head, and he opened his eyes to see her looking at him.

”Did you have a nightmare?” she asked, to which he nodded and then gave a dismissal shake of his head. Arthur stood up from his spot and looked at Hidden City.

”It's nothing. I just needed to rest. How much time did I sleep for?”

”Ten minutes,” she stood up beside him, ”barely. You should sleep more.”

”The rest are waiting for me,” he turned to her with a smile, watching her blonde hair fluttering in the wind. ”Are you staying here?”

”Do you want me to?”

Then came a pause, as Arthur didn't have an answer for that. He wanted her to stay but knew that asking this of her would be nothing less than selfish, as her simple presence here would jeopardize everything she worked for in Livia.

”Don't think unnecessary things,” she said with eyes of clear intentions. ”Just answer my question, without thinking, without too much thinking.”

”I do, but I don't think it's the right thing to do.”

”You are a moron,” she sighed and walked closer to him, and he could tell her rosy perfume. ”I'm staying here for two days, so you can go ahead and meet with your friends.”

”I'll talk to you later,” Arthur smiled. ”You can play with Rega until then,” he said and watched the princess stiffens. ”You are awkward with children.”

”Don't laugh,” the Demi scowled before looking around. ”I just worry that something I would say would hurt it. Children are quite fragile in their developmental years.”

”First of all, it is hundreds of years old. Secondly, where the hell is the manipulative attitude that you had when you met me? You were great at coaxing people into liking you.”

”I don't need it after I regained my strength,” Dia blushed as she waved him. ”Go to govern your city. I'll stay here.”