Chapter 413: Blessed By A Monster (1/2)
Arthur didn't know what to answer Dacey, but it was one step in the right direction to solve the Lo River issue. After all, he needed their trust to learn about the abnormalities.
'Although I can use my Art of Creator, Submission,' Arthur pondered as he looked at Regal coming back. 'I don't feel like using it against them.'
It was a foolish sentiment and simply a desire to respect these people, but Arthur couldn't help it. All the times he used the art was against villains or to weed out spies. If he walked around using it on everyone to get what he wanted, wouldn't he indeed be an arrogant and conceited person?
”My Lord, you are awake,” Regal rushed forward with joy. ”I just saw Aether outside saying that he will become a flying pirate, is that...”
”I'm sorry for affecting him,” Arthur sighed. ”I was simply trying to tell him that what happened enabled us rather than disable. Yet, kids seem to be more captivated by fantasy.”
”No, good sir, you needn't apologize,” Regal shook his head. ”It is a first for Aether to show such a cheerful expression. You've helped us once again, My Lord.”
”I'm not your Lord, Regal, nor are you indebted to me,” Arthur clarified as he took a seat around the table. ”I am, instead, here to save your village.”
”My village...?” Regal was shocked as his face of joy crumbled. ”Is there a calamity upon us, My Lord? Are the heavens wrathful for our lacking offerings?”
”The heavens?” Arthur tilted his head in confusion. ”I'm not sure what the heavens have to do with this, but anyway. The day we met was also the day I fought against the Mernars, and I noticed a few unusual things. I'm afraid that the land beside the river is no longer safe.”
”Have you seen something, My Lord?” Dacey placed down the pot with a frown. ”Should we leave for the city?”
”That would be the most ideal, but I'm going to handle the matter regardless. For that, I need you to tell me the truth about what happened to Aether.”
The couple looked at each other, seeming to be hesitant about the matter. However, Arthur was nothing but kind to them, and he didn't seem like a person who would exploit their secrets.
”I understand,” Regal sat down as well, interlocking his hands on his forehead. ”I'm guessing that you want to know how my son survived for a night without bleeding to death.”
”Exactly,” Arthur nodded. ”I think it has something to do with whatever is happening to the river.”
”You are... correct,” Dacey sat down beside her husband and grabbed his sleeve for reassurance. ”Our son survived because of something within the river.”
”A monster blessed Aether,” Regal sighed and revealed. ”We could have never found him if not the cries from a distant place. Dacey and I were the only ones who could hear them, and we knew that it had something with our missing son. So we traveled alone toward the river where we found Aether with a monster beside it.”
”What kind of monster?”
”One unlike we have ever seen, for it had the face of a woman, but countless serpent heads were protruding out of its back. Its body was covered in scales, and her legs were of claws. We have never seen such horror, and yet...” Dacey began trembling.
”We thought that if it became known a monster saved our son, he would be treated as the devil's son,” Regal explained.
”I understand, but I need more details. What did the monster do or say to you?”
”By the time we found him, Aether's leg stopped bleeding. A soft light gathered around his leg, and it came from the monster's hand.”
”When it saw us, the woman looked saddened and said this: one of my followers has hurt your son, disobeying my orders. I apologize, but this is the limit of my healing ability.” Dacey sniffed. ”We were just happy that Aether was alive, but the loss of his leg...”
”The monster saved your son because one of its followers was the one to hurt him?” Arthur was intrigued by such a tale, and he didn't even think of disbelieving it. ”Was there anything else around?”
”Uh...” Regal tried to remember as he consoled his wife. ”I think there was the corpse of a monster, too... It might have been the one to hurt Aether...”