女神归来的夏天

Chapter 256: The State of The City of James III

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Hailey has given me plenty of useful information. She's found out a lot in the short time she's been here. I can't say I ever expected to see her here, but I'm glad I have. "How are you guys siblings?" A question from Sally breaks up the silence. I figured she'd be curious, and I haven't explained everything regarding how we came to be in this world. All she knows is we come from a different world. She doesn't know the history, the technology, or means of how we came to reside in this world. So her question has merit to her.

Hailey turns her head and looks at me with an expression asking me if I want to explain or her. I turn back to Sally, and I see she's waiting for an answer. "Remember when I told you we new people come from a different world?" She nods her head. Remembering that I told her this. "Hailey is my full-blooded sister from that world. She was brought here just like me. She is my sister, from our world. Here, I guess you could say we aren't blood-related anymore." Hailey elbows me in the ribs, but it has no effect. Stat's too high.

Hailey rolls her eyes at my lack of reaction. I look back at Sally and see how confused she is. The science and technology are far too high for her or anyone from Gaia to understand. One day when I think she's ready, I'll explain the whole story. Other players have told the natives of Gaia the truth of how we came to be and how we are connected to this world. Many NPC's claimed it to be insane and ignored our words. In a way, they were right. It turns out that The Ancients World was an actual world. It wasn't a game. We were fooled.

If I try and explain all this to Sally, it'll not make any sense, and it'll cause her to doubt me. Something I don't want happening. "Are we heading back to the city soon? If we aren't going to be using the adventurers guild, then we'll need to start looking other places." Hailey wants to get a move on, and I don't blame her. I nod my head, and I stand up. Sally and Hailey follow suit, and we turn towards The City of James. It's ruined in many places. Only some areas are still standing but are likely out of commission for the time being.

As Cera, Sally, and Hailey walk back towards the city. The people in The City of James are livid. Many are wanting to persecute the players and ban them from the city. Others are turning to the Barons, expecting them to repair the damages and fix the city. Kelly James is making a move right now, one that will secure her place as the Baron and eliminate her brothers. However, she has to take her time on this move. Venturing into the city at this point is dangerous, and it has risks. This is one of the final nails in the coffin for her brothers.

I enter my carriage and relax on the soft cushions. I'm heading to the city to lay the foundations for a rebellion. Once the masses see me helping and reaching out, they'll see that I'm the only one in the James family that cares about them. Making them focus their anger and hate further on my brothers. "My lady, would you like some desserts for the trip?" My butler makes sure that I'm prepared. I take some sweets with me, but not much. He closes the carriage door and walks back to the estate. My driver begins taking me towards the city.

I cross my right leg over my left and begin to eat some of the cake. It's becoming an addiction for me. I'm going to start getting fat if I'm not careful. I look out the window on my right and look towards the city. I can't wait until I can fix it. Make it a safe place to live and destroy the slave market. Freeing innocent lives and people. If Slayer Zern and Saliandra Orvello are here, then I'll have to cross that bridge when it comes. There isn't any plan I can make to secure my safety if they confront me. I can only hope that they'll listen before trying to kill me.

See the good I'm trying to do. Let me live and rule this land so I can make it better. Undo the wrongs of my father and brothers. I've also heard rumors from my spies that Elves are showing up in the city. Another sign that Slayer Zern and Saliandra are possibly here. The Elves homelands are far away from here, and they wouldn't come out all this way for no reason. They could prove to be a problem in my plans. Who knows what kind of things can go wrong with their presence here. What if my brothers try and strike a deal, get a loan or something.

If that does happen, then I have to go back to the original plan of letting Slayer Zern kill them instead of the people. The possible outcomes in this scenario are unfavorable for me. It could end up destroying everything I've worked for after all this time. I can give a kill order on any spotted elves, but that could backfire if Saliandra is attacked. If they are here. I have a feeling that they are here in the city. I'm the only one convinced in my family that they are, other than my oldest brothers. The rest believe themselves invincible.

As this is all happening, there is commotion in Zenith. The reason why is because more and more attacks keep occurring. All of them are directed at Queen Tessa. All of them are after the supposed feather in her hair. However, it has long since disappeared and is now fully fused with her hair. Turning it a pure white. Even though the feather itself was golden and the fury of Jackson is reaching new heights, and it's all because they haven't found out who's sending all the assassins and thieves to attack his Queen. Any man would be man, ready to wage war.

I sit on my throne with Tessa at my side. My hand in hers. She is beginning to look like a zombie, all from a lack of sleep. I have changed since these events began. After the attack on my city from the mysterious monsters after the players and my wife constant danger. I don't know who's my enemy or who's my ally outside my walls. The only ones I can say for sure are The Dryads. My suspicions that the coalition is making these attacks have risen. Gregory's anger at my actions is obvious, and this could be his way to get back at me.

No one is above personally attacking someone, not even Kings. "Where are we going to sleep tonight..." My wife's weak voice makes my heart break. I love her very much, and I want her to feel safe in her own home, but that's impossible when she's been attacked in most rooms that are fully furnished. How the attackers keep getting in blows my mind, and I have begun a secret search for a possible traitor or mole in my palace. Letting these assassins and thieves in. I lift my arm and reach over to my wife. Wrapping her in a one-armed hug.

She can't cry anymore. Her tears are all dried up. I can't help resenting Slayer Zern a bit for this. If he never gave Tessa a feather from his wings, then none of this would have happened. "We'll find somewhere... I promise..." When we sleep tonight, we'll have even more guards patrolling and watching over the room than the previous nights. Hopefully, more eyes will keep the attacks from happening. I watch as my wife's blank expression twitches from time to time. All because of lack of sleep.

Her eyes are hollow and deep. Missing the vibrant light that I've come to love so dearly and it fills me with a white-hot rage for the people who have done this. "We'll find out who is doing all this soon. Until then, you and I will never leave each other's side." She doesn't react or respond. I take little solace in the fact that her new powers granted by the merging of her and the feather protect her. None of that matters when you aren't a fighter. Tessa can't fight. She hates violence. It's causing breaks in her mind that I don't not how to fix. The things her powers have done are gruesome, to say the least.