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Chapter 33:

Arthur's Point of View

Reed Family Farmstead

Listening to Augustus and sitting down was the right choice. My body was sore from the fight with Tor. Clearly, it wasn't used to such strain, and it got quite the workout against the demon of shadows. After fighting those Ghoul's and transforming on accident back then left me with a similar feeling, but this was so much worse.

"Grandpa!?" The front door slammed open, and a fleet of people stormed inside.

I immediately knew Cassidy was present from her calling out, but it sounded like there were quite a few people with her. "In the kitchen, and ya best be careful with that door! Kine just replaced that, and Ah ain't gonna get another one so soon!" He barked.

"Is Arthur here!?" Typhon's voice could be heard from the other room.

"He's in the living room!" Grandpa Reed told them.

Groaning as I looked at the two Priestesses, I did the only thing I could do. Go limp, hang my head back with my mouth open, and imitate the Priestesses in their unconscious state. Closing my eye as the group came in, I heard some gasp while they hushed at the sight of us.

All except one. "Priestesses!" Ayda cried out in alarm, and I heard a little pop.

"Don't!" Cassidy shouted back. "We don't know if they're injured. We don't want ta move em just yet."

"Then what should we do?" Ayda asked back.

"Arthur should know what happened." Typhon pointed out. "And he looks fine."

Cassidy didn't seem to be impressed at the reasoning. "So do the Priestesses, but we don't know for sure. Ah say we just let them wake up on their own or have someone come take a look at them."

Another male voice pitched in, and it was one I hadn't heard before. "While we respect your decision as their students, as Lestranian Generals, we need to get to the bottom of this."

"Are you sure about this?" Ayda inquired.

"We don't have a choice. If both Priestesses are injured, we need answers." The man replied, and I felt something shock me.

Sitting up and glaring at the man in question, I saw that it was a fully armored Elf in brilliant white armor. "Do that again, and I will break your fingers!" I warned in a low tone.

Crossing his arms, he glared down at me. "Next time, don't pretend to be asleep or unconscious, Sir."

"Who says I wasn't?"

"Anyone with eyes." Was the man's reply.

"You're pissing me off, boy."

Looking at him, I came to the realization that if there was a poster child for male elves, he would be it. Attractive, unnaturally so. Green hair like Ayda's, gold eyes like Ayda's, and some reoccurring facial features between the two. Groaning as I moved him out of the way, I stretched.

"You must be the big brother." I said nonchalantly.

"We were supposed to meet at your Knighting Ceremony. Both Kheri and I were there to be introduced to you. As our commanding officer, we thought it-" He began, but I stepped towards him as I remembered he was right.

Pointing at his face made him frown. "That's right! I'm your commanding officer! Holy shit, I forgot!" Everyone in the room looked annoyed, and Ayda's older brother certainly wasn't impressed, which made me roll my eyes. "Forgive me for being really fucking busy! Do you know what all I've had to deal with since I arrived in Helmsforth!? Nonsense, after nonsense!"

Moving my finger from his face, he continued. "As I was saying, we wanted to introduce ourselves. You are the third general that will be overseeing the human side of things in the Town's Guard, but you are also in charge of us and our respective units." I was informed.

"Mmh." I mumbled out as I studied him. "You know, I could've sworn someone told me your name, but I can't remember it for the life of me."

"It's Alwin or General Farro." The Elf gave me the shallowest of nods possibly and then gestured to the Zugal in the room. "This is Kheri or General Naset. She overlooks the Zugal portion of our forces."

Well, that's incredibly racist and a great way to keep things segregated. Glancing back at the two Priestesses, I wondered if this was all apart of their plan or if they were just really that dense. Sighing and shaking my head, I looked back at Kheri and studied her. Zugal, as one would expect, chestnut-colored hair and wings, with blue eyes and shining white armor to match Alwin's.

Looking between the two of them, I replied in a bored toned. "I'm not referring to either of you as General." Both seemed put off at my blunt statement, but I continued as I shrugged. "Don't see the need to. You call me Arthur, and I call you by your first names. You don't like it? Too bad. I outrank you." Then I shrugged again. "Not that I really care."

"With all due respect, Sir-" Alwin began, but I held up a hand.

"Arthur." I corrected.

"Sir..." The Elf General tried again.

Gesturing for him to try again, I spoke. "Arthur."

He sighed. "Sir, I really think-"

Put a finger to his lips, he looked pissed. "Shh. Say it with me now. Arthur!"

Alwin looked like he was doing everything in his power not to attack me on the spot. "Arthur..." He said grumpily.

"There you go!" Then I turned to Kheri. "Am I going to have an issue with you?"

She shook her head. "No worries here, Arthur." Her voice was rather deep for a female, but I bet it was perfect for issuing out orders.

Returning to my chair, I sat back down. "Now, why was I so rudely awakened from my slumber. The one that I was definitely asleep before someone woke me up by shocking me with magic." Then I pointed at the General. "I was serious, though. Do that again, and I will break your fucking fingers." Was my serious reply, and then I smiled at Typhon. "Glad you're okay!"

"Thanks?" He said back unsurely.

Alwin sighed and crossed his arms. "Arthur, we want to know what happened to the Priestesses. Typhon was only able to relay part of the story, and we are deeply concerned that the Priestesses likely attacked you."

Magic began to gather in his hands. "Are you trying to know if I'm a criminal now?"

Cassidy gestured to the Priestesses. "If ya were a criminal, Ah doubt you'd be relaxing on the couch next ta the Priestesses."

"There you have it." Motioning to Cassidy as I looked at Alwin with a smug face, I continued. "If things were really as bad as Typhon led you to believe, would we all just be hanging out here?"

"The Priestesses are unconscious, Arthur. Obviously, something is wrong." Ayda pointed out as she looked over her teachers.

"I just sat down." I said with a sigh as I stood in an overly annoyed way. "If they were truly unconscious," Walking around the couch and shooing Ayda out of the way, I stopped behind the two Priestesses. "Could they do this!?"

Bringing both of my hands to the Priestesses cheeks and jaw, I used one hand for each to move their mouths. "Wha-" Ayda started surprised, but didn't finish.

"We're okay!" Raising my voice to a higher pitch, I spoke in as feminine a voice as I could. "Arthur didn't kidnap Typhon, and he even was kind enough to save our lives!"

Pulling away and giving a humble look and nod, I replied. "It's true." I said in my normal voice. "Truly, I am without fault in this entire situation and am amazing."

Shaking their jaws again, I leaned in as I raised my pitch again. "It's true! He did nothing wrong!"

Alwin pulled his sword and pointed it at me. "Enough!" Looking up at him frozen, but with my hands still wrapped around the Priestesses' chins, he continued. "Unhand them you disrespectful-"

Shaking their chins up and down rapidly, began to do a turkey call. "Gobble gobble gobble." Needless to say, I gobbled.

Right as Alwin, Kheri, and Ayda were about to intervene, both Priestesses woke with a start. Obviously, I quickly removed my hands and stood in surprise. Looking down at the two as they looked around, concerned and almost frantically, they calmed down when they saw who was all present.

However, Arceana shot forward into an upright position while still sitting down, but with her arms out in alarm. "Where is Arthur!?" The pink-haired Priestess asked in an urgent tone.

Resting my arms across the back of the couch, I leaned forward between the two and smirked. "Hey." Both looked at me, and I gave them a cocky nod and wink. "Morning, you two."

Although, it dawned on me after I did it that I only had one eye showing. So, a wink really turned into a blink and revealed how much of an idiot I was. Upside was that nobody else would know, and I could continue to fool them all.

Elincia stood on shaky legs before looking across the room. "Priestesses," Alwin and everyone else bowed or kneeled. "It's good to-" This time, Alwin was interrupted by someone other than me.

"We must ask all of you to give us a moment with our Knight." Arceana commanded.

"But Priestesses..." Ayda tried to chime in.

Elincia raised her hand to stop her. "We're fine, but there is an important matter we must discuss."

Kheri stood first and turned to leave where she gestured while Alwin followed her. "Of course, Priestesses." The Zugal General replied and ushered people out.

When they were gone, two Priestesses turned to me, and I stood upright. "Before we start, I want to point out that you just asked Cassidy to leave... A room in her own home. Kind of rude, not going to lie."

Both seemed to resist the urge to slap me or roll their eyes. "Arthur, surely you understand what you did cannot be spoken of." Arceana explained.

Quirking a brow at that, I hopped over the couch and took a seat in front of the two standing Priestesses. "Of course!" Was my cheerful reply. "However, I am going to need you to clarify what you're referring to..." Trailing off, Arceana covered her face with her hands in annoyance.

Elincia sighed and gestured toward me. "Have you told anyone about what happened in the Hollow Forest?" She inquired.

Bringing my hand up, I shook it back and forth. "Kind of, but not really. I told them I didn't kidnap Typhon, but you two already knew that. That," Holding up a finger for a moment, I leaned back into the backrest of the sofa. "And I might've said I saved your lives."

Arceana lowered her hands and nodded as she eyed me. "That is true. Whatever that shadow dome was, the amount of magic pouring from it was alarming. Do you know where it came from?" The pink-haired Priestesses asked with curious red eyes.

"Belonged to another demon of sorts. He ran away, don't worry." Was my nonchalant reply.

"You chased away a demon that powerful by yourself while defending us?" Elincia questioned in disbelief.

"I think it was mostly just testing the situation. If things had continued..." I trailed off, and both Priestesses shared a look. "Anyway, back to what you didn't want me to tell anybody."

Moving closer, the two of them lowered their voices. "No one can know you defeated us in the Hollow Forest. While normally we would attempt to save face and say you took advantage of us being distracted, if the demon you beat back is anything to go by, we would have a very difficult time defeating you." Elincia stated.

"So, we must ask you keep our defeat to yourself. Only as powerful Priestesses have we ruled through peace. Should the neighboring Kingdoms hear about this loss to our new Knight, it is likely that war might break out." Arceana explained.

Elincia continued and gestured to her sister. ??Arceana and I have held off great foes in the past. It is from these merits that many allies and enemies have avoided an all-out conflict with Lestrania. Should the Dragons hear of our loss..." The blond-haired Priestess trailed off.

"Ah." I practically sang out and gestured back and forth between the two. "You two acted as a deterrent for Lestrania. Clever." My approving tone got small smirks from both Priestesses. "However, despite being your Knight, I want your word on a few things. If we come to an agreement, I'll keep my mouth shut."

"You would risk war just to have your own needs met?" Arceana blanched at my words and looked horrified as she spoke.

"Not at all, but I think this is the perfect time to get some more details out the way. First, I want a solid five favors. Not just a few. Five." I informed them firmly. "Anything within your power, and within reason." I told them. "I'm not going to ask for state secrets or personal secrets, but for example, say I kill someone in a crowd again..." Trailing off, Elincia picked up for me.

Crossing her arms, she narrowed her eyes at me. "Just assume you had a reason?"

I shrugged. "It'd be nice instead of having the Priestesses question me. If I do that, chances are I'll have a good reason. I'd just appreciate it if I don't have to explain myself at the tip of a blade... Again. It seems to be a reoccurring issue, and it's getting old."

Arceana nodded. "You are right, and we are both sorry. You are an unknown to us, and that worries my sister and I."

"That's fair." I said with a nod. "So... I will try to be more tolerable, but I like doing things my way."

"We've noticed." Arceana commented dryly.

Giving her a sarcastic look, I replied. "I bet you have."

"What else do you require?" Elincia asked.

Leaning forward, I rubbed my hands together. "As long as I get my house down here soon, and I know you two said you were going to be paying me, so I only want one more thing."

Moving over and picking up her scepter, Arceana glanced at me. "What might that be?"

Gesturing to the two of them, I answered. "Neither of you can get mad that I made you gobble."

Arceana stumbled on her way back to her sister and glared at me. "Excuse me!?"

*********

This weeks goal is going to be the same as last week! 800 Power Stones for the first Bonus Chapter and 850 for the second! I think we should be able to get it easily this week! Fingers crossed it happens! As usual, hope everyone is still enjoying the story! We're almost to the next arc! Look forward to it or read it now on my patre-on! Up to you! Later!