Arthur's Point of View

Reed Farmstead

After the last few eventful meals, we finally had a nice quiet breakfast. Austin was still excited to run anywhere and everywhere while the two women were eyeing me every now and then. Thankfully, they probably figured I wasn't in the mood to deal with any bullshit, so they left me alone. Small miracles. Now, Cassidy and I were on our way to a place where danger lurked inside.

"How many Priestesses are there?" I inquired.

"Just Priestess Arceana and Priestess Elincia. Why'd ya ask?"

Thinking about this, another question escaped my lips. "How many High Elves are there? From my understanding, they're rather scarce."

Cassidy glanced at me. "Still only two."

"Interesting that there are only two, don't you think? What happened to the rest of them?" We were on our way to Ayda's Library.

"What's with the sudden curiosity?" My redhead travel companion asked, and I shrugged in response. "Well, from ma understandin, no one knows what happened the High Elves. Some believe they're gifts from the Gods. Others think they're special Elves who were maybe a mix of different races." She shrugged. "Not sure ma-self." Then she glanced at me. "Why'd ya ask?"

Kicking up some dirt on the road, I replied. "Just had a strange run-in yesterday. I was probably just really tired." Was my vague reply.

Shrugging, the farm girl slapped me in the stomach under my armor. "Fair enough, but Ah'm surprised ya want ta deal with Ayda. Here Ah thought ya'd try ta avoid her at all costs."

"Why would I do that?" My playful tone got her to look at. "I already asserted my dominance. She should fall in line well enough."

"Ya clearly don't know Ayda as well as ya think ya do." Chuckling, Cassidy patted me on the back. "But ya go ahead and keep that mindset. See what happens."

"I was joking, but now I'm nervous.��

In a serious tone, Cassidy gave me a dead look. "Ya should be." Before I could respond, she entered the library by slamming the doors open. "Ayda! Ah brought Arthur!"

A small pop went off, and Ayda appeared before us via teleportation. "Arthur!" She said cheerfully. "It's so good to see you!" Ayda being Ayda, she cut me off before I could say anything. "So, now that you're here, there are a few things I'd like to go over with you!" Bouncing in place, her magic ignited, and she brought out another book of sorts.

"What's with the book?" I asked.

"It's a library, Arthur." Ayda replied with a roll of her eyes. "Ignore them for now!" She said as she waved my question away and got uncomfortably close. "My questions come first!" Moving to my side, the Elf grabbed my arm and lifted it. "No signs of burns or any other wounds from our battle, which means your healing rate is incredible!"

"I-" Reaching around with my other hand, Ayda used her magic to put it back in place.

Looking up at me, she continued. "Don't move! I'm not done!" Then she wrote in her book. "This is likely the reason for how I was healed so easily. A transferred healing agent through magic?" She shook her head. "Unlikely." Moving on to tapping my armor, the Elf smiled and clapped excitedly. "An unknown metal, unlike anything I've ever seen! It's incredible!

Grabbing both her hands, I stopped her, and I heard a chuckle from Cassidy. "Look, Ayda," My annoyance just made the redhead laugh more. "I said I'd answer questions. Not have you poke and prod at me all day! Now, before we continue, where is the book I requested?"

Opening her mouth, I put a finger over it. "Ya know that's just gonna make matters worse, right?" Cassidy questioned me.

"I want the book I was promised! Then, and only then, will I answer the rest of your questions to the best of my abilities." I told Ayda, and Cassidy, with a sideways glance. "Now, where's the fucking book?"

As if to irritate me, Ayda slowly raised her hand up from below, and in it was the book in question. "I don't play around with books, Arthur. You want a book; you'll get a book! Now, I want answers to my questions, and I'm going to get answers for my questions!"

"God damnit, Farro." I mumbled as she pulled me further into the library with a chuckling Cassidy following behind us.

The questions were rather generic. How did I fight so well? How did I get so strong? What was it like fighting Priestess Elincia? Where did I come from? Was anyone else with me? More questions ensued and it was a nightmare. There was little time for breaks between questions, and I didn't even answer most of them!

Eventually, I was able to finagle my way out of answering an unending wave of questions that I knew nothing about. Cassidy helped, and we headed back to the farm. It would be the perfect time for me to read because the redheaded farmer took Rennal home, and Austin was with Augustus. Closing the door to my room, I sat on the bed and began to read.

"History of the two Priestesses." The title read out. "The nation of Lestrania was formed under the guidance of Priestess Arceana and Priestess Elincia." I mumbled the first sentence.

Going over the book, I read feat after feat that the two had performed to build the nation and become the sole rulers. A small number of people even worshipped them as religious figures, but nothing that was official. Turns out, they were gifted to the leaders of the past. Just 'poof' out of thin air and were pretty much declared the future rulers of the land.

There were so many inconsistencies and issues with how things were presented that I almost had an aneurism reading the fucking thing. It wasn't overly long, or complicated, and gave a basic rundown on bullshit that I didn't believe most of. Two rulers in charge for so long with little to no issues or conflicts? I'll believe that when I see it with my own two eyes. With the book in one hand, I tapped it against the palm of my other one.

A knock at the door took me from my thoughts, and I turned to the door. "It's open."

Augustus opened the door and glance at me. "Arthur." He greeted and I nodded. "Was wonderin how it was going up here." I saw his gaze dart to my wrapped eye, and I realized he was being careful around me.

Holding up the book, I wiggled it for him. "Learning all kinds of stuff." Was my soft reply.

My response put him more at ease. "Ya finished yer reading?" The Elderly man asked with a smile.

"Yeah." I said, slightly disappointed.

"What'd ya think?" The elderly man inquired.

"I think I need to have a talk with the two Priestesses. Depending on what they say will determine whether or not I accept their offer. If they're willing to accept a few other terms as well." Was my answer.

Nodding in understanding, he smirked. "It's good for a man ta ask questions when he don't know somethin. How else he gonna learn?" It was a rhetorical question, and it made me smile.

Standing, I gestured to him. "Have an old hand show him how it's done." Was my answer. "Austin could've probably told you that."

Chuckling, Grandpa Reed put his hand on my shoulder. "That he could. Yer a funny one, Arthur. Make sure ya keep smilin in any situation. It helps." Giving me a more serious look, he continued. "Ah don't know what yer goin through, but Ah'll be honest, it's been nice ta have another man around." Patting my shoulder, he removed his hand. "Someone ta talk to."

"Not that we've talked much." I replied with a smirk.

"Maybe not, but ya did get naked on ma land, and that's somethin special too!" The old man laughed and then leaned towards me more seriously. "Don't do that with Cassidy near, ya hear me?"

���Wouldn't dream of it."

Giving a firm nod, Augustus looked at the book in my hands. "So, ya need ta talk ta the Priestesses?"

Shrugging, I replied. "Sort of. I'm in no hurry, but eventually…" Trailing off, Grandpa Reed whistled.

"Austin!" He called out.

From downstairs we heard the young boy call back. "Yeah, Grandpa?"

Giving me a look, the old man tapped my leg with his cane. "Arthur here needs ta talk ta the Priestesses! Think ya could go inform Kine or Greigh?"

"Ah'm on it, Grandpa!" We heard the front door shoot open and then close just as quick.

Gesturing for me to follow him, Augustus started heading downstairs. "Come on and have a seat with me in the kitchen. It'll be nice ta have that talk. Don't need ta be about nothin serious, but Ah would like ta know about how ya kicked my Granddaughter's patookus!"

That got me to give him a surprised look. "You want to hear about that?" Once in the kitchen, I sat at the table as he moved about.

He shrugged. "Not many could handle ma Cassidy, that's for sure. However, that don't mean she's invincible. Ayda is the only other student that can handle that granddaughter of mine in a tussle." Setting a cup down in front of me, he put another across the table in his spot. "Those students are somethin special, and the Priestesses have their eyes on em for some reason, but even the Town's Guard have had issues with ma Cassidy."

"She's attacked the Town's Guard?" I asked in disbelief.

Pouring us some tea, he sat down and waved his hand dismissively. "No! The Priestesses have had some of the officers try ta fight against their students. Only high-ranking officers stood a chance." Which now revealed why she was so cocky going into Greigh's office and leaning on his desk.

"I take it she beat Captain Greigh?" I inquired.

Chuckling, Augustus responded. "Not quite. That was a close one from what Ah heard, but Ah also heard he was holdin back so she wouldn't get hurt. She did, however, beat Sergeant Ziah handedly. There were a few more officers who put the students in place, but not many."

Smirking as I took a sip of the tea, I replied. "I'm glad we decided to have this talk."

"It's nice, ain't it?"

"It is." I confirmed.

Augustus Reed was a good man, and this was a nice family. I don't know why he didn't ask me about my eye, but I appreciated it. From what I could tell, no one was giving me any funny looks either. That told me he likely kept the information to himself, which made me smile softly as we sat there talking.

?????'s Point of View

Unknown Location

"Where are the Hunter Ghouls?" I asked my mass of shadows.

With as sharp a grin as ever, Tor replied. "Gone, my Queen. Cut down like cannon fodder."

I didn't move. "The Priestesses?"

A shake of his made the shadows in the room respond in kind. "No, someone new. Some 'thing' new."

"Did you see who was responsible?" Moving away from one of my test subjects, I walked in front of him. "How do you know it wasn't the Priestess?"

"I felt it. Its energy is dark and like a void. It was almost as if where they stood, everything in that area disappeared. No longer could I sense the Ghouls. They were simply… Gone." Tor replied.

Standing in front of him now, he bowed. "How powerful is this new creature?"

Tor considered my words. "It's no God. It would be closer to a demon, but unlike anything I've ever felt. Almost unworldly." My most trusted general smirked. "As for how strong it is, it's definitely powerful, but I've no doubt I could handle it." He said in a dark and expecting tone.

"You?" Was my surprised reply. "Surely this new being doesn't need our attention."

"I couldn't say one way or another, my Queen. However, its power is vast and able to easily overpower over a dozen Ghouls. Should we really risk sending an Ancient Demon or a different Demon Lord when I could deal with this now?"

"This concerns me. Normally you're not one to act unless I order it. You felt something that concerned you to the point of acting on your own…" Pausing, I considered the magnitude of the situation. "And if you suggested sending a Demon Lord, that tells me this creature is truly powerful."

How was it possible that there was a new being roaming around with the power to challenge a Demon Lord? Only two people come to mind that could challenge him, and neither were the Lestranian Priestesses. Tor could challenge a God and has, by my side. No God gave off the magic signature that he felt. However, all of this felt rather familiar. A frown came to my face, which caught Tor's attention.

Looking up at me, he spoke in a questioning tone. "My Queen?"

Holding up my hand, I stopped him from speaking, and I turned to my vats. "What if it's not a new enemy," I began and moved closer to my pet project. "But an old one?" My question received no reply. "This enemy sounds familiar. Find 'him' and report back to me after you've verified that it is indeed the being who killed my Ghouls."

He nodded at my orders. "At once!"

"Tor!" I called to stop him. "Be careful. If it is who I think it is, he is no ordinary man." Placing my forehead against the glass of the vat, I stared into the green goo. "Proceed with caution and make sure you get a good enough look to tell me a general description of him."

"Anything in specific I should be wary of?" My shadowy Demon inquired.

Turning from my project, I stared at him emotionlessly. "His eyes."