Arthur's Point of View

Helmsforth Temple

A consistent shaking and tingling feeling could be felt throughout my body.

"thur…"

My eyes began to flicker at the sound of someone calling me.

"…Arthur…" It was a woman's voice, but not one that I knew.

Groaning as I waved my hand to make them go away didn't work either.

"Sir Arthur!" The voice shouted in an urgent tone. "Get up! We need you!"

In my groggy state, I whispered back as I saw a familiar face. "Mara?" I mumbled out, confused.

"Who?" They replied but quickly ignored my ramblings. "My name is Lucia Delmaris, and I am in need of your assistance. Helmsforth is under siege."

Opening my eyes and looked around more clearly, I saw the pink-haired High Elf from the gardens shaking me awake. Her magic flowed into me, and I groaned in discomfort as I looked at my wounds. Gritting my teeth as I sat up, several doctors seemed to be running around the room to address my wounds.

"Lucia Delmaris?" Eyeing her, she looked like the spitting image of Mara, but Arceana was also close. "You Arceana's daughter or something?"

The High Elf frowned. "Or something." Many of the doctors glanced at her, but she ignored them.

"Why are you waking me up, and why does my body feel so heavy?" I asked.

She bowed respectfully. "Apologies. However, there was no one else I could turn to. As I said earlier, Helmsforth is under siege, and Elincia, along with Arceana, are both missing." That made me frown ever so slightly as I remember Elincia chasing after me. "As for why you feel the way you do, you have been put under numerous sleep spells for your own good."

Twisting my body, so my feet hung off the bed alarmed many doctors as they began shouting as numerous Elves activated their magic. "Any of you hit me with another magic spell, and you'll be put to sleep in a less friendly manner." At my warning, all of them backed off, and Lucia moved to help me as I stood. "Are Demons invading?" I inquired as the small version of Mara helped me to my feet.

"No. A single enemy has escaped from his seal within the mountain. He goes by the name of Rudnurth, and he visited me for-"

Cutting her off, I grabbed her by the shoulder hard enough to make her wince in pain. "Did you say Rudnurth?"

"Yes…" Lucia answered warily.

Looking down at my wounds, I frowned for a moment before I let Lucia go and started making my way towards the door. Several Elves and doctors tried to stop me. However, turning and glaring at them got them to stop. Not to mention the High Elf signaling them to halt also helped.

"Are you going to search for the Priestesses?"

"Why waste my time looking for them when I can handle this myself? No." I said as I ignored the fact that I didn't have a shirt and adjusted my pants. "Rudnurth is mine. Besides, I've been looking forward to this, and with the Priestesses out of the way, I don't need to worry about them getting involved."

Lucia frowned at that and moved next to me. "You are horribly injured. What hope do you think you have against Rudnurth when the Priestesses were both needed to stop him last time?"

A hollow chuckle escaped my lips. "The difference is that I'm not going to stop him." I told her plainly before looking at her emotionlessly. "I'm going to kill him."

The High Elf seemed disturbed by me and took a small step back before replying. "Rudnurth is currently engaged with the Priestess's students and top officers." She explained calmly. "They are battling in the lower rungs as they lure him out of the Capital."

"Don't worry about them. Once I arrive, I get the distinct feeling he'll be more focused on me, more so than anyone else." Gritting my teeth as I hit my wounds, I groaned in pain as Lucia, and the doctors, backed away in horror. "And that is how you negate any sleep spells you get put under." Hitting them again, I winced again. "Work through the pain!" I said through a clenched haw as I started to make my way out of the Temple.

Cassidy's Point of View

The Slums

"This is gettin us nowhere!" I shouted in frustration and turned to Greigh. "Where's the Priestesses!? We need them!"

The Captain landed with a pant as the people fled, screaming. "Wish I knew, Cass." He then gestured to Alwin. "Why don't you ask the Generals?" Greigh asked back as he quickly pointed up to Kheri. "Maybe they know?"

He offered, and I rolled my eyes. "It matters not where they are." Alwin replied as he used his magic to try and contain Rudnurth. "We need to deal with him until they are able to." It didn't work.

Airships floated above the High Elf who merely walked down the street unchallenged. "My, this is quite the reception. To think you would all be so welcoming. However, you still need to kneel."

Floyd jumped from one of the airships and tried to land on him but was merely thrown back from Rudnurth's magic. "Hurt my knee the other day workin on the farm. Gonna be a bit tough ta kneel." I replied.

The High Elf chuckled at that. "I would be more than willing to heal your injuries."

"Nah. Ah'm good. Just gotta work through the pain!" Rushing him seemed to do little good as Ayda teleported me around, and he taunted us.

"Then I am afraid I must take more drastic measures." Magic shot from his body and very quickly wrapped around almost everyone that stood against him. "These are new. I will be sure to look into them once I am back where I belong." He commented as he pulled the airships down towards him. "Oh?" Rudnurth let out in a small amount of surprise.

Alwin and Kheri were still free to oppose Rudnurth, which seemed to impress him slightly. Alwin's magic encased his entire body as a magic sword and shield came to his hands. On the other hand, Kheri seemed to emit so much heat that her entire body became hazy and hard to see.

"Now, this is surprising. An Elf and a Zugal play at standing against me. Surely Arceana and Elincia advised you better than that." He mocked.

Gritting my teeth in frustration, I watched as Rudnurth's magic gave chase to both the Generals. "They advised us to defend this kingdom to the best of our abilities, and I plan to do so." Alwin replied earnestly and determined. "Have at you." He tapped his shield as he cut through Rudnurth's magic.

The two quickly moved throughout the streets, rooftops, and air as they tried to get closer to the High Elf. Alwin teleported and tried to free us, but Rudnurth expected that and reinforced his magic in certain places to stop him. Kheri, on the other hand, was a blur of speed as little booms could be heard from her wings as she would appear and disappear. She got close to him a few times but was unable to get through his magic.

Rudnurth chuckled at this as he watched on passively. "Feel free to challenge me as much as you wish." He stated.