Arthur's Point of View

Pendragon Estate

A knock came from my door, which immediately startled me. Using a gravity pillar to pull Defiance across the room and to my hands, I moved to the entryway. The knock had ceased, but there was reason to be wary. While only one magic signature could be seen it wasn’t hard to imagine that I was already surrounded.

“Who is it?” I called out.

“Aydalia.” My brows shot up in surprise at that. “Or Mama Farro if you prefer.” Opening the door after looking around to see if she was alone, I saw her eyes shoot to my sword. “Expecting someone else?”

My eyes darted around the area to see if she was truly alone. “Something like that.” Putting Defiance on my back, I shifted my gaze back to her. “Is there a reason you’re here?”

She seemed nervous that I was so on edge. “I wanted to talk about the journal you read, but I’m not sure now is the best time.” Her robes blew lightly in the wind along with her green hair as she looked around the area cautiously. “Did something happen?”

Bobbing my head back and forth, I answered. “I might’ve, or might not of, told Arceana to essentially go fuck herself.” Holding up my right hand as Aydalia looked at me shocked, I continued. “She had some assassins on standby and did some other unpleasant shit that I do not approve up.” Then my other hand went up. “That led to me putting her in her place. On the floor. Somewhat violently.” Aydalia’s eyes were wide, and her jaw dropped. “All in all, not the best dinner I’ve ever had.”

“Are…” She started after trying to collect herself. “Are you telling the truth?”

“There’s a reason I had my sword. Not sure what’s going to happen over the course of the next few days, but if there is a clash, make sure you keep your kids out of it.” I warned her. “If they get involved, that’s on them.”

“Dealing with the Priestess and her assassins must’ve been difficult.” Mama Farro commented.

I shrugged. “Not really. Arceana and Elincia are far weaker than I was expecting. However, magic can still fuck me up. Your daughter is proof of that.”

Aydalia became quiet for a moment. “I see.”

“Would you mind joining me for a walk?” I inquired and her gaze became inquisitive. “There’s another group I need to talk to. We can talk on the way.”

She nodded. “Very well.”

Closing the door behind me, we started making our way to the Reed Family Farmstead. “So, where’s Aien? Surely Papa Farro isn’t too far from his lovely wife.”

Aydalia blushed at the compliment. “Aien stayed up in the Middle Rung. He understands this is more about our children and I, then it is about him.”

“He sounds like a good man. Understanding and supportive.”

“Aien is wonderful.” Aydalia stated with a small smile. “Even with your arrival, he knew the consequences, and acted so only he would be punished should it come to that.”

“Protecting one’s family is nothing to be ashamed of. Nor should one shy away from doing so if threatened or think they’ll be punished. In fact, all the more reason to do so.” Gesturing to her, I continued. “Aien has my respect for the lengths he went to. I may not like your daughter, nor am I a huge fan of your son, but both you and Aien have my word that they will come to no permanent harm from me.”

Aydalia smirked as she repeated, “Permanent?”

I shrugged as we walked through the dirt. “Your kids keeping doing stupid shit. If I need to knock them unconscious, I will, but that’s about all I’ll do.”

She sighed at that. “I suppose that is more than I could ask for if someone were to attack you.” Then she continued before slapping my back lightly. “Though, I will be upset if you hurt my daughter too much. She’s training, I understand, but she is still a girl.”

“Women and children get the same treatment from me depending on what they’re doing. Both have tried to kill me before, so the notion that they should receive fewer consequences compared to their male counterparts is lost on me.” I informed her.

“Children have tried killing you before?” The Elf looked a little disturbed at that.

“Several times. Hell, one of the times was when I was here and got confronted by some Ghouls. Some of those Ghouls were children.” Then I shrugged. “Still killed them.”

Mama Farro looked pained at that, but given what she knew, she couldn’t chastise me for my actions. “Understandable in some circumstances, I suppose.”

I nodded. “You suppose right.”

My confirmation made her eyes roll. “So, I hear you’re the one behind all the improvements the to the Lowest Rung.”

Another nod. “Yep. Been working on improving The Slums overall.” Then I pointed off to the wall. “With the battlements up and the wall almost complete, we’ve been laying down stone to help with keeping the streets clean.” I explained. “The farms had to stay on the outside, but I put a tower above each one so there is a lookout posted twenty-four hours a day incase something happens.” Then I shrugged. “That keeps the entire city safe and allows for a quick response time for the people outside the walls.”

“I see you’re also building the streets outside of the Lowest Rung.” Aydalia commented as she pointed back towards the gate, which had a street extending out from the inside of the walls. “Is that for it to reach your home eventually?”

I shook my head. “No. It helps get off dirt from boots and wagons before entering The Slums. Keeps the city streets upkeep much more manageable. Not that I think any of The Slum’s resident’s care. However, it also makes it easier to clean the streets in one specific location before anyone even enters.”

The Elf studied me for a moment before asking me another question. “Why do you call it ‘The Slums’ when the term is somewhat disrespectful, yet you’re doing your best to take such good care of it?”

“To literally shit on everyone in the Upper Rungs. I want people to show up to Helmsforth, see ‘The Slums’ and then if they head up the mountains, I want them to be disappointed upon seeing the ‘Upper Rungs’.” I replied earnestly.

She shook her head with a smile. “You are an interesting man, Sir Arthur. If what you say is true, and even if it’s not, I imagine it’s for good reasons.”

“Glad you think so.”