Arthur's Point of View

Northern Forests

Cold winds blew as I stepped out into some snow. Typhon was there, looking confused. The two of us were just North of Klasteris and a little south of the Zugal Empire. The Northern Kingdom held up to its name as Winter approached. I’d only been here one time with Aerowyn when she told me about the Massacre of the ‘weaker’ clans, including the Dove clan. This was the closest she ever got to returning home.

“What are we doing out here!?” Ty asked in a raised voice to be heard over the wind.

“You’re going to do your best to survive until we leave for the Desert Kingdom.” I told him as I approached.

“Why now?!” He inquired as he looked around. “Surely, there was a better time to do this!”

Placing a hand on his shoulder, I leaned in so I didn’t have to shout. “Because Aydalia is horribly injured, and Aien is dead.” My student looked at me in surprise. “Had you been stronger, that might not’ve happened.” I told him.

It was cruel, but it was also true. I needed someone on my side who I could count on. My mind continually entertained the idea of going to see my three guardians, but Aydan’s magic was there. Who knows what he did to that place… Of course, I knew it wasn’t his fault.

“You’re still a child, Ty. Expecting you to be able to face such Demons is cruel.” He looked down at the snow. “But I am expecting it.” Ty’s gaze snapped up to mine. “Not right now, but as soon as possible. That means you don’t get the right to mourn like everyone else. You need to strive to better yourself. Even if it means self-sacrifice. That’s what it means to be a hero. You do want to be a hero, don’t you?”

“Is that why you left after you defeated the Demons?” I didn’t respond to his question. “Did it serve a purpose, or were you distancing yourself on purpose?”

“I went to find comfort in an old friend and was unable to. We were interrupted, but I did also try to find some answers. They weren’t what I was expecting.”

“But you did mean well.” Typhon said with a smile.

A sigh escaped my lips. “Someone once said that good men mean well. We just don’t always end up doing well.” I told my student as I looked at him with a blank expression. “I’ve felt that way several times. Each time, it’s ended poorly. Now, I try my best not to care about meaning anything. Labels are just that. A label.”

“But you’re a hero!” My student cried out.

“No, I’m not. You want to be a hero, by all means. I’ll even help you, but you won’t thank me for it.” Crouching down in front of him in the snow, he seemed lost, which was good. “Would a hero leave you here?” I merely shook my head, answering my own question. “We’re here to see if your lineage can survive in these conditions at such a young age. I want to know if your blood is up to the challenge of being my student because it will become far more difficult as we go on.” Standing, I stared at him. “You will have to choose what you want to be as we go, but there is no stopping.”

My student looked at me. “You’re my hero…” He told me again and looked at me with such admiration that it almost hurt. “I do not know what strength it is you seek within my blood, but I promise I will do my best to become what you expect of me.”

Part of me almost deflated at what I was doing. “Placing such expectations on a child is cruel, Typhon. Manipulating those who don’t know any better is easy as well. Should you ever come to resent me, then grow strong enough so that you may one day confront me on what I’ve done to you.”

He stepped away from me. “You haven’t done anything I haven’t asked for. If this is how I get stronger, then I will trust in you.” My student smiled at me. “After all, you haven’t lied to me since you started training me, right?”

I nodded. “I will always do my best to be honest with you, Ty. However, there will be things I will withhold. You are a child, after all. A mere boy who wants to put the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

“Then you better make sure my shoulders are sturdy enough to handle that weight.” He started to walk off and finished with a raised voice. “Besides, you could probably use someone to share that load.” Before he vanished into some of the trees, my student turned around and waved at me. “Thank you for always forgiving the Priestesses!”

A smirk split my lips as I watched him walk into the forest. It was going to be a lot of in-between from here and Helmsforth, but I’d make it work. Part of me was surprised though. My mind, while still hazy, felt somewhat clear after conversing with such positivity from my student. Maybe he was rubbing off on me…

Ty was out of earshot as I spoke. “Should you survive this, you will be stronger than you were.” My gaze shifted through the forest, where I saw several energy signals scattered about. “But that’s only if you survive.”

He didn’t know this, but I had no plans to help him. Only if there was some outside interference would I act. Shooting up into the air, my eyes were able to see him slowly move through the forest with caution. Hopefully, he knew he needed to find shelter. Especially since it looked like there was a storm brewing.