Cassidy's Point of View

Depths of the Hollow Forest

Many of us were starting to get anxious. The creature known as Rock stood guard over us. It was a little surreal. Especially since we were the ones who helped Arthur. What was he doing that he didn’t want us to see? Was there anything at all, or was he just more focused on helping Lucia?

“I don’t like this.” Alwin whispered.

Greigh immediately responded. “I don’t think any of us do, but we can only wait.” Then he gestured to the living boulder. “Unless you’d like to try your luck?” At that, Rock instantly turned towards us and moved to block us. “Kidding!” The Captain quickly added. “It was just a joke!”

Rock began to move back and forth as it paced in front of us. “It listens to Arthur. He won’t hurt us.” Aydalia stated. “Staying here is our only option.”

“Besides, we have no idea what state Lucia is in or what they are doing.” Ayda quickly pointed out. “Should we interfere or cause an issue, it could endanger her.” The youngest Elf pointed out.

“Cass,” Ziah called to me, and I turned slightly to look at her. “Are you okay? You’ve been really quiet.”

A small shrug escaped my shoulders. “It’s a lot ta take in. Ah feel like everythin we’ve been told is a lie. The Priestesses, or rather Arceana, tried to sell out Lucia.”

Alwin whipped his head toward me. “Arthur may have said that in anger…” Ziah pointed out.

I raised a brow in response. “Do ya really believe that?”

My question made her frown. “No. I think Arthur was telling the truth.” Ziah answered.

“Me too.” Holding my own arms tightly, I continued. “Ah feel as though we’ve been kept in the dark by Arthur and the Priestesses… Ah just don’t get it.” I then gestured to the hulking Golem. “Not to mention all this.”

“There is a lot that Arthur has hidden.” Aydalia began. “He has had reason to do so. Revealing it would cause quite the stir and likely result in a clash between him and the Priestesses.” She then sighed as she traced some of the burns on her arm. “It’s clear who would win, but he doesn’t want it to come to that.”

“I feel like that clash has already happened.” Ayda said softly. “What are we going to do when we go back? Can we go back?” Then she gestured angrily. “Not to mention, all of us only have part of a story. Has Arthur purposefully gone around giving different fragments of everything to everyone?”

Greigh sighed. “He has his reasons, and some of us found out in less than appropriate ways. We eavesdropped, and your mother stole his memories. Not sure he gave information to anyone on purpose.”

Ziah then rubbed one of her arms shyly. “Without the Dragons, it’s possible we still wouldn’t know anything. He also holds them in high regard. What do we do if Arthur leaves Lestrania?”

I held my hand up to stop her. “Ah don’t think it’ll come ta that. Lucia’s here after all, and Arthur cares about Lestrania. Ah doubt he’ll just abandon it.”

“Cass is right.” Ayda added. “Arthur would have left by now if that was the case.”

“There’s nothing really stopping me, though.” Arthur’s voice came from behind Rock.

The golem quickly moved out of the way, where we saw the man standing there with Lucia in his arms. She looked completely healed. Even her missing fingers had returned, which surprised all of us. Lucia still slept as Rock turned to Arthur in excitement as he seemed to lower down to face him. In exchange, Arthur gave him a smile and a grateful nod. Moving toward the golem, he rest his head against him.

“Thank you, Rock. For everything.” He said softly, which made the golem very happy. “Now,” Arthur’s attention turned to us. “Alwin.” Calling out the Elven General was surprising. “Can you take care of her for me?” Moving toward the male Elf, he motioned to Lucia with his head.

“Me?” Alwin questioned back tiredly. “I thought I had no right to stand next to her.”

Arthur bobbed his head slowly at that as he frowned while he turned his attention to Lucia. “I saw what you did for her. In her memories.” His lips trembled for a moment before he turned back to Alwin. “You didn’t deserve that. My mind wasn’t in the right place, and I was taking my anger out on you. Between the two of us, you deserve to be by her side more than I do.”

The Elf was surprised by this development. “Are you sure?”

Placing her in his arms carefully, he nodded once more. “Take care of her.”

“What about you?” Alwin questioned.

“There’s someone else I need to see.” He then turned to Rock. “Can you let them through to Marina? Make sure no one attacks them.” With the trees parting again, we followed quietly behind Arthur with Rock behind us. “Everyone,” Arthur began as we moved towards the blue light. “Meet Marina.”