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Chapter 49:

Arthur's Point of View

Lestrania Thousands of Years Ago

Following Aydan after leaving the rest of the group to themselves after forcing my new position on them, I asked the Sage a question. "Where are we going?" I inquired as we moved through several halls and up many stairways.

"My private study. We will be free of all interruptions there." Aydan replied.

Since the whole point was to follow him to speak in private, both of us were silent the rest of the way there. However, we were off in some corner of the castle that seemed rather empty. Quirking a brow at this, I eyed Aydan for a moment to see if there were any signs of a trap, but my eyes didn't pick up anything unordinary.

"Here." The Sage stopped at a large metal door with runes on it and chuckled at my look. "This isn't a dungeon cell if that's what you were wondering. The runes are there to make sure that if one of my experiments goes wrong, it is confined to the room only." He then opened the door and entered. "Keep damage to a minimum."

A frown took over my lips as I entered and looked around. "Déjà vu." I mumbled out as piles and shelves of books were scattered across the room. "It's like I'm being punished with the dumbest punishment that could be thought of." Shaking my head, I mumbled to myself. "God damnit, Farro."

The room reminded me of Ayda, his descendant, and her damn library. However, this was more rustic. Stone walls, floor, and ceiling gave little to be desired in design, but there was a glassless window. Something you would expect in a castle and some rooms. Moving to it, I looked outside and realized that the towers that we passed on the way here were the same ones I saw when I first arrived here in this world.

Aydan turned to me, confused. "What do you mean?" Turning back to him, I saw him watching me and expecting answers.

Sighing as I studied some random parchments scattered on the stone floor. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

"I thought that was why we were here. To talk and say 'things.'" He emphasized before crossing his arms and leaning on his desk. "Or has that changed?"

Moving away from some test tubes, magical devices, and materials, I stood across from him by a more open wall. "No. However, the problem is explaining." Tapping the wall as I thought of how to start, I sighed before starting. "This is going to sound insane, and you're probably not going to believe me, but you're the only one who can help me."

And so, I began spinning the tale of my arrival in the past and how I was a Knight of Lestrania much like him, but in the future. He listened quietly as I regaled the tale of Priestess Arceana and Priestess Elincia. Skepticism was clear in his eyes as he watched me closely. Aydan remained silent as I told him that there was no Royal Family, and only the two sisters remained from what I could tell.

"Ghouls and other Demons have been moving through the Hallow Forest, which I realize now, is where we are. It's why I was so unsure and wary of things in the beginning, but you're the one who made the prophecy, and that means you know of me." My explanation fell flat as Aydan gave me a blank look in return.

"Prophecy? What Prophecy?" He questioned back.

I was stumped at that. "You really don't know, do you?" He shook his head, and I sighed. "There was a book of prophecies in the future that held a depiction of me. It's why I put on this cloak when I saw it. I had a feeling that things weren't so simple, but if you don't know..."

After a moment, Aydan asked me another question. "What did this book of prophecies look like?"

"Uh, it was quite thick in terms of pages and was worn down. Size was large in width and height, but it seemed to be a customed fit and definitely old." Closing my eyes as I thought back to the book, I sighed. "It was a royal blue and had strange runes on the cover, spine, and back."

To my surprise, Aydan moved across the room and to a chest of sorts. "That sounds eerily familiar." He stated as he opened the chest and rummaged about before pulling out the book in question. "Is this the book in question?"

Pointing at it excitedly, I sighed in relief. "Yes! So, you do have it! If you go to a little past the middle of the book, there is a depiction of me exactly!" Taking off my hood, surprised him, and I pointed at my eyes. "Look at my eyes and compare it to the drawing on the pages!"

While he paused upon seeing my eyes, he moved closer to me and started flipping through the pages. "As you can see," The Great Sage paused as he showed me the unfilled pages. "This book is rather empty. Only the beginning has any content."

Rubbing my face in annoyance, I backed up to the wall, sighed, and just slid down the wall where I leaned the back of my head against the cold stones. "I really hate magic."

"Well, while I may not have your likeness in the book it is nice to see what you actually look like." The Sage informed me.

Flipping him off as I groaned in frustration just seemed to confuse him. "The bird isn't a thing here?" I asked.

"Bird?" He repeated unsurely.

"Nothing. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that I likely just gave you what you needed to make the sketch yourself." The Lestranian Knight of the past just watched me quietly. "So, coming to you was already meant to happen, as was all of this. Unless I am mistaken."

Aydan didn't know how to respond to that as I quietly sat there and kept hitting my head off of the stones behind me. Moving away from me to put the book down, The Great Sage seemed to be lost in thought himself. After a moment, he eventually sat down at his desk and tapped the book.

"Let's say, hypothetically, that you are telling the truth." The Sage started, and I looked over at him. "What happened to Rudnurth, Elias, and Mara? If Arceana and Elincia are alive, they must truly be the closest beings to immortals that walk this world, and their siblings should also be alive." He speculated. "Perhaps they are like Davost in a way. Young Gods and Goddesses sent to perform their own rites before ascending."

Sighing at the god talk, I shrugged. "Well, Arceana did state that she and Elincia fought against Rudnurth in my time. However, they said it was long ago. Unfortunately, they didn't mention anything about Mara or Elias." Then I pointed at him. "You were mentioned though."

"I'm honored, but that's not what I asked."

"Look, I didn't care to ask. We don't exactly get along, and I was pressed into becoming a Knight because of that book of yours. So, no. I don't know about Elias or Mara."

Narrowing his eyes at me, Aydan continued skeptically. "But they just so happened to mention Rudnurth in passing?"

Shrugging, I explained further. "I dismissed it because it meant nothing to me, but it was a surprise to learn that he was their older brother." Holding up my hands, I commented further. "As I said, I've been there a few weeks, and things haven't exactly been peaceful. Asking questions about family didn't seem like the best way to go, and I was told they were the only two High Elves alive."

Aydan was quiet for a time, and he just hung his head. "Did they kill him?" Another unsure shrug from me got him to sigh. "Is that why you intervened in the banquet hall? To prevent them from coming to blows in the future?"

Rubbing the back of my head in an unsure manner, I answered honestly. "Not really. To be honest, I haven't cared too much about certain stuff. I straight up decapitated someone at my Knighting Ceremony in front of both Arceana and Elincia along with a room full of people." A chuckle escaped my lips as I continued. "So, as you probably guessed, I'm kind of difficult to work with."

"I hadn't noticed." He replied dryly.

Another simple shrug was my response. "If Rudnurth being killed by his younger sisters is what it takes for history to stay on track, I don't really care what happens. Besides, the guy is kind of a dick." Then I stood and crossed my arms. "I interfered because I needed your help and because I thought keeping Rudnurth in power was a foolish decision."

The Great Sage was hesitant for a moment but soon nodded in agreement. "Your words hold some truth to them. It was a group decision and one we held onto for our alliance to last." Aydan then began to explain how he was put in power. "When the Elves and Humans first met to discuss the alliance, the good intent was there, but who would rule was always a touchy subject. Both races weren't doing the best with the warmongering Zugal to the North and Demons roaming about."

"I imagine that would be a difficult situation." I commented.

Aydan sat down at his desk and put his head in his hands. "To make matters worse, members of the Dragonlands have been wandering outside of their lands. They are almost worse than Demons. While some can be reasoned with, they aren't usually one to talk to Humans or Elves."

"Bad blood?" I asked as I leaned against the wall with my arms crossed.

"Something along those lines. Dragons are magical in nature, just like us Elves, but they hold a different kind of magic. Needless to say, racial pride got in the way for both sides, and soon there were heated disagreements of the literal kind." He frowned and leaned back in his chair. "Dragon fire can destroy a home just as easily as a horde of Demons can."

There was no way the Elves were innocent in all this. "Elven magic can likely do the same."

With a reluctant nod, Aydan agreed. "That it can. Anyway, while the Alliance was being forged, the Dove Clan fled from the North in search of a new home. Given our own situation, Robert offered a place in the new alliance. Thus, Lestrania was born, but the problem of no clear ruler still plagued many minds."

Narrowing my eyes, I questioned him further. "So, Rudnurth and the others were just delivered to you at that moment?"

"They were. Davost herself appeared before me and handed me the children." He closed his eyes. "I can still see her even now. As if time and space had bent to her will and a window had opened through reality itself as she appeared."

"Uh-huh." I replied skeptically.

Aydan rose a brow at that as he gave me a questioning look. "Do you doubt my words?"

Chuckling, I answered. "I believe you, but I doubt that this Davost is a Goddess like you claim. Elven magic is vast, and tricking people doesn't seem like it would be too difficult." My explanation left him with a frown.

"There is no possible way I could determine if you are telling the truth. You're far too reckless and care little for almost everything you come into contact with." He pointed out.

"Not far off the mark." I commented.

Fiddling with his beard, he seemed to ponder how to continue. "There is a way to verify your story and make you believe in the Goddess Davost."

Rolling my eyes, I replied. "As much as I love being inducted into different religions, I'm going to have to say no."

"Is this what Arceana and Elincia deal with in the future?" He asked me.

"But you don't really believe I'm from the future."

Aydan huffed. "I'm skeptical of the things you claim, yes."

Then I gestured to him. "And I'm skeptical of your so-called goddess."

A smirk soon came to his face. "There is a simple answer to all our skepticism."

"Ignorance?" I offered.

The befuddled look on his face got me to laugh. "No!" He responded, annoyed. "There is a study I have found with more answers about this world than you could ever imagine." Aydan informed me, and I had a sinking suspicion that I knew what study he was referring to as a frown came to my face. "Magic is far greater than anyone realizes, and I have been making great strides in every magical field that exists."

"And you can get us into this overly convenient study full of answers, is that right?" I inquired.

"Davost might've left me more than just a few babes. The Goddess Davost also left me a gift." Aydan smiled as he summoned his magic. "While spells that deal with time travel are considered impossible, if there is any merit to your words, we will find our answers there." A swirling green portal that was in the shape of an oval appeared in the middle of the room. "What say you, Sir Mordred?"

Giving him a look, I walked past him and replied. "I actually go by Arthur Pendragon in the future." Stepping into the portal, Aydan followed right behind me with a small smile.

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Extra chapter for Christmas Eve! Hope you're all having a wonderful day!