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Chapter 303:

Typhon's Point of View

Northern Forests

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of firewood crackling. "Ugh." I groaned out.

"You gonna be okay over there?" Arthur's voice rang out.

"What happened?" Sitting up as I asked my question, I saw Arthur sitting on the other side of a campfire of sorts.

He reached inside the fire and shifted one of the logs with his bare hands. "Technically, you were able to survive for a little over a week on your own." My teacher answered. "Those Snow Yetis were far craftier than I expected. They almost got you."

Holding my head as I turned to the fire, the event returned to me. "I set them ablaze." Arthur nodded. "But why did I fall unconscious?"

With his elbows on his knees as he sat on a large rock, he glanced at me. "Two reasons. One, you were on the run and had very little energy. Well, compared to usual anyway. You've been doing well conserving your energy, but that little run through the trees probably used most of it up." Arthur then chuckled emotionlessly. "You're not a hunter and have been scrounging for food. In other words, you were exhausted before fleeing."

Rubbing my eyes, I saw another rock across from him that I moved to. "And the other reason?"

"Using your magic at a far greater strength than you're used to." He then gestured to the nearby trees that had burns, followed by a clearing with completely toppled and burned down trees. "Concentrating more magic into your flames likely was out of desperation and instinct. You are a magical being, just like Elves. Using more of your magic will make you tired the same as them." Arthur then looked back at me. "Your Dragon's breath shot out through the forest. The nearest trees took the brunt of it, but I still had to put out some fires over a hundred feet away in every direction."

"So, I failed your test?" I inquired as I hung my head.

"Technically, there was outside interference. It's very likely you would've been left alone with parts of the forest on fire." Arthur answered before gesturing to the burnt clearing once more. "Some interested parties intended to capture you."

It wasn't until I rubbed my eyes that I saw frozen blood in the clearing that my eyes widened. My neck shot to him as he merely stared at me in response. He didn't reply or answer my obvious concern about what had happened. Tucking my arms in on my stomach, part of me grew worried.

Arthur eventually spoke as he prodded the fire a little bit. "It wasn't you if that's what you're worried about."

Hunching over as I looked into the flames, I sighed. "Do you know who it was?"

My teacher raised a brow as I glanced at him. "Does it matter?"

Running my fingers through my hair, part of me hesitated to respond. "It might..." Looking at him directly, I saw Arthur waiting for something. "Why did you do it?"

"They were going to kidnap you, and I believe one mentioned turning you into a pet."

"And you couldn't scare them off?"

"I did." He then glanced down, and I followed his gaze to a small spot of crimson. "Most of them anyway."

Why did it always seem to be like this? "Is this all a part of manipulating me like you said?"

Arthur merely nodded. "It is. Had you been stronger, had you been able to defend yourself or flee successfully, no one would've died." He then shrugged. "That single fact will gnaw at the back of your mind."

"You killed him on purpose then?"

"I let them decide. The three that fled were let go. One tried to take you with him. I don't like people touching my things, and you're 'my' student." He emphasized before looking me in the eye. "You were warned that I would do this. I told you how it would be, and you accepted regardless."

"But to put the result of your actions on my shoulders is unfair."

My teacher seemed to agree as he gave me another nod. "It is. What are you going to do about it though?" Was his cold reply.

That was needlessly cruel. "Why're you doing this to me?"

To my surprise, Arthur became quiet for a little bit as his gaze softened and turned to the flames. "Because it happened to me as well." He said softly. "When I was a boy, someone did the same thing to me. I know I shouldn't do it to you, and I don't want to. Yet, the truth is, we need allies for this war. Specifically, someone I can trust and count on to stay by my side. That someone will eventually be you. Even if it ends with you hating me."