Artero's deep, silken voice cracked like a whip, stunning both women. Immediately annihilating the kiss that was only moments away.
"What do you want, Arty?"
The words stabbed him like a knife, but he was prepared today.
"I saw what happened, Gwyn." He bowed his head. "I am so sorry. I wish I could've done more. But I hope I can make up for it."
Gwyn was curious as to what he was proposing.
"Make up for what?"
"Well, I must apologize, but let me reintroduce myself." He gave another bow, as if it were the first time. "Artero Kosmairian, at your service. I had so much I wanted to tell you the other day, but you left in such a hurry. Not that I blame you for that occurrence."
Was that only yesterday?
Time seemed to move much more slowly on Keceo, and it felt as though a week had passed since that event.
"Kosmairian? So…"
"Yes, the man in the red robes is my father and—"
"What are you trying to do, Arty? I don't see the point in this introduction. You're technically a prince, big deal."
Elise was full of contempt.
Artero held his head high.
"I was about to get to that, Elise."
He turned to face Gwyn. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded document.
Gwyn eagerly took the paper. Elise stood behind her to read it as well.
He cleared his throat and more or less recited its contents from memory.
"Gwynevere Grim, from this day forward, you are the proud owner of your own dwelling in the Kosmairian territory. Included with this dwelling is a magic tutor, food, a private bedroom, a library, and a kitchen. Not only will you be under the Kosmairian banner of protection, but you will also learn every skill necessary to protect yourself. Furthermore, you will always have access to a ruby coffin leading to the Capital City. Guards will be posted outside your dwelling around the clock, ready to protect you at a moment's notice. We humbly hope you accept our offer at no cost or any requirements necessary on your part."
Gwyn read the paper, stunned. Elise read it too; her jaw was nearly on the floor.
"I don't know what to say!"
Gwyn wrapped her arms around the handsome elf.
Artero got on one knee and said.
"Say yes. Come, live with my family, who only wishes to support and protect you for the next five years and help you defeat the King of Terror."
"Wait, wait, wait." Elise was thoroughly perplexed. "They just told us in the meeting that any of the families couldn't recruit Gwyn until the end of the year."
Artero hid an arrogant smile.
"Well, of course. But nothing about what we've done has anything to do with recruiting her. We are simply protecting the new Chosen One, Gwynevere Grim, who can refuse our offer and is in no way obligated to accept."
Elise ground her teeth.
Artero continued, running his fingers through his hair.
"Do you wish Gwyn to be alone in the Gilded Towers, with no protection? I could've sworn you said something about saving her there as well. Do you really think she will be protected there by herself, Elise?"
His ex-girlfriend was stunned into silence.
"This all sounds perfect! Yes! I would love to stay with you and your family." Gwyn gave him her hand, and he kissed it as a sign of his loyalty to his promise. "Isn't this great, Elise?"
Elise nodded through gritted teeth. She was utterly flabbergasted and furious that he would pull strings to ensure Gwyn's safety. But Elise couldn't figure out why she was so aggravated; wasn't this for the best?
"Wow, Artero. I can't believe you got those arrangements so quickly. Very impressive."
Elise felt stupid that she hadn't thought of this first.
"Yes, the moment I met her, I knew she was worth protecting."
The young woman blushed at his comment, and Elise rolled her eyes as jealousy bubbled inside her, but did not let it show.
"Well, this is all very amazing news. When do we go?"
Gwyn asked, almost eager to get to somewhere where she would be accepted.
"Right now, if you desire," Artero said coolly.
"I think I do." Gwyn turned to the elven woman, who felt excluded from this conversation. "Do you want to come with us, Elise?"
This shocked both the prince and princess. Elise didn't know whether she wanted to return to the estates where she had stayed nearly every week for the past five years.
And Artero wasn't happy about this offer either. He thought Gwyn would forget all about Elise the moment he made this offer. Wanting to be gentlemanly, he seconded the Chosen One's offer.
"Yes, Elise. Wouldn't you want to visit my family's estate with us?"
Artero directed a sneer at her. He knew he must play along for now. He must not lose track of his goal.
"I think I would love nothing more."
Elise extended her hand out to Gwyn, who gladly took it in her own.
"Fantastic."
Artero gave them both a sweet smile, but he knew this was a war between Elise and him now. A fight for the Chosen One's love, and he had to win.
They all exited the building and walked a short distance before approaching a ruby coffin. Lines formed around the Crystal Summit as Jonesy signed women's chests with his name. Einstein and Di 'Vinci were there too, just far less degenerate.
"How do you know which one leads to your estate?"
Gwyn looked for any discernible difference between the crystal and ruby coffins.
"You're using your eyes, Gwyn. You must use your soul, your magic. It will guide you to where you want to go."
He stopped walking and pulled Gwyn's hand to signal she should stop too. She complied, and Elise begrudgingly stopped as well.
"What are you doing?"
He whispered in Gwyn's ear.
"Don't move."
The hairs on her neck stood on end at the softness of his voice. He lifted his hands and covered her eyes from behind. He was quite taller than Gwyn, standing over a head taller than her.
"Actually." Gwyn raised her hands to stop him from covering her eyes. "Can you not do that? I…"
She trailed off, turning red.
He immediately placed his hands by his side.
"S-sorry! I didn't know."
"It's fine… I have a thing with... Yeah. I'll just close my eyes, if that's okay?"
He nodded.
"Yes… my apologies. That will suffice. Now. Focus on your heartbeat as you close your eyes."
Gwyn's pulse quickened; he was extremely close, and she could feel his presence, even without his touch. Ironically, it made it extremely easy to focus on the thrumming in her chest. He always smelled like flowers, which was odd to the young woman.
"Yeah." Her voice squeaked. "I'm focusing on it."
"Now feel your heart work. It never rests, keeping you alive. Do you feel it, Gwynevere?"
"I think I do."
Gwyn wasn't sure if she knew what he meant.
"That is magic, too. It is your blood; it is your being. It is what gives you life. You just need to access it."
Gwyn was completely lost.
"I don't know how."
"It's like wind, do you see it?"
Gwyn squinched her nose.
"I can't see the wind."
"No, like air, it flows all around us. Do you feel it?"
Elise grew impatient with his performance. Artero was so clearly flirting with Gwynevere. It set Elise aflame. But two can play at this game.
Elise grabbed Gwyn's hands and gently rubbed the young woman's palms with her thumbs.
"Don't listen to him. Feel my hand, how it flows in a circle around your palm. Think of a river, closer to water than wind."
Admittedly, Gwyn was playing a little dumb, although Artero's explanation was confusing. A faint hint of hostility between them made this situation very enjoyable for the human woman. Their fighting for her attention was almost too ridiculous for words, but she loved it.
But she figured she might try to see what they were describing. She closed her eyes twice as hard and focused on her heartbeat.
"What does it look like again?"
"Like flowing water."
Artero stood behind Gwyn, looking down on Elise.
Elise paid him no mind.
"Feel it, Gwyn. Like how you feel my hands right now. Soft and precise, but everywhere at once. How my fingers are firm, but my thumb is gentle."
An image appeared behind the young woman's eyes. It looked blue. Blue and flowing in random bursts of propulsion in front of her eyes. Gwyn didn't know how she knew, but the magic looked happy.
"I think I see it. Like little blue dots."
"That is magic. It is everywhere, in everything, and inside of you." Artero hugged her from behind, his chest pressed against her back in a comforting embrace. "It feels like love."
Words left his mouth without a thought to guide them. The moment he uttered "It feels like love," All present became heated—just in different ways.
An awkward silence replaced all thoughts of magic and how to recognize it.
Elise was the first to speak.
"So... are we… um… going or not?"
The words were hard to come by. The jealousy and desire were mixed. But were they only for Gwyn? Did she miss Artero?
"R-r-right... good idea, Elise."
Artero was sweating beneath his dark doublet.
Wordlessly, they all walked to a ruby coffin. They held hands as the tendrils reached for them, locking them in place as they were teleported to the Kosmairian Estate.
Gwyn lurched forward. The farther one teleported, the more disorienting the experience was, it seemed.
Red and white trees lined the courtyard path. A red-and-white color scheme seemed to permeate every part of the Kosmairian House.
Beyond the red and white trees were flower fields that seemed to span until the Wall, which towered far above them. It was impossible not to notice, now.
"This is incredible, Artero."
"You should see the river, if this impresses you." He said coolly. "Nothing like nature to trump all the beauty of Elven creation."
Elise rolled her eyes. She had seen this manor a hundred times, and it was nothing compared to the castle in which she lived, and Artero knew it.
"I bet you are exhausted after today; would you like to come inside and relax?"
He held out his hand for Gwyn to take; she obliged, and Elise followed behind.
They crossed the threshold of the estate, entering the foyer. A portrait as tall as a house captivated Gwynevere. It was a woman with hair that trailed past her shoulders; it was deep red and curled unpredictably. Her eyes were pure orange flame. Her robe was a dark red with gold, white and black tracings and influences throughout its design.
She was gorgeous, Gwyn thought she looked like a Goddess. Her features were so soft, but the art perfectly captured the power this elf emanated. It was someone you'd never want to cross, and if you had. It probably would have been the last thing you ever did.
Gwyn felt the overwhelming urge to ask, pointing to the massive portrait. Somehow, she already knew.
"Who's that?"
Elise answered before Artero could.
"Oh, her? That's Firedeath."