Third Person
Lilia's Point of View
The soft rattling of the carriage was almost a respite after the confinement in Shirone. The journey would be long, first to the East Port and then across the ocean, heading for the Central Continent. Lilia calculated that it could be a two or three-month journey.
"All the tragedy that happened..." Lilia thought, feeling nervousness run through her body as she remembered the lake where Aisha almost drowned. "After that, we walked and walked, until we came upon the Kingdom of Shirone. We had walked right into the wolf's mouth without knowing it."
She remembered her confinement and how she was forced to serve, until Aisha ran away in search of help. Then she returned with Arthur.
She looked out the window to clear her head. The landscape stretched out peacefully, indifferent to human worries. She turned her gaze back to her companions: the soldier Ginger and a few more soldiers beside her.
Aisha watched in fascination as Arthur held a small sphere of wind between his fingers, perfectly stable.
"This young man, despite being almost the same age as Aisha, seems more mature, which reminds me of Master Rudeus," she thought.
—Aisha, do you want to learn how to use magic? —Arthur asked suddenly.
Aisha's eyes lit up. —Yes, I do! —she replied.
Arthur nodded. —Then let's start with the theory; during the breaks you will practice what you've been taught, agreed?
Aisha just looked excited.
With that, the boy began giving theory lessons.
(Based on the teaching advice he had asked Rudeus for the day before leaving, plus he had asked him to teach him more powerful spells; with that, he had already reached Advanced rank in the 4 elemental magic types and Intermediate in healing magic.)
Aisha straightened her back, paying attention to what Arthur was saying.
Lilia just watched with resignation. All this time, Aisha had been clinging to the young man, and when he went off to do his own things, she wouldn't stop talking about him.
She remembered the stories Aisha had told her in the tavern in Thane, and the ones she kept telling now:
—You know, that time he saved me, he just raised his hand and ¡bam!, sent them flying! —Aisha recounted with enthusiasm. —Also when we entered the castle, I just held onto his back and ¡whoosh!, we flew out. And when he started running on the wall... it was so incredible!
She leaned forward, clasping her hands to her chest while her eyes sparkled. —You know Mom, also in that moment, when I was on his back, I felt very safe. I felt that no matter who it was, he would protect me... Have I fallen in love?
"Aisha definitely holds an excessive amount of affection for him," Lilia thought, with a mixture of tenderness and alarm. "Although it is also a bit troublesome." Fortunately, Aisha no longer said those things when Arthur was present.
Although she had always tried to instill in Aisha how great Master Rudeus was, impressing his immense intellect upon her. But as intelligent and precocious as Aisha was, she just thought such a person couldn't exist. And she found that idealized perfection in Arthur, quite the opposite.
Even so, Aisha and Rudeus had ended up getting along well. Better than she expected.
Her memory went back to the night before they left.
Lilia had spied on them from the corridor, pretending to sort clothes while she listened.
Rudeus was sitting down, cleaning the tip of his staff. Aisha approached, tugging gently on his shirt.
Arthur was chatting about something with Aisha — then she approached Rudeus.
—Hey... —she whispered.
Rudeus looked up.
—What is it?
Aisha took a deep breath.
—I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for calling you a "pervert"...
Rudeus blinked, surprised, and then let out a sigh of relief.
—Don't worry. You aren't the first one to call me that.
—So... —Aisha put her hands behind her back— ...I won't call you pervert anymore... Big Brother.
Upon hearing this, Rudeus smiled.
Aisha let out a giggle that softened the tension between them.
Back to the present.
The carriage came to a halt with a slight screech. Lilia blinked, snapping out of her memories. The driver opened the door and bowed slightly.
—We have arrived at a rest point. We will have two hours before departing again.
Lilia let out a sigh she had been holding in for a while.
Aisha was already stretching like a kitten, while Arthur stood up to get down first and help them.
.....
Third Person
Arthur stepped down from the carriage, stretching his arms and feeling the fresh air of the road clear his mind. They had covered a good distance since Shirone, and although there was still a long journey ahead, this rest stop at least alleviated the tension accumulated in his body.
Aisha jumped down behind him with energy, almost stepping on his heels.
Lilia descended more calmly, observing everything.
Arthur, however, had his mind elsewhere.
While Aisha walked by his side, repeating once again the principles of elemental magic he had taught her, Arthur couldn't help but wonder if Rudeus had already run into Orsted, as they had already been traveling for four days since the day they parted ways.
Aisha puffed out her cheeks.
—Hey, Arthur, are you listening?
He blinked. —Yes, yes… elemental magic, basic level, breathing, mana circulation. —He clapped his hands. —Very good, Aisha, you really are understanding it.
Aisha narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms and unconsciously imitating her mother.
—You were deep in thought, weren't you? You always make that face when you're thinking about something.
He just gave a lopsided smile.
—Is that how you see me?
She leaned in closer, face to face, staring at him. —What is it?
—What is what?
—What is worrying you? —Aisha insisted. —If you tell me, I might be able to help.
—Uhh… eh… —Arthur hesitated, looking for an excuse. —Ah, yes, I was just thinking about how long it will take us to reach the Central Continent.
—Just that?
—Yes, yes, yes —the boy nodded rapidly.
—Well, how about you leave those problems to the adults and help me practice? —Aisha said, grabbing his hand and dragging him to a clear side of the camp.
—Ah, saved… —Arthur felt genuine relief. *I couldn't have told her that her brother is about to meet someone very dangerous.* He shook his head. *Enough. If she sees me like that again, she won't believe me anymore,* he thought.
—Alright then, we will start with the Water Ball spell.
She nodded, raised her hand, and recited the spell: —"Let the vast and blessed waters converge where you will and bring forth a single pure stream—Water Ball!"
At that moment, a ball of water the size of her fist formed. This excited her, but not for long, as it fell to the ground.
—You're incredible, Aisha, on the first try! Don't worry about the rest; at first, it will be hard to launch—
He couldn't finish because she recited the spell again. This time, the water ball shot out toward a tree. Aisha jumped with excitement. —Look, Arthur, I did it this time!
—Ha, ha! —Arthur laughed softly. —Yes, that was fabulous. "If I didn't have the Great Sage skill, this girl would undoubtedly surpass me in a heartbeat," he thought.
—By the way, do you not feel tired? —Arthur asked.
—No, I still feel fine. Why?
—It's so we can stop; we don't want you to faint if you overdo it.
Suddenly, an idea crossed Aisha's mind. *If I pretend to faint, he will carry me.* —Don't worry, Arthur, look, I still can.
She cast it again and again, and then, she collapsed and fell backward. Before she hit the floor, Arthur caught her and adjusted her properly into a princess carry.
—I told you not to overdo it —Arthur sighed. Then he saw Aisha's head settle comfortably on his shoulder—unbeknownst to him, she wore a small smile.
Lilia, watching this from afar, couldn't help but shake her head. It seemed she knew exactly that Aisha would take advantage of the situation.
As soon as Arthur left Aisha in Lilia's arms, a cold sensation ran down his spine.
The "Great Sage" screamed an alert of "Approaching Threat." Without a second to lose, Arthur unsheathed his sword in a fast, upward slash, narrowly deflecting a blade thrown with lethal force. The metallic *clang* resonated in the air, alerting everyone.
Suddenly, the camp, which a moment ago was bustling with life, was plunged into a tense silence. All the guards stood at the ready, surrounding Lilia and Aisha.
—What the hell? —spoke a merchant.
A figure emerged from the shadows of a nearby cart. A burly man with his face covered by a bandana. Behind him, four others appeared, their gazes fixed on Arthur.
—Oh, I see. It seems this will be very interesting, boys. —The leader's voice was rasping, tinged with cruelty.
—Boss! After that, we can have fun with the two women, right? —said one of the masked men, licking his knife.
—I want the girl! I'll get a lot for selling her, but first I'm going to have some fun with her —added another, with a repulsive glint in his eyes.
The leader snorted with malice. —Relax. First, we have to take care of the objective. —He drew a second sword, and his gaze fixed on Arthur with murderous intensity.
"Objective?" Arthur wondered.
—Ginger, protect Lilia and Aisha! —ordered the blond boy, his voice strangely calm despite the danger.
—You don't have to tell me! —Ginger growled, her sword already drawn. —We have to return the favor!
All the soldiers positioned themselves around Lilia and Aisha. Aisha, who had stopped feigning her faint, now watched with wide, worried eyes.
The bandit who had spoken about the girl let out a shrill laugh. —Look at him, boys! The kid thinks he can take us! Leave him to me, boss! —With a savage scream, he drew his sword and lunged at Arthur. —Be a good boy and die!
Arthur didn't take him seriously. His mind was cold and annoyed. ¡Well, looks like I have to take out the trash.! In a flash, Arthur's longsword gleamed. —Sword God Style: First Strike — Silence! —With a push of his right leg, he shot forward, his speed breaking the air. His sword moved in a horizontal arc, cutting the bandit in two before the man even realized he had been attacked. The body fell in two halves, splashing blood onto the dirt.
The masked leader froze. —Sword God Style… —he murmured, his eyes fixed on the boy's devastating skill. —Ha, ha, ha! I thought he wouldn't do anything! Boys, get him!
The other three masked men charged at the same time, drawing their weapons with bloodlust.
Arthur didn't hesitate. With amazing speed, he dodged the slash aimed at his head. He left his sword in the air for a split second, grabbed it with his other hand switching stance, and in a fluid motion, cut the two bandits coming up behind him, slicing them in two with brutal precision.
The bandit who had initially dodged Arthur's first attack seized the opening. He attacked with the greatest strength and speed he could muster, his blade flashing inches from Arthur's neck. But Arthur spun around with even greater speed, a blur before the eyes. His sword cut twice: the first cut severed the bandit's arm, and the second split him in two. It had all happened in less than two minutes.
The bandit leader, the only one left standing, was stunned. Fear invaded his covered face. He thought of fleeing, but the humiliation of escaping from a child stopped him. He didn't have time to think further.
Arthur was already coming in his direction with blinding speed. The leader was a swordsman of intermediate, nearly advanced level in the North God Style, and he wouldn't be easy. Before Arthur could reach him with his sword, the bandit pulled out a throwing knife, launching it ferociously. Arthur deflected the projectile with a sharp blow of his sword. That fraction of a second gave the bandit the chance to attack first, beginning a frenetic exchange of slashes and parries.
Up, down, left, right… It was a deadly dance. While Arthur defended himself, the "Great Sage" processed information at a dizzying speed.
"Analyzing… power changes detected…" —The cold voice resonated in Arthur's mind. "Skill [Touki] basic level, unlocked."
Arthur didn't hear the notification. He was completely focused on the combat; it was the first time he had fought for his life with such intensity. But then, a faint reddish aura coursed through his entire body, strengthening him.
His muscles tensed, his speed increased. Suddenly, he gained ground. The bandit, overwhelmed, could no longer attack; he only tried to defend himself.
With every slash, the bandit received superficial cuts that weakened him. Then came the decisive blow. Unconsciously, that aura concentrated on his sword, imbuing it with devastating force. Arthur's blade cut through the bandit's sword and, at the same time, split him in two.
—Ah… —Arthur gasped, with some cuts on his clothes and a deeper one on his left arm. He remained in that stance, sword still raised. Processing everything. He looked at the ground… He saw the mangled bodies of the bandits. The scattered blood and intestines turned his stomach. He closed his eyes to calm himself.
"This was necessary. If they remained alive, maybe they wouldn't come for me directly. Maybe for Lilia. Or for Aisha."
Everyone present was in shock, frozen by the brutality and speed the boy had demonstrated. The guards, Ginger, the merchants… no one had seen anything like it.
Arthur, still with his eyes closed, walked toward them. Aisha, the most worried of all, was the first to move. She rushed forward, her small feet pounding the dirt, to check if he was in danger.
Aisha didn't see the blood or the severed limbs, only the open cut on Arthur's arm and the pallor of his face.
—Arthur! You're bleeding! —Her tiny hands gently touched his uninjured arm, and then hovered over the larger cut. The tone of her voice was free of any pose or exaggeration; it was pure childish alarm.
Arthur felt Aisha's touch, bringing him back to the present. He opened his eyes and spoke weakly to reassure her, though he knew his smile wouldn't reach his eyes.
—I'm fine, Aisha. It was just a scratch. When I recover a bit, I'll use healing magic.
The cold voice of the Great Sage intervened in his mind, ignoring the chaotic scene: "Skill [Touki] basic level stabilized."
"Combat Analysis: Multiple attacks deflected with efficiency superior to 95%."
"The activation of Touki was an unconscious response to the imminent lethal threat."
"Analysis: The term 'Objective' suggests the attack was directed at the user."
The boy frowned upon hearing that last part. "Who wants me dead? Pax's men? No, that's impossible; he was dismissed and sent elsewhere," he thought.
—We had better leave quickly; there may be more of them —Ginger commented.
—I agree. —He placed his hand near the wound and used healing magic.
A pale green light covered the open wound, and in seconds, it healed.
Aisha puffed out her cheeks, her eyes full of a new determination. —You must teach me healing magic, so that I can help you next time!
....
The carriage started moving, continuing the journey. The sun was already beginning to descend, dyeing the sky orange. Arthur looked out the window; he couldn't help but think about the bandit's words, without understanding them.
The effort was too much. The first time he had fought so seriously, the first time he had killed people… Without even noticing it, exhaustion overcame him, and with the soft rattling of the carriage as the only sound, he fell into a deep sleep.
...
In a completely white room, the figure observed in silence.
"Well, well… even though it frustrates me that I can't enter his dreams or see his future," he murmured with annoyance, "I can still have someone kill him. And of course, in Rudeus' mind he's now an enemy. I told him Arthur was connected to Orsted… that should make him doubt him."
He recalled the conversation he had with Rudeus. Something had changed. In the future he had originally seen, a new branch had formed—an unexpected divergence. He tried to look again at the boy's destiny, to examine every possible timeline…
but no matter which route he followed, Arthur's future never appeared anywhere near Rudeus. In some branches he died devoured by beasts; in others, he lived as nothing more than a merchant. Nothing else.
There were only two possible explanations.
"Either he ran into Orsted and somehow told him about me, receiving his help to hide… or he was born with a blessing," he whispered. "If I had to give it a name, I'd call it… the Miko of Protection."
End of chapter.