Chapter 1282 Why Us?
Chapter 1282 Why Us?
The Eastern Army knew better than to fight against Arthur Netherborne, especially since the last name itself sent shivers down their spine. Those at the higher levels of Sourna knew the Netherborne Clan far better than the rest of the world did.
Under the amazed eyes of June and the other three, the armies retreated without resistance. It did not take long before their shores were desolate and safe. The only outsider left was the one who saved them, and he descended from the sky to land outside the gates.
"Why isn't he going inside?" asked Jono with confusion.
"The citizens are afraid and he knows it." Mr. Tate collapsed on the ground, his face pale, but exhilarated nonetheless. "We have been saved."
June was silent, unable to voice her agreement. After all, she didn't know if Arthur Silvera—no, Arthur Netherborne—would forgive her like Mr. Tate did. After all, she attacked his city and tried to kidnap his mother.
'But maybe he doesn't know,' she hoped. Although she felt low, she couldn't help but wish for the safety of her people.
Arthur Netherborne didn't enter the city, choosing to stand outside, waiting. The citizens were confused, looking at the stranger with fear. Master Ronin also rose from the ground after his prophecy, a smile on his face, before he invited the rest to join them.
The four leaders of the Eldoria Kingdom descended from the watchtower of the palace. They reassured the citizens that the fight was over, but there were still some agreements needed to be finalized.
Some of the citizens wondered if Arthur was an enemy too, but the four assured them that he was not. After some struggle to leave the city, the Queen, her husband, her son, and their protector came out of the city to meet Arthur.
"It has been a long time since we last met, Master Ronin," said Arthur as he bowed slightly as soon as he saw the old man. "I'm beyond happy to see you well and sound."
"Arthur..." Master Ronin turned a little emotional at the respect his disciple had shown him. It was a bittersweet feeling to see your disciple stronger than you are by a mile, but still choosing to show his respect. "A long time indeed. Your eyes... they are..."
"A little sacrifice for the greater good," anaswered Arthur with a smile before turning to the man next to June. "Mr. Tate? What are you doing here?" He could feel his unique existence. "What I left Earth to do," said Mr. Tate with a smile. "I went to Alka to look for Seref and help this kingdom survive the tyranny of Amelio."
"This kingdom," repeated Arthur as if questioning what was happening, then his scarred eyes turned to June. She was elated to realize that he did not recognize her.
"A pleasure to meet you at last, Memor," said the woman while bowing her head slightly. "My name is June, Queen of Eldoria Kingdom."
"Is that all you have to say?" asked Arthur, his voice low. "Oren told me everything about you, June. He told me that you are Master Ronin's wife, and the invader of Kera."
June felt her blood run cold. The moment of relief disappeared as Arthur connected the dots instantly. His brother had met her back in the villa of Master Ronin, and he must have told Arthur everything that happened.
"I ask for your forgiveness for what we have done," said June without hesitation, bowing even further. "Please understand that we were forced by Amelio to attack Kera."
"And were you also forced to try and deceive me?" Arthur seemed hellbent on exposing her schemes one after the other. June stood there, frozen with fear. "If not for Master Ronin and Mr. Tate, you would have died already."
His words were not a threat, but a fact. June had to thank her lucky stars that she had two people here that Arthur was grateful for. Otherwise, no excuse could save her from the wrath of Memor.
"Can I explain what happened?" asked Mr. Tate, and Arthur nodded without hesitation. He regarded Mirani Tate as family, after all. The things they went through, his help to them when they needed him, were forever imprinted in his mind.
Mirani explained everything. The last time Arthur had met the old man, he was on his way to leave Earth and go to Alka alongside the swordsman, Kino, who also attacked Kera.
Arthur could not understand what reasons the old shopkeeper had to involve himself in this mess, but it seemed he did it for his own reasons. According to Mr. Tate, he went to protect the kingdom from Amelio because it would get him closer to Seref.
"What do you want from him?" asked Arthur with surprise.
"I... wanted revenge," admitted Mirani without hesitation. "Seref killed our comrades for his own gains. I wanted to make things right after what happened in Kera."
Arthur nodded and allowed Mr. Tate to continue his story. The Eldoria Kingdom was the closest to the Calamity of Greed, who escaped from his entrapment with the help of Seref, to terrorize them. No one could fight against Amelio, whose single punch could obliterate cities.
Everything, however, changed when Mr. Tate appeared. His Art of Giving, which gave him an absolute shield at the expense of his life, was the perfect match against Amelio.
Eldoria no longer feared Amelio as long as they had the shield. As long as they had enough mana stones to keep the shield afloat, they could have the shield protect them forever.
The only reason that the shield broke today was because after the merge, the Eldoria Capital was transported here alone, cutting its supply from the mines. Thus, they ended up with dwindling mana stones.
Amelio, on the other hand, did not give up after being blocked by the shield that had appeared. He was relentless, turning the surroundings of the Eldoria Kingdom into a wasteland.
In the end, the merge happened, and the two worlds merged. Mirani could no longer use the mana stones, and they found themselves appearing in the middle of the Lesser Blood Ocean. Ever since then, they had to defend themselves against the forces of East and West Sourna.
"What about Seref?"
"I never met him. It seems that at the time I was protecting Eldoria, Seref left the side of Amelio to go somewhere else."
"...the Red Tower," muttered Arthur with realization. "He visited the Red Tower where I was. That's the reason that he left Amelio's side."
"Is he still there?" asked Mirani with a glint in his eyes. Arthur was silent before shaking his head. Mr. Tate sighed with disappointment.
Arthur, on the other hand, never thought about killing his father. For some reason, no matter how much he hated Seref, he wished that he would turn a new leaf. However, it was true that Seref had committed many crimes.
"I understand that you had no other choice." Arthur turned to address June again, making her sigh in relief. "But... these souls demand justice."
The words confused the four, before a howling echoed throughout the island. To the horror of the group, they saw wrathful souls emerge from behind Arthur, glaring at June while reaching out toward her.
June stood there, frozen with fear, as sweat covered her aging face. She saw the memories of these souls who died in Kera because of their invasion. Before they could touch her, which gave her a feeling of death, they disappeared.
"What the fuck was that?" asked Jono as he grabbed the hilt of his sword with fear, looking at Arthur as if he was the devil.
In response, Arthur stared at June with sadness. She could feel that he was not angry at her, but simply sad for the lives lost because of her.
"I hear their cries in this eternal darkness," he confessed to them, gesturing to his scarred eyes. "I know you more than you think, Queen June. I know the ruthless decisions you made. The people you sacrificed for the greater good told me about you."
June was unable to answer him. Her heart was in her throat, choking her, even though she no longer felt afraid of him. His words reprimanded her, summoning the guilt that she had tried to bury a long time ago.
"'Why us?' they would ask me," he continued. "And I wonder that too. What makes their lives any less valuable? What makes the lives of your citizens above the lives of Kera?"
June again had no answer to his question. The five stood there in silence. After a while, tears fell down her face as she collapsed on the ground. June cried for the first time since she became a queen.
Jono and Master Ronin tried to help her, to console her, but Arthur and Mr. Tate simply watched her break down. After she began to calm down, Arthur addressed her again.
"You are not a bad person," he assured her. "But you made bad decisions, ones you thought were the only decisions you had. I don't blame you. But from now on," he crouched in front of her, "show me the good side of you."