Chapter 135 (1/2)

Chapter 135

Chapter 135: A Warrior’s Maiden Heart <hr/>

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TESSIA ERALITH’S POV:

The ie of Arthur on top of thatdown at us with a cold glare, had been burned into nized hiht in my throat I couldn’t call out to hie to finally say his naed in hi immediately came to mind as he faced us When Sylvie popped out, I was happy, but even when Arthur finally spoke, I couldn’t get rid of the unease in ht made my heart feel like it had twisted into a knot He was filthy and his eyes practically screamed exhaustion, but it really was Arthur I wanted to e, but so at my childhood friend, I sensed a clear distance that went beyond the few meters that separated us And so I stood still, anchored, as I gave him a hesitant smile that didn’t even reach my eyes

He smiled back, but it was only for ahihout the trip back to the main camp, Arthur stayed relatively silent despite the chatter of the Twin Horns around us They were all excited to have hi the soldiers Arthur smiled when spoken to, and he responded with minimal words, but that was it Immediately after arrival, he spotted the streaht to the main tent with Dresh and the Twin Horns to try and help appease the tension our leader, along with the rest of the soldiers, felt towards my childhood friend

Arthur came to the main tent after he had washed up, but even without the blood and filth covering him, he was just as unapproachable He debriefed as necessary, otherwise stating that the inforrandfather I stayed silent throughout the shortas Dresh and the Twin Horns bombarded him with questions

Dresh left first to inform the rest of the soldiers of their next course of action The Twin Horns reluctantly agreed to let Arthur rest only after being promised of a more detailed account later

With only Arthur andatinto me I didn’t knohat to say, how to act, or even how to feel With Arthur suddenly appearing in front ofso… distant, I was at a loss Whatever confidence I had left to approach my childhood friend went out theas I looked at my pitiful state Here I was, dressed like a rime and soot Worst of all, e

I could see hi my heart beat just a little bit faster However, I refused to look up As he ca from him Don’t come closer, I prayed, scared that he’d be repulsed by my stench

His feet stopped just in front of lued to my feet as I squirmed aardly For a moment, ere both silent The only sound I could hear was the beating of my uncooperative heart

“It’s been a while, Tess,” Arthur finally said “I missed you”

At those feords, the ice that had stiffened my body melted My vision became blurry as I refused to stare anywhere else but at my feet

I clenchedMy eyes betrayedthe leather of ently touched e it was I had known him since he was shorter than me, but now, the simple touch of his palm filled me with a sense of protection I trieduncontrollably as

I didn’t exactly knohat came overain Maybe it was because his words just now confirmed that it was still truly hiht he had turned into when I first saw hi to do with that at all; I couldn’t exactly explain the reason why every barrier I had unconsciously raised to endure these last two years had just co down All I felt was this wave of relief that everything was okay now, that I didn’t have to worry any Grandpa, Master Aldir and everyone else had been worrying about would turn out okay now that Art was here

It was funny how a person could do that—how one person could make you feel truly… safe

“Art… you… idiot!” I hiccuped in between sniffles I raised my fists to hit hith behind them

Ihi: his cold attitude, his tastelessly long hair that made him look scary, his lack of contact until non to hoas his fault I was init all as his large hand continued to warry, I was frustrated, I was embarrassed, but I was relieved That whole mix of emotions turnedArt—ht now

After crying out all that I could, I resteddown at his feet that had also been spotted without hiccups and sniffles

It was quiet for a e to look at his face, only to see hiht back at me

I was about to whip my head ahen his smile stopped me It wasn’t like the smile he hadeach other at the entrance of the mutant’s lair His eyes crinkled into two crescent ed at the corners of his lips to create a glea smile

“You’re still a crybaby, aren’t you?” he joked, re the hand he had on round

“Shuddup,” I replied,out a soft chuckle, he motioned with his head to follow hiave hiround As alked,Sylvie to Art

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“You got taller,” I remarked, my eyes now focused on Sylvie

“Sorry I can’t say the same for you,” Art teased, weariness evident in his eyes as he let out a faint sue

Spotting Caria and Stannard talking around our fire, we picked up our pace as I tried

After introducing Art to the both of them, we situated ourselves around the fire when Darvus suddenly ca out with a determined expression

“Arthur Leywin I, Darvus Clarell, fourth son of the Clarell House, fore you to a duel!” he announced without any particular anger or spite; instead, he looked resolute