Chapter 469 (2/2)

Helen’s eyes burrowed into uard formation We proceed slowly, spells at the ready”

Instead of relaxing, an to wonder if I’d done the right thing I pressed into the light-and-dark spot behindOvercome by the emotions of a not-yet four-year-old’s physical for more than the co the correct decision

‘You won’t find that here’

My head whipped around, and I found e of Sylvie, as drifting a couple dozen feet up in the air, watching everything happen with a ave a sh her transparent wheat-blonde hair ‘You’re alone, Arthur Maybeto be the hardest part Because no one else can understand, no one can guide you You’ll have to bear the weight of the consequences alone, too’

I waited, expecting so…more An affirmation or expression of positivity, or the assertion that, actually, I wouldn’t be completely alone, because she ith e

You don’t sound like yourself

‘Of course not,’ she said, the pitch of her voice rising ‘I’m me, but as you interpret the “ me so you could continue to be you I’ve told you what happened to‘Maybe I’m a little more me than that, since a part of the real me is here with you’

But you said I was all alone

‘And you are But maybe not forever Remember that It doesn’t have to be forever’

My face scrunched up in uncertainty I was struggling toaway fro ambush by bandits One of these ti broke out suddenly I was quick to point out the four conjurers and the leader: the Twin Horns took theht than had happened the first time No one was even injured

After the battle, I slipped away froe of the road Sylvia was out there, watching, or so I thought In truth, I had no way to know Would she still save erabbed , I found myself face to face with my father, who scooped me up and setold fall,” he said with a laugh “Hey, how’d you know those guys were there, anyway?”

I sed, looking back out over the forest far below “I don’t know Just felt theain “Just felt them, he says! If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand tiela Rose said at the saot back in the wagon, and Durden entle wave of the reins My mother pulled nant right now, I realized, the knowledge fuzzy, like a fact only half reot injured, so he didn’t tellanother baby My sister, though they don’t know that yet Ellie

I frowned It was hard to keep these facts in order But maybe it was just because I was so tired One of the proble my eyes shut For such a s I felt was Mother’s fingers feathering through ether into weeks, toI had the best tutors, and they prepared e of twelve when ht red! MyGrey had continued to fade, but that was okay It became easier and easier to just be Arthur Leywin, bi-ele deviant, too!

Soretted that I hadn’t becoe, but I knew that was silly No one could beco all four elements Still, there were tih, and I remembered ki, and I felt like there was more I could have done

I even helped my little sister, Ellie, awaken early Not as early as eneration prodigy” Mom had smacked hiirl we lived with, too, but Lilia couldn’t quite get a grip on the uess, since her es either, but it did res I couldn’t do

A good lesson for a twelve-year-old, I thought

“You see up to the start of my first term at the academy We were out behind the Helstea’s residence, which they had been kind enough to invite us into “It’s only natural, Art But even though these other kids ht be older, not many of them will be ing forward and sweeping my wooden practice sword at his shi+n When he sidestepped, I brought it around and acrossat his ribs on the opposite side He only barely got his oeapon into place “I’ve still been a er!”

He parried a thrust, and I overextended,my flank With a chuckle, he attacked my open position

I jumped into a forward roll to avoid his strike and caer than anyone else has, ever”

“Don’t get cocky,” he adh he couldn’t hide the obvious pride in his quivering lips, flexed jaw, and glea eyes “Just remember, don’t let those nobles and royals push you around, but don’t go starting fights either”

Taking eyser of stea and hacking, the skin of his face slightly red from the heat

“But h to fight ivento catch his breath “That’s…right…” he coughed out eventually “Okay, okay, that’s enough for the day Your tutor should be here soon”

I couldn’t help the rolling of htened “Let me come with you to the auction house instead! I won’t be home as often once ter to another lecture about htly damp brows rose in his red face

“Okay, okay,” I said, giving up

A calloused hand roughed it up “Maybe youryou down after lessons And dinner” I looked up gratefully Dad’s nose wrinkled “And a bath”

I thought of that moment a lot as term started and I was pulled into acadehter and strong for y-like talent I had displayed as an infant faded with the memories of my last life Still, that wasn’t so bad It was a lot easier to just be a kid and not have all this stuff about Earth and being a king stuck in my head

But yeah, Xyrus AcadehtThis happened a lot, especially from the noble kids, who all sucked pretty bad The princes and princesses of Sapin and Elenoir even went there, although I stayed well out of their way Still, barely any of them could manipulate two different elements, h kind of inti

It was almost too bad that I was stuck with so hting Mechanics I class was taken to a real dungeon in the Beast Glades, Widow’s Crypt

“All right, is everyone ready?” our Professor, an intense woman named Vanessy Glory, asked “Then let’s head in Brace yourselves—once we get inside, it’s going to be chilly” She stepped through the entrance, which appeared to be a narrow stairway leading into darkness

In a single-file line, we all beganour way down the stairs The temperature dropped noticeably with every step we took

“W-hat the hell? I d-d-didn’t think it-it’d be this c-c-cold!” a boy nament yourself, you dolt,” I heard Clive, the student council vice president, say froue outline of each person

I glanced at Clive, and irl beside him: the student council president, Tessia Eralith She didn’t see , but Clive did He sneered, and I looked away, feeling roarm

As if I’d ever be interested in a posh elven princess, anyway, I thought angrily

We made our way down into an enormous, moss-lined cavern

“That’s odd Usually we’d see a fair amount of snarlers already Why don’t I—”

All of a sudden, hideous noises began echoing all around us Peeking out fro the walls of the cave were innumerable beady red eyes

I clenched my fist around the hilt of the plain but serviceable blade the school had provided for this expedition All aroundwary looks at Professor Glory, but I forgot about everything else as I felt the thrill of really getting to test myself for the first time

“This is so odd Even on the lower floors, there are never thisherself “There are a lot of them but they aren’t impossible to handle However, since this is just a class excursion, I think it’s best to go back up, just in case Safety is our priority” But as Professor Glory started slowly ushering everyone back toward the stairs, a fireball flew past her

The fireball exploded and six of thein different directions Their s bodies, each about four feet tall with thickly s, lay motionless

“See?” a snide noble na his staff “These nasty little beasts are weak Professor, don’t tell o back Even a sh to kill six of thee, I burst forward and i it dance with bright flah the dily creatures’ thick gray coat of fur, which save off a horrid stench Its beady red eyes stared up at me from a boarish, snouted face

“Arthur!” the professor shouted, not able to hide her frustration and worry given the context “damn it, you two Everyone, split into your teams and take different parts of the floor! We don’t want any friendly fire happening in here And Lucas, Arthur, if either of you do soain, there will be consequences” Professor Glory swept alook across the two of us

I nodded, feeling

“Prince Curtis, take your team and make your way toward the left side of the cave Princess Tessia, take your tearound The last tea an eye on you at all tiilant and don’t underestimate the snarlers, especially in these numbers” With that, Professor Glory motioned for the teams to uard, since you’re the best at close range,” Princess Eralith ordered, her voice carrying throughout the cavern “Clive and Owen, you guys take positions behind hiht and make sure he’s covered Lucas, stay in the center, behind Roland and between Clive and Owen; I’ll cover your back We’re going in the diamond position we learned in class”

But I ith the professor, of course, since neither of the royalty had use for soe The battle was intense, and Professor Glory kept us on a shorter leash than the other teams had to deal with, but as I spun and ducked,it even faster, I fell into a rhythood at it And that felt good I wanted more of it, that thrill of power I’d wanted to become an adventurer ever since I was a little boy, but I really knew at that moment that I would follow in reat!

Just then, there was a crack froround just next to me I was thrown off my feet and had to wrap myself in a shi+eld of water-attribute mana to keep off the swarm of snarlers that leapt at the chance to take iant swords, one held in each hand, carving throughShe didn’t see the tingeduntil one had her by the shoulder It lifted her up and tossed her away like a ragdoll

I could do nothing as the second creature—soe and with broad wings—leaned doard listenedas they approached

My barrier caed into me

I closedIt couldn’t end like this, it just couldn’t I was special, unique even As the pain gave way to numbness, all I could think was, What a waste…

Everything faded to black And then, within the black, a faint bit of distant light

The light at the end of the tunnel, I thought, not yet cognisant of the fact that I should no longer be thinking at all

The light grew closer, brighter, and then, as if I were looking through a foggy , everything aroundsure they were already shut Indiscernible sounds assaultedme dizzy When I tried to speak, the words cauishable sounds slowly ratulations, sir and madam, he’s a healthy boy”