Chapter 10

GREY

I watched as Valen shot up from the small electrical shock. "Good morning, it's your turn," I told him as his face remained passive.

"I don't feel very refreshed, but you seem to be," teased Valen as he looked at me and Caera. I felt my face redden from his sudden comment.

"You both are very touched starved aren't you?" asked Valen.

"Mhmm," I mumbled before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

***

I woke up to everyone once again packing everything up. "Good morning, you've yet again done a perfect impression of a log," chuckled Caera.

"Haha, very funny," I said sarcastically.

We kept going through the maze with the traps becoming more frequent and the monsters have been getting stronger. Nothing we couldn't handle. I was annoyed by the lack of light and the fact that only Mayla and I were ranged attackers. We were lucky by the fact everything here–with the expectation of the 4 headed snake– was a melee fighter.

"Hey, what's that?" asked Seth as he pointed in front of us. I shot some fire forwards to reveal a huge double door. Unlike the plant ridden cracked stone that made up most of the maze, this door was in perfect condition. It had gold trimmings all around in a ton of fancy patterns. In the upper middle part of the door was a painted skull. Just under that was a painting that looked like a horse skeleton.

"What do you think those engravings mean?" asked Enola as she started to investigate the markings.

"I think it means it's a boss room," I said. Once again everyone looked at me weirdly. "Like do we need to fight a manager? Because I tried that once, it didn't go very well. I didn't even know it was possible to work 120 hours in a week but I somehow pulled it off." commented Mayla.

I laughed at Mayla's innocences, "No, a boss is another word for a really strong monster that rules over an area. They existed back in the dungeons in Dicathen," I explained.

"So a really strong enemy, alright," said Caera as she prepared herself.

Once we got ready I pushed the door open to reveal a true monstrosity. What we saw was a skeleton horse coated in rusted metal armor. Instead of the reddish rust this rust was black and almost a liquid. It dripped off the armor and started to melt the ground. It had glowing red eyes that took us all in. On top of its back was a human skeleton. It was covered in old rags that made it look like a wanderer instead of a knight. Sticking into its back came multiple weapons that consisted of swords, halbers, longswords, arrows, spears and even a katana. In its right hand was a Zweihander, which is a sword that's about twice the length of a longsword. It looked like the horseman of death from the biblical prophecy of revelations.

"T-That's a boss?!?!" yelled Seth. Before I could answer, one of the weapons in the skeleton's back shot out and flew towards us. I blocked its attack while more flew at us. Mayla used her shotgun to shatter the weapon. The horse rushed us thrusting its sword at Caera. She brought her sword up to the side of her face and deflected it to the side, the swords sparked as they clashed.

Taking the opportunity I jumped to the side to attack the horse. I used fire to increase the speed and damage of my attack. My attack connected, causing the horse to jump back like a wolf would. The damage it took was instantly covered in that black liquid and soon the armor was repaired. Then more black liquid came from its back, creating more weapons.

"Well, this'll be fun," I commented. "Don't get too close, Mayla and Seth, take care of its flying weapons!" I ordered. "Valen! Stop it from healing! Enola, stop that thing from attacking!Caera! Help me take that thing down!"

Mayla pulled out a red magazine while Seth took out a morningstar. I shot forwards using thunderclap impulse and wind magic to boost my speed. The skeleton brought its blade up to attack but it was stopped by Enola, leaving the monster wide open. I brought down Dawn's Ballad and connected with the skeleton only for it to block with its other arm. I instantly used ice magic and froze it but the black liquid stopped me from freezing anymore than its arm.

The ice shattered, taking its arm with it. More black liquid started to manifest and form into the shape of a skeletal arm. Before it could finish Valen interrupted it causing it to scream out in annoyance.

Meanwhile Caera had made her way to its side and plunged her blade into the horses side. Caera then pivoted herself and used her center of gravity to slice her blade across its torso, leaving a huge gash that oozes black liquid. Seeing an opportunity I conjured 3 earthen spikes and put them into the wound, opening it up and keeping it like that. The horse screamed out in pain and started to attack us.

We jumped back to avoid the horse, letting the thing heal its arm. It was struggling to heal the horse's wound but the earthen spikes were slowly dissolving. More weapons flew out of its back but Mayla and Seth easily took care of them.

It again tried to attack them only for Enola to stop it. "Strange, it's strong but doesn't seem to have any fighting experience," I thought. Suddenly the reason came into my mind. "It doesn't have any battle experience!" I yelled out. The trial here was so hard that I assume no one ever got to this point. This meant the monster never had the opportunity to train itself.

Everyone was visibly relieved. I once again ran forward and used fire magic inside its wound to stop the healing and to damage it. Caera attacked its back to stop it from producing more weapons.

"AHHH!!!" I turned to see Enola clutching her hand in pain. Since Enola was a hand-to-hand fighter the skeleton covered its blade with the liquid. Luckily she only got one hand hurt. I ran up to her and broke one of the green healing crystals, healing her hand but leaving a scar. "You ok?" I questioned.

"Yeah, it's getting smarter," said Enola as she took up her stance.

I'm not going to get my new friends hurt. How dare it. The world around me went monochrome and I saw 5 different particles all around us. I was curious about the 5th element that was purple in color but I didn't have time to ponder. I commanded the green particles to bring my friends out of harm's way, making sure they won't get hit by my attack.

I then commanded the red particles to concentrate in my sword. Tendrils of black lighting shot out in every direction. I looked up at the skeleton to see his facial expression had changed, I was surprised that was even possible.

Instead of an expression of fear it had an expression of… amusement? Suddenly the purple particles started to swarm into its sword. I tried to stop them but to no avail. They wouldn't listen to me at all.

The sword was suddenly covered in a thick black aura. The horse jumped right up to me with speed it had not previously shown. "Has it just been playing with us?" I questioned as I dodged its attack by a hair's breadth.

Death. That's what I would experience if I got even a scratch from that blade. I don't know how I knew but every single one of my senses told me that. They were screaming at me to just run. But I couldn't, if I ran it would kill everyone. The skeleton then got off the horse and approached me itself.

I concentrated all the mana I could into my blade and all my own mana into augmenting myself. My sword flew forwards, soon sparks appeared. Our swords clashed at an impossible speed, leaving a shower of sparks enveloping us both. It was a really good swordsman, I'll give it that. Better than anyone I've ever met before, this life and my last. Unfortunately for it, I'm the better swordsman.

Fainting an attack to its right I created an opening and slashed across its chest. Suddenly the skeleton dropped its blade and walked towards me. Before I could do anything it took out a small green stone and stabbed it into my hand. I screamed out in pain and tried to pull it out but it just went deeper, soon black liquid from the skeleton covered my hand, healing the wound.

I fell over backwards myself, exhausted from the sword clash. "Grey!" Caera shouted as she ran up to me. "I'm okay, just break another crystal and I'll be fine." I weazzed. Caera compiled and broke my last crystal. I instantly felt better and sat up with Caera's help.

Thump

We turned to the sound and saw Noah–who I presumed to have fallen from the ceiling, which I now saw had no top–fall down. "Ughh, where am I?" Noah questioned.

"Noah?!" We all yelled simultaneously. Noah turned to use, confused, "How are you guys here? Weren't you up there?" Noah asked as he pointed to the roof.

"Noah, it's been like a week since you ran off the cliff," said Valen, wide eyed.

"I congratulate you on surviving then, as well as reaching the zone exit," said Noah as he started to walk towards the now open teleport gate.

"You're not going to say anything?" Caera questioned, she was really annoyed at him. "It's not like we can do anything about it now. The past is the past," said Noah as he motioned us to follow him.

Caera helped me get to my feet and put her arm around me so that I could walk. "Hey Seth, why were you using a sword until now?" asked Valen.

"Oh, I was experimenting with it," replied Seth. "Experimenting?" asked Mayla with a brow raised. "Seth, do you realize what you were doing? You were experimenting during a fight."

Seth's eyes went really wide," I'm becoming like Grey." Everyone started to laugh at me. "There, there," said Mayla as she rubbed Seth's back in an attempt to comfort him.

"Alright guys, let's get going," said Noah as we went through the gate.

TESSIA ERALITH

"Mama, when is papa coming back? You said he would return soon, but I haven't seen him," said Sylvie as she sat in my lap.

It's been ages since Arthur ran away and we haven't found a single trace of him. Using my authority as the princess of Elenoir I got dozens of beast cores to advance my growth. Sylvie would stay in the beast glades to train and return to me every little while.

I managed to reach solid yellow stage. My swordsmanship has also drastically improved. I stopped going to class and isolated myself in my training room. Only Mother, Father and Grandpa have visited me, I ignored the concern in their eyes. After hearing about Arthur's past self I decided that I should try and copy his method of keeping his emotions locked away. I don't care how damaging it is, this is the most effective way to get stronger.

"I don't know Sylvie, I don't know." I admitted as I picked her up and walked towards my bed I moved to the training room. I layed down and Sylvie hugged my head. I started to cry. As much as I tried, I couldn't, I couldn't keep myself composed in front of my daughter.

"Mama, don't cry, it wasn't your fault. You were just confused. Papa will forgive you," said Sylvie as she comforted me. I cried and cried, my emotionless facade slowly crumbling.

Knock Knock Knock

"Come in," I said. In came Grandpa and he sat down on the foot of my bed. I turned my face away from him so that he wouldn't see my eyes red from crying. "Good news little one, we have a lead on Arthur," said Grandpa.

I shot up and looked grandpa in the eye. I let my mask drop for only a second before I put it back up. Grandpa's expression was hopeful for only a second before it turned to sadness. "You've been crying haven't you," said Grandpa. Realizing what I did I turned my back to him. "Tell me, what did you find out?" I asked in a cold emotionless voice.

Grandpa sighed, "We learned from an adventurer that he saw someone that matches Arthur's description run into the beast glades."

As much as I wanted to run out to the beast glades and look for Arthur I knew it was a bad idea and that I needed to hear the whole story. "Tell me about what you know," I said, not changing my tone.

"He said that Arthur ran into the beast glades with no preparations or resources visible. We followed the path the adventurer pointed to. Once we did we found…" Grandpa stopped, his voice started to sound sad. Devoid of hope.

My chest was in pain, "Did something go wrong? Is Arthur ok?" I turned back around to look at Grandpa, no longer hiding myself. Grandpa didn't even need me to ask to know what I desperately needed. "We found a broken teleport gate," Grandpa finished.

I was about to cry out in joy from the fact that it wasn't anything bad until the reality of the situation hit. If Arthur went through it there would be no way to know where he would end up. He either be in a random town where it would be easy to find him, a random place in the beast glades or… the other continent.

My mind swirled with thought about what could've happened to Arthur. Is he in hiding? Was he killed in the beast blades? If he really was on another continent what would happen to him?

I didn't want to think it or even consider it a possibility but h-has he regressed to Grey? No, he hated his past life, he wouldn't have ever regressed.

"Who else knows this?" I questioned, returning to my cold demeanor.

"As of this moment, you're the only one, I was about to go and tell young Eleanor. Would you like to join me?" Grandpa asked.

"I will," I replied, wiping away the excess tears still in my eyes.

I followed Grandpa out of the training room. I hadn't seen Ellie ever since that day. I hope she doesn't hate me, but I know that chance of her not is very low.

I approached the room that Grandma gave her. From what Grandpa told me Ellie hasn't talked to her parents for a while. I also know that Feyrith was the one who was training her while also acting as a teacher.

I knocked on Ellie's door. "Coming!" I heard from the other side. Once Ellie opened the door her face turned sour and she slammed the door in our faces. "Go away! I don't want to see any of you!" Ellie yelled.

I was about to open my mouth to speak but Sylvie stopped me. "Mama, don't be cold to auntie Ellie please," Sylvie begged. I bit my lip, upset that I even considered being cold to her. I already hurt her enough. I then turned to Grandpa, "Grandpa, please leave me alone with her," I requested. Grandpa had a small smile from me calling him Grandpa but he complied and left.

In a motherly and kindest tone I could manage I called out to Ellie, "Ellie, I'm sorry for what I did, I was confused and I wasn't in the right state of mind. Please forgive me," I begged, sadness leaking into my voice.

"NO! IT WAS YOUR FAULT HE LEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST ACCEPT HIM, HE'S STILL ARTHUR!!" yelled Ellie, I could hear her start to cry.

"We found a lead," I said, still unsure if I should've told her, but it's too late now. I heard Ellie walk towards the door and she swung it open, her face still stuck in pure anger and hatred. "Speak," Ellie demanded.

"Please let me come in and I'll explain what I know," I pleaded. Ellie complied but her expression stayed the same. I sat down on a chair while Ellie sat on her bed.

"An adventurer told us the direction Arthur ran in, we followed and found a broken teleport gate." I explained. Ellies face lit up but quickly only to turn solom. "So you're telling me that he could be anywhere?" asked Ellie.

"Yes, he could," I replied, my head down. "So you're going to go and look for him?" She asked.

"Yes, I just wanted to let you know," I said. "Then I'll help!" exclaimed Ellie as she started to pull out a suitcase from under her bed.

"Ellie you can't you're too young!" I exclaimed, what would Arthur do if I let his sister go out into the world on her own. "So! Arthur was an adventurer at my age!" Ellie retorted.

I was a bit taken aback from learning this but knowing Arthur it made sense. "Even still, Arthur was light red when he was your age. You're only solid red right now. Arthur also had his beast will and his swordsmanship!" I yelled out, trying my best to stop Ellie from going anywhere.

"Don't try to stop me!" Ellie snapped back. Ellie turned to me, tears streaming down her face.

"Ellie, if you're going to do something you shouldn't do it alone," I said. I already had a plan to gather the DC and try to find Arthur. If I could get Ellie to come then I could probably get Feyrith as well.

Ellie turned to me, she showed her annoyance but she knew I was right, "So what? You want me to work with the people who got rid of my brother? Why should I?"

"Because we all realized our mistakes and we want to make up for them. Please, just don't go out by yourself." I pleaded.

Ellie scoffed, "Alright fine, I won't be happy about it though. Go away for tonight, I'll need to sleep."

I sighed in relief. I then went to look for everyone else.