Tussle Among Friends

"State your names!"

Standing in the middle of a large room was a tall lady. She had blonde hair tied into a ponytail and heavy steel armor. She carried a massive lance and wielded a shield in her other hand.

"Legolas."

"Jacob."

"U-Umm... Alice!"

The three hostages were forced to bow on their knees in front of my throne, confused as ever.

Alice seemed the most confused out of everyone else; I'm assuming it's from that brainwashing spell put on her that Angelica talked about.

"Wh-Why're we here exactly?" Asked Legolas.

"Shut your mouth!" The tall blonde stabbed her lance into the ground, a few inches from Legolas

"!!!" Legolas was instantly hushed, falling backward on his butt.

"You only speak once you're talked to!" She picked up her lance and glared at Jacob, "You."

"Huh, me!?"

"Yes, you. On your feet!"

Jacob nervously stood up, straightening out his posture as if he was in the military.

"Explain to Lord Emperor the details of the Swindlers Guild—if you leave anything out, I'll behead you where you stand!"

"B-Behead... me?"

"Must I repeat myself?!"

"Okay, I'll tell you everything! I have no reason to hold anything back!"

"Jeez... she has a powerful aura around her, it's even giving me the heebie-jeebies!" Angelica was standing next to my throne, arms crossed, with her nervous smile, "Sorry guys..." She whispered to the three.

"I-I remember being betrayed and manipulated by Henry... who exposed himself as Belial with a group of other players who killed me. But then, I was brought back to life as an undead, by Madam Dorothy herself. After that happened, me and Alice were forced to live in the Swindlers Guild, abiding by their rules."

"Hmm, is that all you can tell me?"

"Yes, mam!"

"Very well. Sit!"

Upon command Jacob dropped to the ground, hands on his knees like a frightened child, "She's so scary..!"

"Now, you. Tell me all that you remember!" She stood in front of Alice, waiting for their response, "Leave any detail out, and I'll behead you!"

Alice stood up, just as nervous as Jacob, "U-Umm... I remember... shooting... Jacob... and-"

"And?"

"...And that's all I can remember, mam."

"That's all... you can remember?"

"Y-Yes, after that... I went into a mental shutdown, remembering bits and pieces of what was going on around me. Then, everything went blank, and I woke up in the Swindlers Guild after getting saved by Lady Angelica."

"Hmmm. I see. Then it was certainly some type of brainwashing spell put on you if you forgot such important details"

"Yes, that's what Lady Angelica, Jacob, and Legolas said."

"Very well." She approached Legolas, standing in front of him, "Warrior."

However... her approach was different for him.

"I can see pain in your eyes."

Legolas kept his head bowed down, refusing eye contact.

"Compared to both of them, your pain is far greater. Those are the eyes of a warrior who sacrificed it all for the sake of something greater. I know war, I know pain, and I know the feeling of regret. Hide nothing from me, tell me all that you remember... but..." She placed her hand on her chest, "If there's anything that greatly harms your mental state, then leave it be... for now."

Legolas slowly lifted his head, revealing his emotionless gaze.

"...I failed everyone."

"Huh?" Squawked Alice.

"Failed everyone?" Said the confused Jacob.

"From the very start, I should've realized it was some trap. Before Belial and Richard traveled into the underground ruins, I had a chance to stop it... yet I refused," Legolas clenched his fist, "I should've known... it was a trap..." He tilted his head as his words broke up. All he could say were stuttering sounds, "I...I... am a failure."

"Legolas... don't say such things!" Shouted Alice, "You aren't some failure!" She got up, running towards him, and kneeling to his height, "You done so much for us! Without you, we couldn't be here!!"

Legolas widened his eyes, feeling Alice's hand touch his body.

His heart jolted, as he lost his breath, looking up to see her.

"...S-Stop!! Stay away!" He pushed Alice off of him, falling towards his backside.

"Legolas! What's the matter with you?!" Screamed the frustrated girl, "This isn't like you at all!"

"...Don't... touch me!" The elf slowly stood up, glaring down at Alice in anguish, "Never touch me again..."

"But why?! We're friends... aren't we?"

"Friends?" Legolas recollected the past, remembering what happened in the ruins, "How can we be friends?" He clenched his teeth, "After what you've done to me?"

"W-What did I do!? Tell me! You know I don't remember anything, so it's not fair to be mad at me!"

"I sacrificed myself, even giving up my soul to the Grim Reaper so you guys could have a better life without me!!"

"..." Alice and Jacob went quiet.

"I realized that if I stayed in our party, it would make things complicated. Our friendship won't be the same ever again. I just wanted to save my friends, and leave for good... because it's my fault that you guys got caught up in this mess in the first place."

Legolas lifted his hand.

"Unfold."

"Legolas... what happened? Why aren't you telling me?"

[YES] [NO]

"Yes."

"Legolas... why?" Asked the distressed Alice.

[YES] [NO]

"...Yes."

"I'm sorry, but I no longer wish to continue our journey, for it is long over."

Jacob stood up, approaching Legolas in intense ebullition, "How could you?!" Jacob punched the elf in the face, sending him toppling backward.

"Fool!" The blonde woman lifted her lance, prepared to strike Jacob, however-

"Margaret," I called out her name, stopping her.

"Lord Emperor?" She turned around, questioning me.

But there was a reason I halted her action; this wasn't our business, this was simply a tussle among friends, and nothing more.

We already got everything we needed to know from them. I was satisfied.

"Leaving us to go your own way? How selfish could you be!?! What's the matter with you? After all that we've been through, you are willing to leave me and Alice, for your own sake?"

"....." Legolas held his bruised chin, looking to the side, "You wouldn't understand Jacob."

"I wouldn't understand?! Do you mean about what Alice did? Well... I already know!"

Legolas lifted his brows in shock, slowly facing Jacob's anguished gaze.

"Dorothy told me what happened right after she brought me back to life. She said that Alice betrayed you! But you should already know that she wouldn't do something like that! She was under control, being brainwashed by Belial!!"

"...I see, so Dorothy didn't tell you everything? Only the betrayal part."

"What do you mean?"

"...Thank you, Dorothy." Legolas closed his eyes, returning back to his feet.

"What is there to thank?" Asked Alice.

"I wish to take my leave, Lord Emperor." Legolas approached me, walking past Jacob and Alice, refusing to give them attention.

"Leave?"

"Yes, my lord." He knelt upon his knee, bowing his head, "I've departed from my party, and I gave away the information that is needed for you unless there is anything else you desire."

"Fumu, now that you mention it," I would look at Angelica, "How about joining Angelica, and working by her side?"

Legolas lifted his head in haste, "Join… Lady Angelica?"

"Yes. She lives in the West Continent, the land of the free. Compared to all the other continents in the world, hers is peaceful, and every race is well respected. I believe you'll get along with the people and players there."

"A-Are you certain... King Emperor?"

"I am."

"Well, how about it?" Angelica leaned forward, smiling confidently as ever, "Doesn't it sound wonderful? Better than this place, that's for sure!"

Ouch... she hit me where it hurts.

"I...I am grateful for this offer," Legolas stood up bowing before Angelica. "I would love to work by your side for whatever reason you wish of me!"

"Hehehe, good, then it's settled!" Angelica lifted her hand at the elf, "Legolas, I cast you under my blessing, do you accept me as your ruler, and are you willing to give it your all once you're working for me?"

"Yes... I am willing to give it my all. And I do accept you as my ruler, Lady Angelica."

The angel smiled, "Good, then I shall bestow my blessing upon you, and give you the wings of freedom!"

Angelica used A-tier Arcane Magic, known as Bestow Blessing. This is used to grant players their blessing with the gift of protection, or anything else they desire.

A white light engulfed his body as Legolas underwent a series of evolutions.

Level 35.

Level 45.

Level 55.

Level 65.

Legolas went up 40 levels at max, increasing his HP and MP, alongside his overall stats.

He was in another league compared to the Chimera, and the Swindlers Guild.

"...Incredible, my levels skyrocketed." Legolas looked at his hands, feeling an insurmountable power.

"That's the benefit of being blessed by me. You can thank me later, but for now, we should figure out what to do with your friends."

"...R-Right. Thank you for this gracious gift, I can't be grateful enough..."

"Of course." Angelica walked past Legolas, making her way toward Jacob and Alice, "Margaret, thank you for everything you've done, but I'll handle these two." The angel placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder, reassuring her.

"Very well, Lady Angelica. As the minister of defense, I leave these two, to you." Margaret bowed her head before turning around, and returning to her headquarters, "I shall be off, Lord Emperor."

"Very well, Margaret, thank you for your service."

"Always my Lord."

The tall knight headed off, making her way outside of the throne room, and out the castle.

"What did I do wrong?" Alice sat there, hugging her knees, "...If it's hurting someone like Legolas, then I really screwed up... didn't I? How can I ever forgive myself?"

"Alice... it wasn't your fault." Jacob sat next to her, hugging the girl around the shoulder, "None of this is any of your fault!"

"Are you two okay?" Angelica stood in front of them, glancing at the two with a look of sorrow, "I'm sorry for what happened... none of you deserved any of this."

"Madam Angelica..." Alice lifted her head, teary in her eyes, "Does Legolas... hate us?"

"Nn-mm," Angelica shook her head in denial, "He doesn't hate you. Don't think like that."

"Then why is he running away?"

"Legolas sacrificed everything he had, to save you two. Originally he was gonna die after summoning the Grim Reaper, but some complications happened, and the Grim Reaper found a new body, which tampered with their contract, and allowed Legolas to live another day," Angelica huffed a sigh, "So... Legolas didn't plan ahead, since he was certain that he was going to die."

"...So he isn't lying, he really did use the summoning artifact I gave him?"

"Yep. But why would you think he was lying in the first place?"

"...Well... considering he's not dead... it was hard for me to believe."

"Ah, I see. You must feel bad for lashing out at him now, huh?"

"Yes... I do." Jacob glanced down, discouraged in his eyes, "I gave him that summoning artifact long ago, I never knew he was gonna use it..."

"Well, he did, and he used it for you guys specifically."

"What a fool I am!" Jacob facepalmed himself, cringing at his own fault, "Goddamnit!"

"It's never too late to apologize, Jacob."

"...How can I apologize? He's done so much for us! I'm certain that some measly apology will do anything!"

"Get up." Angelica tugged on Jacob and Alice's ears, pulling them up from the ground.

"Ow!"

"That hurts!"

"Your friend is over there in pain, so how about you do something about it, and apologize? You already know everything he's done, right?"

"Right..." Murmured Alice.

"Of course I do." Said Jacob.

"Good, then make things better. Only you two have the power to do that, as friends."