For an eternal peace (3)

“This world has always wronged me. And you are the personification of the will of God. Thus you will never agree with me.”

Melchior’s tone was still calm, but immense anger could be felt seething under it. Kleio controlled his desire to jump through the window and sprint away as he replied,

“The unpredictable events of God have given me some truth about a world, but would such a grand plan be given to those who are mere creatures?”

Melchior suddenly slowed as he realized that he had raised his voice.

“I have no intention of exerting power on you now. But next time, if we are to award the medal of capital defense again, we can make sure to include the [Covenant] in the process. It’s all thanks to the human virtue of learning through experience.”

The medal he had been awarded was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Saying that statement was Melchior’s way to declare the next life. Hearing him say it was even scarier than Kleio had thought.

‘No, there’s no such thing as the next life!’

Kleio wiped his cold sweaty palms on his pants. Now, Separation was at its limit. It wasn’t even because of resisting a unique skill, but due to Kleio’s psychological shock.

“Then, I will tell you later how to fulfill your knight’s duty. Go back.”

“Then, Arthur…”

“Haven’t you heard? I’ll send him back right away. So, are you going to be Arthur’s keeper?”

“If there are no flaws in the procedure, I will do that.”

“Whatever you want.”

Melchior, a clerical smile now covering his face, called the council servant to usher Kleio out of the office. To welcome Arthur, he had to move from the council chambers to the palace.

He had been through the connecting passage before, but today it felt like a thousand miles long. The servant’s steps weren’t particularly quick, but Kleio’s legs trembled after him, his palms and his back coated in a cold sweat. The meeting felt like it had taken twenty hours, not two.

‘…Still, Arthur was released.’

Kleio cheered himself up as his mind and body began to sag with mental and emotional fatigue.

.

.

.

Kleio stood in the same place where Gideon Asel had awaited him a few days ago. As he gazed at the portrait of Phillipe hung over the fireplace, he seemed to sense what Gideon Asel had felt. It felt inappropriate to make any expression as his heart went from cold to hot. He couldn’t guess what kind of torment Arthur must’ve suffered.

‘He’s strong, so the damage may not be severe, but he came close to death.’

The ring had grown too warm, so he turned off Separation. It hadn’t brought him much calm anyway. Ether circulated through his body as he prepared to heal any wounds Arthur had.

“Ah.”

He had so many things to say, but upon seeing Arthur, Kleio’s jaw simply dropped. Arthur, his hands stowed in his pockets, was okay at first glance. He had a beard that had been roughly shaven and was wearing clothes that seemed a size too small for his height, but his limbs were unmarred.

Then, Arthur took a step closer to the frozen Kleio.

“Lei, I’m glad you’re safe. I’m surprised you’re the one to greet me. I can’t tell you how crazy the things Vesna told me about you.”

Vesna’s speech must’ve been vicious, as Arthur’s eyes were deeply afflicted. With both arms outstretched, Kleio tried to reassure Arthur.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s all a lie. I’m completely fine; I was just trapped. I was released in less than three days. The bail cost a lot, but that doesn’t matter. I know whose son I am.”

After hearing Kleio’s answer, Arthur let out a deep sigh, his broad shoulders drooping like a deflated balloon.

“Really, nothing happened. Haah, I thought I was going crazy from worry. So, you know what happened to the others? Are they okay?”

“Cel is in a similar position to me, and Isiel is being protected by her mother’s side of the family. The twins are with their aunt. They must’ve been released by now. You’re the one who struggled, so is now the time to start worrying about others?”

Arthur protested with a cheeky tone.

“Ah! Before I left, I shaved, washed my hair, and changed clothes. Am I still dirty?”

“That’s not the problem… You’re hurt.”

The prince’s eyes turned wide.

“Wow, how’d you know? She healed them with magic.”

“No, I felt the healing magic activated under the north gate earlier. Who else do I complain to? Are you okay? Where the hell have you been hurt? You need to be healed quickly and properly….”

Arthur reflexively moved as Kleio’s hand reached out to him. The strength of the trained swordsman quickly batted away the wizard’s wrist. More surprised than Kleio by his own actions, Arthur inhaled sharply.

“Lei, are you okay? No, that…”

Kleio pressed the back of his hand, obscuring Arthur’s sight from the swelling.

“Tell me, what did Vesna Driscoll do to you?”

At a glance, it seemed that blood was oozing from Arthur’s fingertips. He quickly hid his hands back in his pockets.

“She didn’t do much. Just… I was exhausted from using ether, and I wasn’t allowed to sleep.”

His forehead was slick with sweat, and he looked parched. Even with his terribly shaky look, Arthur tried to maintain his open-minded attitude. It was Arthur’s way. After applying [Soundproof][Shield] to the entire reception room, Kleio turned to Arthur.

“Then, show me your hand.”

“Ah, what is it? It isn’t a basic school health test.”

“Arthur.”

Arthur, avoiding Kleio’s gaze, was almost pushed back to the mantlepiece before revealing his hands. The sight was terrible. Of his ten fingers, only four nails remained. They had been healed quickly, but the round and uneven shapes looked painful. Even the remaining fingernails had been worn down and crushed. Kleio quickly produced his wand, but Arthur hurriedly held back the wizard.

“You have the sound blocked now. Don’t use a double load. You’ll collapse.”

“What?!”

Arthur was well aware of Kleio’s limits; it had been essential to grasp in order to fight together. Kleio’s ether was abundant, close to that of an average level 6 wizard. Healing the wound of a person standing intact shouldn’t lead to him collapsing, which meant that the injuries were deeper than they looked.

“…I know that Vesna forced you to make a [Covenant]. Since you’ve been held for more than a week, it’s a miracle that you walked out on your own two feet. Tell me what happened, show me your injuries. That way, I can adjust it to the magic.”

“I’ve already healed, so I’ll just take some rest.”

He just needed a little rest. That didn’t fit at all with the subject that he could use a double load due to the depletion of ether. Kleio grabbed Arthur’s arm, and Arthur released him.

“Ouch!”

Arthur flinched, even though Kleio’s weak grip barely touched him. Despite his desperation to pretend to be calm, Arthur’s physical condition wasn’t normal.

“I saw the formula activated earlier. She is trying to hide the traces of torture, but it still hurts.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve been injured.”

“Doesn’t it still hurt? I have to erase it right away if you don’t want them to scar. Show me quickly; it grows more difficult as time passes.”

“Ah, what is a wound or two on my body? They won’t be noticeable.”

“Whenever you see the scars, you’ll think of your time underground. That time can’t be turned back.”

Arthur’s time couldn’t be edited even with Editor’s Authority. The impossibility angered Kleio. Rather than regretting what happened to him, Arthur opened his mouth with a childish expression that didn’t match his grown-up face.

“Right. Even with the miracle of the skill, time is irreversible. Somehow, I feel like I’ve become a great person.”

Arthur hadn’t mentioned Kleio’s skill since the Amphitheater, but he hadn’t forgotten about it.

“You know, Lei, I’m much better off not getting rid of the wounds or turning back time. I’m proud of the proof of my faith. It’s a scar I have as proof that I didn’t betray anyone. Huh?”

Arthur was still himself, despite his injuries. Kleio couldn’t laugh or cry as he merely frowned at his messy friend. Promise flashed out as he felt conflicted.

[―User’s narrative involvement has increased.

Cumulative rate: 54.3%]

‘In this situation, damn it.’

He wanted to scatter the golden letters, but he couldn’t. If his destiny all belonged to God’s plan, what was the reason for this torment? Is it to shape a better personality from the test of pain? But Kleio didn’t care.

“Lei.”

A good and strong protagonist stood before Kleio. His friend, anxiety in his turquoise eyes, was soaked in fatigue.

“No. Your fidelity doesn’t have to be proved that way. It’s just evidence of their unjust persecution.”

Arthur would never open up about the days and nights he went through, and he wouldn’t make his colleagues feel guilty. He would cover up the truth in jokes, not wanting his friend to know a terrible truth. So, Kleio triggered his skill.

[―Unique skill: Uses Editor Authority. (1/3)]

[―Remaining time/time limit:

00:04:59 / 00:05:00]

A bunch of papers appeared between Kleio and Arthur, alongside a pen with blue and gold ink. After a year or so, the condition of the manuscript had grown worse than before. Even under Kleio’s careful touch, the remaining life of the Palimpsest didn’t seem long. Arthur also recognized the old sheet of paper.

“That’s prediction. Why are you bringing it out?”

Even now that he was a full-fledged young adult, there were times when Arthur showed the senseless attitude of a child.

“The prediction happens based on the past. Here, not only the future but also the past.”

“What?! That’s foul play!”

“It’s because you won’t talk!”

The wizard shouted as he read the manuscript. Arthur tried to snatch it, but the Palimpsest rejected his touch. Even with his ether, the damned paper couldn’t be reached.

Several minutes passed like a hundred years. When he finally found the text he was looking for, Kleio’s expression was filled with horror.