As his blood dyed the arena red, Oriole watched Arthur give him one last look of acknowledgnt before disappearing. He knew that Arthur was fighting the urge to save him and make sure he was okay, but Oriole asked him to leave.
The creator disappeared from before him as if the sun was taken out of his world. The violet monsters surrounding him and the illusionist were all that was left. After he strained them, Oriole's eyes were getting tired, making his vision blurry.
"Arthur is gone..." muttered the vessel as he strolled toward him. "Yet, you remain. Are you sacrificing your life?"
"You ask the dumbest of questions," smiled Oriole. "You should know what will happen now that I remain here. Aren't you the Omniscient Vessel?"
"Careful with your words, alchemist," glared the vessel. "You are at my rcy now that the outsider is gone."
"Let see the future for you," said Oriole as he wiped the blood off his mouth. "You should see more than one possible path affected by your actions. In one of them, I am dead. However, you later learn that a very dear shapeshifter of yours is also dead. In the other, I beco your hostage, and you gain an alchemist, runemaster, and leverage over Arthur."
"I can see through your thoughts. Do you think you can change Mistletoe and from the inside?. However, what you said is also a part of the truth. It seems that Reece has gone behind my back for a silly go..."
Oriole could feel the rage within his voice for having his plans disturbed. The initial one was Reece kidnapping Oriole, but the forr decided to salvage what relationship Arthur and Sier had.
After witnessing their fight, Oriole knew that the cat was delusional. Their relationship had gone beyond its breaking point, with no possible hope for its survival. However, his cards now depended on how much the seer liked his shapeshifter.
"I like him quite a bit, unfortunately. Mistletoe is my family, and Arthur was a part of it before he decided to betray us."
"Arthur didn't decide such a thing."
"Are you sure?" smiled the vessel. "I read the minds of your master and the Runic Guards Captain. Arthur promised to offer my head in return for leaving this city. Is that not betrayal?"
"What other choice did he have?"
"It doesn't matter what choices he had. I can't accept a backstab from him with a smile, and tell him to go on to save his family."
"...so, it was true," sighed Oriole. "Do you have a hand in this sickening plot, too? If so, then Arthur will never forgive you."
"It doesn't matter in the end whether I am responsible or not," walked the vessel toward him before crouching in front of Oriole. "In the end, Arthur will also realize that the guardian has consud . So he will seek , and maybe... I will finally die."
Oriole didn't hear any fear in his voice, and his eyes were nothing but blurry violet flas in his vision. The vessel reached out toward Oriole's wounds and touched them lightly as if assessing his lifeforce.
"You have been reckless with your body for the sake of Arthur. Let's hope he feels a similar way for you, Oriole. Otherwise, you are of no use."
"I have a lot of knowledge in this brain," said Oriole. "Furthermore, there is no possible way for to backstab you with your mind-reading ability, right?"
"Unlike Arthur, you are indeed an easier dog to ta," said the vessel as he stood up. "Yet, you do hold a certain value. Follow out of this place."
"Are you going to pursue Arthur?" asked Oriole with a frown, ready to attack.
"Don't throw away your life just yet, alchemist. I fulfilled my mission long ago. As for the rest, it was revenge against the outsider for seeing my mories."
"You are petty, vessel," said Oriole as he stood up and began healing his body. His mana was nearly drained, so he had to focus on his vitals.
"Call boss."
***
At the end of their journey, a cabin awaited Arthur. As he opened the door, he found the fading figure of the witch, looking to be at the end of her ti here. However, he still managed to see the happiness on her face.
"My Seika!" she shouted and ran forward. Arthur expected her ethereal form to pass through him, but the witch hugged him. There was even warmth coming out of her fading body.
"...you used a part of your powers to transmit a hug?" asked Arthur with a speechless face as he glanced down at her. The witch's violet head rose to et her eyes, carrying a sheepish smile.
"After all, this is our first eting for ! The rest of it was just mories, and I never experienced them myself, hehe," laughed the witch as she backed away from him. "Now that we are done with the most important matters, we can take it easy!"
"That was the most important matter?" laughed Arthur despite his heavy heart and pulled her for another embrace. "It wasn't enough for , sadly. I missed you, Gala."
"Oh...!" she muttered in his embrace, nervous for the first ti since he had known her. "I... I... missed you too, Seika," then she returned an embrace.
The two separated after a few seconds, and the smile couldn't leave Arthur's face. After all, the friend he thought to be dead was now in front of him, as playful as ever. However, there were more important matters to discuss.
"...it seems your alchemist friend didn't return," asked Gala as she looked around. The smile slowly disappeared from Arthur's face as he blankly nodded. "You needn't worry. He seems to have a plan of his own."
"I know that, but I'm still worried. He is nothing but a hostage now."
"A hostage he may be, but not the only thing he is. Oriole is still on your side, and he is an alley. Therefore, he is not a burden or just a hostage."
"You are right. He told everything you told him."
"That is great because I don't have much ti left," said Gala with sadness. "We must part ways again, Seika. I relayed what I had to say already, so all that is left is for to send you out of these ruins. I need to sacrifice this form for the spirits to keep protecting this space."
"Then, this is farewell," said Arthur. "It has been a short eting."
"...you are not going to ask about her?"
Arthur felt a jolt of pain in his heart at the ntion of Diana. Her fate was still unknown to him, even after learning that she was the one who created these ruins. However, Arthur was scared to ask because of her plan.
"She wanted to find through Seref Silvera, right?" asked Arthur after a pause. Gala slowly nodded, making Arthur sigh. "Is she..."
"The princess is waiting for you," interrupted Gala with a smile. "Her love hasn't died down one bit, too. She almost killed the Scholar Vessel in her rage. However, you are the only one who can save her."
"Save her from what?"
"...Seref Silvera himself," said Gala as her form disintegrated. "The ruins contain everything you need to know, Arthur. It will be the key to unlock the gates of reclaiming what was lost."
Her form was growing more unstable by the second, and even her words were hard to discern. Arthur watched as the witch clapped her hands with a smile before waving him goodbye. Space began to twist with him in its center before the scene changed.
"This needs to be our farewell. I hope to et you again, Arthur. But, this ti, I don't want to die."
Arthur's body got pulled into the portal as if he was held by the hand of god. Then, after the colors rged into a tunnel, Arthur got flung out of the ruins. He was suddenly back in the sa hall where Grandmaster Casca was killed, with Julia and Maryam behind him.
"We are... back?" asked Julia with relief. "It seems the rascal is still unconscious," she said while looking at Maryam.
"Soone ca out of the ruins!" shouted the runic guards patrolling the area. Arthur glanced at them before a rune appeared on his hand. Then, he turned toward Julia.
"Are you coming with or staying here?" asked Arthur. It was easier to run away alone, but the two runemasters would be interrogated. He cannot risk Runera knowing about what happened.
"I..." hesitated the runemaster before nodding at him with resolve. Arthur slamd his rune on the ground for it to cover the three of them. Then, they disappeared from their spots.
'Space is free for to manipulate,' thought Arthur as he teleported. 'Oriole indeed pulled off this feat. But, I need to trust him more,' as his thoughts reached this point, Arthur left the ruins.
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