TBATE - Havaca Rises

Chapter 8 - Eralith Family Reunion

AN - I finished this chapter much earlier than expected, so yeah, enjoy...

Time skip: Arthur and Tessia have made it to Elenoir and are now in the carriage ride to the castle.

During this time Arthur manage to decipher Pinky's notes and map out the trade routes and various outposts and hiding spots which he would be using to gain favor from the elves. Also, the strain of restricting the beast and Arthur's lack of sleep is starting to show by the bags under his eyes, exhausted, dull-looking eyes, and his mana randomly pulses.

'Sage discreetly spread my mana around and use legilimency on the passersby; search for information regarding elixirs, where to buy them, and how they're made. Toy stores, local desserts, and their most popular wine'

"Art! We're here, we're here" Tess shouted, yanking me out of the carriage and pulling me towards the castle.

"Head maid, Petunia, please prepare a room and a change of clothes for our young guest," King Alduin order. "Petunia here would lead you to your room and in an hour, she will bring you to the meeting room so that we can hear your side of the story."

"Thank you for your hospitality, your Majesties," I said bowing 15° to show respect before walking behind Petunia.

Time skip: To the meeting room

"I'm terribly sorry but what did you say your name was?" asked the King.

Standing and entering a slight bow, I say, "My name is Arthur Leywin, I'm four years old and I hail from Ashber, a small remote town of Sapin." Taking my seat, I see Virion wearing an amused smirk, Tess sitting in Merial's lap while Merial plays with her hair, and Alduin and his guards are glaring as if they are trying to intimidate me. "I believe you would also like to know how I got to the Forest of Elshire in the place?"

"Yes, I'm quite curious as to how you ended up in the forest," said Adluin.

"I will be skipping some details as these are awful memories, all of which I was hoping to keep buried... My family along with their former adventurer party were traveling to Xyrus city together. Along the way, we were ambushed by 30 bandits and after fighting them for a while we quickly realized we were losing. My father and the Twin Horns decided that my pregnant mother and myself should escape and head back however there was another mage hiding within their ranks. He fired a water cannon at my mom and I... i-it was too large, too fast, we wouldn't be able to dodge it... So, I pushed my mother out of the way and then I threw my sword at the water mage after tying a mana string to the handle. When the explosion happened, I was thrown off the cliff bringing the mage down with me." Taking a pause and effecting killing my emotion as Grey used to do, I continued in a monotone voice and a face devoid of emotion and eyes filled with hatred and sorrow. "Wondering for a bit, I was lucky to meet Grandma Sylvia however she was severely injured in the past and her time was fast approaching; before her passing, she gave me her dimension ring and a few other things to help me survive. A couple of days later, while gathering supplies I heard a cry for help. Rushing to the source of the sound I saw Tess being thrown into the back of the carriage."

"What did a weak little human brat like you do, huh!? Did you get on your knees and beg for them to release you?" mocked a guard.

Turning to him letting some of my bloodlust leak, I said in a voice laced with sarcasm "Yes, I purposefully walked into the lion's den, then I bowed down to the gracious, the benevolent, and most merciful slave traders. After hearing my plea, they found it within their gigantic hearts to release Tess and give her a weapon so that she could defend herself."

*Chuckles* "Art, your oozing bloodlust, and as entertaining as it is to listen to your sass and sarcasm, I much rather you finish your story because you're finally sharing." The king, The Queen, and the guards all looked at Tessia in shock. 'How could their little princess be so normal under the pressure I was outputting?' their thoughts are practically written on their face but the troublesome elf turned and signaled for me to explain.

Taking a deep breath and reigning in my bloodlust, I continued "It was getting tiresome having to defend both Tess and I from the mana beast, so I just started to leave my bloodlust up most of the time. Tess after traveling with me for the past few days eventually got accustomed to it. Also, to finish my story, I waited for them to separate, and then I killed the first two by slitting their throats but the other two sensed me. I formed an ice axe and threw it at the mage and then broke the leg of the bawler with a well-placed kick. Of course, killing them off was easy given their predicament. Next, I rescued Tess, taught her some basic dagger skills and we made our way back to Elenoir."

"It seems like you're not to be underestimated, being a mage at your age is very impressive," said the King.

"Placing yourself in harm's way for our daughter, I cannot thank you enough. Please name your reward," chirped the Queen.

"I ask for two things. First, access to a teleportation gate, I would like to reunite with my family as soon as possible. Secondly, please take care of these scum," I said sliding Pinky's book and the map over to Elder Virion. "Those contain the locations of the outpost and various trade routes used by those assho... *cough cough* slave trader scum." I looked down in embarrassment, cursing in front of royalty; anger and vengeance are emotions that I could never fully control.

"I'll have my men look this over and we send troops out accordingly," said a smirking Virion.

Alduin's expression which had softened at my verbal slip up said, "The gate that connects Elenoir to Sapin won't activate for another five years so instead the Royal Family would provide you with a carriage and 6 elite guards to escort you to..."

"You're really going to leave already, Art?" asked Tess with drooping ears.

"Maybe not" Tess looks hopeful at my words but Alduin and Merial look confused whilst Virion looks intrigued. "Well, since absorbing Grandma Sylvia's gift, I have been experiencing issues from my mana core. I asked for a place to stay while I work on getting my mana core to a state of normalcy once more" I asked in a deep bow.

Virion turned to the guards and ordered them to leave, "Kid, do you know why your mana core is like this?"

"Yes, it was a parting gift from Grandma Sylvia, she called it a beast will and said it would be a waste for it not to be used."

"What magic can you use? And do you know how to 'fix' your core?"

Suppressing a smirk, I say, "I can use water, air, fire, earth, gravity, ice, lightning, and sound also Grandma Sylvia said that I need to get to strengthen my core."

The royal family's eyes were the size of saucers, until Virion broke the silence with his laughter, "Kid, become my student, and before you decline if your beast will is not assimilated properly, you will die."

"I will be honored to become a disciple of the Great Elder Virion," I said practicing kissing his ass at this point.

"Wait, does that mean that Art is staying!?" Tess asked while her ears flapped for joy.

"Yes, little one, your boyfriend is staying. Alduin, tell the people of Arthur's heroics in saving their princess and let them know that he is my first student and is not to be touched."

Both Tess and I blushed at the boyfriend part but neither objected, both Virion and Merial both had sly smirks while Alduin looked a bit opposed.

"Come child while there is still daylight let's begin your tor... training, I meant training," said Virion.

"Arthur, what about your parents?" asked Merial in a sad, motherly tone.

"As much as I would like to be with them right now, I think stabilizing my core takes priority and I'm sure that they will understand."

"You have a way to contact them?" she asks a bit skeptical.

"Yes, these ear cuffs allow for two-way communication," I say while pointing to my right ear cuff.

Saying no more I followed Virion to the training grounds, should be easy, after all, it can't be that hard, right?