TBATE - Havaca Rises

Chapter 25 - Tales of the Future Past

"Arthur, what happens in the future?" Merial asked wearily.

"Take your seats, we're in for quite the ride," I said pulling out a few bottles of the Dwarves' strongest liquor.

"Come on, it can't be that bad that we need this much alcohol, right?" Alea asked, but instead of sounding doubtful, it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.

"Well first things first, how good are your acting skills," I asked.

"Why is this important?" Alduin retort.

"Because I need to know if you can control your rage and disgust so that you don't tip-off the asura's or the Vritra's spies."

"While we may not like hiding our emotions, I assume you have already concocted some sort of plan that you need help to follow through with," Virion said.

"So, it not much but I plan on having the events up to the true start of war playing out like it did in the first timeline. The only difference is that Black Squad and I will be there to stop all those massacres from happening. I know guys want to know more about the war but right now I'm getting a gut feeling that I should heavily censor the things that I tell you guys," I said with remorse.

"So, here is the gist of it, first it started when we went on a school trip to the beast glades; a D rank dungeon that was supposed to be easy especially for the size of our group. As we progressed through the dungeon, we reached the second floor and we still had yet to encounter a mana beast. Near the entrance to the third floor, we were ambushed by dozens of mutated mana beast and two A class Queens."

"But there is only one boss per dungeon!" Alea said in shock.

"Not in this one, when the queens appeared most students were low on mana so we had them evacuate as I stayed back to help Vanesy with the boss. As we were about to exit the dungeon the boss caught my leg and denoted itself as I fell into a deep hole. It had taken me nearly three hours to climb down and when I got to the bottom, I heard the sound of screaming and swords clashing. Being low on energy and injured from the blast I passed out there only to wake up an hour or so later. The sounds of battle had stopped so I thought I could have met up with an adventurer team but..." remembering Alea's death and all those impaled corpses, the scent, and the mortified facial expressions they all wore made me chug my glass. The burning sensation of Darv's best brew did not nothing to quench the despair and dread I had felt that day.

"*Deep Inhale* *Slow Exhale* If I had known what awaited me down there... Well over 50 soldiers, impaled and hung from ominous black spikes. Organs and limbs littered about and a recently revealed lance, who was claimed to be one the continents strongest... pinned to the wall having none of their limbs attached," I said trying not to unleash my bloodlust and rage as I thought about how Uto played with Alea and her troops. To my credit I kept my eyes focused on the alcohol not taking a single glance at my elder sister.

"*Pours another glass* *takes a sip* After taking down and burying the bodies I was told to forget what I had seen. Continuing with life the night of the Attack on Xyrus had occurred. After showing up late since I was home when it began, Sylvie and I began to slaughter mana beast and traitorous noble alike. After the attack, it was deemed that my actions were too violent and that I was to be stripped of my title as a mage. The trial happened and then Dawsid and his wife got killed by Wisdom. *Takes big sip* Wisdom is an asura who had came to free me and take me to train. Over the course of two years, I was taught Mirage Walk, and spell cancellations, while I taught myself some Ki techniques and Burst Step. Coming back to Dicathen..."

"Wait coming back? Where were you?" Merial asked?

"There are three continents: The land of the asuras, Epheotus where I was for years, and the land of the sovereigns, Alacrya. The continent you guys discovered is Alacrya. But I'll get to it in a moment. Returning to Dicathen, after two years I was finally going to have a full night of sleep but instead, some old miserable elf, stuffed me into a suit of armor and said 'Alright kid, all of Dicathen is watching. Make a speech and tell them about the war.'" I said as Virion started smirking. "You're lucky you're vital to my plans," I said as releasing some pressure on the old elf. Aya and Alea just sighed while Merial and Alduin chuckled as Virion struggled to keep his head from planting against the table.