TBATE - Fated To Rule Together

Chapter 24 - Motives III

(A/N: I am republishing this chapter because I added a picture of the sword. Thank you @GodkillerGrey for reminding me.)

(Amber Helstea POV)

"I just can't seem to catch a break, can I?" As the walls, roof, and ground around us began to crumble, Arthur let out a despairing groan. We three rushed around like headless chickens, attempting to avoid the falling crystals and dissolving floor. The multicoloured crystals rained down on us, producing a spectacle reminiscent of a supernova explosion. My sense of direction was gone, and I had no clue which side we came from or which side the exit was.

Alea grabbed Arthur and I and soared into a crystal tunnel that I swear wasn't there just a few moments before while I tried to find out how to escape. She stopped and let us down once we had gone a certain distance inside the tunnel.

"Since when was this here?" I asked as confusion was written all over my face. When I looked at the cavern the first time we arrived, I never saw a tunnel anywhere.

"It opened up as the cavern was collapsing. Pretty lucky for us, huh!" Alea spoke and let out a sigh of both relief and exhaustion. I looked over to my husband and realised that looked bewildered.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a concerned voice.

"... You're a white core mage?" He asked Alea, who just casually nodded like it was not a big deal. I forgot that he didn't know about her, so I guess his reaction was only natural.

After a few minutes of resting and Arthur questioning Alea about what else she could do, we started to walk in the only direction the tunnel led.

"I have to say, you guys are strong for little kids." Alea struck up a discussion in an effort to break the monotonous silence. Arthur and I exchanged glances, trying not to reveal how anxious and apprehensive we were about having our identities exposed as we tried not to show it on our faces. Arthur had it easier because he was hiding behind a mask, so the only one who really made an effort to hide it was myself.

"Little kids?" I questioned while attempting to appear perplexed. As we carried on walking, she started humming instead of responding.

"... Oh, I think you can let go of this little farce you know. I already know who both of you are! Arthur Leywin and Amber Helstea!" Turning around, she pointed to both Arthur and me respectively. Both of us stood there in shock, unable to move from the sudden revelation. Alea just stood there with a smile on her face, as she didn't just blow our cover and act like everything was fine and dandy with the world.

"It's alright! I won't tell anyone. Besides, I only came on his mission to meet you both." Her remarks confused me. She was someone we had never met before, or so I believe. Because he spent the majority of his early years in the Elven Kingdom, perhaps Arthur had. We also had no notoriety and didn't accomplish anything outstanding. The only thing that sprang to me was our small altercation with the Human Royal Family, where we had to put them in their place. If they didn't want to lose face in front of the world, they would stay quiet about that incident.

"How do you know us?" Arthur said as he took off his mask, which surprised me a little, but I guess if she really did know us, there was no point in hiding our identities anymore. Upon seeing that he didn't know who she was, I erased the probability of them meeting at the Elven Kingdom.

"Well~~~, I work for the elven royal family, you know." Both mine and Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. It would make sense for someone as powerful as Alea, who was a White core, to serve the elven royalty. Arthur did say that he was staying with royalty during his time in Elenoir, so maybe she was sent to check up on him? Or could it be because of the...