Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

🐦‍🔥 Reincarnation [2/10] 🐦‍🔥

King Arthur's POV:

"Tia! Wait no, come back!" I cried, watching her sprint past me with frustrated tears streaming down her battle-scarred face. "I was just asking if you wanted to talk about it!"

Too late, she was already halfway down the seemingly endless hallway.

I let out a defeated sigh, quietly ducking back into my room.

She was just so upset, and I wanted to make sure she was okay.

The poor thing didn't deserve any more pressure, especially with the dangerous task she was just given a few days ago.

Tia shouldn't be enduring any pain, regardless of what form it is.

It should be me taking those hits, not her.

I'd do anything to make sure she was safe, even if my life was on the line.

However, Queen Xera and King Lance turned down my offer to volunteer for her.

They said that I would be too bold and forget to pull my sword out of my hilt before I took my first swing.

I was insulted, but I didn't argue further.

Tia was not at the meeting where the three of us agreed to draft her in the frontlines to sweep the opponent because I knew she'd have an outburst about the topic.

Even though she wasn't in the Everhallow leaders' custody, it sure felt like I had dropped her off in their arms.

When the captain found out about what was said in the meeting, she was devastated.

In front of everyone else, she put up a content facade, convincing everyone other than me that she was happy with where she was going.

However, the moment she had a chance to speak to me in private, she let me know how she really felt.

"You betrayed me, Arthur. You really did."

"How can I ever trust you again?"

Those words seriously hurt me, especially with the circumstances surrounding us.

We were in the middle of a war, and the seemingly unbreakable bond between us was crumbling to pieces before our very eyes.

This was a time where our precious bond was needed the most.

Tia looked up to me, not just as a mentor, but as a role model... A person she could trust.

And I, as the impulsive person I was, broke that bond by signing her away to fight in the frontlines.

I felt terrible for doing that.

Not for myself, but for her, too.

I may as well have just ruined her life.

"Your Majesty?" I saw a bewildered Sir Nyx knock on the wooden door, even though it was wide open. "I believe Miss Aquaticlaw has escaped to the courtyard."

I solemnly dipped my head, a twinge of regret pulling at my heartstrings. "Yes, I am aware of that. She's had quite a rough day."

"Rough enough to get her screaming about how much she failed you?" He cocked an eyebrow at me, clearly unconvinced.

He was not there during my meeting with the Everhallow leaders, since it was a royal event.

That also meant he, as well as everyone else in this castle and possibly Northwynd, do not know Tia's fate.

It also meant that they wouldn't understand why she was overflowing with genuine distrust, and unfiltered rage.

No one would understand that it was ultimately my fault.