Tbate: Resurgence

-Chapter 8 : Widow's Crypt I-

Arthur Leywin

"What the—? Arthur Leywin?" Cynthia’s voice wavered slightly, clearly not expecting my sudden appearance.

"Director Cynthia," I said, my voice cold, my power fully unleashed, pressing down on her and her bond, Avier. Sylvie had already morphed into her true dragon form, towering behind me, her scales glinting ominously under the dim light.

Cynthia's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly masked her surprise. "A-Arthur, what are you doing here, and what's the meaning of this?" Her voice trembled, though she tried to keep her composure. Even her bond, Avier, seemed unsettled, shifting on his feet.

"I'm an adventurer, Director," I replied calmly, my gaze locked on her. "It’s not a stretch for me to be here since I had dropped out of the Academy a while ago. More importantly, I just witnessed what happened here... Care to explain how you’re related to the mages of Alacrya?"

Her eyes flickered, but she didn’t speak.

"You can stop pretending you don’t know," I continued. "I’ve been tracking these Alacryan mages for a while now. They’ve left plenty of clues—corrupted mana beasts, strange activities across the Beast Glades. It was inevitable that I’d stumble upon them…."

Cynthia paled but still didn't respond.

"But what really concerns me," I said, taking a step forward, "is you, Director. You seem to possess the same magic as those Alacryans. And from what I’ve seen, it’s not just coincidental. You’re not of Dicathen, are you? Or rather, you weren’t born here."

Her face hardened, and I could see the gears turning in her mind, trying to figure out how much I knew.

"My first thought was that you might be a traitor," I added, "but that theory has some holes in it. So, I’ll ask you just once... where does your loyalty lie, Cynthia?"

The air around us crackled with tension as the weight of my question hung between us.

"Be careful of what you answer, Director," I said, my voice low and threatening. "Depending on your answer, I’ll either risk my life to take you down... or we could come to an agreement. Even with Avier by your side, you wouldn’t survive a fight against me and Sylvie—especially not with me at my best, and you in your current state."

There was a brief silence, broken by Avier's voice, his deep tone filled with concern. "Cynthia, the boy’s speaking the truth. He won’t hesitate to attack if you give the wrong impression. Both the boy and his dragon have grown incomparably stronger since last the last time we met. Even with my strength, it won't go well for us. You should speak the truth."

Cynthia sighed, her shoulders sagging as if a heavy burden had been lifted. "I see... I have no reason to lie, Arthur." Her eyes met mine, steady now. "You're right. I'm not originally from this continent, but I've spent the majority of my life here. I've come to love this land and its people. That, however, doesn’t change the reason I was sent here. But I’ll say this simply: My loyalty lies with Dicathen. That's why I’ve worked tirelessly to delay the inevitable war, to prepare us. The Academy, everything, was meant to nurture mages who could stand a chance against what’s coming."

I regarded her in silence for a moment, weighing her words. The tension in the air still lingered, but something about her sincerity struck a chord.

"I’ll believe you," I finally said, deactivating my beast will. My hair and eyes returned to normal, the golden runes fading from view. Sylvie also relaxed, lowering her head slightly but still remaining cautious.

Cynthia let out a slow breath, relief washing over her face, though a hint of wariness remained. The confrontation wasn’t fully over, but for now, we had reached an understanding.