Legend of the Immortal

Heading Out

"I need to leave this place temporarily." Arceus said to his father, bowing at a steep angle to express his sincerity.

"Huh? What for? Son, this is a fragile period. We are in the midst of preparing for war! If you're killed, god knows what'll happen to the morale of the troops. I forbid it." Chester said without room for argument.

Arceus straightened his back and flattened out his overcoat,"What if I told you, that if we manage to accomplish our goal, the war would end right now?"

Chester slammed his hand on the table, he grew irritated,"Nonsense! If we could find such a person, there would be no need for this right now! If the empire can't find this person, what makes you think you can?"

Arceus raised his index finger,"What if...We can? We're in desperate times now father and I know you've been working day in, day out to find an appropriate strategy to counter. But what if. What if we managed to find someone to help? Are you willing to give up the slight chance we'd be able to find this person?"

Chester stood up,"If it keeps you safe, yes."

"Father!"

"Look Son, I'm a king. I've made my way onto this position and held it for years because I make sensible decisions. I'm not letting my Son go out and adventure to god knows where in the middle of a war. Case closed."

"I...I...Fine...If you won't let me go, I'll leave of my own accord." Arceus finished and turned around, preparing to walk off.

"Hold it young man. What did you just say?" Chester growled.

Arceus turned back,"If you won't let me go...I'll go anyway..."

Chester stormed towards Arceus and grabbed his arm,"Listen here boy. This is for your own good. I can't let you wander off. You ungrateful son of mine, listen to your father or I'll give you a good thrashing."

Arceus turned towards Chester and produced a knife.

Chester moved backwards,"What? Trying to kill me? You really think you can beat me?"

Arceus grinned and turned the knife pointed at Chester...to himself.

Chester's laugh faded out and his face turned dark,"What do you think you're doing."

"If you don't let me go...I'll be pushing this thing right into my heart with all my mana infused into it. I wonder...Will you get here faster than my knife entering my heart?" Arceus grinned courageously.

"Don't push me! If you dare..."

"Dare what? Kill myself? Why wouldn't I? I've learned how to temper my mind from you since young. A mere death won't faze me. But...Would it faze you?" Arceus smiled.

"Do you realise how selfish you're acting right now?" Chester snarled, filled with rage.

"Indeed I know. Perhaps this choice of mine is selfish but if you let me go...I'll prove my use...So? Are you willing to see your own son kill himself because of a petty request?" Arceus asked in a mocking tone.

Chester stared at Arceus angrily before sitting down on his chair again,"Tsk. Kids these days. Fine. I'll let you go out if you do so under my conditions."

Arceus raised his brow.

"You tell me who you're looking for."

"Easy."

"Bring along that Valencia girl. She'll be able to protect you."

"Already planned to. She was the one who asked me in the first place."

"Lastly. If you want to go out...You must marry into the Roost Kingdom."

"What? That's...That's....!" Arceus cried out, feeling that Chester's words were too much.

"Follow these three rules and I'll let you go..." Chester finished, grinning evilly,"You think your actions are selfish? I'll be even more selfish then."

Arceus frowned before smiling again, then, he nodded his head.

"I accept."

"Ho? Very well. So firstly, who are you finding?"

Arceus reached for the status plate in his pocket, Gracie's.

Taking it out, he chucked it to Chester who caught it deftly.

Reading it, Chester felt his arms grow heavy, it felt like this status plate was made of the heaviest metal in the world,

"This...This lass...She has a Guardian Protector? She truly is befitting of her highness..." Chester mumbled just loud enough for Arceus to overhear.

"Her highness? Who's that?" Arceus asked.

Chester realised his son had heard him and cleared his throat,"You will know when the time comes. For now, do not ask me or that lass about it. It will only bring harm upon you."

Arceus nodded suspiciously, trying to speculate.

Even to the [Four Great Kings], his father wasn't that polite...So who was this mystery person?

"Now, the marriage into the Roost Kingdom...We will arrange the marriage to be set on-"

"Hold on. I'm not marrying that soon." Arceus said.

"What? You agreed to my proposition." Chester said, taken aback by his son't denial.

"I said I would marry into the Roost kingdom, yes. But I never said when. I guess I'll marry into the kingdom someday..." Arceus said, looking sideways.

Chester pursed his lips in displeasure at how his son had grown so sharp,"You little rascal...Taking advantage of wordplay? Hmph! Fine. You must marry her by this year."

Arceus put his hands out helplessly,"I already agreed to the set terms, so there's no changing them now. It's already been agreed upon!"

Chester gritted his teeth angrily,"Stubborn fool...Gah! Dealing with you is like dealing with those four pricks! Pisses me off how they always get the better of me! Fine! Leave and be back within five months! It's all the time I can afford to give you!"

Arceus bowed in agreement, smiling happily,"Thank you for your graciousness, father."

"Tsk. Wipe that smile off your face. Leave. You piss me off." Chester spoke in a low tone, his pride hurt that he had been outplayed by his own son.

Arceus smiled and walked out the room, rushing to Gracie's room to tell her the news.

---------

"Gracie! He's allowed me to go! We can leave tomorrow!"

Gracie bobbed her head, a smile gracing her face,"Great! I invited another friend of mine, his name's James. A scholar. If we need his help regarding myths and legends, he's our guy!"

Arceus nodded,"So it'll be you...me...this James fellow and...Urgh...That woman..."

Gracie slapped Arceus on his back,"Don't be like that! Give her a chance! Talk with her a bit and I'm sure you'll come to like her!"

Arceus made a gagging sound,"I'd rather die."

"Ehhh? C'mon Arcie, give her a chance? Pretty please?" Gracie gave Arceus her puppy dog eyes, silently looking at Arceus hopefully.

Arceus finally turned away."Gah! Stop looking at me like that! I'll give her a chance okay? But if she tries anything funny..."

"Great! Okay then, it's settled! We'll head out tomorrow morning! Remember to bring a spatial ring with plenty of food, weapons, cash and a change of clothing okay?" Gracie said.

Arceus nodded and after saying goodbye, he left and headed back to his room to pack his stuff.

Tomorrow, would be the starting point of their adventure to find the mysterious...Guardian Protector.

However, Arceus had one nagging question in the back of his mind.

Just who was this person referenced by his father and who was the 'she' Gracie kept talking about?

He wanted to know but neither party would let him know, making him even more curious.