Chapter 606: Conviction of Kindness

Arthur stared at the woman, wearing a long flowery dress coupled with a large hat. Her skin was smooth and dark, making a stark contrast with her white irises. However, even though she was not staring at him, the woman brought him comfort.

"How is meeting your mother become your worst nightmare?" Arthur asked the seer standing behind. As he turned to look at him, he caught a fraction of sadness on his face before it disappeared under a mask of coldness.

"This is my greatest regret," said Sier as he pointed at the woman's belly. It was protruding, suggesting her pregnancy. "This is before my birth."

"Greatest regret?"

"Being born at all," chuckled Sier. "If this were not an illusion, I would have killed this woman before she gave birth to me."

"...how would you have the heart to kill your mother?" Arthur genuinely didn't understand. "As I look at her, I see nothing but kindness."

"Kindness is subjective too," said Sier with a grin. "Have you ever met someone who did everything wrong to you, believing it was kindness?"

Arthur remembered his father, who did everything wrong for the right reasons. Seref did everything believing that he was giving Arthur power and the life he needed, but instead, he made life a living hell.

"Did she hurt you?"

"You will see too, outsider," said Sier. "This can be your reward as much as it is my punishment. See how your enemy is hurt repeatedly by life."

"This just makes you human, and I have no intentions of savoring this," said Arthur while staring at the woman rub her belly. "I am not a monster."

"Ma baby," muttered the woman with a gentle smile. "When will you arrive and see the fate that awaits you? All these knights will protect you, and every citizen will serve you."

Arthur noticed that she had a slight accent, and it attributed to her foreign appearance. However, the irony of her words made Arthur chuckle both because of Sier's current state and how his mother was the opposite of Seref.

"My father, who you have met, was a calculating man. Therefore, he tried to see what kind of offspring every woman could grant him. This is why he delayed his marriage even after taking the throne."

"And this is how he chose your mother?"

"A noblewoman from Sourna," smiled Sier. "Their meeting was in one of the events he attended as a new ruler. However, she was below his status, and marrying her was opposed by every other member of my family, including Master Ronin."

"And the reason is?"

"The instability that a hybrid king would bring to the kingdom. Master Ronin saw a disaster in this endeavor, but I have no idea about a time that he did not. However, my father was unique. His eyes gave him the ability to see the result of his actions, and they told him that marrying my mother would give him a powerful son."

"It seems he was disappointed, judging by the fact that you became a thief."

"Indeed, and the rest were there to rub it in his face. I did not have a single ability that belonged to my bloodline, and my skin... was this," said Sier as his fingers traced his face. "I was labeled a failure the moment I was born."

"That is too young to have an ability," frowned Arthur.

"The case is different for the seven families," smiled Sier. "I did not have any potential, as my father could see. I was one of the few people who did not have a single ability."

"Is it possible for your father to make a mistake like that?"

"A mistake is rare, but it still occurs. Life is too unpredictable for us to see everything or even contain the entirety of the future. That is why most of us can see a single aspect, like Master Ronin."

Arthur heard footsteps dig through the soil as they approached them. The man who appeared was the king himself, dignified and aloof. His eyes lingered on the place Arthur and Sier were standing as if he could see that they were being watched before turning to the woman.

"Greetings, my king," said the woman while bowing her head. "What can I do to serve you today?"

"I am facing enough trouble for your skin, yet here you are sitting in the sun," said the king with a scowl. "Go back to your room and read the books I recommended. I don't need a wife who doesn't know my kingdom's basic history."

"Woah, what a douchebag," said Arthur with surprise. "I thought he was an asshole when I met him, but he is a real dirtbag even with his wife."

"As much as I support that sentiment, I also understand his attitude. My mother was not educated because of her humble background and lacking ability. Furthermore, because of my family's high perception, our ability to memorize books was fearsome. This made their argument stronger against my mother and father."

"Knowledge does not define a person's worth, nor does strength," sighed Arthur as the woman kept her head down and nodded. The king snorted and walked away, leaving her alone under the eyes of the crowd.

"If neither of those things does, then what does?" asked Sier. "I know your answer already, and we both know it is too idealistic."

"I'm sure that there are knowledgeable and powerful people who either secluded themselves or used their assets for profits," said Arthur. "Their existence either contributes nothing or brings the world down. What value do they have?"

"A good person who does nothing but wants to help others is also the same," said Sier. "Enough of ethical philosophy. Our ideals have always been different, and that will not change."

Arthur was silent as he watched the woman bite her lips and leave. Her white dress swayed in the morning sun, and her lonesome disappeared behind the buildings.

The fact that he said that to Sier means his father still managed to instill his ideology in Arthur's mind. The prospect of serving others always seemed like the only method for Arthur to prove his worth, and he did so with his family.

However, Arthur couldn't think differently even after knowing this was his father's words looming in his head. Sier was not the best person, as he was fueled by revenge regardless of the consequences, but was Arthur any different, if not worse? The seer knew what he wanted, and he knew what he believed. As for Arthur, everything was vague.

"Let's go," said Sier. "We have countless years of suffering before this illusion ends. But, it does not matter now because I will kill you once it is over."

"...spending years with you seems like the biggest suffering here."

***

"Are you saying that Diana is here?" asked Oriole with a frown. "These ruins have been built for that purpose?"

"That is a bit inaccurate," said the witch while twirling. "I want to share my story if that is okay with you."

"Arthur is fighting against a vessel, and you are here to..."

"It is crucial to hear this story because it would tell Arthur about the enemies he has to be careful of and the fate that awaits this world."

"How about you tell him yourself after we go and help him? His family is in danger, and he needs to leave this realm."

"I am afraid that my time is limited. I wanted to meet my little Seika too, but I will have to settle for his handsome friend. After all, this is not my real body but a projection that my spirits are creating."

"...and all of this to tell me a story?"

"It is the story that Arthur wants to know the most," smiled Gala. "How about I tell you how to kick everyone out of this space in return for listening?"

"...tell me what happened in Alka, then," sighed Oriole after realizing she wouldn't budge. "I know what happened before Arthur arrived, so you can start from how things went different."

"That is a bit wrong. Arthur's decision to merge the two worlds left me in awe, but it also pushed the world closer to its end. This meant that the past has changed as well."

"What do you mean?"

"The epiphanies did not start for Alka at the same time as Earth because, as you know, we live in different timelines. The merge left me confused for a few months because many things were different from what I knew. It took a few bottles to sober up if you know what I mean," the witch winked at him.

"You mean potions," said Oriole with a blank face and sighed. "Arthur undermined how cheeky you are, witch. I have no idea how he talked about you with that sad smile."

"Sad?" asked Gala with confusion. "Why would it be sad?"

"...what is the last memory you received?"

"I went into the Spirits Realm with the Seika," answered Gala. "Are you saying that he managed to fulfill my wish?"

"It seems your memories do not include what happened there," frowned Oriole. "Ah, it must be because you never returned. The version of you registered in that timeline was before you entered the Spirits Realm."

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