Arc | Chapter. 39: Annoyance & Resolve (Patreon)

Chapter. 39: Annoyance & Resolve

Before I could even ask for clarification, Ceylon immediately turned to me.

“Arc, what is he saying?!”

“I don’t⁠—”

Then Ceylon’s father immediately pulled me by the shoulder before letting go from the cold, his face held nothing but surprise as he asked.

“Arc why is the Hermit here, didn’t he leave?”

“I⁠—”

“What is happening?” Ceylon’s mother came and immediately saw the robbed man. “It’s the Hermit! Why is he here?!”

Thomas turned to regard his wife. “He says he’s been sent with the duty to serve Arc!”

“Arc, is he telling the truth?” Ceylon asked with a weird tone.

And at that moment a long sigh left me, and I shook my head. “Look, I don’t know what is going on, or why the Hermit is here. I don’t even know why he’s offering to serve me all of the sudden⁠—”

“It’s not an offer, it’s a declaration,” the Hermit corrected behind me.

I snorted, deciding to ignore him. “Regardless of what he says I don’t know the context, so don’t ask me, ask him.”

There was a pause from everyone, seeing my clear annoyance, and Ceylon seemed even confused. But I guess my mood was certainly weird. At least, however, I was left alone as everyone turned to the Hermit and bombarded him with questions. I simply stared as he took them all, and after a moment he replied.

“I am afraid the explanation to why I have to serve Arc is of utmost secrecy.”

Thomas and his wife paused and looked at each other, and Ceylon looked at me questioningly. I crossed my arms.

“I don’t know why he’s here either. Don’t look at me.”

My response seemed to peel all eyes away from me and draw them back to the Hermit, who simply met my gaze.

“We should talk about this privately.”

I took a breath, and⁠— shook my head. “No, we’re going to the ice workshop. If you want to come, then come, but I’m not changing my plans for the day because of you.”

With those words, I stepped forward pushing past the Hermit as I turned, looking at Ceylon who paused in horror as all eyes turned to her instead.

“Will you be coming?”

She paused, and hurriedly nodded before muttering apologies to her parents. And with that, she came along with me as we left through the front gate. Though unfortunately, we weren’t left alone as the Hermit came after us.

“Do you not want to know why I’m here to serve you?” he asked after a few moments.

“Nope,” I answered uncaringly, with only one destination in mind. “So long as you want to do it privately, I don’t care.”

“I mean your companion does know you’re⁠—”

“Yeah I know.” Ceylon sighed. “If it’s that important to you then you should say it, I got no one to spread things to anyway.”

“I’ll… think about it, perhaps Miss Arc could give me some of her time later⁠—”

“No,” I denied. “At least I don’t have the headspace to do so⁠—” and I stopped remembering what I wanted.

I could ask the Hermit for help… I turned only to see him looking at me anxiously, and for some reason, I just felt irked. This problem⁠— was annoying me a lot. I truly didn’t know how to deal with it, but for now at least I could afford to distract myself⁠— was it counterproductive to not worry about whether the Hero of Flames came to kill me?

Absolutely.

But, I had faith in being able to escape with Ceylon and her parents if necessary. So in that regard, it was best to not think about it and hope he heeded his word. So I changed my mind and continued walking in the direction of the ice workshop. Ignoring each and every plea of the Hermit to be listened to.

It sounded important, so I figured I’d ask.

“Is Ceylon or me in imminent danger from it?”

“I don’t… think so…?” he answered in confusion.

“Okay.”

And then, I continued walking.

“If it’s not dangerous then it can wait until I feel like hearing it.”

My words made the Hermit, Dragon of Flames rather dispirited but he still followed after us in the casual stroll.

I made no effort to rush as I tried to enjoy the walk there, though the feeling didn’t last long as I realized people were staring at us, and a whole lot more than usual. All because of one person; the Hermit.

I tried to bear with it for what felt like forever, but unfortunately our destination was ways away⁠— Rivas was a big city. And the things people around us were saying were… unpleasant.

“Is he their grandpa?”

“No, look how he is trailing behind, it must be a creep!”

“But they are letting him…”

Needless to say, it was something that I didn’t want to deal with, not given my weird mood. And so I stopped, and turned to the Hermit with the intention to make my first command to my so-called servant.

“Dragon of Flames⁠—”

“I have a name,” he said, frowning. “Regis’karr.”

I nodded. “Regis, I’d like you to go away because you’re drawing a lot of attention to us, it’s annoying, you’re too old and you look like a creep.”

“Arc!” Ceylon called me out for my rudeness but the old man before me nodded.

“If it’s just my appearance then that is not a problem, I know humans are…” He thought for a moment. “Quite judgmental after all.”

I raised my brow. “What are you even saying⁠—”

“Just give me a moment, I’ll be right back.”

Before I could even say anything, he left and walked into an alley. I blinked, completely baffled at what just happened, but as I was about to leave. Ceylon spoke up.

“You know, I don’t… know what happened last night.” Ceylon awkwardly said. “But I think you should give him a chance even if I can tell you’re extremely bothered by something, Arc.”

I paused and faced her. “Why?”

“Well, you did fight him and he’s not being resentful or anything, even though from what I got, he was… fearful of you last time,” she said scratching her head. “So, maybe… you could be more… you know… lenient.”

I blinked looking at my friend before finally nodding. A long sigh left me.

“In short, I feel like I stand no chance should I fight the Hero of Flames, I saw him yesterday.” I shook my head. “Not only that but he also knows what I am.”

Ceylon paused and frantically looked around to ensure people didn’t overhear, but I didn’t care since I sounded like a crazy person anyway; so I continued.

“That’s why I’m bothered, I have to grow stronger but I don’t know where or how exactly. Because I know that I’ll eventually have to fight him, or others too. So, yeah that’s something annoying to deal with.”

“Right…” Ceylon nodded slowly, processing what I had just dropped on her. “Maybe you could kill other heroes…” she stopped herself. “No, that's like being a mass murderer, and finding them would be hard.”

“Yeah, I’d rather not. Though I guess I did kill the Hero of Shadows yesterday.” I shrugged.

Ceylon turned to me in shock. “You did what⁠—”

“And I’m back,” a rather youthful voice called. “I didn’t remember this form so it was slightly hard.”

I turned only to pause, Ceylon also was taken aback as we were met by a… noble kid. He wasn’t quite a kid, perhaps close to Ceylon’s age⁠— and I could just tell by sheer instinct it was still the Dragon of Flames, except this time, he had no beard but rather, his head was full of red hair, and a pair of crimson eyes stared at me. His outfit, also followed the red theme while being fancy and elegant with a coat.

It was… odd, to say the least.

“Couldn’t you have been more normal…?” I asked confused.

He frowned. “This appearance is quite popular with human ladies, I don’t see the problem. Besides, I’m still Regis’karr, the one and only.”

“Aha.” I took a moment to accept it. “Fine, I guess this is better. Then, your main duty will be to protect Ceylon as my servant, Regis.”

He blinked, and opened his mouth in objection but then, without words, he nodded, seemingly accepting whatever fate that had been placed on him. Though Ceylon paused.

“Does that mean you won’t be around?”

“No, but at least if we are attacked, he’ll protect you as main priority while I can deal with other things,” I explained. “As for how long Regis will stick around⁠—”

“I’ll be here for decades if needed, time is not an issue to dragons,” he said with a smile.

“Well there you go.” I shrugged. “He’ll protect you even until you grow old.”

Ceylon blinked. “That⁠— how can you even take what he’s saying seriously.”

“You said to give him a chance.” I shook my head. “And if he fails at his duty even if slightly, then I’ll dispose of him myself.”

Regis shivered to my comment but frantically nodded in an attempt to reassure me that everything would be fine. And so, just like that, I considered the situation to be completely dealt with.

And with, that I finally turned to go to the ice workshop, and enjoy my day⁠— that was the plan at least, until a familiar aged man came huffing and puffing towards me. He had no guards, just fancy dirtied clothes and a blood filled gaze that could kill someone. And he was clearly angry.

“You⁠— I will make you pay!”

It was the Grand Duke.

A sigh left me. “I really can’t deal with this right now.”

He basically ignored me as he strode up to me, flailing his arms in anger. “Thanks to you I have nothing, thanks to you I’ve lost everything, and it’s all your fault! Even my backer has disappeared!”

I raised my brow as he reached into his coat pocket and screamed.

“And I’ll get my revenge!”

With that he took out a dagger, the people in public gasped and without hesitation he⁠ stabbed⁠— the dagger shattered on my stomach as I blinked. It dispersed into an icy nothingness as I just shook my head in tiredness.

The Grand Duke, or now ex-Grand Duke blinked, and I just raised my hand holding my fingers together.

“Begone.”

And I flicked. I felt something snap within his chest as the sound resounded through the plaza. He went flying through the air, quickly hitting the ground and rolling as he broke through the pavement until he came to a stop with a cloud of dust.

I was certain numerous bones were broken at that moment, but all I could do was sigh, all while the people in the surroundings gasped in horror and began to call for help.

“Arc, I think we should leave quickly…” Ceylon suggested hurriedly. “We can’t be around here or we might be arrested for assault in spite of eye-witnesses.”

But I ignored her as I stared at the fallen man, he was alive even if barely. He was the Grand Duke that had nearly killed Ceylon on multiple occasions, he had killed Ceylon’s extended family, and threatened her nobility; something that she herself worked hard for. It was the man that had turned her life into a nightmare.

Now he laid there, at the verge of death, it was a bit pathetic. And to think this person wanted to become king of the nation; of Draliz. It was unfathomable. My frown got worse and worse as I stared.

Finally, Ceylon shook me.

“We have to leave, the guards are coming!”

And finally, I turned to her.

“I’ve decided; the Arlow family shall rule Draliz.”

I turned to face her.

“Your father, Thomas, shall become the new King.”