Arc | Chapter. 154: Iridescence, Refraction, and Glass (Patreon)

Chapter. 154: Iridescence, Refraction, and Glass

Taylor was excited, in fact, she was over the moon. She wasn’t quite sure about revealing her secret just yet, after all if the word got out there would be rebellion all over the empire. The fact that their ruthless emperor was actually an art loving empress. But, for now, she didn’t worry about any of that. Instead, she beamed at the woman before her.

“Seriously, I mean it!”

And Arc had even complimented her glass making skills!

“Uh huh…” She raised her brow. “Thank you?”

Taylor chuckled as the armor of glass reformed, she didn’t feel too confident on the illusion artifacts at play ⁠— at least not in the presence of a hero. Still… Taylor looked at Arc, the ice woman who was ill-dressed.

She is… terrifyingly strong. She frowned. Nevermind the fact that I let her win, even if I tried, my arm would’ve snapped in half.

But ultimately, the hero had no enmity for her so she pushed all her worries aside. Instead, she reveled in the fact that Arc was now a guest in her empire. She didn’t want to fight at all, actually⁠— as soon as she had heard of Arc’s name, it had taken all her willpower to not start fangirling right then and there.

As for asking for her hand? She didn’t really mean it at all.

Still, my defeat was seen by the Guildmaster… troublesome.

Taylor shook her head, much to the amusement of the Heroine of Frost. “So, I want to make an invitation to you, given you’re quite the artist,” her faux voice rang. “Would you be interested in touring my personal art gallery?”

Her tone was as casual as ever, but her heart was racing. She watched as the Heroine of Frost thought for a moment.

“You know what? Sure.”

Taylor smiled. “Very well, also are you interested in clothing⁠—”

“No, I’ll get to that when I get to that,” Arc rejected in a blink. “But if you want to give me luxurious food I won’t refuse.”

A date? I thought you just rejected me, Is what Taylor wanted to say out of amusement, but instead she just agreed to the request.

“I’ll see to it.”

Unfortunately, the world of Arlas was unforgiving in Taylor’s experience, so she couldn’t exactly talk or do as she pleased, though she was an emperor so she still got to enjoy her life. Even then however, she had to exercise quite the restraint with Arc, because deep down she really wanted to befriend the woman.

“So, why become an adventurer multiple times?” Taylor asked, summoning two crystal platforms. “Stand on it, it’ll take us to the palace.”

Arc did as told, and then replied. “Well, boredom I suppose.” She shrugged, crossing her arms. “I spent god knows how long in the Forgotten Places, now I’m returning to Draliz in a slight rush but also trying to do a bit of sightseeing I suppose.”

“So you won’t be staying long.”

“Yeah, I won’t.”

Taylor nodded and decided to ignore the topic of the Forgotten Places entirely, while she was inclined to believe it, she also wanted no part in knowing about that wretched place, let alone touching it. She had long achieved her goals, and wanted nothing to do with problems that didn’t concern her.

Given the conversation died after Arc’s reply, she decided not to say anything and just let the glass platforms carry the both of them to the palace.

* * * * *

The Hero of Glass was somewhat strange to me. They had spoken about killing heroes in their territory, but I hadn’t actually felt enmity from them a single time. In fact, they seemed more hostile towards the Guildmaster than me. Something I took note of.

Though, eventually, I decided to not focus on that and instead turn to the aerial view of Arthoris⁠— the city I had arrived to like two hours ago. Its architecture was quite beautiful to me, the buildings had intricate carvings and were generally made of stone with brick roofs. Multiple cathedrals were sprinkled throughout, all in a gothic medieval style. And finally, I saw the castle slash palace. It resembled yet another cathedral but it was two times the size and about ten times as intricate.

Stained glass filled every window with glorious depictions of battles or even landscapes, they had an iridescent-like quality to them that I found captivating.

“Impressive is it not?” the Hero of Glass asked.

“It is…” I agreed, looking around.

Finally, after a few more minutes we landed on the courtyard of the building. Guards from all directions turned to look at me and the looks I received were… of pity? I raised my brow at that but the Hero of Glass explained it curtly.

“They think I’m going to personally execute you.”

“Oh, I see.”

With those words, he stepped forward and into the palace. We crossed long halls with red carpet and white walls, passed by grand rooms, and even passed the throne room that was littered with guards. Before finally, we arrived at a single hallway with two guards, the Hero of Glass passed and I⁠—

Had spears shatter at my throat, the guards pulled out daggers to attack me but the Hero of Glass grunted.

“She’s with me, and make sure everyone in the palace knows that she⁠ — no matter if its twenty years from now ⁠— is a guest of honor and will always be one.”

The statement sent shock through the guards who hurriedly nodded and knelt before him.

“Come now.”

And with that, I found myself following after the Hero of Glass once more. The hallway we were walking through was lined with more of the wonderful windows, the sunlight that poured from the outside was colorful and shifted with each passing second⁠ akin the glittering of coins. However, after admiring it I decided to speak.

“So you’re a tyrant and yet you aren’t hostile towards me,” I said simply.

The Hero of Glass stopped in his tracks and turned to me, I couldn’t see his eyes but his armor shimmered in the hall.

“I am a tyrant,” he agreed. “But not because I’m callous, I do this for reputation, I do this to protect myself. With my reputation no hero dares to try to provoke me and I can live life, even if part of it is a charade ⁠— a large part of it,” he corrected, shaking his head.

“Huh, I see.” I tilted my head. “So you’re rather normal?”

“Don’t get me wrong, if it was any other hero I would’ve immediately used one of my SS Tier skills to end them,” he grunted and turned, beginning to walk away.

I raised my brow.

“But I’m the exception.”

“Yes,” came the simple reply.

“Huh.”

A second later, I followed after him.

In the end, I decided to just go with whatever was happening. I didn’t exactly judge the Hero of Glass or anything, and the art interested me, so I wasn’t going to anger him for no reason or anything.

◇ ◇ ◇

He showed me anything artistic related he had, from various paintings, old sculptures to even fossils in his possession. Some were used as decoration and some were stowed away in storage rooms, but the Hero of Glass made sure to go through everything at least from what I could tell.

Then finally, we stood before two large ornate double doors.

“This is where I keep the things most important to me,” he said simply, and then he opened the doors.

I immediately spotted one of my ice sculptures at the entrance, light shining over it. This one was the depiction of a very large tree, it stood over three meters tall, each leaf intricately sculptured with dew on their surface, some even had worms and some were half eaten. The bark too had small holes and there were even birds nesting on its branches.

I remembered the sculpture; it was actually the tree I used to sketch under back on Earth.

“Your work is truly… something else,” the Hero of Glass let out a breath and stepped into the room.

I followed after him, my eyes saw beautiful paintings lining the walls, I saw sculptures lining the hall, but my eyes ultimately stopped at the end of the room. Ignoring everything else I immediately walked in the direction, the Hero of Glass said nothing following after me.

And finally, a few seconds later I reached what I was looking at.

It was the sculpture of an eastern dragon. An orange light shone over it, and it sparkled like the stairs, the floor itself too was filled with refracted light⁠. It was something beautiful, and it was a sculpture made out of glass. There were even geometrical shapes inside of the dragon, some purple, some green, some blue, however the glass wasn’t dyed, it was all due to how it refracted the lighting.

I stared at it as the Hero of Glass stood by my side.

“I could never make something like that,” I finally said. “It’s… I like it a lot.”

There was a moment of silence, I heard some form of rushed breathing before the Hero of Glass finally spoke.

“Thank you, your compliment means a lot to me.”

I stared at it. “Do you have more?”

The Hero of Glass nodded and stepped past the sculpture and towards a corner of the room where a single door resided. He opened it and walked inside, I followed. What greeted me was another hall, this one had a single window at the end of it that allowed all the light in. And inside the room there were dozens of pedestals, each holding a sculpture.

And I, of course, admired each one of them, eventually asking about their creation to the hero who was surprisingly happy to answer.

Hours passed and finally, we finished with the last sculpture.

“Consider yourself lucky, you’re the first person to lay eyes on this room aside from me,” the Hero of Glass said before chuckling to themselves. “No, rather, thank you for being here Arc.”

They placed their glass hand on my shoulder as I stared at them in bewilderment.

“You’re the first person I’ve met in this world that is as passionate with art as me. I am grateful for that,” their voice was like a whisper.

I was caught off guard by the burst of sincerity, but smiled anyway.

“There is an ice sculptor in Draliz, he has a workshop in a city called Rivas, perhaps you could swing by. I’m sure he’d love to see your sculptures.”

“Is he your friend?” he asked.

“He is.”

“I’ll consider it,” the Hero of Glass agreed. “Is Draliz the country you rule?”

“Technically,” I agreed, shrugging. “My companion’s family rules it, but… I’m the one backing them,” I explained.

“Companion huh, like a concubine?” he asked.

“No, just my little sister.” Before he could ask I elaborated. “My family back on Earth sucked, so I consider her my family now. I don’t care too much about her parents though.”

The Hero of Glass nodded.

“If you’re interested in a wife I know just the right person for you,” he said as he began to walk out of the room. “Her name is Taylor and she is quite strong, perhaps I could set a date for you.”

“I’m not interested in that stuff,” I dismissed.

“A shame. So about the luxury food, anything in mind?” he asked as I followed after him.

And I, of course, asked for literally every single delicacy his empire had to offer, much to his amusement.

* * * * *

She is quite fun.

Taylor smiled, they had actually continued talking even as Arc ate, and she found herself enjoying the woman’s company. Unfortunately, even if Taylor wanted Arc, the woman didn’t feel the same way about anyone ⁠— she even mentioned the Dragon of Shadows acting like that towards her.

Arc was interesting, she was the Queen of the Dragons, the ruler of Draliz, and had also escaped the Forgotten Places. Taylor had ultimately decided to ask and… the adventure was bizarre but she didn’t sense a lie so in the end, she just listened.

For the first time since coming to this world Taylor felt like she had made a friend.

The dinner eventually came to an end, and the time of departure for Arc arrived. She had just received the recommendation letter and adventurer’s badge from the Adventurer’s Guild.

Now, they were standing in the middle of the forest.

“You should come visit some time,” Taylor said.

“Maybe, or maybe you could also visit and bring some of the sculptures,” Arc smiled lightly before pausing. “Wait since you’ve killed heroes in the past did the keeper of order not come?”

“He came but didn’t say much.” Taylor shrugged, now just being herself with Arc.

“So a slap on the wrist, meanwhile he tosses me into a hellhole.” Arc sighed. “Annoying.”

Taylor chuckled at that which got her a small glare from the woman, but ultimately Arc shook her head. And began to step into the forest. The sight made Taylor a bit sad, but ultimately Arc had to leave. As for seeing her again? The chances were slim. So it was farewell more than anything. There were multiple continents between them after all.

Though, Arc stopped in her tracks and turned.

“You know, my magic has changed so I don’t know how well it will work, but talking with you has made me feel human again so...” Arc tossed her a crystal.

Taylor caught it with one hand, it was a rhombus shaped ice crystal, however it was dark blue in color.

“If you’re ever in trouble just break it.”

“Thank you but I can take care of myself,” Taylor said, still stowing it away. “So, this is our farewell, Heroine of Frost?”

The woman paused. “I hope not, but now that I think about it I never got your name. What is it?”

Taylor hesitated, she thought about keeping up an act, making it up, but ultimately she decided on doing something she never thought she would do. Perhaps their friendship ⁠— if it even was that ⁠— had just started but Taylor was… tired of the monotony, she was tired of keeping up an act, of keeping her interests to herself; she was tired of everything.

She wanted a change of pace.

“My name is Taylor,” she smiled as the armor broke apart and took off three rings from her hand. Her appearance shifting to her original one. Her long golden hair flowing to the wind. “And perhaps, we can be more than just friends if you’re interested in that date I offered.”

Of course, she wasn’t serious. She just found it funny to keep asking after being rejected. She didn’t mean it a single time, even when referring to herself in third person.

Arc stared at her for what felt like forever before finally letting out a chuckle.

“No date, but if you come to Draliz I’ll consider making you an ice sculpture.”

Taylor paused before grinning. “Very well, if you come visit here I’ll consider making you a sculpture myself.”

Their gazes met and after a few moments Arc turned around.

“See you Taylor, I’ll look into sending letters ⁠— I’ll label them as something important so they don’t get ignored.”

“I’ll make sure to do the same.”

And with that Arc disappeared into the forest.

Taylor stood there for what felt like forever before leaving.

She was an emperor, a so-called tyrant, but aside from using brute force she rarely killed people. Perhaps her path wasn’t something that everyone agreed with, but today she had made a friend. And she was… happy.

* * * * *

“Who was that?” Lily asked as we began to take flight. “I could sense them, they were… powerful.”

“Oh, they were the Hero of Glass, or…” I decided to keep what I saw to myself. “I befriended them. It was a fun day.”

“W-Wait, you befriended the Hero of Glass!?”

I smiled. “And it was really fun.”

Moments later, Lily began to bombard me with questions and talk about the infamy of the hero but I paid it no mind as we rode into the night. That said, I was going to need to rush through the reminder of the adventurer tags to get to Draliz, I couldn’t afford to spend that much leisure time after all.

Still, I had fun.

A/N: Hopefully this chapter was nice. Posted chapter of yesterday too.