Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1244 Divine Crown?

Chapter 1244 Divine Crown?

After their heartfelt conversation in the dimly lit cell, Arthur stood, stretching slightly to ease the tension that had built up during their deep exchange. "Would you like me to teleport you back to your guild, God's Blade?" he asked Yurirl, his voice carrying an offer of convenience and safety.

Yurirl shook his head, a determined tone in his voice. "No, thank you, Arthur. I'd prefer if you released me through the gates and into the wilderness. There are people out there, struggling and fighting. I need to help them, to save as many as I can on my way back to my guild."

Understanding Yurirl's desire to make a tangible difference, Arthur nodded. "I'll arrange that for you," he assured him, and with a few spoken commands, he deactivated the runes that secured the cell. They walked together to the gates of the mansion, where Arthur paused, listening intently as Yurirl's footsteps faded into the sounds of the wilderness.

Returning to the balcony of the Runic Mansion, Arthur leaned against the railing, his senses attuned to the rustle of the leaves and the distant calls of birds—sounds that painted a picture of the world beyond his sight.

Diana came up beside him, her presence immediately noticeable through the subtle shift in the air and the light scent of her perfume. "Who was that man, Arthur?" she asked, her voice laced with concern and curiosity.

Arthur turned his face toward her, though his blind eyes saw nothing. "That was Yurirl, a divine swordsman and an old acquaintance. We've had our share of alliances and confrontations over the years," he explained, his voice reflecting a mix of nostalgia and respect.

Diana's tone softened with understanding. "Why do I feel like his presence affected you more than you're letting on?"

He sighed, a rueful smile playing on his lips despite his unseen gaze. "Yurirl might just be the person this world actually needs, not me. He stands for what I once aspired to be."

Diana's hand found his, her fingers intertwining with his. "Is this about your father, Seref?"

Arthur nodded slowly, his head tilting in her direction as if to catch every nuance in her voice. "Yes, somewhat. My father always wanted me to be a savior, a hero. I refused. Yurirl embodies everything he hoped I would be."

"Does that make you sad?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Laughing softly, Arthur shook his head. "No, not anymore. I've moved beyond my father's expectations, no matter where he might be now."

Her eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips, her hands squeezing his in return. "I like how that sounds," Diana replied, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and determination.

"There's something else," Arthur continued, his tone turning serious again. "Joe has been monitoring the second trial grounds for me—a bartender from Kera I've known for years. But even now, the trial grounds haven't opened, so we need to wait."

Diana's brow furrowed, her strategic mind kicking into gear. "What if we don't wait? What if we force our way into the trial grounds?" she asked, half-joking yet half-serious, her dry humor veiling a genuine suggestion.

Arthur chuckled at her fierce determination, picturing her standing defiantly against the divine gates themselves. "As tempting as that sounds, we can't risk it. Forcing our way in could throw us into the rifts of time and space—a risk too great even for us."

She nodded, accepting his reasoning, yet her mind raced for other possibilities. After a moment of contemplation, she looked back at him, her gaze inquisitive. "What should we do in the meantime?"

Arthur paused, thinking through his contacts and the various threads of assistance he could pull on. "There's a friend who needs my help in Sourna. Her name is Rain, and she's been looking for her caretaker, a pirate woman who's lost at sea."

Diana's expression shifted to one of confusion as she processed this new name. "Who is Rain?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of suspicion.

He hesitated, knowing full well how his next words might sound. "Rain has... on more than one occasion tried to... well, reproduce with me," he admitted awkwardly.

The temperature around them dropped noticeably as Diana's control over her powers wavered with her emotions. The ground began to frost over, her eyes narrowing as she stared at him, a storm brewing within them.

Arthur couldn't help but laugh nervously, realizing how absurd it must sound. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Let's continue this conversation somewhere else," he suggested, guiding her away from his mother's room to avoid causing any disturbance.

They walked through the corridors of the mansion, their footsteps echoing softly until they reached the kitchen. Once seated at a quaint table, Arthur resumed their interrupted discussion.

Diana, now somewhat calmer but still visibly annoyed, leaned in. "Once we save her, can I kill her?" she half-joked, though there was a serious undertone to her question.

Arthur laughed, shaking his head. "Rain is a friend, albeit a peculiar one. Nothing has ever happened between us, and most of her... attempts were because she embodies the Sin of Lust. It's more an aspect of her nature than anything else."

Understanding the complexities of their world, where personal traits could be amplified into literal embodiments of sins or virtues, Diana sighed, her initial anger subsiding. "Fine, but I'm keeping an eye on her," she conceded, her tone half-serious.