Horizon's Edge

by TurtleMe

But why… why am I seeing this tag so soon. It was too early. They shouldn’t be moving this early. I estimated that it would take at least another 15 to 20 years before they would start making their move.

  I thought I had time.

  I thought we had time…

  “Director?” Arthur’s inquisitive voice shook me out of my daze.

  “Ah yes… Arthur, do you mind if I hold onto this? It would be safe for me to assume that The Council would want this back.” I took careful notice of the tone of my voice to make sure I wouldn’t arouse suspicion from Arthur. The boy was just abnormally sharp.

  “Things are changing aren’t they.” It was supposed to be a question, but by the tone of Arthur’s voice, it sounded like a statement with implied conviction.

  Is it wise for me to tell him? Or rather, does he already know something?

  “Yes, but it isn’t something for you to worry about. Not yet at least.” I knew my smile and comforting words didn’t reach him.

  “Arthur, you may forget sometimes_-hell, even I tend to forget at times- but you are still a child; a strong child with limitless potential, yes, but a child nevertheless. Let us adults take on the burden for now; your time will come, whether you wish for it or not.” As I said this, I realized this message was more for myself than for Arthur.

  Yes, he is a child. It wouldn’t be fair for him to become involved in the affairs of the Continent… but if he already knows…

  “Did you perhaps… see whatever Alea fought against?” I had to choose my words carefully to make sure that my question didn’t give anything away.

  “No I didn’t.” The answer was said with full confidence, but for some reason, his answer made me second guess myself.

  However, no use in suspecting the boy. It wouldn’t make sense for him to hide anything about an event like this.

  Still… I’m glad he doesn’t seem to have figured anything out.

  “I see… Well enough about this topic. You must be worried about how everyone is doing.” I let a soft, relieved smile escape as I said this.

  ARTHUR LEYWIN’S POV:

  The Director’s response somehow left a bad taste in my mouth. She sounded almost… relieved at my response.

  “Yeah, how is everyone doing?” In the end, I decided to move on. There was no point in being skeptical of everyone around me. I’ll just assume she skipped out on asking the details for my sake.

  “As you may have already deduced, your classmates weren’t all too injured. We had them sent to the guild infirmary hall to be cared for and thankfully, most were able to come to school today. Professor Glory was actually the one that was the most wounded, but she refused to be healed until all of her students were treated. I heard she even paid a visit to your family to notify them of your disappearance after transporting everyone back.” Director Goodsky chuckled.

  “That’s good, that’s good… And how is Tess doing?” I inquired.

  Goodsky’s face wrinkled a bit as she displayed obvious hesitation.

  “Tess… Tess is okay,” She replied. I could tell she chose her words carefully.

  “What exactly do you mean by that?” I raised a brow, urging for a proper response, while an uneasy feeling starting to stir within me.

  “There were some... complications... in the final stages of her assimilation. Virion is currently looking after her but she has yet to awaken.” Her voice was quiet as she spoke.

  “Complications?” My voice came out a bit fiercer than I intended it to be.

  “You need to understand that the final leg of assimilation is when the Beast Will struggles the hardest. Right now, Tessia and the Elderwood Guardian are fighting for control. Thus far, there has never been a case where the receiver of the will falls into a coma to this extent. Based on our theory, there seems to be something particular about the Beast Will you gave her, Arthur,” replied Goodsky earnestly.

  What… was this my fault? I put Tess in danger...? A flurry of thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to think of an explanation as to why such a thing occurred.

  There was something particular about the Elderwood? What was it? Yeah, it was strong, but was it stronger than other S class mana beasts? I wouldn’t know since it was my first time fighting one.

  Particular...?

  My mind flashed back to the dungeon, and more specifically, what Alea had told me. She had mentioned that the black-horned demons were causing the monsters to mutate and grow stronger.

  Was that what happened? Did I give Tess a potentially corrupted beast core? No, I couldn’t have. I remember Alea explaining how the beast core of the serpent she defeated had mysteriously disappeared. Shouldn’t that have happened to the Elderwood Guardian’s beast core as well then?

  “Arthur? Are you okay?” Director Goodsky’s concerned voice stirred me from the deep abyss of my thoughts.

  “Yeah, just thinking,” I voiced as my eyes glazed over at the night view of the city.

  “In any case, Virion is currently looking after her in your training room. Would you like to go visit them now?” Director Goodsky gave me a reassuring smile.

  “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  “Mmm… then go on ahead because, even I, have not been updated on the situation. Virion has not let anyone in, but I feel like you’ll be an exception. I must make a trip to The Council to inform them of what happened.” Goodsky suddenly looked infinitely older as she mentioned The Council.

  “Is it okay for Grandpa Virion to not be present during The Council meeting?” I asked.

  Director Goodsky shook her head before replying, “Virion is in no state to be bothered with this matter when his precious granddaughter is currently unconscious. And besides, him being there with Tess is the only reason Alduin and Merial can stand to be away from their daughter and remain with The Council.”

  “I see. Okay, well I hope you keep me informed on this matter.” I made my way to the door.

  “My only concern is that you may have to be a lot more involved this time than you’d wish to be.” Director Goodsky breathed a sigh before a gust of wind enveloped her and whisked her away.

  __________________________________________________

  As I made my way down by riding the elevator, Sylvie stirred from her sleep.

  ‘I feel Mama.’

  As I walked slowly towards the training room that had been assigned to me, my feet seemed to weigh a lot more than they should. I don’t know how I’d react if Tess were injured. The only reason I felt it wasn’t necessary to visit everyone else right away was because I assumed everyone would be safe.

  ‘I said I feel Mama!’ Sylvie thumped my forehead with her paw.

  “I know!” I waved her paw away before turning my focus back to the giant double door entrance that drew nearer.

  “Ouch.” The skin under my dimension ring suddenly burned as if something inside it wanted to come out.

  Ignoring it, as I had more pressing matters, I placed both my palms on the surface of the door and pushed it open.

  “FWOOOOOM”

  As soon as the door swung open, an unfamiliar sinister aura visibly surged forward in an attempt to entrap me. This dark fog felt like thousands of thorny vines as it coiled around my arms and legs.

  “WHO’S TH… ARTHUR?” Amidst the noticeably dark wave emanating from a particular focal point, I heard Grandpa Virion’s husky voice boom.

  “Yeah, it’s me, Gramps! What’s going on?” I yelled past the sound of what reminded me of the crashing of an ocean’s waves against a cliff

  “God am I glad you’re still alive, Brat. I think I’m becoming somewhat thankful for your cockroach-like tenacity, HAHA! Come over here, I need your help!” Still confused by what was happening, I chose to ignore Gramps’ slightly insulting metaphor and walked carefully towards him. The aura was getting stronger, and I felt my skin start to bleed from small tears, which cut through my clothes.

  Willing mana to shield both Sylvie and I, I made my way towards the source of the aur
a using Grandpa Virion’s hazy figure as a guide; each step felt like I was pushing against a reinforced wall.

  “What in the… Tess?!” As I got closer, I could faintly make out the figure, lying in front of Gramps, that was the source of this aura.

  When I finally reached Grandpa Virion, I winced from the searing pain caused by my dimension ring that seemed to have gotten stronger. Gramps wasn’t in good shape; his pale face was drenched in sweat as he tried his best to suppress the oppressive aura emanating from Tess, to little avail.

  I took a closer look and what I saw made my eyes widen in surprise. Tendrils of vines completely enclosed the figure I assumed was Tessia. The thick dark aura made it hard for me to make out what it was until now.

  “How much time has passed on the outside, brat? I think I’ve been holding in this foul aura for the past day or so after she came back from the dungeon.” He gave me a weary chuckle.

  “What’s happening to her, Gramps?” I didn’t remember anything like this happening back when I was assimilating with Sylvia’s dragon will.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure Typically, the purpose of assimilation is to enable the host’s body to gradually withstand and control the beast will’s power, but in this case, it seems to be the opposite. I’m beginning to worry that this beast’s will is trying to take over Tess’ body.” Grandpa Virion’s shaking voice was filled with unease...

  “How is that possible? I’ve never heard of something like that happening.” My brows furrowed as I contemplated a possible cause. My thoughts kept going back to the mana beasts that had been corrupted by the black-horned demons.

  “I’m not so sure, brat. I feel like that Elderwood you fought might’ve been mutated.” Virion’s hoarse voice indicated that he was most likely at his breaking point.

  I was ready to take over Gramps, ignoring the burning sensation from my ring that was evidently growing more painful.

  It happened even before my hands touched the surface of the cocoon Tess was in.

  I could instantly recognize the sound of flesh tearing as I instinctively shift my body in hopes to dodge in time.

  “KYU!!!” ‘PAPA!’ “OII, ARTHUR!”

  Both Sylvie and Virion’s voice sounded muffled through the pounding of my eardrums.

  Chapter 74: Order of Power

  A stain of blood began spreading from underneath the remains of my shirt as I barely managed to dodge the spear of twisted vines aimed straight for my heart.

  My heart pounded with a force strong enough to break out of my ribcage from the thought of death looming before me. I almost died. This sensation felt different from the other near death experiences I had had. It was almost instantaneous; I could’ve died in that split second; and it would’ve been because of Tess, no less.

  I knew women were dangerous.

  Barely dodging the tendril, I grimaced at the feeling of blood trickling down my cheek.

  I almost chuckled at the comical situation stirring in my mind. Grandpa Virion’s hands were literally on the cocoon, but as soon as I got near her, a flurry of spear-like vines automatically locked onto me for the kill? I knew that, deep down, Tessia was still mad at me.

  I parried the next dark, spear-like tendril before things became even worse. The cocoon that wrapped around Tess began expanding as an uncountable number of vines began surfacing from the ground beneath her.

  “Kuu!” ‘Papa, you’re okay!’ I heard Sylvie chirp near Gramps.

  Grandpa Virion’s shoulders loosened as he let out a sigh of relief. “I thought you almost died brat. What’s happening now?”

  “Yeah, that was… a little too close for comfort, and I honestly have no clue what’s happening now, Gramps. Maybe your granddaughter doesn’t like me so much anymore.” I managed to shoot him a smirk, making him chuckle despite the situation we were in.

  After another thick layer of vines intertwined around the existing ones that formed Tess’ cocoon, dozens of tendrils began positioning themselves to, once again, shoot at me. Just me.

  “Kuu…” ‘What do we do?’

  Sylvie, who was perched next to Grandpa, tilted her head in confusion, since the ‘enemy’ was her mama.

  ‘I want you to stay with Grandpa Virion. She’s only aiming at me for some reason.’

  After dodging the discharge of tendrils, I positioned myself away from Gramps and Sylv. Gramps was drained of all of his mana from suppressing the dark aura for almost two days straight while Sylv was better off not being used until I knew exactly what the implications would be.

  What’s more, ‘Tess’ was becoming more creative in her attacks; her next wave of tendrils was even laced with sharp thorns. The more I avoided the spears of vines, the surer I was that the beast will was dead set on trying to kill only me. It also wasn’t helping that my ring was burning to an almost unbearable degree.

  Could it be that the Elderwood Guardian’s dying will was hoping to gain redemption from me since I was the one that defeated him down in the dungeon? If that really happened to be the case, I hope I live long enough to find out.

  Frustrated, I withdrew my sword from my dimension ring, but as I did, something else came out with it.

  While Dawn’s Ballad appeared promptly in my hand, a small shining orb shot out of the ring towards the cocoon.

  It was the orb that that homeless storekeeper had given me!

  The clear orb, about the size of a marble, sparkled with an array of colors as it bolted towards the enlarging cocoon.

  What the hell?

  Grandpa Virion noticed it too but he only gazed at me in confusion; probably thinking that I had done it intentionally.

  Streaks of light escaped from the crevices in between the vines as the orb sunk into the cocoon.

  *BOOOOM! *

  Before we even had the chance to wonder what was going on, an explosion occurred from within the cocoon, revealing a menacing, black haired Tessia.

  As the orb sunk into her stomach where her mana core was, Tess’ sickly complexion went back to normal… no, beyond normal. Her now flawless pearl skin seemed to literally radiate as her black hair turned back into her original gunmetal silver hue.

  Tessia was still unconscious, but the vines held her up and unfortun- conveniently covering her private areas at the same time…

  Her physical appearance wasn’t the only thing that changed. As the orb disappeared completely inside her abdomen, Tessia’s body was completely covered in an aura I had never seen before; distinctly different from the usual mana existent in the atmosphere, in an almost mystical way.

  Surrounding her was a scorching flame comprised of brilliant emerald gems. Millions of green, leaf-shaped embers made up this unique aura. As the emerald aura expanded, the once black vines turned a serene jade green. Even as the mesmerizing aura drew nearer, for some reason, I didn’t fear it. Before it reached any of us, the aura shrunk back and dissipated.

  As Tessia’s figure fell, I jumped up and took out the coat I used while I was an Adventurer, swiftly wrapping it around her bare body as I held her in my arms.

  The dark aura that filled the training room was completely gone, and more importantly, Tessia was safe.

  “Mmm…not now, Arthur. Too soon.” Tessia mumbled as her face revealed a coquettish smile.

  …She was most definitely safe.

  “Pfft! Hahahaha!” Relief washing over me, I laughed. I laughed full-heartedly at Tess’ sleep talk and just the fact that she was okay.

  “TESSIA!” Grandpa Virion came running with Sylvie dangling from his long white hair.

  “She’s okay, Gramps. She’s just sleeping now.” I set her down and fell onto my butt as all the strength I had left, left me.

  Both Sylv and Gramps began meticulously inspecting the slumbering Tessia before they heaved a sigh of relief as well.

  “…She is okay.” Gramps slumped down next to me while Sylvie curled up next to Tess. For a brief moment, we just blankly stared at the other end of the training grounds, too tired
to even think.

  “…”

  “So did you get a good eyeful?” Turning my head, I could see Grandpa Virion’s smirk grow so wide that I was rather surprised his lips didn’t tear.

  “SHE’S THIRTEEN!” I groaned as I fell back on the soft grass-like moss.

  “Almost fourteen.” He corrected as he shifted his softening gaze back towards Tessia.

  “I’m glad you’re okay, brat. This girl would’ve been devastated if she found out you hadn’t made it...”

  “…And thank you... for saving my granddaughter back at the dungeon, and now.” Virion’s voice grew softer, almost mumbling, as he said this.

  “What makes you think I saved your daughter, Gramps?” I replied without getting up, using my hands to support my head up.

  “Call it a Grandfather’s intuition. With your abilities, I know that if you only thought of yourself, you wouldn’t have ended up in dangerous situations like these; so again, thank you.” The sincerity in his voice was confirmed as his eyes met mine.

  “Ugh, forget it. Don’t get so serious like that suddenly, you’re scaring me.” I rolled to my side, my back facing Grandpa Virion.

  “So when did you get back? Your family knows you’re alive, right?” Gramps replied.

  “Of course. I got home last night and had even spent some time with my family earlier today…”

  “Gramps, I’m sorry. I-I should’ve rushed back. I just assumed that she’d be fine once she woke up since she crossed the last leg of assimilating with her beast will back at the dungeon. If I had known things could go wrong like this, I would’ve rushed here as soon as I got back.” I looked at Virion, almost pleadingly.

  Back when I was assimilating with Sylvia’s beast will, I remember Virion explaining to me how there was one final wave of struggle from the beast will before the assimilation was completely over; how that was normal…

  I should’ve prepared for the worst…. I almost lost her today.

  This thought scared me a lot more than I would’ve ever believed possible in my past life.

  “Your parents probably had their fair shares of worries raising you, huh?” Unexpectedly, Grandpa Virion let out a soft chortle.