?????'s Point of View

Unknown Location

"The bait has been set." One of my Ghouls reported to me.

"Good. It took a lot to set this up, but the prize will be worth it. If this 'Mordred' gets involved, I may just be able to take everything all in one swoop." I stated with a giggle and turned to my 'current' general. "Flare, what is the word on our little informant?"

"Both will be here soon. He is bringing the eldest as agreed, and both are expecting to meet with you soon." My fire Demon replied.

"Then it looks like everything is place. If we can deal with everything before Fluffy gets word of our exploits and sudden move, we might be able to deter him from getting involved at all." None of the others knew what I was referring to, but it mattered not.

Flare and all the others kneeled as I rose to my feet and stared at the Floating Stone Forest in the distance from a nearby mountain top. Klasteris, they called it. Fools, each and every one of them. Had they only known the fire they played with. Still, my thoughts lingered on this Mordred and how he was able to arrange this in such a short span of time. This looked to be a thriving kingdom for the moment. Not many others could do the same without major repercussions.

"It would appear Mordred's reputation precedes him." I stated and glanced back at Flare. "Should he appear, you will be in charge. Tor stayed back with the others to keep an eye on Credo and Pestilence." My Ancient Demon nodded. "Last thing I need right now is them acting up and getting ideas."

"I understand." Flare replied, and I moved over to him before softly placing my hands upon the fire on his face. "My Queen, I-" He began fearfully as he tried to move away, but I smiled in response.

"Should you prove worthy, I will give you the power you seek, Flare." I told him, and he bowed even lower than before as I turned back to Klasteris. "Everything is finally coming together, and I am moments away from the victory I have been seeking for so long." Barefoot in the snow, I smiled as I stared at the kingdom. "Move out."

My order was carried throughout the tundra, and hundreds of Skelds, Nuckelavees, Titans, and more all began pouring down the mountainside. They moved to join the horde that was already under Klasteris and attacking as they had been for weeks now. Help was cut off for them from the North, East, and West. There would be no flanking and no surprises this time.

Another Ghoul landed before me and quickly bowed. "My Queen, the shield won't falter!" He reported, and I looked back to the Floating Stone Fortress. "Whatever it is made of is far more durable than anything I've ever seen!"

My eyes flickered to the white shield, and I giggled. "It would surprise me if anyone would be able to break through that shield. Do not worry, though." I told my Ghoul. "That shield will not deny me." Narrowing my eyes on it for a moment, I looked back at my Ghoul. "Do you no longer have anything to do?" I asked.

"Apologies, my Queen! I will return when I have more news!" She quickly made herself scarce.

Looking South, I smirked. "I changed my mind, Mordred. Meeting you personally and repaying you for your interference has been on my mind for the last few years now." Giggling, I continued as I sat back down as Flare remained by my side. "What will you do now that your precious student is in trouble?"

Arthur's Point of View

Lestrania Capital

"I think that will suffice for the day's lesson." I told the three princesses whose wounds were glowing slightly with magic. "You all did well today, but there is no reason to push yourselves too hard."

"If that is what you suggest, your majesty." Elincia stated, and I frowned.

I really hated being called that and constantly told them not to. "I will look after them." Robert stepped onto the training grounds slowly.

"Good to see you, Robert. Was expecting to see you near the front gate." I told him simply.

"Alas, my body is beginning to betray me. For I do not move as swiftly as I once did. These last two years have been hard on me." The older man replied.

Nodding, I replied. "Of course. Please look after the princesses then."

Moving from the field, I saw Mara watching me closely as she barely took any injuries. She was getting better and better every day and far excelled above any of her siblings in the art of combat. However, Robert was another matter. That old man was obviously lying and was not as old as he made himself out to be. Up until a year ago, he would go out with me to patrol and even end up in some of the skirmishes for shits and giggles.

Making my way through the palace, I ended up in a familiar Lab with my own personal mad Elf. "Aydan." I called out to him, and he turned to me with a massive grin.

"You're here! Enjoy your time with the princesses?" He inquired as he moved throughout the room, grabbing materials.

"Training is over. I'm here now. What was it you wanted to tell me?"

"During your recent excursion, I made several breakthroughs!" He announced and put the Book of Prophecy before me. "The spell is completed that brought you here!"

"Does that mean you can send me back?" I asked and closed the door before placing my hands on the desk and hanging my head. "I can't keep doing this."

Aydan was quiet for a moment before becoming more serious. "You've really changed since coming here, Arthur." Using my other name got me to look at him with narrowed eyes. "When you first arrived here, you didn't care about much of anything. Just went about your day, doing what you thought was best, in the manner you wanted."

Gritting my teeth, I spoke with a clenched jaw. "Because I didn't care. Now, this entire damn country is looking to me, and I acted the part. I can't keep doing this. I can't stay here and keep living this lie."

He merely tilted his head in amusement. "Is it a lie? I think you want to go back because you actually care about us and the people here."

"The Royal Family has been fixed. Rudnurth has all but given up his claim to the throne, and Mara will rule when I leave. Lestrania is in great shape to be a superpower throughout the world. If something happens now, it shouldn't be anything that would cause them to disappear."

"You still hope for Elias and Mara to be in the future?"

"If Rudnurth was mentioned, why wouldn't the others be alive. I've done what I set out to do; now tell me what you learned."

Aydan sighed and motioned to the spell. "In order for this spell to activate, you need to pour your energy into the book, so it will latch onto you in the future." I looked at him confused, and he shook his head. "Nothing you've done has changed anything. You were meant to come to the past because without being here, the book would never have locked onto your energy signature."

Sitting down, I looked at him in disbelief. "You've gotta be kidding me…"

"I'm afraid not. Your own energy brought you here, and it is what determines how long you stay. Depending on the amount of energy you lost during your trip here will determine the length of your stay."

Rubbing my face for a moment, I spoke with it still covered. "So, I'm here because of myself?"

He bobbed his head back and forth. "Yes and no. The spell was designed, so nothing changes. It will be present in your future where it will send you back to the past where I will create the spell, and you will power it again to latch onto you." Aydan then gestured to me. "Time is set in stone. Nothing changes. You're here because another version of you will be sent to the past, but you're both the same person."

"Aydan, I can't just-"

Holding up his hands, he nodded and cut me off. "I know, but there is no way for me to know how much time you have remaining. By all rights, you should've returned by now. The amount of magic that would be needed to keep you here for three years is unheard of, and you did it all by yourself." A frown came to his face. "Your time is dwindling, and it must be low."

"What do I do?" I asked quietly.

Sliding the book over to me slightly, he gestured to it. "Put your energy signature in the book." Doing as he instructed, I poured some of my energy into the book, and the spell seemed to latch onto it with familiar chains, hooks, and claws. "Now that that is done, we can move on."

Staring at the book, I replied. "To what?"

"I've found, what I believe to be, the heart of the Hallow Forest!" He said excitedly. "There, we will prepare several spells so you can find me and talk to me after I pass. That way, you'll know everything that happened!"

This was getting worse and worse. "And what will we tell the people?" Aydan went quiet at that. "Should I just disappear and not tell them anything? Maybe let them wonder if I was coming back?" Slamming my fists into the desk in anger, it shattered as papers flew across the room. "Had I known it would come to this-"

"You would've done things differently?" Aydan finished for me. "Of course, you would've. It's precisely that reason why you didn't know."

Gritting my teeth in anger, I realized that all of this was my fault. All the good I had done could be undone just as easily if this was how the spell worked. I was no closer to the mysteries of this world, the Demons hadn't been dealt with, and time was running out.

I was seething in anger, and Aydan moved closer to me. "I understand this must be hard, but I want you to know that you might be the closest thing I've ever had to a brother. Meeting you might just be one of the best things that's ever happened to me." The Sage said earnestly.

That was exactly the problem. I fucked up. Again. Again, I let people get close, and I lowered my guard for them to do so. Again, they would be left behind or be forced to deal with the fallout of my mistakes. Why does it always come to this? Such a cursed existence should just be-

"Am I interrupting anything?" Mara's voice cut in and my eyes widened as I couldn't bring myself to face her.

"Just working out a few details on something." Aydan answered. "Did you need something?"

I could feel her eyes on my back as I stayed facing away from her. "I was hoping to have a moment with the King if he would have the time to spare."

The Sage opened his mouth to respond, but I cut in before he could. "Sir Aydan has just informed me of some plans. We will be busy for a time. It is likely I will not have the free time I desire." I replied emotionlessly as I stayed facing away from her as Aydan merely shook his head. "I will have to gather some things before we must leave." Stepping towards Aydan, I spoke. "Isn't that right, Sir Knight?"

He nodded reluctantly. "Apologies, princess. I do need him for this project of ours."

Mara shuffled behind me before she responded. "I see. Well, I hope your project is a success, and maybe we will have a moment to ourselves after you are done."

"…" I didn't reply.

Aydan nodded. "Of course. He'll need to stop by and gather some things, and then we'll be off. Make sure to tell the others, but we shouldn't be gone too long." He informed her.