Cassidy's Point of View

Kandma’s Head

The man huffed as sweat poured from his forehead and down his cheeks. “Arthur, it wasn’t his-“ Aydalia started but was cut off.

“Don’t tell me it wasn’t his fault.” He replied as his head bobbed back and forth. “Don’t tell me that the man who is unscathed, except for his hunger pang frame, should be able to see Lucia.” Arthur’s jerked as he huffed angrily.

“I told her to teleport away. I begged her to leave.” Alwin spoke softly.

Arthur’s gaze snapped back to him as his breathing quickened in anger. “Would you have if the situation was reversed? She loves you! Even I know that!” His tone was harsh. “But as for why, I can’t imagine!”

“Ah thought you said that drink of yers was supposed ta calm him.”

Camoa merely nodded. “It did. I think this is rather tame compared to what we saw before.” Then she shrugged. “However, rage is something I’ve found is hard to suppress unless done so by the person in question.”

Gritting his teeth, Arthur continued. “I had to check on your sister. Get her mind off of what happened. It was me who checked on Lucia and me who-“ He started coughing before wheezing, and his gaze turned to Lucia. “You look at her and tell me what right you have to even be near her, let alone next to her…”

Alwin frowned for a moment before he backed away. “Okay, Arthur. Okay.”

The Elven General looked incredibly hurt as Arthur didn’t even look at him. Many of us exchanged looks. Aydalia looked conflicted, as did her daughter. They understood, though. We all did. A sigh escaped my lips as I moved beside Arthur and sat beside him.

“Ya know, Ah don’t think yer bein very fair.” I commented.

A weak chuckle escaped his lips. “The world isn’t fair, Cass.” He tiredly placed his hand on top of Lucia’s. “If it was, I would’ve come home to her smile for rescuing the Dwarves and Druids.” Arthur started to cough. “Had I known this would happen, I never would’ve left.” His eyes started to close.

“Arthur?” I asked as I put a hand on his arm.

He gave a weak dismissive wave. “Don’t worry. Just closing my eyes. Not dead or going to sleep. Just restin.” Arthur then called out to one of the Elves. “Can you look over Lucia, Ayda?”

“Okay…”

“You know,” Arthur suddenly started as Ayda kneeled beside Lucia. “I made this exact same mistake in the past…” He let out a pathetic laugh. “And the same damn thing happened.” His eyes opened as he looked over at Lucia. “Part of me thinks she’ll hate me, and I should just leave.”

“Ya can’t just leave.” I told him softly. “We need ya here. Ah need ya here. What about Austin? So many of us need you.”

“No one needs me.” Arthur replied weakly. “I’m nothing more than a forgotten relic. A page of the past that was ripped from the history books. Go back to the Priestesses. All of you. They’ll still take you back.”

“Ah’m not goin back without you. Rennal is takin care of Austin, but she can’t do it forever. Once we get ya on yer feet, we’ll all head back.”

“And do what?” Arthur questioned sarcastically. “Make peace? Why waste my time any longer in Lestrania? Lucia’s one of the main reasons I stayed.” His eyes then glanced at me. “Her and a few others.”

I nodded. “Ya could. It’d be easy ta start over. Build a new place for yerself.”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t feel like building something else.” Arthur forced out. “I built Lestrania with my own two hands. Saved it from falling. Then,” Rolling to his side, he laid on his arms as he turned over. “I built Klasteris, which fell who knows when. Two kingdoms. Two failures in their own way.” His forehead rested on Kandma as he tried to get comfortable. “I’m tired of building.”

My head popped up to Greigh, who shrugged just as lost as I was. “What of their memory?” Aydalia suddenly asked. “What about the people who believed in you?”

“People like you?” Arthur asked back as his head turned to the side to face her. “You do realize that you only believed in me after you forced your way into my head. Remember? After you took advantage of my weakened state?” He began to lift his head and thump it on the ground, or rather, against Kandma. “Memory…” The man said after a moment. “Kandma?”

To our surprise, we came to a short stop. The creature started rumbling a bit. It was rather concerning as we waited to see what Arthur would say. After a moment, it let out a few growls and other such grunts.

“You once told me you’re living memory, and you gave me the chance to see what happened that night…” Arthur trailed off for a moment as the creature grumbled some manner of reply. “Could you give me Lucia’s?”

“What?” I let out, confused.

Ignoring me, he started to pat the creature. “Give me the memories from the moment she was captured. I’ll take it all. She shouldn’t have to endure such things.”

Camoa immediately stepped forward. “That is not a good idea. My potion has calmed your mind, even if only barely. Given your physical and mental state, this seems needlessly dangerous.”

I nodded. “She’s right, Arthur.”

“Kandma…” He let out softly. “Please… Let me do this for her. It’s all I can do.”