Lady Ayara’s mind raced. She thought back to everything she’d observed since arriving at the palace.
The exceptional organization of Arthur’s household. The discipline and excellence of his servants.
The way even the Emperor seed to regard his son with a mixture of pride and sothing that almost looked like deference.
She thought about the tournant. The decisive way Arthur had won. The way other competitors seed almost afraid of him despite his young age.
She thought about the recent rebellion that had been quelled so swiftly and efficiently. The whispers about mysterious circumstances. The timing that seed too convenient.
Could Prince Arthur have been involved in that? Could he have played a role that no one suspected?
[A/N: Just in case I never wrote it properly... everyone was transported out of the arena except for the rebels and a number of other people loyal to the emperor and so like Qin Tian.]
And now, the sister of the legendary Mistress of Avalon stood before her and declared that this young prince possessed power surpassing her sister. That he was the only one capable of helping them.
Lady Ayara’s worldview shifted again. Tilted on its axis for the second ti in as many minutes.
She looked at Arthur once more. Really looked at him. Not as a young prince who had agreed to help them. But as soone who might truly be extraordinary beyond her understanding.
And slowly, very slowly, Lady Ayara began to lower herself again. But this ti, the bow was directed at Arthur.
She knelt fully. Pressed her forehead to the ground. Her hands ca together in the formal gesture of deep respect.
"Your Highness," she said. Her voice trembled with emotion again, but for different reasons now. "This humble one has been blind. I failed to recognize true greatness when it stood before ."
Arthur watched her quietly. His expression softened slightly. "Stand up, Lady Ayara. There’s no need for such formality."
But Lady Ayara remained kneeling. "If what Young Mistress Cora says is true... if you truly possess such power... then I must offer you the respect you deserve."
"I ask for your assistance not as one equal to another, but as a supplicant to soone far greater. Please... help us recover what was lost. Help us find the Blood Raven Faction. And if possible..."
Her voice broke slightly. "Help us discover what happened to our sect founder. To Young Mistress Cora’s sister. She deserves to be found. To be rescued if she still lives."
Arthur stood slowly. He moved toward Lady Ayara and gently took her arm. "I already agreed to help you. That hasn’t changed. Now please, stand."
Lady Ayara allowed herself to be helped to her feet. She stood before Arthur with her head bowed. Her entire deanor had transford. Where before she had been respectful but asured, now she showed genuine deference and awe.
Her perception of Arthur had completely shifted. She no longer saw a talented young prince doing a favor for an ally.
She saw sothing far more significant. Sothing potentially powerful enough to change everything.
The room fell into silence once more. But this ti it was a different kind of silence. Not tense or uncertain, but heavy with understanding and unspoken questions.
Questions about what happened to Cora’s sister. Questions about the enemies who destroyed Avalon and still hunted its survivors. Questions about Arthur’s true nature and the extent of his power.
Questions about the destroyed Avalon organization itself and what it had represented. What kind of force had it been to warrant such complete annihilation? What had its mbers done to earn such relentless pursuit even centuries after its fall?
All of these questions hung in the air, unspoken but present. Waiting to be answered. Waiting for the right ti and the right circumstances.
Arthur looked at both won calmly. His mind was already working through the implications of everything he’d learned. Already making plans. Already calculating the best approach to handle this situation.
This was far more complex than a simple retrieval mission in a secret realm. This touched on ancient conflicts and powerful enemies. On survivors of a destroyed organization being hunted across realms. On a missing woman who might be fighting for her life sowhere far away.
But Arthur didn’t shy away from complexity. If anything, he welcod it. Challenges were opportunities. Complications were chances to demonstrate capability.
And besides, he had already given his word. He would help Lady Ayara and her faction. He would help Cora find her sister. Not because he had to, but because he chose to.
That was the kind of person Arthur was. Once he committed to sothing, he saw it through. Completely and thoroughly. No half asures. No backing out when things got difficult.
The Martial Emperor Secret Realm would open soon. And when it did, Arthur would enter not just to help an ally recover lost treasures, but to do sothing far greater.
’I must retrieve that item.’
------
Lady Ayara bowed deeply one final ti before she left the private chamber. Her perception of everything had shifted completely.
The weight of the revelations still pressed heavily on her mind as she followed a servant back toward the east pavilion where her companions waited.
Arthur watched her go. The doors closed softly behind her with a gentle click that seed to echo in the quiet room.
He stood there for a mont. His expression was thoughtful as he processed everything that had transpired.
The connection between Cora and the Evil God Extermination Sect. The truth about Avalon. The missing sister who might still be out there sowhere.
It was more complicated than he’d initially anticipated. But complications didn’t bother him. If anything, they made things more interesting.
Arthur took a breath and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his surroundings had changed. He was no longer in his private chamber within the palace mansion.
Instead, he stood in the inner world of the Serene Palace Painting. The familiar landscape stretched around him.
Beautiful gardens with perfectly maintained paths. Elegant buildings with classic architecture. A serene pond that reflected the perpetual twilight sky above.
This place was tiless. Peaceful. A refuge from the outside world where he could think and plan without interruption.
Arthur began walking slowly along one of the garden paths. His hands clasped behind his back as he moved. His mind was already working through strategies for the upcoming secret realm expedition.
He had only taken a few steps when he felt a presence appear behind him. Familiar and warm.
Before he could turn around, soft arms wrapped around him from behind.
A gentle embrace that held surprising strength. Warmth pressed against his back as soone hugged him tightly.
Arthur didn’t need to look to know who it was. He would recognize that energy signature anywhere.
"Cora," he said.
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