Chapter 475:
Arthur's Point of View
Depths of the Hollow Forest
"Are you sure?"
"Oh, she's alive." Aydan reiterated. "That I can guarantee." My teeth clenched in frustration. "You don't seem convinced."
"Then I just killed a lookalike, Aydan. She was ruling the Succubus. The Queen looked just like Mara, and when she died..."
The man frowned at that and crossed his arms. "Tell exactly what happened."
Arthur's Point of View
Collapsed Underground Tunnel System
Earlier that day
My body shook horribly as her pink hair fluttered in the wind as the destroyed tunnel was in rubble around us. Ripping my hand from her chest, I carefully held her before lying her down in the dirt. A magic barrier had protected us, and it ca from the other Succubae who looked similar. However, the most important thing is that she knew . Was it really Mara?
Brushing her hair away from her face as blood ran down her chin, I felt my form beco unsteady as it disappeared entirely. Now, with Mara in my arms, everything felt so trivial. Yet, at the sa ti, it was significant, unlike anything else. So many emotions went through , but it wasn't until the remaining Succubae spoke that my mind cleared.
"That's not Mara." She said as my attention imdiately snapped to her. "Whoever spoke there at the end wasn't my mother, and her na certainly wasn't Mara. Never before in my life has she ever had pink hair or spoken in such a tone." Her teeth grit as she looked at helplessly.
I gently laid the body down and stood. "Do you have proof?" My question was asked as I stepped directly in front of her.
The girl looked up from her hands and knees as I towered over her. "No. Only a daughter's word." Her lips trembled at that. "Please... I'll tell you everything I know! Ju-Just spare us. These children are all that are left."
My eyes glanced up at the barrier protecting one of the buildings that used to be underground. There were several magical signatures inside. A few dozen, at least. This woman seed adamant about protecting them, but did she deserve to live? After what they did to Lucia, no one can complain about the losing side being wiped out. Grabbing her by her clothes, I lifted her from the ground as both her hands instantly went to my arm.
"You want them to live?" I asked in a cold tone.
She nodded rapidly. "Ye-Yes!"
"Then stay put until I return. Do you understand? You, and those children, stay in this ruin." Her eyes widened at that.
"For how long?"
"Until I co back. If I do co back and you're all gone, I'll hunt down the last of your kind until there isn't a single one of you left." Letting her go, she fell on her butt. "The choice is yours."
Her words had rit. Why suddenly change your hair on your deathbed? It made no sense. That, and the way she acted, reminded of the Ghouls that Thana would take over. She was probably behind it. The real question was, did she plan all of this or just the last part? If she was responsible for Lucia's capture...
Glancing at the Mara lookalike once more, I spoke as a portal opened. "It would seem there was more than one perpetrator to this situation."
"What do you an?"
"It's possible your people were used." Turning to the doppelganger's daughter, she watched carefully. "I'm about to take care of another one as we speak, but this doesn't absolve any of you. Rember my words, Succubae." Then I gestured to not Mara. "Have her buried by the ti I return. I don't want to look at her."
"It will be done, and we'll wait for your return, but please..." Her eyes stayed on mine despite my gaze. "They're only children..."
"In my eyes, so was Lucia..." Turning back to my portal, I felt my mind slipping as Arceana ca to the forefront.
Arthur's Point of View
Depths of the Hollow Forest
"Lucia, you say?" Aydan let out in a hum. "That's a na I haven't heard in a few hundred years or so."
That was surprising. "You know Lucia?"
He shook one of his hands. "Not personally, but I know of her. Just like how I knew of that Succubus lookalike of yours that you killed."
Rubbing my face, I sighed. "Can you please tell what's going on? I feel so lost, and I can't put the pieces together, Aydan."
The ghost Elf scratched at his beard in thought. "It's not a pleasant story, and I'm not sure how you'll take it."
"Story of my life." Was my response. "But I would really appreciate so answers."
"Didn't you once say that so questions are best left unanswered?"
"This is about Mara and Lucia. I need to know."
His shoulders deflated as he looked at . "Alright. First, yes, Mara is alive. She ca through here a few hundred years ago when she was in desperate need of help." A chuckle escaped his lips. "She followed us, you know? Back when we left the castle. Out of everyone, she always was the cleverest of her siblings."
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