Chapter 598: Destined

Sier stared at him for a long time. Arthur knew that the guardian wanted a different ending for this, as did Lyari. However, their attempts to persuade meant that they realized his threat, and the more he rejects them, the more low-handed these attempts will become.

"It seems I have no choice," sighed the seer. "This means war, Outsider. The vessels will start appearing one after the other, and I am glad to have heard you resolve."

The tone that the Seer Guardian used was not of surprise but expectation. The violet light in his eyes began to disappear as the presence of the more grew calmer.

"You heard his words, Sier," said the seer guardian before his presence disappeared. It was seconds later, but Arthur knew that he was talking to someone else now. "I have indeed," said Sier with the same mouth but a different soul. "We meet again, Arthur."

"We meet at last," said Arthur with a frown. "It seems like you have something to tell me."

"I do," chuckled Sier. "When I was told that you will hunt down the vessels, I never believed it. I still remember the times you opposed me, pretending to be uncaring when goodness was inside your heart."

"And who told you that?" asked Arthur while squinting his eyes, but Sier did not seem too eager to answer that question, so he changed it. "Is that the reason that you mistrust me?"

"A part of it," nodded Sier. "It was nothing but a spark to ignite a fire, and the fire worked its way to destroy our friendship. Tell me, Arthur Silvera, who are you?"

"I am the name that you have mentioned."

"I can find another one with the same name in the blink of an eye," said Sier with a shake of his head. "Let me rephrase my question: what makes a person?"

Arthur did not wish to entertain these mind games and philosophical discussions. After all, his mother was still in danger, so he decided to give Sier the cure for every dispute: the truth.

"You should know about the Great Epiphany," said Arthur while spreading his hands and holding them parallel. "And I am not sure if you know about the timeline that has collapsed into this one, creating a new one."

"An epiphany is nothing but a lesson at most."

"It was more for me because I am the reason behind that," said Arthur while bringing his hands together. "I merged the two timelines using the memories of one to complete another, thus creating an identical but an entirely different timeline."

"Are you saying that you changed because of that?"

"Indeed," nodded Arthur. "I am not the Arthur you know of, but an alter one that has overwritten that man to replace him. However, we hold the same ideals and memories until a year ago."

"If a single memory of mine were different, I would have been an entirely different person. The two of you are not the same, which is why I noticed the difference."

"The difference?"

"You reek of ruthlessness. I have no idea what you have experienced in that alternate timeline, but it changed your core into something sharper and more decisive. Tell me, Arthur. Can you say that you haven't changed because of that timeline?"

Arthur tried to think about it, and he couldn't bring himself to say it. Alka was nothing less than torture every step of the way. Larza, Duke of Fire, the nobility of Freda, and his father were all things that sought to break him. Arthur also fell in love there with one of the people he considered an enemy initially. He met friends he could never replace and challenges he had to overcome alone. As traumatizing as the experience was, Arthur knew that it had changed him.

"Your silence tells me all I need to know," said Sier with a sigh. "You are not the person I have befriended, and the words you said earlier confirm my doubts. I cannot trust you to know that you will not hunt me down as well."

"Long ago, you told me that the guardian was trying to take over your body. You wanted to nurture and protect me because you believed I could save you from the fate of being a puppet."

"And what if you realized that you could not?" Sier tilted his head. "Will you spare my life, imprison me, or kill me as you do for the others?"

"There is nothing that I cannot do," said Arthur confidently. "As long as you desire it, the world is your oyster. I have nothing against the vessels but those who give them power. Your father, Sier, caused your suffering, and the guardians caused mine."

"That does not answer my question," said Sier with a shake of his head. "You admitted to being a different person. I cannot trust you for that reason. The words you said earlier also prove that your hatred toward the guardians transcends everything."

"You are right, Sier. However, there are things that I will choose over Mistletoe and you," said Arthur. "I'm far from being free for this conversation. The only reason I came here is to apprehend the culprit that used the power of destruction."

"We are finally revealing our colors."

"Colors?" laughed Arthur heartily. "I have no colors, but my hands are tied. I am sure that that deranged psychopath arranged even this meeting. Am I expected to choose between the things I hold dear?"

"What is making you this urgent?"

"The possibility of losing my family, Sier. To be specific, my mother. You, of all people, should know how it feels to be in my shoes right now. Forgive me for what I am about to do, Sier."

"I can see into the future sometimes," said Sier with a blank face. "And Kera is destined to meet destruction soon, maybe sooner than you think."

"...then it is true," muttered Arthur as he closed his eyes. "I need to leave this place, now," his aura exploded from his body, bending the bamboo forest away from him. "Let us not fight over this."

"Are you betraying me?"

"For her sake, I would do anything," said Arthur as he rose and raised his hand toward the sky. "You killed an innocent man and weaponized the powers of corruption. Am I the only one who has changed, Sier?"

"I do what I have to do to survive."

"And so do I," said Arthur as light exploded from his hand and bolted toward the sky. Then, as the signal covered the land in bright light, he stared at the seer. "Our paths have sadly crossed, and only one of us can march forward."

"I will miss our friendship, Arthur," said Sier as he stood up from his seat and allowed his violet mana to break free. "Let me show you the powers of a vessel."

Arthur could feel the overbearing aura of Sier explode from his body, and it was as sharp enough to leave deep gashes into the surrounding. It was as if he was staring at the belly of the beast, but Arthur closed his eyes.

When he first met this young man, Arthur was more than suspicious of him. Although he was naive enough to take his hand, Sier did not use him throughout their whole interaction. This man wanted nothing but to be a master of his own body.

Sier was more than a friend for Arthur, as he became the one thing he could depend upon. Of course, there were times when he mistrusted the seer, but Arthur could not remember a time when Sier tried to harm him.

"It is sad," muttered Arthur as he took a deep breath, "that I have to lose this. I loved Mistletoe, but there are things I need to do."

"There is no right or wrong here, Arthur," said Sier, making Arthur open his eyes. The violet mana covered the seer like a flame, especially his eyes. "Our paths were destined to cross since I became the Omniscient Vessel, and you became the outsider."

Arthur realized it as well. He and Sier were never destined to be more than enemies because of their inherited powers. But, even if it was for a short while, the Seer Guardian controlled Sier to kill Grandmaster Casca.

Sier seems to understand that he was just as capable of harming Arthur, but he chose himself too. The Seer Guardian was the only one that would benefit from Sier's safety, making him the only trustworthy person for Sier Yalen.

Arthur released his powers and limits, allowing the knowledge of Gaia to fill his soul and body. The runes of the world answered his command and appeared in chains around his body.

'Maybe I can save him from this fate one day,' thought Arthur as he stared at the fearsome opponent before him. The Chains of Order appeared around his body as Arthur controlled existence. 'However, I cannot avoid hurting him today.'

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