Chapter 1156 Things Were The Same
1156 Things Were The Same
Arthur thought that he would need to visit Alka and the past again just to see her, but he knew that was no longer an option. If he tampers with timelines again, it might not end this well for him.
Inside the iceberg, which was as clear as glass, Diana was standing there with the Isotox in her hands. Time had frozen for her as well, as she looked just as young as Arthur remembered. Her blond hair, flawless skin, and icicle shards on her ears were the same as he remembered and loved.
"Are you this beautiful because I love you, or do I love you because you are this beautiful?" asked Arthur with a wide smile as he touched the iceberg. Frost covered his skin, but he did not care. He wanted to be as close as he can to her.
A ticklish feeling burst in his heart as he craved to talk to her, touch her, and feel her existence once again. However, Arthur knew that it was not the time yet. Diana has chosen to unseal herself on his birthday, believing it would be their last chance to meet.
"I will save you, no matter what," said Arthur with determination as his eyes squinted at her peaceful face. "I don't want to lose anyone again."
"Does that include me?" asked a voice from behind him, and Arthur turned to see a woman standing behind him. Her entire body was see-through, like a fading image. However, the moment he saw her and the unique gemstone on her forehead, Arthur took in a sharp breath of air.
"Have you missed me, dear Seika?"
"Gala…" muttered Arthur as if speaking her name would bring her alive, but he found it hard to believe. Oriole has told him about the witch and how she helped Diana, but he never thought he would see her himself. "I missed you so much."
"Hearing the words in person feels reassuring of my sanity," said the witch with a grin. "I had to rely on memories of our adventures together to believe that you were the man I awaited, and not your father."
"How long has it been for you?" asked Arthur as he let go of the iceberg and turned toward her. "It must have been…"
"One hundred and fifty years since I received the memories," said the witch, surprising Arthur despite his knowledge of the gap. "Like an itch that refused to disappear, I forgot most things except our time together."
"I never forgot too," said Arthur with a glistening tear as he walked toward her. "What happened to your real body?"
"I used a spirit of light to manifest this form and communicate my will to the ruins," said Gala as she looked at herself and snapped her fingers. Instead of the violet cloak she had, a blue dress appeared. "I can have multiple dates with this spirit."
"Then, what about your real body?" asked Arthur with a grateful smile that she was the same as he remembers. "Are you still in Alka?"
"As part of my agreement with the princess, I remained in Alka to grow our forces. Many of us received the memories of the previous timeline, and many of us still want to serve the Seika of Living Beings."
"I am no longer the Seika of Living Beings," said Arthur with a smile. "I am the Returning King of Wrath now."
"You? The King of Wrath?" asked Gala with widened eyes before she burst out laughing. Arthur frowned as she started shedding tears in her fit, thinking that it was not that funny. "I used to berate you for not having enough emotions, and now you are the King of Wrath?"
"A lot can change," said Arthur with a smirk. "Like the wrinkles that appeared on your face. I never thought that you would look so old."
"Lies!" shouted Gala in protest as she looked at him with widened eyes. Arthur just shrugged without answering her, making her glare at him with anger. Then, the two of them stared at each other before bursting out in laughter.
Things were the same between them. After a few seconds of relief, the two of them calmed down.
"I want to ask a less joyous question," said Arthur as he turned toward the iceberg, looking at his beloved. "Did she know that she was going to die once the seal is undone?"
"The Isotox was never designed to be used in that manner," said Gala while walking to stand beside him. "Although I helped her, Diana was a genius on her own. Her mind knew no limits in what she could achieve."
"I'm glad that she is the same as I knew her."
"You are wrong about that, Arthur," said Gala while shaking her head. "I witnessed her breakdown when the memories awakened. The worst nightmare is the happiest dream after realizing that it's far from reality."
"I still wonder if I made the right choice that day when I erased the timeline," said Arthur as he looked down. "However, the alternative was to endure her death, something I could never handle."
"We are weak to emotions, but they also make us do the most amazing things," said Gala with a grin as she looked at the iceberg. "Your love story transcended time, space, logic, and fantasy. I have been fortunate enough to witness it."
"I can't say the same," said Arthur with a sigh as he stepped closer to the iceberg. "I want to see her now, Gala. I want to break this iceberg to pieces instead of waiting for another second."
"Chill there, quite literally," said Gala in teasing. "If anyone destroys this iceberg, Diana will die. It is designed to dissipate on your birthday, so wait like a good boy."
"I would have waited even without that snarky comment," said Arthur as he sighed. "I will not let her die, Gala. For that reason, I plan on using the Isotox to cure her forever."
"…the consequences of that would be…"
"Catastrophic, to put it mildly," Arthur finished her sentence as he looked at her. "I am prepared to be evil for that sake."
"Diana would never approve of it," said Gala with a shake of her head. "If she did not seal herself at that time, she would have died a long time ago. Diana accepted her death as imminent, but her last wish was to see you."
"I reject such a fate," said Arthur without a care. "I will bend the natural laws and defeat every god who appears to hinder me. In order to save her, I will do anything."
Gala was silent, and Arthur could tell that she disapproved of his actions. After all, merging the two worlds would kill countless people. Diana might hate him for doing this, and she might never overcome the guilt.
"However, I do not plan on letting people die for my sake. In order to give humanity a fighting chance against the calamities and monsters, I took the necessary steps."
"I want to trust that, but love can also make us commit cruel acts," said Gala while her brows furrowed, looking pained. "Despair for the person we love makes us waste away our lives, just like I wasted mine."
"You never wasted yours," said Arthur as he looked her in the eyes. "If not for your existence, my life would have never been the same. Seeing you alive makes me the happiest that I erased the timeline where you died."
Gala was surprised that he said all of that, and then tears fell from her eyes. "You grew to be an honest young man."
"Learned from the best," answered Arthur with a smile. "Once the two worlds merge, we will meet again. And at that time, let's go on another adventure."
"I would love to," said Gala as she wiped away her tears. "I must go now. A lord from Alva is launching a war against us at the moment. He tarnished our reputation and killed our men, so I need to make him pay."
"Give him hell," said Arthur with a smile. "I will see you here again, right?"
"I would not miss the chance. Until then, Arthur," said Gala with a smile as she came over to hug him. Arthur tried to hug her back, but she scattered into countless lights. As he watched them fly and disappear, he bid her farewell as well.
"Until then, Gala."
The witch was gone, and Arthur felt like his life was turning for the better. After he returned from the tower, he managed to meet the two people he missed the most from his trip to the other world.
Arthur turned toward the iceberg one last time, caressing it, before muttering something under his breath and leaving. His feet carried him away, but his heart wished to wait right here. However, he knew that until the time comes, there were many things he needed to do.
And many people he needed to crush.
The world would not stand idle as he becomes the ruler of Runera. Arthur was sure that the seven families were plotting something right this instant, but he would crush them this time until there is not a trace to remain of them.
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