Separating from everyone present, Astaroth followed Aberon and Kloud back to the latter's tent at the edge of the cave. Once they entered the tent, Astaroth sat down on a stool Kloud had carved out of roots.
Watching the two elders sit down, Astaroth clasped his hands together, interlacing his fingers.
"The truth is, even after leaving here, you will be safe from any further attacks from corrupted monsters. Nemus has agreed to veil the place from them, so they won't be able to come in at all. But I wanted to discuss another matter altogether."
Aberon's tired traits showed annoyance.
"Speak up, Astaroth. No one is getting younger here."
Kloud nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, I know. Nemus gave me something precious, and with this, I intend to help a certain someone. I was hoping that those who stayed do so, as well."
Kloud raised an eyebrow, curious, as Aberon frowned.
"What did she give you?" the old mage asked.
Pulling out the Property Deed, Astaroth handed it over to Aberon, so he could look at it himself.
When the old man unrolled the scroll, his eyes went wide. He looked around himself, seemingly looking for something.
Kloud and Astaroth watched him suddenly careen his head all over the place and wondered what was up.
After looking everywhere around him, Aberon went back to looking at the scroll, before briskly rolling it back up and handing it to Astaroth.
"If this scroll says what I think it does, then this location Teraria and Arborea brought us to is way more valuable than just a simple shelter. You should not give this to anyone willy-nilly, Astaroth."
Astaroth smiled at the old man.
"I don't intend to give it to just anyone. The person I have in mind is someone who deserves this, and who could most definitely use your help, Kloud."
Saying this, Astaroth turned to face the swordsman.
"You have once, very long ago, pledged yourself to protecting the Ash Elf kingdom and its inhabitants. Would you retake that oath if a new king were to take the mantle?"
Kloud squinted his eyes, leaning in closer.
"What do you mean, kid? Speak plainly."
Astaroth had been talking with Phoenix outside of New Eden when they managed to cross paths through the week, and he finally got her to spill the beans on who was waiting for him in Bastion City. And this information would not be wasted anymore, now that he had a way to use it.
"I mean I have a high-value person in my kingdom, right now, who not only has a right to that darned throne but who I also believe would do right by that crown."
Kloud and Aberon were hanging on his lips by now.
"Prince Nalafein."
Kloud smiled widely. As for Aberon, he only looked surprised.
"Accompanying him is the last person I thought would side with him, Gelum'vire. The king apparently banished the two of them, and they made their way to Stellar Woodlands only recently, finding out about the kingdom's ties to me. Now they await my return."
Kloud raised his hand.
"Wait. The king banished Prince Nalafein? How is that possible? Lady Anulo would never allow that unless he did something unforgivable."
Aberon nodded his head, scratching his chin in contemplation.
Astaroth looked hesitant as well, as he opened his mind to respond.
"I'm also uncertain how this would happen. I can barely feel any connection to Lady Anulo, even through my royal markings. Something abnormal has happened over the past decade, and I think she might no longer be present in the Kingdom of the Ash Elves."
Aberon's forehead creased as a deep frown settled on his face.
"How would that even be possible? She is the kingdom's spirit. Its guardian. To forcefully remove her from that position would almost certainly end her life."
Astaroth shook his head.
"I think her connection to my kingdom's guardian, as well as the establishment of churches in her name, would have held her up. But I'm no expert in the matter."
Aberon got up, starting to pace around the tent anxiously.
"This is bad. Very bad. Something would have needed to replace her. But what, or who, took up her mantle?"
Astaroth let the old man ramble, as he turned his head back to Kloud.
"As I was saying, would you take your oath back? I think Prince Nalafein would very much appreciate your wisdom and strength in his quest to reclaim his lost heritage."
Kloud looked stumped at the request. He had thought many times about this exact matter.
He firmly believed that once King Vhol'drokk relinquished the throne, the new king would have them reinstated. But he never thought about taking his oath back.
This was a very delicate issue.
As he fell into thought about this, Aberon stopped pacing momentarily.
"What is there to think about, you meathead? You always wanted to protect your kin, anyway. Might as well put all those muscles back to use, and serve someone with a righteous purpose."
Then he went back to pacing about the issue of Alantha Anulo.
Kloud looked at him with the widest 'That was uncalled for' eyes ever and lowered his head to look at his hands.
"Wouldn't that mean I would have to fight my brethren and march on the palace I once swore to defend?"
He looked torn from the inside. On one hand, he would love nothing more than to fight for his people again.
But on the other hand, he loathed the idea itself of having to kill more of his kin. The incident with Chris and I'dril recently, and the incident before that, with Konnor, had scarred him deeply.
Astaroth could almost hear his mental musings, accompanied by Aberon mumbling, and he knew he had put them in a delicate position. He didn't want to rush their decisions, but he was also on a tight schedule.
But he didn't have to say anything.
A look of determination made its way to Kloud's face, and he clenched his hands into fists. When his face rose to meet Astaroth's gaze, the hesitation was gone.
"I'll do it. Get the prince here, and I will pledge my eternal loyalty to him and the crown once more."
Astaroth smiled at his resolve. He nodded in reply, turning his head toward Aberon.
The old man stopped pacing, feeling the stare on him, and turned to face Astaroth.
"I assume your guardian is directly linked to Lady Anulo?"
Astaroth nodded.
"Good. Then going with you might be for the best. I will find a way to come into communication with her, from your kingdom, and get down to the bottom of this. And if my help is needed to get her back to her rightful position, then I will gladly employ my magic for her."
Astaroth grinned as wide as he physically could.
'Great! Now we can move things in the right direction for this kingdom, while I get strong enough to save this world and mine. I wonder how Khalor will feel about this?'
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