Level Up Legacy

"I learned that no matter how much we love our fathers, there is always the possibility of them being different from what we believe," answered Arthur as he remembered the time he met his father in his old home. "I would not want to accuse him based on a vision, but Julia is too dear to me. I cannot help but get worried."

"We are doing what we can. Based on what you said, we cannot teleport to Runera. Furthermore, the hit that their fleet took was quite severe. It will take them to reorganize, and we will strike then."

"How are the soldiers doing?"

"Better than ever," said Aurora with a smile. "Your battle achievements strengthened their belief of following you. Humans are drawn to power, and you gave them more reasons to fight for you."

"Humans are peculiar indeed," answered Arthur with a smile. "I feel bad for leading these men to their deaths. How many souls are going to haunt me?"

"Many, but you have no intentions of giving up this quest," said Aurora before she walked toward him and knelt on the ground, grabbing his hands. "Your quest is not a selfish one. The secrets inside Runera will let you understand how to prevent the apocalypse and the gates from opening. If the two worlds merge, millions will die."

"My main reason for this war is not the Isotox or preventing the merge," answered Arthur with a squint. "At this point, I fail to understand if you only see what you want to see."

"I see the good and the bad, but I choose what I believe to be good," answered Aurora with a smile as she held his hand tight. "Believe me, Seika. You are lost, but the world will find peace when you find yourself."

Arthur saw the same zealous worship in her eyes as he did with the others. However, this person could read his heart and not just follow him blindly. Thus, he wanted to believe that he was as she described.

"Then, will you follow me as I transverse the path I believe in? Even if this path was filled with deaths and a criminal one?"

"I have been called a villain once, a criminal set to be executed. However, I stand here because of you. If that path is what you chose, I will lead the way."

"Then, help me win this war."

***

Arthur\'s struggles in being selfish enough to sacrifice these soldiers were insignificant because this wheel could no longer stop. The moment the soldiers of Runera were killed, the war began.

Julia witnessed these changes when Runera marched its Runic Guards outside the city. The fight was happening there, and the walls separated defeat and victory. Cloaked and hidden, Julia watched these marching soldiers with worry.

"Do not be distracted from our goal, Julia," said Yuvan beside her as he held her arm tightly. "We must infiltrate the prison. The runemasters are waiting for us there, and we might miss this chance."

"Why is Runera hellbent on going through this war?" muttered Julia with a frown as she lowered her head and followed after Grandmaster Yuvan. "It doesn\'t sound like something the rational minds of the family heads would choose. What has changed since I left?"

"Everything changed as if a parasite lodged itself inside the Runic Council," answered Yuvan as he led the way. "I knew little of the previous Runera, but this change is heartbreaking. A great city is bringing destruction to itself."

"At least some men are still trying to protect it, like my father and you," said Julia with a smile. "Runera will rise against under the rule of its rightful owner. Arthur is the true master of runes, while we are just curious children fiddling with fake ones."

"I cannot believe that he is the same disciple we once had in Jerano, Alexie Linan," said Yuvan while cutting through the allies. "Is he truly the outsider feared by the seven families?"

"I have no idea if he is, but Arthur is greater than the world could fathom. I have seen his feats myself, and sometimes I cannot treat him as a friend and have to stop myself from worshiping him."

"That is a fearsome friend to have."

"He is different than other rulers because he is more human than any of them. His kindness and goodness are far more than any powerful person I have met."

"Yet, he started a war for the sake of some ruins."

"This war is… for the sake of his loved one," defended Julia as Grandmaster Yuvan stopped her because a platoon of Runic Guards was marching the street ahead. "Arthur wants to regain what his lover left him, which is this city."

"I see," muttered Yuvan as he stared at the guards. "We are close, so make sure to remain quiet. The underground entrance is on the other side of the street."

Julia nodded, and the two waited for the platoon to pass. Then, they rushed across the street and found the entrance before jumping down and entering the long tunnels filled with runic arrays. The inscriptions on the ground illuminated the dark hallway, marking their paths ahead.

Master Yuvan navigated the underground maze for them, leading them through several tunnels. Then, the two reached a dead end, where a runic wall blocked their paths.

"This is… new," muttered Master Yuvan with confusion as he clenched his fist. "There should not be a wall here. The council must have placed several locked gates around the underground arrays to prevent invaders from reusing it."

"Is there a different path?"

Master Yuvan did not answer and simply took a different route. As the two kept looking through the routes, their attempts were futile. In the end, they had no choice but to rest.

"We wasted a few hours inside this place," said Julia with worry. "Our best chance to rescue my father is when the army arrives. If we miss the chance to use the chaos, we might never be able to save him."

"Runera treats Julius as a valuable asset because of your alliance with Arthur. Since they already know you are here, I doubt we would get a chance other than the underground maze."

"…this is helpless," despair tore through Julia as she realized her efforts were in vain. "Is there no other choice?"

"…there is," muttered Master Yuvan as he leaned on the wall, his face a little tired from the running. He turned toward Julia with hesitation. "However, you will need to trust me."

"How can I not, after everything we have been through?" asked Julia with confusion. "You were my mentor for as long as I can remember. I became the youngest runemaster because of you."

"Then, would you be willing to surrender yourself to Runera?" asked Yuvan with a grave expression. "I want you to go through what you went through before. I have a runic card that disturbs the space lock, but we cannot use it unless we are close to Julius. Thus, I will use it; you can store it using your ability. Then, you will join Julius, and when the time is right, you will use your ability to let me teleport to your location. Then, I would save the two of you, and we can run."

"How would I know when the time is right?"

"We must choose one beforehand, and we need a time when they have their hands full with dealing with the army. I expect them to use the two of you as bargaining chips against Arthur Silvera to threaten him. The moment they take you out to face him that will be our chance. Arthur Silvera will not let them chase us."

Julia frowned at the notion of being under the mercy of Marcel again, but she knew that their plans had failed. There were no other ways to do this other than this risky plan.

"If this is what it takes to save my father, then I will do it," said Julia with a frown. "I will go there and save him from their wretched hands, regardless of what happens to me."

Master Yuvan stared at her with sadness before kneeling on the ground before her. The two sat in the dark as the master took a runic card from his storage ring.

"This is the card that we will be using. Remember, it gives us just one minute. Use it when Arthur Silvera is right in front of you and can teleport there in time to help us."

Master Yuvan placed the card in her hands and pressed them tightly. Julia could feel his hands shaking, and his face was unsure and full of worries.

"This is the best plan, Master Yuvan. If I surrender, I can rest assured that my father will remain unharmed."