Chapter 46: Ch 46: Riverfort Again?
The townspeople celebrated the return of the survivors with a grand feast. It was like a scene straight out of a medieval movie: long wooden tables lined with food, barrels of ale being passed around, and people singing and dancing with joy. I stood at the edge of the square, watching the festivities from a distance.
Elise approached me quietly and stood beside me, her blonde hair glinting in the torchlight. She glanced at the crowd, then at me, and said, "They look happy."
I nodded, crossing my arms. "Yeah, they've been through hell. They deserve this moment of peace."
Elise hummed in agreement, her gaze lingering on the smiling faces. "And it's all because of you," she said softly.
Her words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. There was a comfortable silence between us as we both watched the celebration. Then, out of nowhere, she broke it with a question.
"You'll be leaving, won't you?"
I sighed, not bothering to look at her. "Yeah. Tonight. There's still a lot I need to do."
She nodded slowly, as if expecting my answer. "Take me with you?"
That made me turn toward her, surprised. Her expression was serious, and the faint blush on her cheeks was noticeable even in the dim light.
"Elise…" I began, but she cut me off.
"I know what you're going to say," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "That it's too dangerous. That I don't owe you anything. That I should stay here where it's safe."
"Good," I said, smirking. "Saves me the trouble of saying it all."
Elise sighed and looked away, a faint smile on her lips. "I knew you'd say that. You're so predictable."
Then, before I could respond, she turned toward me and stepped closer. "Before I regret not doing this…" she whispered, and then she kissed me.
---
My brain went into full system shutdown. For a few seconds, I just stood there, frozen in place, as my mind struggled to process what had just happened. Was I actually in a Disney movie.
When she finally pulled back, her face was bright red, but there was a defiant look in her eyes as if daring me to say something.
I stared at her, blinking rapidly, before finally blurting out, "You do know that I'm 13, right?"
Elise's confident facade cracked, and she groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Oh, gods. I forgot about that."
"Yeah," I said, still trying to recover. "Kind of an important detail."
She peeked at me through her fingers, her face still beet red. "You just don't look like a 13-year-old. You're so... mature."
I raised an eyebrow, I guess my current appearance did make me look older. "Mature enough to fight slavers and save a bunch of people, sure. Mature enough for... whatever this is? Not so much."
Elise let out a frustrated sigh and dropped her hands. "Fine. Forget I said anything."
"I mean, I'll try," I said, smirking a little. "But this is definitely going into my mental highlight reel."
She glared at me but didn't say anything. After a moment, she turned back to the crowd. "So, what happens now?"
---
I shrugged, trying to regain some sense of normalcy. "You stay here. Rebuild your life. Take care of the others. They're going to need mental support, and you're the best choice."
Elise frowned, clearly not thrilled with the idea. "What about you? What are you going to do?"
"Keep moving forward," I said simply. "There's still a lot I need to figure out. And this isn't my final stop."
She sighed again, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I guess this is goodbye, then."
"For now," I said, offering her a small smile. "Take care of yourself, Elise."
She nodded, her expression bittersweet. "You too, Arthur."
---
That night, while the town was still celebrating, I slipped away. Shadow, the black stallion, was waiting for me at the edge of the forest. I patted his neck, and he snorted softly, and said,"Took you long enough."
"Let's go, buddy," I said, climbing onto his back. "We've got a long way to go."
As we rode away from Riverfort, I couldn't help but glance back one last time. The flickering lights of the town faded into the distance, and with them, the warmth of the people I had saved.
---
Shadow dropped me off near the forest's edge, his form blending into the moonlit woods. I dismounted, patting his neck. "Thanks, buddy," I said softly. Shadow snorted in response before turning away, his black coat disappearing as he galloped off to rejoin his herd.
Before I could gather my thoughts, the familiar voice echoed in my mind.
"Final Trial Starting."
The world around me blurred, and when the haze lifted, I was standing near Riverfort once again. But something felt... off. The town looked larger, more developed, and alive with activity. The walls had been fully replaced with sturdy stone and iron beams, and the dirt paths were now cobblestone streets.
Walking through the gate, I noticed a small fountain in the center of the town square. At its peak was a statue. As I moved closer, my eyes widened.
It was me.
The statue depicted me holding a sword in one hand and a torch in the other, standing tall as if guarding the town.
Before I could fully process what I was seeing, a familiar voice called out.
"Arthur?"
I turned around, and my heart skipped a beat. A woman stood before me, her blonde hair streaked with silver and her face carrying the lines of time.
"Elise?" I asked, my voice uncertain.
She nodded, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. "It's been a long time."
I blinked, trying to reconcile the youthful Elise I'd left behind with the mature woman standing in front of me. "How long?"
Her smile deepened, tinged with nostalgia. "Twenty years."
---
I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief. "You haven't changed a bit."
Elise raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I couldn't say the same about you, though I think we both know why that is."
Before I could respond, a small figure peeked out from behind her, clutching the hem of her dress. A boy, no older than six, with bright eyes and a curious expression.
"Is that…?" I trailed off, gesturing toward the child.
Elise's smile softened. "Yes. This is my son, Arthur. He just turned six."
The boy's shy gaze flitted between me and his mother. I crouched down to his level, offering a friendly smile. "Hey, little guy. Nice to meet you. My name's Arthur too."
The boy hesitated before stepping out from behind Elise. "Big brother, are you the hero who saved Mama?"
His innocent question made me laugh softly. "I am," I said, ruffling his hair.
Elise watched the interaction with a fond expression. "What brings you back to Riverfort after all this time?"
I hesitated, the truth eluding me. "I'm... not sure," I admitted. "I just had a feeling something wasn't right."
She chuckled at my answer. "You haven't changed at all."
I smiled faintly, thinking to myself how surreal this all was. For her, two decades had passed. For me, it had only been a matter of hours since I last saw her.
---
Our conversation was interrupted by a guard's urgent shout from the watchtower.
"Everyone inside! The beast has been spotted!"
Elise's expression turned serious as she scooped up young Arthur in her arms. "Come with me," she said, leading me through the winding streets to her home.
Once inside, she set her son down and turned to me. "The beast... it's been tormenting us for months now."
"What beast?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Elise sighed, her face grim. "Two beasts appeared on the outskirts of Riverfort a few months ago. They're massive, blind creatures, but they attack with terrifying precision using their sense of smell and sound. We've tried everything—traps, weapons, explosives—but they're too fast and too powerful."
Her words painted a clear picture in my mind. These beasts weren't ordinary animals. They were likely the final trial I'd been sent to face.
"Where are they now?" I asked, my tone calm but firm.
"They usually roam the deep woods," she said. "But lately, they've been venturing closer to the town. Every night, we hear their howls. It's only a matter of time before they break through the defenses."
I nodded, already formulating a plan in my mind. "I'll take care of it."
Elise's eyes widened in alarm. "Arthur, you don't understand. These creatures—"
I held up a hand to stop her. "I've faced worse. Trust me."
She hesitated before nodding reluctantly. "Just... be careful."
I looked down at little Arthur, who was staring up at me with wide eyes. "Don't worry, kid," I said, ruffling his hair again. "I'll make sure you and your mom stay safe."
As I stepped out into the night, the cold air biting against my skin, I could hear the distant howls of the beasts echoing through the forest.
The final trial had begun.
---Note
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