Chapter Finale: Golden Eyes and Blue Moonlight
Rudeus raised his head, and as our eyes met, his grew wide with shock. He froze for a second. He, who always had an answer for everything, seemed to be analyzing the radical change in my golden eyes and my overall appearance.
"Arthur..." he finally managed to say, his tone much more serious. "You look... different. Where the hell have you been?"
"It's a long story..."
Point of View: Rudeus
Inside the mansion, we were all gathered in the main hall, sitting on the sofas. The atmosphere was a bit tense; now that I had him closer, I could notice his changes more clearly.
I don't know why, but I feel a completely different aura coming from him. It's not just that he looks stronger; it's something in his presence. But seeing those eyes... they remind me far too much of Orsted. Every time I look directly into his pupils, I feel as if I'm back in that day—the day I almost died.
I shook my head to dispel those memories. "I have to stop fearing him," I told myself. Arthur had been clear: Orsted is indispensable for defeating Hitogami. So, I will have to face it someday, no matter how much my legs shake.
"So you're saying that... your biological grandfather is Perugius," I said finally, rubbing my chin with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "The Armored Dragon King. The man who lives in a floating fortress and is, basically, a legend."
"Well... basically, yes, it's him," Arthur replied.
Everyone else was clearly stunned. And with good reason. To know that someone so close was directly related to a figure of such magnitude was hard to process.
....
Point of View: Arthur
After explaining everything to them... well, almost everything, they scolded me for not letting them know where I was going.
The next day, I had to go to the University of Magic. I had missed too many classes, and if I wanted to pass, I had to attend at least these final days. We all went together: Aisha, Norn, Roxy, and Rudeus.
We walked and talked normally, trying to act as if nothing had happened, but as we crossed the university gates, the bubble burst. The stares toward me kept increasing, and whispers began to fill the air.
"Is that Arthur?" a second-year student whispered as we passed. "Look at his face... what happened to him? Did you see his eyes?" another said, pointing discreetly.
It was no wonder. My new appearance did not go unnoticed. My skin looked clearer, my posture was much more imposing without even trying, and my golden eyes shone with an intensity that intimidated anyone who held my gaze for more than a second.
Roxy split off to go to her class, while the rest of us entered the room for Special Students.
Linia and Pursena, who were always relaxed or up to some mischief, reacted in unison. Linia's ears flattened against her head and her tail puffed up as if she had seen a predator of the worst kind. Pursena, for her part, dropped the piece of dried meat she was chewing and tensed up, her eyes locked on me.
"Hey, Boss..." Pursena whispered without taking her eyes off me, "why did you bring a monster into the classroom, nano?
"A monster?" Rudeus let out a nervous laugh, stepping in between us. "Come on, girls, it's just Arthur."
"Arthur...?" Linia murmured, relaxing her tail slightly but still watching me closely. "Is it really you, meow?"
I raised a hand and gave a simple wave.
"Hi, Linia. Pursena," I said calmly. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I still don't have full control over... this change."
In fact, I still haven't fully adjusted. According to what I've read, the Dragon Race possesses superhuman strength. With my power already increased, I feel like another Zanoba, constantly trying not to break everything I touch.
Upon hearing my voice, the panic on their faces turned into total confusion. Pursena blinked several times, leaned down to pick up the meat she had dropped, and sniffed it suspiciously before looking back at me.
"The scent is the same, but what's underneath... it's terrifying, nano," Pursena said, slowly regaining her lazy attitude, though she remained sitting very upright.
Linia approached a couple of steps, sniffing the air cautiously. Her ears returned to their normal position, though she was still a bit bristled.
"You gave us quite a scare, meow!" Linia exclaimed, crossing her arms to hide the fact that her hands were still shaking slightly.
Looking around, I noticed the room was emptier than usual. From what they said, Cliff was completely absorbed in finding a cure for Elinalise's curse, spending hours locked in the library. Zanoba, meanwhile, was in his workshop, obsessed with his figures and perfecting his crafting techniques along with Julie.
After that day, a week passed dedicated entirely to getting used to my new power. I used the scroll frequently to travel to the floating fortress. There, time seemed to run differently while I trained relentlessly with the spirit guardians. They were formidable opponents who didn't hold back, forcing me to refine my control over the dense touki that now flowed through my veins.
From his throne, Perugius watched us with interest. He didn't say much, but those golden eyes followed my every move, evaluating them.
He walked to the edge of the hall and stopped in front of the massive windows that overlooked an infinite sea of clouds. He remained silent for a few seconds, as if reflecting, before speaking.
"Your body seems to be in peak condition," he finally said, without turning toward me. "Even so... you seek more power. What is the reason? You could have settled for adapting little by little."
"Because I have people to protect," I replied without hesitation.
Perugius did not respond immediately. He remained silent, his gaze lost on the horizon where the sun filtered through the clouds of the Chaos Breaker.
"In that case, I will help you with that," he declared, finally turning around. His golden eyes locked onto mine with searing seriousness. "And in exchange, you will help me kill someone."
"I will do it," I said firmly, extending my hand to seal the pact.
He simply looked at my extended hand with a mix of indifference and distant elegance. He didn't shake it; for a Dragon King, words and will were more than enough. Without another word, he turned and began to walk away, followed by Sylvaril, who gave me a brief bow before disappearing with him into the vastness of the hall.
....
Point of View: Roxy
The sun was beginning to tint the sky a deep orange, casting long shadows over the mansion garden. I was outside, sitting on the entrance steps with Fenrir, who rested his massive head on my feet.
I stroked the wolf's fur distractedly, but my gaze did not leave the empty space where the flash of the transport circle usually appeared. Arthur always returned at this hour.
"He has become so strong..." I thought, feeling a small knot in my stomach.
Since that day he saved me in the Labyrinth, I haven't stopped thinking about him. I remember his green eyes and his smiling face from back then... well, now his eyes are gold and his countenance is more imposing, but they haven't changed the way he looks at everyone with kindness.
That warmth is what keeps me here, waiting for him. Now I am more determined than ever. After what he told us about his lineage, I researched on my own in the library; it is said that members of the Dragon Race live much longer than any other species. However, being the son of a human and a man of dragon blood, his longevity might be less... or maybe not.
"How much time will we really have?" I asked myself with a trace of melancholy. "As a Migurd, I will also live a long time, but... will it be enough to walk by his side?"
Suddenly, the air stirred and a golden flash illuminated the center of the courtyard. Arthur appeared there, standing, exhaling a sigh that released a small cloud of vapor. He looked exhausted, his clothes lightly dusted from training, but as soon as he saw me, his eyes shone with that special light he reserved only for moments of peace.
"I'm back, Roxy," he said, walking toward me with a firm step.
I felt the knot in my chest loosen instantly. Without realizing it, I stood up. Fenrir raised his head, sniffed the air, and after confirming everything was fine, stepped aside, giving us space.
"You took your time," I replied, trying to sound casual, though my voice came out a bit softer than I intended. "I thought Perugius wouldn't let you go so easily today."
Arthur let out a small, tired laugh.
"He almost didn't. But..." his eyes drifted for a second toward the orange sky, "I needed to come back."
He stopped in front of me. He was so close that I could notice the small wear marks on his clothes and the slight tremor held within his breath.
"Were you waiting for me?" he asked, though the answer was obvious.
"As always," I nodded.
There was a comfortable silence. The kind of silence that isn't awkward, but says more than words ever could.
"So, will you go inside, or do you want to walk?" I asked.
He seemed to hesitate, but instantly, as if something prompted him from within, he decided.
"Let's walk. But first, I'll go take a quick bath."
I just nodded with a smile. After a while, we went out for a stroll through the city. At one point, he took my hand; I did the same, interlacing my fingers with his. There wasn't much to talk about; as we moved forward, I felt as if the rest of the people disappeared and only the two of us were in that place
Then, he stopped in a clearing where the moon looked beautiful, bathing everything in a silvery light. I looked at him with doubt, feeling that the atmosphere had suddenly changed.
Point of View: Arthur
I knew I had decided on this, but saying it was much harder than when I fought that battle against Badigadi. My heart hammered against my ribs with a force that even my new touki couldn't contain.
I swallowed hard, feeling my throat go dry.
"Roxy…"
She seemed to tense slightly, and her blue eyes shone under the moonlight with an intensity that made me falter for a second. Before, I would have hesitated, overthinking everything, wondering if I was misinterpreting it all and if she only saw me with the gratitude of someone who had saved her.
But now... now I was determined. If she didn't accept, if she didn't feel the same, at least I would have said it. I didn't want to hide behind silence while time—that time which, for my new race, was now abundant—kept passing by.
"I... I... I like you very much," I finally blurted out, though I felt the words tripping over each other in my mouth.
I froze, waiting for a rejection or a nervous laugh. But the silence that followed wasn't cold. It stretched for a few more seconds, heavy with contained emotions.
Roxy didn't laugh. Nor did she look away. Her fingers, still interlaced with mine, squeezed gently, as if she wanted to make sure this was real. I felt her pulse quicken to almost the same rhythm as mine.
"Arthur…" she murmured at last.
My name, spoken in that tone, pierced my chest.
...
Point of View: Roxy
My eyes blurred. Arthur's confession, so honest and vulnerable beneath the imposing presence of his new nature, hit me with a force I didn't expect. I had doubted so much; I had repressed myself for so long. But seeing him there, with expectation etched into his golden eyes, I knew there was no turning back.
"Dummy..." I said, feeling a tear escape and roll down my cheek, glistening under the moonlight. "After all this time... I thought you'd never say it."
I took a step closer, closing the small gap between us until our bodies were almost touching. The warmth radiating from him enveloped me.
"I like you too, Arthur," I confessed, and the shame vanished, replaced by a surge of relief and boldness. "I love you. From the moment you found me in that labyrinth. And it has only grown."
His eyes widened slightly, surprised by the intensity of my words. But before he could respond, I couldn't contain myself any longer. With an impulsive movement, I wrapped my arms around his neck, stepped onto the tops of his feet, and stood on my tiptoes, lifting myself just enough to reach his lips.
The kiss was soft at first, a trembling brush, but it quickly transformed into something more. All the waiting, all the uncertainty, the fear of the future, and the love that had grown in silence between us channeled into that instant.
My lips moved with a passion I didn't know I possessed, pulling him closer to me, feeling the strength of his arms wrap around my waist, pressing me against his body. I could feel the heat of his breath, the furious thumping of his heart against mine.
I gave myself over completely to the moment, tasting him, feeling his essence. It was a kiss that promised everything: an uncertain future, yes, but a future we would face together.
When we pulled apart, breathless, I looked at him. His golden eyes shone with pure happiness, one that made me realize that as strong a warrior as he had become, he was still the boy I knew.
"Now then," he whispered, his voice deep and husky, a smile spreading across his face, "I think this is much more than just 'liking' someone."
.....
Point of View: Arthur
Roxy's kiss left me breathless. It was more intense, more real than any battle I had ever fought. Her lips against mine, her body pressed to mine—everything told me that this was what I had always been looking for.
When we pulled apart, I felt like my heart was going to explode with joy. Her face was flushed, her eyes were shining, and a smile—a true smile—formed on my lips.
"Now then," I told her, my voice still raspy with emotion, "I think this is much more than just 'liking' someone."
I hugged her again, this time with tenderness, and rested my forehead against hers. The world could wait. Perugius could wait. Hitogami could wait. In this moment, under the moonlight, only Roxy and I existed.
End of Chapter