Chapter 1051 Power of Words

Arthur saw the expressions on everyone"s faces and remembered another painful memory of how others had repaid his kindness with hatred. In Shades City, he had fought against Traitor and destroyed half of the city in their battle. At that time, the residents were not grateful that a calamity"s underlying had been defeated. Instead, they were furious about having to pay the price for their safety. The reason was simple: they had not witnessed what would have happened if Arthur had not intervened.

"This is the reality, Dorian," muttered Arthur with a clouded expression, his voice devoid of emotion. "Your kindness may not always be met with grat.i.tude. Sometimes, people will keep demanding things from you."

In response, Dorian remained silent. Instead, he scanned the faces of the crowd as if committing them to memory. His tall stature and unwavering gaze gave him the appearance of an ideal leader.

"I heard your pleas and problems, but is this the att.i.tude you repay us with?" asked Dorian as he waved his hand. "We freed everyone here from the clutches of an evil man, who poisoned your river and enslaved your children. Is that what you call home?"

The young lord shook the crowd with his strong words and disappointed tone. Their faces were filled with shame as families hugged their children tightly. However, mere words were not enough to persuade people who had lost their homes.

"How would you understand what it feels like to live without strength inside this tower?" answered the priest through gritted teeth. "I lost my wife and child to hunger while living in the desert. They died too many times to count, and then they no longer revived! Do you understand my pain?"

"I can never understand it, fool!" shouted Dorian as he took urgent strides toward the man, grabbing him by the collar. "How can I understand your pain when you stand on the opposite side? If you want me to understand, then come and tell me!"

Bam!

Dorian retracted his head and slammed it into the man"s forehead, causing him to stagger back and fall to the ground. The crowd was horrified, but no one dared to step forward. The young lord stood like a tall shadow over the bleeding man.

"My name is Dorian Stormblade, the strongest man under the heavens!" declared the youngster with ambitious eyes. "No man or G.o.d can tame me! Come to me with your problems, and I"ll find a solution!"

Arthur observed the scene with both delight and momentary shock. The crowd had completely changed their stance toward them. They now looked at the arrogant man with hope and grat.i.tude. He had done nothing but be himself: an arrogant individual.

"This is something I can never do," Arthur muttered as he watched the scene, loud enough for Joey to hear him. "If people turn their backs on me, I turn away and leave. This brat might be the hero everyone needs, not an overpowered emotionless prophecy."

"A hero is bound to fall," replied Joey while keeping his eyes on Dorian. "His arrogance may be sickening even in your presence, but this confidence is what people need to trust him. Everyone is uncertain, so they are drawn to confidence and self-belief."

Ironically, Arthur was the one learning a lesson now. Dorian then promised the crowd that they would be welcomed in Xeloria. He revealed his ident.i.ty and a.s.sured them that he would write to his father to allow them into his city.

In grat.i.tude, the crowd knelt before Dorian. Arthur watched them express their thanks, including the mother and her mute child. As he observed them, the child looked at him, waved his hand, and smiled, catching Arthur off-guard.

Dorian patted the child"s head and walked back toward Arthur, his back straight with pride. He picked up his spear and stared at it with an unfamiliar expression. Arthur had to ask, "What are you thinking about?"

"This is the first time I"ve promised to protect someone," said Dorian with a puzzled look as he raised his spear before his eyes. "My spear now feels heavier because of it. I now realize how my strength affects the fragile and vulnerable."

"This is what I wanted you to learn from my task," said Arthur with a smile as he walked toward the temple"s exit. "I hope you now understand what your position entails, young lord."

It was the first time Arthur acknowledged Dorian as someone capable of leading. The harvest was plenty as Dorian showed signs of maturity and charisma. However, their story in this place could not end peacefully.

Blood, chaos, and cries of agony filled the desert outside. After the illusion wore off for the armies, they realized that someone was attacking the temple. The other armies must have rushed toward the temple before being stopped by Xeloria, triggering the beginning of this battle.

"If any of the innocents go outside, they would be killed, if not worse," said Arthur with a frown as he looked into the rising red cloud surrounding the desert. Blood mixed with sand, and sand turned into a red sandstorm. "We need to flee."

Arthur then raised his hand and waved it, creating a portal in s.p.a.ce. The rest were dumbstruck but rushed inside nonetheless, teleporting toward the grand carriage where Jonathan was giving his orders to the lieutenants.

"Who is there?!" shouted Hawkins as he reached for his sword the moment they appeared, but Jonathan raised his hand to stop them. The Knight of Silver Rose looked at Arthur with expectations.

"We obtained the artifact, dear captain," said Arthur as he took out the eyeball from his bag. "Let"s make a run for it instead of wasting our strength on useless battles."

"A newbie obtained the artifact?" muttered a dashing man in golden armor as he questioned Jonathan. "Have you sent the newbie squad on such an important mission?"

"These newbies are the ones who noticed the poisoned river, not me," said Jonathan with overjoy as he walked toward Arthur and cupped his shoulders. "You did fine work, lads! Order all platoons to retreat and head toward our next destination! Furthermore… prepare for a party tonight!"

Although confused by how things had turned, the lieutenants followed his commands and guided their platoons away from battle. As the other armies rushed into the temple, they found no one there, not even a soul.

Arthur and Dorian asked the innocents to enter their rooms for now and gave them enough resources to survive a trip to Xeloria. Thus, the other armies were shocked to find nothing inside the temple after the Xelorian army retreated.

As for the culprit who was on the run, their march turned into a parade of songs and wine. The news about obtaining the first artifact spread like wildfire, making the army tread on clouds rather than sands. Soon, the orange hues of the sand turned into lush green forests and mountains.

Arthur was sitting in his carriage with Dorian, the only other member who did not care to celebrate. As for Joey and Koby, they were sleeping in the bunk beds in the back of the carriage, designed for their sleep.

"What is your goal from these tasks, Alexie?" asked Dorian while sharpening his spear. His eyes did not look toward the man he was talking to but toward his now-heavy spear. "What do you stand to gain from helping others or teaching me lessons?"

"A great change is coming to the second floor, and I want you to be ready," answered Arthur without hesitation. "I think you are the one who people can rely on in times of despair, and today"s events proved that right."

"You would make a better fit than I am," said Dorian with a frown as he turned toward him. "The strongest should rule. That is the iron rule."

"What is strength, and what is to rule?" retorted Arthur with a smile. "I have seen powerful emperors who built thrones of lies or all-knowing kings who abandoned their citizens. Strength has nothing to do with ruling."

"Then who gets to rule?"

"Does it have to be about ruling?" asked Arthur as he looked out from his window. "Those you helped today did not look at you as a lord, but as a great man who helped them. You managed to do something I could never achieve: being accepted."

"My mother once told me that the greatest power was not in fists, but in words," said Dorian as he looked at his hand. "I could never understand that until I saw my father giving a speech, and thousands cheered for him. Words build belief, and belief can never be shattered."

"Your mother is wise, and your father is capable," said Arthur with a nod. "I have always been rejected by the world as the outsider, so I stopped using words. People can use their minds and follow what they desire, and there I would be at the end, waiting for them with a smile."

"You sound like a villain rather than a hero," said Dorian in all honesty before giving a grin. "It would mean I"m the hero once I beat you into a pulp."