Chapter 562: A Hateful Friend

Runera was different in this world as well, but it was not by a large margin. However, what made Arthur realize Runera is his city was the voice he heard as soon as he arrived. It was distant and ancient, coming from the heart of the city.

"Welcome back," the child-like voice, masked with a layer of ancientness, belonged to no other than the spirit of his past world. Arthur paused as soon as he heard it, and Oriole turned around to look at him with confusion.

"Are you alright, Alexie?" asked Oriole with a frown. The rest of the envoys were leaving the portals stations.

"I am," said Arthur with a smile. "I just feel at home," said Arthur while closing his eyes. The city vibrated with runes. It was the same feeling he got when he first arrived at Runera, but it never occurred to him because this was the place he built. 

However, it made no sense now to feel this way. Arthur was not the one to build Runera in this world, so it had to be someone who knew him. As his eyes were closed, Arthur talked to Rega.

"I missed you, Rega. I want to know where Diana is," he said, but then came no answer. Arthur"s brows furrowed as he opened his eyes. Oriole sensed the change, and so did the rest of the runemasters.

"We need to keep walking, Alexie," said Oriole as he waved at the annoyed professors and runemasters. "Is there something wrong with Runera?"

"It seems that not even the City of Creation can withstand the change of time," said Arthur as he began walking with Oriole toward the exit. "I need to find out what happened in this timeline."

Oriole nodded as he walked in front of him, his long ponytail shaking as he walked forward. Then, he turned around with a smile.

"There is no free lunch in this world, and that"s why we learned to cook," smiled his friend, and it made Arthur laugh. Then, he nodded and followed along.

As soon as he left the portal station, the city"s bustling life reached his ears. There were vendors on every side of the road below the station, and people were coming and going from Runera. This was different from the last time he arrived because it was not the Runic Cups.

"Gather around here," called out Grandmaster Kiren with his hands behind his back. The young men and women walked to stand around him before explaining. "We will be taking the public transportation of Runera to demonstrate unity. I know many of you dislike this. However, this is in response to the events that took place a year ago, when fallen beings attacked Runera."

Arthur realized Grandmaster Kiren was talking about him. There was a ripple of sadness in the man"s existence as he retold the incident that occurred. Nevertheless, it made Arthur rea.s.sured that he was a good man.

"Runera allowed fallen beings into its midst, even though when the city was first created, it comprised of Devils Hunters and runemasters alike. This makes it ironic that we allowed fallen beings into our midst that cost us the life of a genius."

Oriole nudged Arthur lightly, and it was because of the history that the grandmaster retold. This was also different than the previous timeline, as the Devils Hunters were a secret existence even in Alka.

Whoever created Runera using the memories that Arthur gave them changed the timeline by a large margin. The eventual result of their endeavor was similar, but it left changes that made this timeline different.

"We have worked to make Runera a safe paradise for the world from the fallen beings, and this includes the last arrays we have implanted. A way to demonstrate their safety is by making the upper echelons take the public transportations. Be at ease. Our guests are not going to bother you."

After that, Master Kiren took the lead to guide them toward one of Runera"s most bizarre innovations, Flying Turtle. It made Arthur smile that the Turtles Master was still as weird even in this world.

Their group boarded public transportation, which looked like a giant cruise ship deck. As the group walked toward their seats, the rest looked at them with awe and fear.

It seems the robes of the Runes a.s.sociation deterred anyone from approaching the runemasters. This made their trip more effortless, as even when Alexie appeared, the people refrained from rushing towards him.

Alexie Linan was still a sensation in the world, and it resulted in many people taking pictures of him in Runera. However, this did not bother the runemasters from Runera, and Arthur realized why Runera was showing its support.

It seems that even his city was using him for political benefits, albeit not on purpose. However, the state in which Runera finds itself today made Arthur sad. Oriole and Arthur walked toward the end row of the ship and sat down, making their backs face the open window.

"I would have dressed a little better than this if I knew I would be photographed," said Oriole with shyness as he leaned back in his chair. "It"s hard to be a celebrity"s friend," then he gave an exaggerated sigh.

Arthur smiled as he sat beside him and glanced at Oriole. Unlike his sickly appearance of the past, the current Oriole was handsome. His long hair was tied in a ponytail, and there were tattoos on his neck and arms.

The first thing that Arthur did after meeting with Ori was to browse the internet. He found many incidents in Jerano that involved the two of them, and one of the articles, in particular, made him laugh.

"I will never be as famous as the Forbidden Fruit," said Arthur with a laugh, and Ori stiffened like a wood plank. The alchemy runemaster turned toward Arthur with an unprecedented scowl. "I never thought you would have so many fangirls."

"Humans crave what they cannot have," snorted Ori as if his mood was ruined. "I can"t believe that even my forgetful friend knows about it now."

"I apologize for bringing it up," smiled Arthur as he leaned back as well. Then, after a few seconds, the Turtle began to rise. Arthur had his eyes closed when someone sat beside him.

"You seem at ease," a voice muttered from his right, and Arthur frowned before turning toward the source. A cloaked figure sat while hiding their face. "Have you forgotten my voice?" said the figure as he turned.

With a scar on her lower jaw and doll-like features, Miko"s cold silver eyes stared at him. Arthur"s eyes widened with surprise as his body stiffened.

"You look as if you have seen a ghost," whispered Miko with a smile. "Did you expect me to disappear after you have abandoned me, Arthur?"

Her voice seemed to reach no one but him. Arthur calmed down after a second, but her words did not make sense. The last time he saw Miko, she confessed her feelings to him.

"I have never abandoned you," he said with a frown, but Miko raised her eyes with both surprise and contempt. "What are you doing here?"

"Who are you trying to deceive?" glared Miko at him as her killing intent flared up. However, the runes around her began glowing threateningly, and Arthur realized this was the arrays that Kiren mentioned. Miko calmed down and smiled again. "I am here to see a friend."

"There seems to be a misunderstanding," muttered Arthur with a frown, but Miko did not listen to him. Oriole seemed to notice the incident, but he did not do anything but rest his hand on his dagger. The lack of intervention or commotion he raised made Arthur grateful.

"Misunderstandings are there to be resolved," said Miko as she turned her head forward. "I will still follow the wish of my ancestors, even if I loathe you now."

"Then what brings you here?"

"I will do what I always did," she said before turning toward him. "I am giving you a warning. There are fallen beings among the family of Runera. This is how they managed to infiltrate it the last time."

"This is not a place to talk," said Arthur before he grabbed her arm. "Let"s meet somewhere else, alone. I know that you will find a way. I would never abandon you, Miko."

Her figure shook in his grip before she slapped his arm away. Then, she rose to leave without another word, leaving Arthur confused.

Oriole turned toward Arthur, and he watched Miko leave into the crowd. It seems he did not hear their conversation, and he quietly laid his hand over Arthur"s shoulder.

"Do we need to do something?" he asked, ready to fix whatever mess Arthur had fallen into without a moment of hesitation. Arthur smiled gratefully before shaking his head.

"I think there are things I did in the timeline that cost me a friend, maybe not the only one," he said with a shake of his head.. "I need to find out what happened."