809 Hereby Dismissed

As the guild members listened to his words, they all carried uncomfortable expressions. The joyful att.i.tude from before was gone, replaced by a solemnity.

“You would be a conquer,” said Oren, still disapproving of his brother’s plans. “Although we have suffered a lot, we made sure only to harm those who harm us. While you make it seem peaceful, how many guards would you kill to present the rulers with that choice?”

“I never said it would be peaceful but conquers rule after they conquer, and I would do no such thing. Instead, I will let them rule after swearing loyalty to me.”

“And how would you enforce that loyalty?”

“Spiritual contracts, where one would be obliterated if he goes back on his words.”

“A one-sided spiritual contract is no different than slavery.”

“If it means ensuring this world survives the selfish whims of its rulers, then slavery it is.”

“Are you willing to be a villain to achieve your goals?”

“I’m not, but if I have to, I will.”

The dining hall was silent again as the members found themselves speechless. Then, Tiara broke the silence by raising her hand to speak. Arthur nodded in response.

“I’m the only one here who might be affected by this, which might be why you revealed this now. However, we vessels are not masters of our bodies. We have guardians also trying to enforce their wills.”

“Suyin heard the other t.i.tle that Ca.s.sius called me. Can you tell the others what it was?” asked Arthur in response to Tiara, turning toward her. As she racked her brain, Suyin realized his aim.

“Ageless Breaker.”

“Thank you,” he nodded toward her before turning back toward the princess. “Eragon has been known as the breaker for as long as he existed because his wrath has that quality. But, of course, it has certain conditions and limits, but as long as I master it, I will….”

SCREECH!

A chair’s legs dragged across the wooden, interrupting Arthur mid-sentence. The Guild Master stopped talking and looked at his brother, who was on his feet now.

“Is there something wrong?” asked Arthur with confusion, seeming unable to understand his brother’s behavior. Oren was silent, staring at the food before him with his hands resting on the table.

“You want to control that?” asked Oren after a pause. “Have you seen the amount of destruction and insanity that thing carries?”

“I have and plan to use it for my future fights.”

Bang!

“Don’t let power blind you, Arthur!” said Oren while slamming his fist to the table. The plates shook, and Oren’s gla.s.s fell, pouring his drink over the table. “You are becoming the sin you fought against, just for a different cause!”

“Power is the same for all sides, but causes are important. I need Eragon to have a chance against the world’s strongest. You have seen how I almost lost against once the emperor and Ca.s.sius helped each other. So this decision is final.”

Arthur’s stern tone ended all discussion, and although it made sense to some members, Oren seemed unconvinced. At that moment, the young man sighed and sat down.

“I told you about the spirit I have contracted, Arthur,” said Oren while meeting his brother’s gaze. “Even if I don’t wish to oppose this decision of yours, I will lose myself if I do something against my conviction.”

“Lancelot, The Imprisoned Knight,” muttered Arthur before giving out a smile. “It seems that his real prison is not the iron bars but the conviction that sets him apart from the world. Are you saying that you cannot obey my orders?”

“I am.”

“Then you are hereby dismissed from Ascent and my command,” said Arthur, causing the crowd to gasp. Julia objected, and Yuran asked Arthur to calm down, but he shut down all opposition. “You have an hour to leave my guild.”

“Guild Master, please reconsider!” said Julia as she stood up, but Arthur was still staring at Oren. “We can reach a middle ground, even if the two of you have different views on the matter.”

“Brothers shouldn’t abandon each other, Arthur,” said Yuran as he leaned toward him. “If Oren is dismissed, he might be targeted by the other guilds who know of his ident.i.ty, especially Dragonir.”

Alan and Li were silent, not seeming concerned with the matter. As for Suyin and Lin Xue, they were confused about the quick change between the two brothers, who seemed inseparable.

“My decision is final,” said Arthur, making everyone close their mouths. Then, they turned toward Oren, who sat there in shock. It seems it never occurred to him that Arthur would let go of him without a second thought, but after a few seconds, he nodded and rose.

“Thank you, Guild Master,” Oren said before turning around and leaving the dining room. The rest of the members were heartbroken as they stared at his back, and only Suyin kept her eyes on Arthur.

Although it was the first time she saw the two brothers together, it seemed weird that Arthur would kick out his blood from the guild. His expression was the same, but she noticed his fist clenching beneath the table.

After Oren left, the dinner lost its earlier warmth. Arthur was the first to raise his spoon and start eating, seeming to be apathetic about the matter. The rest followed suit and ate in silence, which might have been Suyin’s gloomiest dinner.

***

“Can you give us a moment?” Julia asked after entering the room. There was only Princess Tiara and Arthur, who were resting on the bed. The healer nodded and left without objection. Then, she closed the door behind her. “What was that?”

“What was what?” replied Arthur with a question.

“You know what I mean. If someone told me that there would be a day where you dismiss Oren from the guild, I would have mocked them for not knowing the bond between you brothers.”

“There is your answer.”

“What?”

“It is that d.a.m.ned bond,” said Arthur as he gritted his teeth. “Oren looks at me as if I’m the perfect human who would never make a mistake or hurt anyone. And I hate that I care about what he thinks of me. It is… limiting.”

Julia was silent as she stared at her Guild Master and realized the real reason behind Oren’s dismissal. Arthur didn’t want his brother to see him any differently from before.

“Oren would understand whatever plans you have.”

“He will never understand what I intend to do,” said Arthur as he got up from the bed and walked toward his window. “Oren is more stubborn than I am. I learned to be flexible to survive, but he is a man of principles.”

p-a-n-d-a-n-0-v-e-l、(c)om “Oren had the luxury of principles because his older brother looked after him and taught him right,” said Julia, and Arthur smiled as he turned toward her.

“And that’s another reason I need him to leave. Oren will never grow if he keeps standing beside me. He is my brother, and I would never endanger him.”

“…tell me the truth, Arthur. What changed your opinion about the guardians and their vessels?” asked Julia as she walked to stand beside Arthur. “This is not Eragon talking to us, but Arthur Silvera.”

“I would have loved it if you believed it was Eragon,” said Arthur before offering his hand to Julia. “Let me show you.”

Julia took his hand and could feel a rift appear between them. It swallowed them, and the two were teleported elsewhere. The two were now atop a building in a city that she failed to recognize.

“This is Ayaz, the city that we fought beside a day ago,” said Arthur before walking toward the edge and pointing toward the streets. “Look at those roads.”

Julia followed and watched knights running about, carrying covered crates dripped with a red liquid. As for the roads, they were covered with the same color.

“Those citizens died because they wanted to help me, but Ca.s.sius crushed them like ants. Ca.s.sius pulled the trigger, but I gave him the targets.”

“Are you blaming yourself?”

“I won’t indulge in self-pity, but hesitating about who is an enemy and waiting for them to terrorize the world is my mistake. If I sought the calamities in their world and defeated them, none of this would have happened.”

“You will be seen as a villain.”

“What I am and what I am seen as are two separate things, and as long as I know myself, nothing else matters. Let me be the villain in their story if that means following what I believe in.”

Arthur offered her his hand again, and Julia took it. He teleported them back to his room and then rested on the bed. Julia watched him silently and found herself at a crossroads.

“What are your next orders, then?”

“Contact the rebellion, and have them strike several gangs in the city. This should postpone the executions until we finish preparing.”

“Preparing what?”

“Prepare the wrath within me to overthrow this empire.”