Chapter 8: Chapter 8 – Thanatophobia

Arthur was stunned but kept a clear head. He had the names of Ollerin nobles and their territories hammered into his head during his childhood tutoring, yet he had never once heard of a territory by the name of Helagaust.

He wasn't too thrilled about being forced to go to war, even though his father made it sound like he would just be there for show. However, it would be a different story if he was granted land.

"I've never heard of that territory." Arthur said bluntly.

"That is because it doesn't exist yet." Edward replied as he pulled out a geopolitical map of Nithe and turned it to face Arthur. "It's here."

Arthur felt the blood drain from his face as he looked to where his father's finger rested. The location was the southernmost region of Bern that bordered the Helrian tribes.

'This is just murder with extra steps!' Arthur raged in his thoughts.

He would be forced to not only go to war but to try and rule over people who had been recently conquered. Not to mention that those people worship Minaan, a god who only responds to prayers when humans are sacrificed en masse.

Worst of all, if Senna's bedtime stories were to be believed, then the Helrian people just south of his new territory were horned humanoids that ate naughty children.

Of course, that was only a bedtime story, but considering they occupy the position of Ollerin's boogeyman, they certainly wouldn't be pleasant to share a border with.

Edward waited for Arthur to come to terms with his new reality before speaking once more.

"You'll be given twenty thousand Riis to develop the land along with a dozen men who will act as your personal guard. After the war, Baron Iken will lead the levies back, so you need not return. This is the deed to the Helagaust territory, keep it safe and keep it quiet until after the war."

'A pittance and twelve bottom of the barrel guards...' Arthur lamented as he looked over the title.

It looked genuine and even had the imperial seal stamped on it, but it wasn't like Arthur was an expert on such matters. He had no idea if it was real, but arguing with Edward wouldn't solve anything.

"When do I leave?" He asked.

"Eight days. This is the list of names of your new personal guards, and here is the bond for the twenty thousand Riis. Bring it to the steward when you're ready to receive it." Edward replied as he handed Arthur even more documents.

Arthur quickly looked over the list of guards and found that he didn't recognize any names except Foster's. Unfortunately, if Foster was on the list, it was truly bottom of the barrel as he feared.

Arthur didn't care about the title or the territory anymore. The only thing on his mind now was fleeing the Revan lands before being forced to go to war.

He would have gladly accepted land in Ollerin despite it being less than what he deserved as the rightful heir to a wealthy marquis title. However, managing the Helagaust territory with so little money and so few men was a death sentence.

Arthur had saved nearly six thousand Riis from his allowance over the years. When added with the twenty thousand he had just received, it was more than enough for a single person to live comfortably for the rest of their life.

"It is a matter of fact that you shall die should you choose not to act upon this opportunity that I've granted you. You may think you can run, but as long as you breathe, Duke Yor will find you, and he will kill you.

Your only path forward is in Helaguast, a territory that would be a death sentence for the average thirteen-year-old boy without backing." Edward announced as Arthur was halfway to the door.

It appeared Edward had seen through his plan to run, but his so-called opportunity would leave him just as dead. If both paths lead to death, he'd instead take the path he chose for himself.

"However, I don't believe the average thirteen-year-old boy chooses to hide their achievements in cultivation. Nor do they hide a research journal full of complex spells in the study for that matter, do they?"

Arthur instinctively froze once the words 'research journal' escaped Edward's mouth. He reached for the doorknob with a shaky hand as he tried to figure out how Edward could possibly know about his cultivation and research journal.

"Whether you listen to my words and live or ignore them and die, I've done my duty as a father, and I wash my hands of you. Once you exit this room, you are no longer my son Arthur Revan but Arthur of Helagaust. I wish you well on your journeys."

Arthur quickly exited the room after Edward had said his piece, but his thoughts were chaotic. He knew that people had been after his life long ago, and he had no delusions about living peacefully in this world.

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However, after speaking with his father, it felt like a dagger was aimed at his neck. As if his death was a done deal regardless of what choice he made.

Facing his own mortality, Arthur's mind brought him back to that place where senses need not exist. The place between life and death where nihility sang its siren song, luring lost souls into her sweet embrace. Once there, Arthur jolted his consciousness back to reality as if waking from a nightmare.

When his mind returned, he found himself leaning against the office door gasping for air. His world began to spin as he made a mad dash toward the nearby supply closet.

The moment the door slammed shut behind him, he collapsed, bringing the neatly stacked cleaning supplies along with him.

"It's only hormones... It's only hormones..." He repeated while clutching his chest on the closet floor.

He rationalized that teenage hormones were to blame for the panic attack. But with each pounding beat of his heart, the pain in his chest grew worse, compounding the panic he felt. Was he dying? The errant thought entered Arthur's mind, and another wave of hyperventilating came with it.

Arthur wasn't sure how long he remained curled up on the dark closet floor, but he remained there even after the pain had stopped. He was no stranger to panic attacks, at least in his first life, but he had never experienced one so powerful before.

His body felt exhausted after the ordeal, but despite that fact, he forced himself up and wiped his sweat away with a rag he found beside him.

After wiping away the sweat and straightening his clothes, Arthur peaked out the closet door to see if anyone was in the corridor. It was dark, with only the moonlight illuminating the hall from the large windows that lined it.

Luckily, the corridor appeared empty, so Arthur quickly picked up the papers his father had given him and exited the closet before making his way to the study.

He didn't understand how his father had discovered his research. Even if he found it, there was no reason to believe it was Arthur's. It wasn't like he was stupid enough to write his name on it.

Arthur was even more confused as to how his father knew about his cultivation. He had only ever cultivated alone in his room. The only other way to discover it would be to touch him and search for a mana core, but Arthur had been careful to not let anyone even get near him since he began cultivating.

There was too much to think over, and he hadn't even begun considering his next move. However, he was sure of one thing. He couldn't leave his research in the study tonight.

As Arthur turned the corner, he saw a worried Senna speaking to Foster outside the study. Arthur didn't want to explain everything to her right now, but it appeared that he wouldn't have a choice.

"Young master! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!" Senna cried out, seemingly both relieved and angry.

"You shouldn't keep a lady waiting, young master." Foster added.

"Sorry! Dinner didn't agree with me. I was in the bathroom. Is everything ok?" Arthur smiled and apologized innocently as he rubbed his belly with his free hand.

"I'm just glad that you're ok. What happened..." Senna spoke before trailing off her words and looking towards Foster.

She clearly wanted to know what happened with his father but didn't want to ask him in front of Foster.

"Hah... Come, let's sit down. You too, Foster." Arthur said with a worried sigh as he pointed towards the study door.

"Young master... I'm still on duty for another two hours today. I-i can't just leave my post."

"No, you're not. You don't work here anymore." Arthur stated as he handed Foster the paper that listed Arthur's personal guard.

 

 

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