Level Up Legacy

Arthur had to admit that such a notion would help them immensely, and Night would not be a part of the rebels, only reporting back to him. Although Lyle might not like it, this served Arthur's interests. However, there is one issue.

"We planned on striking the emperor once the executions happen, so freeing the prisoners is not going to help us," objected Arthur. "Although it would be risky, the executions must happen so that we take down the emperor."

"Can you even do that?" frowned Haro as she interjected. "I have seen your strength, but that's far from enough to take down an empire."

Arthur knew that she was right. His current strength is lacking, so even if he took down the emperor, the empyrean-rank ancestor would still pose a problem. Although he had no evidence of their existence, Arthur had to assume the worst-case scenario.

"I never believed that things would lead to this, but it was inevitable. The Ilios Empire tried to kill me before and robbed me of my identity. Not counting the number of things they did, I have seen the state of this nation."

Arthur remembered Grandma Mo and the families that the two of them visited. It was dehumanizing to live under such circumstances, infested with gangs that took every good thing you had.

"I have to leave," blurted Arthur as he stood and started walking toward the cliffs. "You can stay here, and I will come back in a few days with further instructions."

"Instructions for what?" asked Layla with confusion, still on her feet. "Should I find that man or not?"

"You should stay here until I come back because going back to the capital is the same as suicide. So let things cool off for a bit, and then we'll talk."

"And what am I supposed to do here?" shouted Layla behind Arthur, half shrouded by darkness. He turned around with a pondering expression.

"Master your blessing, and get some tan."

***

Little Yin threw whatever she could in her bag and then tied it together to call a briefcase. Although she heard of the news, she was apathetic until Old Babo returned with some information for her.

"His name is Arthur Silvera," said Babo as she threw a newspaper in front of her. In it, a man was standing surrounded by knights. The headline read 'A Stealer of Elements: Arthur Silvera.'

"I can read," said Little Yin at the time with confusion. "Is he someone I need to be wary of?"

"This is the man that refused to give out his name," said Babo before she sat in the opposite chair. "He is the one you've been visiting his room for the past few days."

Little Yin frowned and picked up the newspaper. The face in ink was not one she recognized from a place other than the news. Arthur Silvera was a secret everyone knew about and a man who proved himself to the world.

"He looks different," said Little Yin. "Are you sure it's him?"

"I met him there myself, and we had an agreement. I helped him, but things ended up badly for him. Arthur Silvera is soon to be the public enemy of Ilios."

"A Stealer of Elements?"

"You are unaware of this since you came from a different land," said Old Babo as she rested her chin on her cane. "However, a bedtime story that the children of Ilios grew up on, and a prophecy of the Light Temple, is that one day a stealer of elements would appear and destroy Ilios."

"That's just a fairytale, right?" she asked. "There is no such a thing as a stealer of elements, but just some bullshit made by parents."

"No one can tell, but everyone knows that this land of Ilios was rich with elements until someone, or something, took that away. The great warriors of Ilios have fallen in number ever since, and the casualties rose among the public. It affected the whole nation."

"Are you saying that the people hate him now?" asked Little Yin with a frown. Babo nodded as she curled her lips. "I need to meet him," Little Yin said and then stood up to leave the room.

"Going to the capital now is the same as telling those seeking you about your whereabouts. So I won't allow it," said Babo, and Little Yin stooped. "I told you about this for one reason."

"And what is that?"

"Arthur Silvera is the man fated to change this world," said Old Babo. "If you are going to entangle with him, then you need to grow stronger than you are now. He is destined for greatness."

"Is this what you want? For me to be less useless?" asked Little Yin with a laugh. "I'm sorry for having become a burden."

She left the room before the old woman could say anything. Yin understood that Old Babo was concerned about her, but she knew that the real reason she told her was not that. Little Yin would be safer with that man, and Old Babo wanted to leave her with him.

After she packed her bag, Little Yin paused as she stared in the mirror. Even if she could find him, what use would it bring him? Arthur couldn't take care of her forever.

"It doesn't matter," muttered Little Yin as she stared back at her reflection. "If he means what he said about my potential, then I can grow stronger," she said before walking toward the door and opening it.

The surprise made her flinch because on the other side of the door was a man standing in a white shirt and black robes. His golden eyes stared at her from the hallway's darkness before he stepped forward to make himself seen.

"I meant what I said," affirmed the man as he walked into her room. Little Yin staggered back, allowing him inside. Arthur Silvera stared around the room before looking at her bag. "Are you leaving somewhere?"

"I…" she was speechless for finding him so quickly and too embarrassed to tell him the truth. "I was…"

"Commander Barbora told you the truth," said Arthur Silvera with a smile that made Little Yin let go of the bag. "Do you recognize me now?"

His hand reached toward his face, blurred before changing into someone else. It was the same face that Little Yin slept next to in the cave and what brought her comfort.

"You are back," were the first words she said in response. Then, "Are you hurt?"

"I escaped before they could attack me, and even then, I would have won," replied Arthur Silvera before walking around the room, examining it. He stopped at the photos of her past when she was just a little girl with short black hair. "I talked to Babo earlier."

"Before meeting me?"

"Yes, and she asked me the favor that I owed her. I expected it to be something like protecting or teleporting you out of here, but that wasn't it. Instead, she asked me to unleash what's within you."

"Unleash what?"

"That will be your homework to discover," said Arthur as he raised the photo and showed it to her. "Am I going to unleash the person this little girl has been suppressing or a monster?"

"Would that… make me stronger?" asked Little Yin with a frown. "I want to stop being a burden."

"That's the starting motivation of all the great warriors," said Arthur Silvera before he walked and handed her the photo. "Just ensure you never forget the reason you started because it gets cloudy at the top. Bring the bag. We are leaving."

Little Yin took the photo and watched as Arthur Silvera left the room. She stood there rooted for a second, staring at Old Babo, Lin Xue, and her younger self in the photo. Then, she stashed it as well before following after him.

Old Babo was outside when the two left the mansion, waiting for them. Although Little Yin said those words earlier, she felt emotional when seeing the old woman standing there alone.

"You are leaving?" asked Old Babo as she glanced at her. Yin nodded as she pulled her bag tighter over her shoulder. "Arthur Silvera. I needn't remind you that I know what happened in the palace, so protect her well. Hold your end of the deal, and I'll help when the time comes."

"No need for threats. I know," nodded Arthur before turning toward Little Yin. "I will wait in the wagon outside. You two can bid your farewells."

Little Yin stood awkwardly as she watched him leave her alone with Babo. Things have never been more awkward because of what she said, but the old woman didn't seem to resent her.

"You were never a burden to me, Yin," said Old Babo as she reached out toward neck and pulled a necklace. It was a hairpin tied to a chain. "This was with you the day I found you. It still has traces of blood on it, telling a story."

"You act as if we are never going to meet again," said Little Yin with a frown. "I will be back once I grow stronger."

"I feel like you will change and grow into someone I don't know," said Old Babo with a smile. "You won't be my little girl anymore."