Branch 1, Leaf 3: Eh???

Year 2901, Kingdom of Maulaphete, before the Arrival

"Arc, come here. Isn't it nice? Faster." a faint and sincere voice is heard in front in a guise of a silhouette of a woman in a place similar to an ocean floor — silent and calm. The only light you could see is the white light behind the woman complimenting her figure — tall and slim with waist-long hair.

"Who are you? Where am I? Why is it so dark... and my body... it's light" Arc replied with his muffled voice — it wasn't loud yet the sound spread out easily.

"Oh my child, don't you remember me? I'm your teacher; I'm the one who took care of you, fed you, educated you. Now, come closer." the woman's faint voice becomes quite demanding, it's like its forcing something to happen — something bizarre and something life-threatening.

The glow behind the woman starts to grow bigger and brighter and seems blinding. It's too bright that Arc was forced to use his arm to cover his eyes while leaving ample space for him to see the woman in front of him. He felt a resistance that becomes heavy as he proceeds towards the woman.

"B-But it's too bright to come closer, I can't move forward. It seems like something is pulling my back, it's too strong I can't stay on my feet." the force that pulls his body starts to get intense, Arc implanted his feet to the ground and leaned forward, extending his hands towards the woman.

"Come... Faster... FASTER... FASTER!! GIVE ME YOUR HAND... AND YOUR SOUL!!" she laughed hysterically and her voice became sinister and her silhouette distorted as the light behind her starts to turn bloodshot red.

Only a few inches away and Arc could have reached the woman but due to fear he retracted his hand and let the resistance pull him.

He suddenly opened his eyes, sitting upright only to witness an embarrassed lady in front of him due to the shock of him waking up and colliding their heads while she was checking his scars from the side of the bed.

"Ou-Ouch. Why do you wake up like that? My head hurts so much." Julie continued complaining then realizes that Arc finally woke up. She came back to her senses and proceeds in interrogating him.

"Who are you? Where did you come from? Why do you have the Triad Book of Knowledge? Are you the Kings' Courier?" She asked hurriedly while standing upright and fixing her dress.

"W-wait, slow down... You're asking way too many questions at the same time.", he replied as he waves his hand from side to side, "I am... Wait, why should I tell you my name?"

"Shouldn't you be grateful for the one who is providing you free medicine and the one who saved your life? Should I begin slitting your throat, I wonder." Julie implied with eyes that would devour and devastate anything within its sight.

Gulp. Arc could feel the heat going through his neck and felt like blood will start gushing out if he continues to waste ticks. He could feel the cold rush from his neck throughout his body.

"I-I was joking, m-my name is Archie Xebaz Heilo. I-I am one of the Collectors. I came to deliver the Triad Book of Knowledge that was stolen from the Maulaphete's Book House and another thing."

"What other th–" she asked but was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of knights as they opened the door and entered one at a time. Only when all knights have entered, formed two lines reenactment of a bridge or a passageway.

"Why are you here? Can't you see there are patients here?" She stated in a mocking tone not realizing what she was touching as she acts like diagnosing a patient.

No one answered, at least not the knights. Knights raised their spears and slam its end to the ground commencing and signaling silence as someone extremely important is entering. The knights turned sideways facing the other line of knights and they raised their spear simultaneously and a pair of royal entered. You could distinguish them from commoners because of their clothes with shiny hints of gold and giant ornaments that complement their social stature.

Citizens started gathering around the Herbarium. They were curious about the commotion. "What trouble happened that a group of knights and royals came in person?", they asked themselves.

" It seems like THAT Julie was interested in a man's anatomy", one of the royals smirked as the other one pointed out what she was touching.

Julie looked at her hands and retracted it quickly because it was on top of Arc's abs. She walked away from Arc out of embarrassment.

One of the royals that were present took out one scroll with gold laces symbolizing it was a scroll from the king.

"I hereby announce the arrival of the Prince of Maulaphete, Prince Sebastian Maulaphete, the greatest Champion and Hero that Maulaphete will ever have." announced by the royal.

"EHHHHH????" the crowd was dumbfounded. Including Arc and Julie, even the knights.

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