A voice called out to him as he felt someone nudging him. Arthur was pulled from his unconsciousness to the tender voice of Ivy. As he opened his eyes, he was greeted with the ever-stretching blue sky.
"Arthur," Ivy whispered beside him and he turned to look at her through his blurred-out vision. Her hazy figure became more defined as Arthur woke up fully.
"Where are we?" Arthur asked weakly as he tried to pull himself up. However, his muscles ached and felt like they were injected with lead. He groaned and Ivy pushed him back into his sleeping position.
"We're near the fortress, there's still a distance left before we get there."
"The Ilios Empire?" Arthur asked with furrowed brows.
"We managed to flee merely because of the giant dragon." Ivy shook her head and spoke. "It has been a day since we started running."
"A day… What about the dragon?" Arthur asked worriedly as he felt his dragon's emotions waver.
"We don't know yet, nothing was broadcasted about it." Ivy shook her head again. "We need you to open the fortress to let us in."
Arthur nodded as he remembered that he hadn't assigned anyone else as guests in the fortress's core before he left. He looked around and saw the rest of the members lying around beside the jet.
Ivy and Li were the only ones not sleeping, and they were preparing food using a runic stove that didn't release smoke. William, Reece, Ruby, Hua, and Zas were sleeping beside the jet.
Arthur pulled his tired body upward as he felt nauseous. He couldn't find a place that didn't hurt in his body, as even his head was threatening to split apart.
'Is this the aftereffect of using the Art?' Arthur wondered as he sneakily used the Heal-III rune on himself. The upgraded rune would use mana to return the body to the epitome state. His mana was draining rapidly as his body tried to mend itself.
Before, the healing rune would only double his natural healing. However, after gaining two upgrades, it was more powerful than before. Even though his body was still weak, Arthur was able to stand up.
"Careful there, Newbie." Ivy smiled as she saw him wobble toward them. "I guess you're hungry after the long fight." Arthur was indeed starving. Ivy scooped a handful of stew and gave it to Arthur. Smelling the aroma of the food, Arthur gulped before he began eating.
"I'm sorry for endangering everyone like this," Arthur said with guilt as he finished his first bowl and scooped another. "I didn't know it was a trap." He stared at the pieces of meat and vegetables floating in his bowl.
"No one knew, Newbie." Ivy smiled with a thin smile. Her hands were bandaged with several layers and Arthur saw them trembled as she tried to eat. "Sier is our eyes, and with him unconscious, things like these happen."
Arthur nodded as he realized why Sier was the leader of the group. Despite Li being the strongest, it was Sier that could guide the group without them being caught.
"How is he now?" Arthur asked and Ruby answered before Ivy could. The thirty-something woman stood up and sat cross-legged beside them as she took a bowl of stew herself.
"He's not in a critical state, but he's not alright. He's feverish and would scream in his sleep. We don't know what happened, but it was something that affected his psyche greatly."
"Where is he now?" Arthur was silent for a moment before asking. Whatever Sier saw, he wanted to know it. He can also try to heal him using his Heal rune and Dispel rune.
"He's with Vihan in the capital," Ruby answered.
"I hope that drunken healer doesn't slack off," Ivy grumbled.
"Oh, Vihan." Arthur suddenly remembered the man he met before. "He never leaves the mansion?"
"Yeah, he drinks all day long." Ivy scowled. "He used Sier's health as an excuse to refuse to come to Runera. Idris would take care of him, but I'm sure he's there drinking away."
"He can fight?" Arthur tilted his head. He never imagined that Vihan was more than a healer. At his innocent question, Ivy choked on her food.
"Well, yes," Ruby answered.
"He joined Mistletoe after he…" Ivy was talking nonchalantly as she ate but was interrupted by Ruby.
"Each person has his secrets, Ivy. That's not our story to tell." Ruby said with a smile. "You'll learn of it with time. Maybe the old man would open up for you, no?" Arthur nodded but doubted he would.
The rest of the group woke up one after the other as they got ready to head toward the fortress. As they were eating, Arthur listened to William bragging about his bullets that would be forever feared by the Iliosian army.
The handsome man also called him useless, but Arthur didn't mind since he did help him despite how venomous he was. They finished their breakfast and headed toward the jet that looked like a triangle.
"Is this a runic artifact?" Arthur asked with curiosity, examining the jet that was lined with shining runes.
"Yup, this is my baby. Her name is Joy because of how much joy she brings me." Ruby's tone was like a mother introducing her daughter. However, Arthur understood the sentiment.
They boarded the jet and Arthur got to see its inside for the first time. There was a runic panel in the middle with several chairs, handles beside them on each side. There was a stand in the middle where the mana crystals were supplied.
"So, Ruby is a fan of runes," Zas said as they sat down. Ruby grinned proudly. "However, her driving of this jet sucks."
"What?" Ruby stopped and turned with a frown. "I've been flying it for two years. No one is better than me at handling this jet."
"Oh, yeah? I bet that this newbie is better." Zas pointed toward Arthur. Being the target of Ruby's glare, Zas's teasing, and Ivy's snickers, Arthur awkwardly stood there as he coughed.
"No, no. Ruby is better."
"The boy knows best." Ruby nodded with a smile.
"He's humoring you, idiot." Zas pulled on his lower eyelid as he struck out his tongue. "Arthur, show her how it's done." Arthur was about to refuse when Zas said something else. "Whoever knows how to drive it gets to keep it."
"No!" Ruby's face paled. "I need it for my research!"
"Oh, I guess you know he's better." Zas grinned and Ruby gritted her teeth in hatred. Ivy whispered to Arthur that artifacts owned by Mistletoe were handled by the most capable of their use.
'Sorry, Ruby.' Arthur looked apologetically at her. 'However, this artifact would provide me with good runes.' Arthur walked toward the runic panel and Ruby's anxious eyes.
***
"Whew," Ivy jumped from the jet and landed on the ground as she stretched in the middle of the forest. "The ride was so smooth that I almost fell asleep."
"My… Joy…" Ruby walked out of the jet lifelessly as Zas held his stomach laughing hard. Arthur felt slightly guilty for showing off his skills. After all, he was already experienced with the mechas and his ability helped him greatly.
"Come on Newbie, open up!" William shouted as he stood in front of the fortress giant double-doors. Arthur walked over and touched the door as it opened itself.
As he watched the group enter the fortress with a smile, Arthur noticed that Ruby was still sniffing on the ground.
"Ruby," Arthur walked over and called but she didn't answer. "I'll let you keep it. I just need to study it for a while." His words made her head jerk up.
"Really?" She asked as she cleaned her reddish nose. Arthur smiled at this childish side of her and nodded. "Well, I'll let you borrow it." She coughed and stood up.
"Thank you. However, I'm sure you'll like this one more." Arthur turned his head toward the fortress and Ruby followed along. Her eyes widened as they glowed brighter.
"So, this is the calamity spider." Her voice held anticipation. "How did you gain control of such a thing?"
"Well, each person has his secrets." Arthur used her words against her and she pouted. "Come on, let's get the jet into the fortress. We can't leave her here."
"… Can you teach me how to drive it better?"
***
Arthur wanted to rest for a while after he returned to the fortress, but his body was still injured and needed professional health care. He also needed to visit Sier, so he left the fortress a few hours after they returned.
Luckily, Idris had already created a teleportation circle near the fortress. As Arthur studied the circle, he found that it consisted of five artificial artifacts with each having a teleportation rune of its own.
This way, the range would be increased. Arthur wondered if he can create a teleportation circle himself. He needed to get his goblins away from the mountain range Rovero as soon as possible.
After he teleported toward the capital, Arthur found himself in a basement. Idris had already told him that the circle was connected to the mansion in the capital.
Arthur headed upstairs and into the giant foyer. As messy as ever, Arthur made his way through it and into one of the rooms where he felt a presence.
"Hi, Vihan." Arthur greeted awkwardly and the man looked at him, his glass in his hand. "How is Sier?"
"Still unconscious, I'm surprised you aren't as well with that body. What kind of stamina do you have, boy?" Vihan glanced at his body from head to toe. "Your body is a mess."
"I can't deny that."
"Lie on the table. Undress."
Arthur nodded and did as he was told. Like before, Vihan took out several bottles from his suitcase and poured their content on Arthur's body in certain ratios as the green mana reappeared again. Vihan's face paled as the mana entered Arthur's body, healing all of his inner injuries.
Letting out a few grunts, Arthur was able to stay awake despite the pain. He realized that his pain tolerance has increased after he broke through. The treatment lasted an hour and Vihan was huffing by the end of it.
"Now piss off, Sier is upstairs." Vihan waved his arm as he took out another bottle of alcohol. Arthur thanked him gratefully and headed upstairs.
As he made his way upstairs, his nose picked up an acidic scent. It wasn't from Vihan's body, who's a smoker himself, but from the room Vihan guided him to.
'Is it Sier?' Arthur wondered if he had awakened. He opened the room's door and smoke dissipated into the hallway. Arthur frowned at the darkness filling out the room with only the cigarette's tip lighting in the dark.
"Sier?" Arthur called out and saw the man flinch as if he didn't notice him. His hand was shaking vigorously and he could barely hold the cigarette.
"Arthur?" Sier's eyes were shaken. He sighed before drawing another breath from his cigarette. "Come in and close the door."
"What's going on? Are you okay? Should I call Vihan?" Arthur asked as he entered and closed the door.
"No, no. I…" Sier took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. "Arthur… I saw something."