As the violet world erupted with the clash of wills, Arthur stood witness to a battle far more profound than any fought on a physical field. His gaze remained fixed upon Lucian's solitary form, dwarfed by the monstrous beating heart and the malicious whispers of the Seer Guardian.
His thoughts were a swirling tempest. Why had his perception of Lucian, his former rival, undergone such a drastic shift? It wasn't merely out of necessity. Oriole… yes, the dearest friend he held in this world. Lucian had never posed a threat to him, even with all his schemes and hidden agendas.
And then, there was that harrowing moment when they'd worked in strange, unspoken tandem to rescue Oriole from the clutches of the Empyrean. Despite their animosity, Lucian had helped, had even pushed Arthur into a confrontation he might otherwise have avoided.