Chapter 25 - Shadows and Light! [3]

In Hera's chambers, on the royal ship of the amazons in Camelot.

The queen placed her hand on Hera's chin and turned her face towards her. – WHAT?!... Does Eleanor know that Qin-Shi does that?! Does Arthur know?! – she asked with the fury of a protective mother.

– Arthur doesn't care, and I never wanted to bother him with it. I always knew his reaction would be of disinterest. And Eleanor doesn't know, she lost a baby recently and I don't want her to suffer more. I never said anything to her because she might think I was insinuating myself to Qin or even not believe me... – Hera vented, tears welling in her eyes as she sat on her bed.

– This is very serious, Hera! – Andromeda exclaimed, veins visible on her face. – Why didn't you tell me before?! I'm going to talk to Arthur, and you don't even think about walking alone from now on! 

Hera sighed, lying on the bed and covering her face with her arms. – I shouldn't have said anything...

The queen sat down on the bed, looking at the goddess. – And as for you, make peace with yourself! Don't let the looks of others and your past affect you. Don't look at others or what has passed, focus on what you have. Do you know how many would die to be as beautiful as you? And Arthur doesn't look because he's a brute and cold. He doesn't even look at his own mother. – she said, laughing.

Hera, with her arms over her face, let out a small laugh through her tears.

Seeing Hera smile, the queen smiled too. – Don't let the outside world influence you so much! Stop crying, and don't dwell on these things anymore, okay? – she said, gently messing Hera's hair.

Laughing, Hera replied. – Yes! I heard you... – as she took the queen's hand away from her hair.

– But if you don't talk to Arthur, I will! You can choose how he finds out. – the queen said, her stern gaze and words silencing the princess's laughter.

Hera looked at the queen, fear evident in her eyes at the thought of discussing this with the ice-hearted king. – Queen...– she whispered, her voice quivering.

She feared that it would ruin her relationship with Arthur. The fear of losing the little that she had with him, she didn't want to annoy him anymore.

…

The same night, in the territory of the white elves of Anain, Arthur circulated Heavenly Qi through his body, creating channels of pure energy within him.

– Agh...– The pain of forming these channels was excruciating, causing made him to spit blood. "It's like my insides are being burned!" he groaned to himself.

"Keep going! Don't stop! If you stop, the Heavenly Qi inside you will kill you!" the Spirit of Justice exclaimed, his voice echoing in Arthur's mind with undeniable urgency.

Despite the agony, the feeling as if his organs were being crushed, Arthur continued to form the channels, expelling impurities from his body.

Blood flowed from Arthur's mouth, eyes and ears as the Spirit of Justice laughed. "Yes, your body is accepting the Heavenly Qi well. You were having problems with absorption and breakthrough because you were using techniques to absorb normal Qi. The Art of the Solar Emperor was created for titans. Pendragon was not a titan, but the Light inspired him to prepare it for you."

"Your body is automatically removing impurities. Now, repeat the process and accumulate Heavenly Qi until you have a breakthrough! You see, the previously empty core is now starting to fill and shine. Don't worry about the Qi's color, it relates to the Essence of Light. Your Heavenly Qi is golden, but its color varies with the Essence. But the default color is white." the Spirit of Justice explained.

Alfred's voice echoed in Arthur's mind. "Lord, the Heavenly Qi channels have been successfully created! The meridians are operational."

"Repeat the process. It's not that much different from the ordinary Qi process. You need to get strong and fast! The Light choosing another species to bear His Essence is unusual. I don't know why it chose us, or why you're too weak to the point of struggling to beat Mortal Realm cultivators, but it likely relates to your core's destruction and your titanification. You lost all your progress with Qi and had to have a titanic core created for you. Your body's condition was like of a newborn titan." the Spirit of Justice said, laughing.

The Spirit of Justice took pleasure in every word, Arthur could perceive the laughter behind each word.

Arthur opened his eyes. "Indeed, it's strange, but..." he muttered to himself. "Why do you always laugh?! And why do you take pleasure in calling me weak?!" he asked, hearing the laughter echoing in his mind.

…

Hours later, still in the forest of the elves, at Arthur's camp.

Arthur, walked back to his camp and sat by a fire. Selena, sitting by the campfire with a brown cloak covering her white dress, looked at Arthur with concern.

– Where have you been, my king? We were all worried... – Selena said, noting his black and red royal kimono and his voluminous, long, loose brown hair.

Alfred's robotic voice in Arthur's mind. "Boss, I recommend rest! The next war is approaching, and your body is still not recovered from the last battles and the beginning of Heavenly Qi cultivation."

"How am I not recovered?! I feel good." Arthur thought, then glanced at Selena's flushed face. – Don't worry, I'm here. – he reassured her, looking away.

"The twins infected the boss's body with a kind of black energy, creating internal wounds. I recommend rest to start the regeneration process." Alfred informed.

Selena, with red hair flowing down her back, in a golden dress and a white cape protecting her from the night's cold, sat closer to Arthur. "He's very focused..." she thought, studying his face. – Lord, are you worried about something?

This redhead is part of the long list of those that Arthur does not want and never wanted, which is why he did not even turn his face to her, looking at the fire, he opened his mouth.

– Don't worry, no big deal... – he said, remaining focused on the fire.

"What does this woman want now?!" Arthur noticed her advances.

He was no fool, he knew that she wanted him to marry her and take care of the children of his deceased friend.

Saint Chamberlain, with straight blond hair and dressed in a black and blue kimono, sat across from the king. – Jarvis stayed in Aldair to supervise the mine activity. He has ten thousand soldiers at his disposal, nothing to worry about. Now let's head to Anain, we have a long journey ahead...– Lancelot said, his voice and gaze soft and compassionate as always.

Lancelot was always known for his words full of life and comfort, he was a Saint, and being one, he naturally had an aura of peace.

The red-haired physician looked at one of the tents where her children were with a worried look. – Something tells me that the king of Anain will want Aldir to stay... – she vented, fearing her ex-father-in-law would take her son.

Persival, the drunkard, dressed in a royal blue and black kimono, sat his brown eyes on Selena's face. – Look on the bright side. You have two children, you'll stay with Elli...– the prince said with a mocking smile.

Lancelot, sitting next to Persival, punched him in the jaw and sighed. – Forgive, Persival. He's so drunk he doesn't even need alcohol to talk nonsense... – he said, laughing nervously.

Prince Persival, clutching his swollen jaw, exclaimed. – AHH...!! What did I do?! – looking at Lancelot with a red face.

Arthur's bright golden eyes fixed on them, indifferent to their conversation. – Aldir will be fine. He has only one year to live. Don't worry too much about him. The real concern is Zeus. The kingdom of Cyrus is now a province of the United Kingdom and will no longer pay taxes to Zeus. He probably already knows. – Arthur said, silencing everyone.

Lancelot Chamberlain's brown eyes wandered over the king, Selena and Persival. – We'd better hurry back to Camelot quickly... – he said, lowering his head.