A Mysterious Place and a Strange Woman
Arthur opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place.
The surroundings were empty, with the color white enveloping everything around him.
The most surprising thing was the utter lack of anything but himself, leaving him confused and intrigued.
"You're finally here. I've been waiting for you for so long, you know?"
At that moment, a smooth, gentle voice came from behind him, startling him instantly.
Arthur quickly turned around and saw a woman with an extraordinarily beautiful appearance standing before him.
"You..." Arthur furrowed his brow, studying her from head to toe with curiosity.
The woman stood tall, about a head shorter than him, her small face radiating loveliness, elegance, and a captivating charm.
Her black hair flowed straight down to her plump buttocks.
She wore a loose, sky-black gown that highlighted her slender yet curvaceous figure, making her irresistible to any man who saw her.
However, two features stood out above all: her closed eyes, as if blind, and the pair of black horns that protruded from her head.
With just a single glance, Arthur, who had fought against the dragon race for many years, knew this woman had to be one of them.
"I know you must be confused, but don't worry. I have no intention of harming you," she said softly as she took a slow step closer.
Noticing her approach, Arthur instinctively took a few steps back.
The woman frowned, puffing out her cheeks in slight dissatisfaction. "Why are you moving away from me? Do I smell?"
Arthur, a bit embarrassed, scratched his cheek awkwardly. It wasn't that she smelled unpleasant, but once he realized she might be from the dragon race, his body instinctively recoiled.
Years of battling against dragons and the hatred that came with it made him automatically distance himself from their kind.
"Ahem!" Arthur cleared his throat to shake off the awkwardness, then asked, "What exactly happened to me? Why am I here? And what is this place? Did you bring me here?"
He glanced around, quickly realizing how strange the place was.
The entire room was bathed in milky white, with no hint of any other color, giving it the eerie feel of a white room meant for torment.
The woman sighed softly and shook her head. "This place is my territory. I brought you here for two reasons: to save you and to see you."
"To save me and see me?" The answer made Arthur recall everything that had happened, and in an instant, anger and hatred filled his handsome face.
"Those three damn Holy Messengers..." he growled, gritting his teeth as his hands clenched into fists.
The three people he had once respected had turned out to be vile betrayers, seeing him as a threat to their power.
The betrayal cut deep, and he swore he would avenge it.
Seeing the sadness and fury on Arthur's face, the woman sighed softly, then walked over and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Don't let your anger consume you," she said gently, patting him affectionately on the back. "It won't help you; it will only hurt you more."
Arthur was taken aback by her sudden embrace, his body immediately stiffening.
He instinctively wanted to push her away, but for some reason, he couldn't.
Her embrace felt warm, familiar, and comforting—an unfamiliar sensation he had never experienced before.
Subconsciously, Arthur moved his hands and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
After a moment, the two slowly pulled away from each other, both looking awkwardly at one another.
"I apologize for my impoliteness," Arthur said, feeling embarrassed as he quickly took a step back, only to be stopped by the woman.
Before Arthur could react, the woman pulled him into another tight embrace, burying her face in his broad chest.
'It smells so good...' she whispered softly, gently rubbing her face against him.
Arthur froze at her unexpected actions, but he didn't attempt to push her away.
Honestly, if it were any other woman, especially one from the dragon race, he would have refused the embrace without hesitation.
He was neither a playboy nor someone who easily got close to women.
Yet, for some reason, he didn't feel any rejection toward her.
In fact, the hug brought him a strange sense of comfort and happiness, making him wonder if something was wrong with him.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a faint white light began to emanate from Arthur's body, growing larger by the second.
The woman let out a soft sigh, reluctantly releasing her embrace.
"It seems it's time for us to part ways," she said gently, brushing her hand over Arthur's handsome face with a tender touch.
Arthur immediately understood her meaning, his gaze shifting to the woman's face, which now carried an expression of deep sorrow.
"Can you tell me your name?" Arthur asked, curiosity in his voice.
The woman paused, as if weighing whether to answer him.
As the light around Arthur grew brighter, she finally spoke, "My name is..."
Her lips moved, forming a name that made Arthur's eyes widen in disbelief.
Before he could speak, the light engulfed him entirely, and in an instant, his figure vanished from her sight.
Watching his departure, the woman straightened, her hands resting behind her slender waist.
Her eyes lifted, and she whispered softly, "Don't worry, we'll meet again... Papa..."
…
"Ugh..." Arthur slowly opened his heavy eyelids.
The unfamiliar sight of the room's ceiling caused him to furrow his brows in confusion.
"Hmm? Where am I?" Arthur muttered, blinking as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
He attempted to move, but sharp pain shot through his chest, arms, legs, and neck.
"Hiss!" A gasp of pain slipped from his lips, and he quickly relaxed his tense body.
As he struggled to endure the pain, a soft, sweet, and innocent voice suddenly came from his right side.
"Are you awake, Papa?"