Arthur and Revan trudged through the mist. Revan illuminated the area around them with fire magic. A swirling orb being created around her.
"Where'd you learn that trick?" He looked at her, genuinely curious.
"I'll have you know I taught it to myself. It's pretty simple. If I'm able to shoot fire and control its trajectory, then I can have its trajectory circle around me too. Though it's kind of a waste of mana. I'm sure I can rely on my knight if anything goes wrong…" she chuckled.
The eerie forest was hard enough to traverse with the mist. But it being nighttime only made it worse. Making it ultimately impossible to see through the thick fog. There wasn't much conversation between them. Until Revan decided to spark a discussion.
"So…uh, where are we going?" Arthur sighed and looked towards her, he was rather annoyed at her, for particularly no reason. "A temple. Honestly, it won't really be of use to you. But it should help me a decent bit. As long as we can actually get through the damn fog."
Arthur unsheathed the regal glade sitting on the side of his belt. The blade let off a blue glow in the night.
"Neat sword. Where'd ya get that?" Revan looked down at the blade. Mesmerized by the glow. "My father gave it to me before I left." "Huh. Neat."
Arthur looked at the item description of the blade.
[Name: Moonlight Blade Rarity: Relic Description: When the herald of the stars fell onto his land, the light of the moon illuminated the stars, and brought forth a new age, this blade can slice illusion and cut through lies.]
'Interesting...who knew I would aquire a relic so early...no wonder it can cut the mist. Since the mist is an illusion itself. I've never heard about a herald of the stars before...'
He sighed before continuing to cut the mist.
"Hm, useful little toy you got there." Revan remarked as she followed behind him. She extinguished the ball of fire after deeming it useless. "Hy, Arthur..."
"What is it?" Arthur kept his eyes straight as he relentlessly cut through the mist.
"Why are there no monsters here?"
Arthur already knew the answer to that question, as this wasn't the first time he's been here.
"There's a ward on the forest. It comes from the temple. It removes impurities, and basically repels everything with ill intent."
"That's awfully convenient for us, whats with the mist then?"
"A person with good intentions could still cause harm. It's just an extra precaution."
They finally exited the mist. Coming in front of the ruins of a cathedral. They walked inside and immediately she noticed the sword lodged into a stone pedestal at the front of the cathedral.
"So that's why we're here huh...Excalibur? Really?"
He nodded. But something was there that wasn't there when he retrieved Excalibur in Arcadia. There was a skeleton. Lying right in front of the sword. It's hand resting on the hilt. He removed the man from the hilt of the sword. He had no clue who he was. But still wondered what lead the man to his demise in the sacred domain. He would be soon to find out. Arthur placed both of his hands on Excalibur and pulled hard. But it refused to budge. Infact, he felt drained. Before he finally realized what happened he felt faint and weak.
"What happened? Not so worthy anymore?"
"...I guess so. It's...devouring my life force."
Revan's eyes moved curiously to the blade. "Hmph...maybe you still need the strength to pull it out. I don't think it was just well hidden. I'm sure other people would've retrieved it if it was this ancient."
Arthur sighed and felt like bashing his head into a wall. She was right. It was like fates cruel trick. And he was a fool. But he noticed something else. The skeleton was holding a book. When Arthur pryed it off of the skeletons bony fingers. The book glew in blue light before vanishing in front of his eyes.
[You have learned skill: Sword Style: Moonlight Blade Rarity: Ancient Description: As the herald of the stars waved his blade, all evil was removed from his sight, and the sky weighed heavy on his shoulders as he danced. This beautiful dance of blades was created to vanquish a great evil. But can be used for other purposes.]
'Bingo.'
He had hit the jackpot. It didn't even matter if he didn't have Excalibur. This was even more valuable. An ancient and undiscovered sword style. He was practically foaming at the mouth.
[Current insight into style 0%. The style has been added to your library of memories.]
"What was that about?" Revan snapped him out of his thoughts and he looked towards her. "Something even better than Excalibur." He grinned. "That so? Think you'll tell me? I assume not." He shook his head. "Let's camp here for tonight. It's getting late." She nodded and they made some camp. He slept on the stone cold floor and accessed his library of memories in his subconscious. In them, he saw a man. Features unknown to him, wearing a cloak that hid all known features. But he held a sword similar to his. The man while waving and slashing his sword.
'So...this is who I have to imitate.'
On the other end. Revan's wistful dream was interrupted by her visions once again. She heard a voice resonating in her head as her vision grew more in depth.
"Oh...wistful star of Zephyr...oh great killer of stars...when crimson blades destroy all, the great herald of the stars must fall...and when he falls deep deep below, the star of zephyr will enhance her glow..."
In the morning. Her vision was very short. A simple image of Arthur bleeding out. But this time it was a bit different. He could make out another man. Standing in front of them. Perhaps they battled. And lost. She heard an ear piercing shriek coming from Arthur, before finally witnessing him falling into a deep split in the world. Falling deep deep below...