The academy was his best bet right now. Excelling there meant getting access to the Secret Realm—a place rumoured to hold incredibly rare herbs and treasures.
With luck, he could find something there to heal his sister.
the Medicine Hall in the city was also an option. But there was a catch—the higher floors were locked behind reputation points. He needed to build his reputation within the city and the academy to gain access.
"Even if the Medicine Hall doesn't have what I need, maybe someone there will know where to find it." But deep down, he doubted it, which made him lean towards the academy's secret realm.
For now, everything had to be strategic. The academy, his reputation, levelling up—all of it was interconnected.
Arthur glanced at the clouds in the sky for a few seconds.
But his thoughts were no longer here—they were elsewhere.
It's time. He had done all he needed in Armageddon for now. The evolution pathways, the summons, the academy—it could wait.
He wanted to meet up with Donald and see his sister. It was a must.
There was something more important waiting for him in the real world.
With a slow breath, Arthur muttered the command to log out.
The vibrant world around him began to dissolve, pixels breaking apart, the forest vanishing into streaks of light.
The scents, the sounds, the breeze—all gone in an instant.
And then—Arthur opened his eyes.
The luxurious room of the first-class dormitory materialized around him.
Arthur sat up from the couch where he had been logged in.
There was no time to waste.
He rose to his feet, heading straight for the door.
His thoughts swirled—Donald.
He needed to meet him. It had been days since he had seen his sister, and that gnawing feeling in his chest had only grown stronger.
He needed answers. Needed to see her with his own eyes.
Arthur stepped into the quiet hallway, his footsteps echoing softly against the pristine floors as he made his way to the dormitory's office.
He arrived at the familiar desk where Raymond, the guard stationed at the office, sat—his broad frame hunched over a monitor, fingers tapping lazily on a keyboard.
Raymond looked up as Arthur approached, his expression neutral.
Arthur wanted to speak to Raymond for one reason, when Arthur first arrived at the base, he saw how Donald was talking to Raymond, they knew each other.
They might not be very close, but there was some sort of connection.
Arthur stopped at the desk.
"Sir Raymond," he began, his voice calm.
"Yes, Arthur? Need something?"
Arthur nodded. "I need to speak to Donald. Can you contact him for me?"
Raymond's brow lifted slightly, sensing the seriousness laced in Arthur's voice. He leaned back in his chair, eyeing Arthur for a brief second before responding. "Of course. Give me a moment."
He swivelled back toward his computer, fingers tapping across the keyboard. But before making the call, he added, "Funny enough, he told me to reach out when I saw you. Said he's been wanting to talk."
Arthur's jaw clenched at that. "I figured."
Raymond didn't pry further, focusing on the screen as he initiated the call. Arthur stood there, arms crossed, his chest tightening with a creeping frustration.
He hadn't seen his sister in days—long, agonizing days without word or update. Every hour stretched the worry tighter in his mind.
Raymond glanced back. "Alright, I spoke to him. He'll be here soon. You can take a seat if you want."
Arthur gave a curt nod, lowering himself into one of the stiff chairs against the wall. He kept his gaze forward, but his mind raced. Minutes passed. Ten. Then twenty. He glanced at the wall clock, watching the second hand tick by.
The thirty-minute mark came and went.
Arthur's eyes flicked over to Raymond, still at his desk, casually typing away. The man didn't seem the least bit concerned by the delay.
Arthur said nothing, swallowing the irritation building inside.
But when another thirty minutes passed, making it a full hour, the restraint started to wear thin. His jaw tensed, his fingers drumming against his knee. He didn't ask Raymond again. He already knew what this was—some twisted game of power, designed to test his patience.
By the time two hours had gone by, Arthur's anger had hardened into a cold, focused edge.
Finally, the door opened, and Donald strolled in, casual as ever, a slight grin on his face.
"Sorry, a few issues came up. I couldn't come quickly. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
Arthur's expression remained neutral as he stared at Donald, that forced smile testing every ounce of his self-control. He wanted nothing more than to wipe it off his face—but he kept his expression neutral.
"No, it's fine," Arthur lied, the words hollow as they left his mouth.
Donald nodded, seemingly satisfied with that response. "Good. Let's talk somewhere else."
He waved toward Raymond. "Thanks, man."
Raymond lifted his hand lazily, offering a thumbs-up. "No problem. Catch you later."
Arthur stood, following Donald out of the room. But the knot in his chest only tightened.
"You're going to pay for everything..."
The evening air was cool, the distant hum of the military base a constant background noise. Arthur walked beside Donald, his posture straight, his expression unreadable.
Donald, as always, was the first to break the silence.
"I heard you wanted to talk to me about something?" His voice was light, almost casual, but Arthur knew better.
Arthur didn't respond immediately. His gaze stayed ahead, his steps steady.
"What is it?" Donald pressed.
Arthur finally glanced at him from the corner of his eye. His voice was flat, devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
Donald came to an abrupt stop, his brow arching in curiosity.
Arthur turned to face him fully now. His stance was firm, his gaze unwavering.
"I want to meet her. I want to see her."