Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

After helping with the distribution of players, Arthur made his excuses and left the plaza. His steps were calm and slow as he walked through the village streets, but his mind was alert.

As he headed toward the outskirts of the village, he became aware of something—or someone.

Arthur's lips curled into a sly smile.

"Adam isn't convinced, huh? He's got someone tailing me. Well...let's see if they can keep up."

Arthur changed course and headed towards the southern gate of the village.

In the forest.

Arthur waited until he was in an area where there were dense trees, before he dashed forward, slipping into the shadows.

He didn't unleash his full speed—showing his true capabilities was not part of the plan—but it was more than enough to shake off the person tracking him.

As he darted deeper into the forest, Arthur let his Enhanced Senses guide him. The rustling leaves and snapping twigs behind told him his pursuer was struggling to keep up with him. "Let's end this little game, shall we?"

He leapt onto a low-hanging branch of a tall oak tree, climbing swiftly and silently until he stood high above.

From his vantage point, he watched as the player below stumbled into the area, glancing around frantically.

"Where the hell did he go?" the man muttered, spinning in place. His voice was filled with frustration and panic. "How is he so fast? He must've noticed I was following him."

Arthur stifled a laugh, leaning back against the tree trunk with a grin. "Noticed you? Please. You were about as subtle as a goblin raiding party."

The player scratched his head, visibly at a loss. "What do I tell Lieutenant Adam now?" he muttered under his breath.

After a few moments of hesitation, he heaved a sigh and turned back toward the village, his shoulders slumped.

Arthur waited until the man was out of sight and earshot before dropping soundlessly to the ground.

"Looks like I was right. Adam doesn't trust me. Sending someone to follow me means he's already trying to figure out how much of a threat I really am. Smart move, but not smart enough."

He began walking deeper into the forest, his steps deliberate yet relaxed. The moonlight filtering through the canopy cast shifting shadows around him, creating an eerie but serene atmosphere.

"If Adam wants to play spy games, I'll let him. But he should know better than to underestimate me." Arthur's grin widened a flicker of mischief in his eyes. "Let's see how long they can keep up this charade. I might even start leaving breadcrumbs for them— just to keep things interesting."

Arthur logged out on the spot, his surroundings dissolving before solidifying into the walls of the hospital room. Across the room, Charlotte, sitting on her bed, flinched slightly at his sudden appearance.

Her wide eyes softened when she recognized him, but her startled reaction made him chuckle awkwardly.

"Sorry about that," he said with a sheepish smile, running a hand through his hair. "I keep startling you. Should I log out somewhere else next time?"

Charlotte shook her head, a gentle smile forming as she raised her hands to sign, Don't worry about it. It's nothing.

Arthur nodded, his expression relaxing.

He moved to sit on the chair beside her bed, leaning forward slightly. "How are you feeling? Did the nurse come by while I was gone?"

Charlotte nodded, signing, 'She gave me some medicine earlier. I'm okay.'

He watched her carefully, searching for any signs of discomfort, but her calm expression reassured him slightly. "Good," he said softly. "I'm glad."

For a few minutes, they sat together in companionable silence. Arthur shared a few lighthearted stories about his adventures in Armageddon, leaving out the parts that might worry her.

Charlotte listened intently, her eyes lighting up at his storytelling.

"You'd love it," he said at one point, a wistful note in his voice.

"The world is so huge. There's always something new to see, some crazy monster to fight. But the best part?" He leaned closer, his tone conspiratorial. "The food. It's the best food I've ever had."

Charlotte's expression softened, her hands moving to sign, 'I would to try it out, hopefully, when the next batch of beta players are selected.'

Arthur hesitated for a moment, but then he smiled, nodding firmly. "Yeah. When that happens, we'll explore every corner together. That's a promise."

She grinned, her eyes brimming with excitement.

After a while, Arthur stood up. "Talking about food, I'm hungry. I'm going to grab something to eat. You want anything?"

Charlotte looked thoughtful for a moment before signing, Anything you're having.

Arthur chuckled. "You're so easy to please. Alright, I'll bring something good."

Arthur then left the hospital, the cold breeze immediately biting at his skin.

He rubbed his hands together, trying to coax some warmth back into them. "I should've worn my jacket," he muttered, his breath fogging slightly in the cold, night air.

As he walked away from the hospital, he didn't notice the figure standing across the street, partially obscured by the shadows of a tree.

The man held a cigarette loosely between his fingers, its ember glowing faintly in the dark. His sharp eyes tracked Arthur's every move as he exited the hospital and began his walk toward the main road.

Arthur's pace quickened as he headed to a nearby restaurant, which was well known for its healthy and fresh meals.

The journey was short, about five minutes, but the cold gnawed at him relentlessly. The streets were relatively quiet at this hour, with only the occasional cars passing by.

Finally, he reached the restaurant, its warm lights spilling invitingly onto the sidewalk.

A bell chimed softly as he pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

Despite the late hour, there were a few customers scattered at the tables, enjoying their meals.

Arthur walked up to the counter, smiling at the cashier. "Two healthy poke bowls and two fresh juices, please."

The cashier nodded and tapped his order into the system. "That'll be ready in about ten minutes."

Arthur leaned against the counter, glancing around as he waited.

"Order for Arthur Fate," the cashier called out.

He straightened and stepped forward to collect his neatly packed food and drinks. After collecting the food, he exited the restaurant, stepping back into the cold night with the bags in hand.

The warmth from the food seeped through the packaging, offering a small reprieve from the chill.

As he walked back to the hospital, his thoughts drifted to Charlotte. These small moments they shared mattered to him, and he vowed to make them as meaningful as possible.

Reaching the hospital, he walked the familiar corridors until he reached Charlotte's room. He knocked softly before pushing the door open.

Charlotte was sitting up in bed, her head turning toward him as he entered. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw the food bags in his hands.

"Surprise," Arthur said with a grin, holding up the bags. "Dinner's here."

Charlotte tilted her head with a soft smile, signing, 'Thank you for the food,'

Arthur chuckled as he set the bags down on the small table beside her bed. "You are welcome."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He unpacked the bowls and juices, the enticing aroma filling the room. The vibrant colors of the meals immediately caught Charlotte's attention. She gave him a curious look, signing, What is it?

"Only the finest poke bowls from the best spot in the area," Arthur declared dramatically, handing her a fork and one of the juices. "I got you the one with extra avocado. Thought you'd like it."

Charlotte took a cautious bite, her expression softening as the flavours hit her. She looked at him and gave a thumbs-up, signing, Delicious.

"Told you," Arthur said, digging into his own bowl. After a few minutes, Arthur leaned back, sipping his juice.

"You know," he said, glancing at her, "we should do this more often. Healthy food nights with your favourite brother."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow playfully, signing, Favorite?

Arthur smirked. "Well, I mean, I'm your only brother, so the competition's not exactly stiff."

After they finished eating, Arthur stood up and walked towards Charlotte's bed side.

Find your next adventure on empire

Arthur gently guided Charlotte into the bathroom, holding her hand with a gentle grip. "Alright, Miss Charlotte, let's get you all freshened up," he said with a playful tone, earning a soft smile from her.

Charlotte pointed at the toothbrush on the counter and signed, You know I can do this myself, right?

Arthur raised a brow, smirking. "Oh, I know, but you see, my job description as the world's best big brother includes being an overbearing helper. So, tough luck." He winked, grabbing the toothbrush and squeezing a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste onto it.

She rolled her eyes but let him lift the brush to her mouth.

As he gently brushed her teeth, he hummed an exaggerated tune, pretending to be a dentist. "Open wide, Miss Charlotte! Let's get those pearly whites shining brighter than the hospital lights!"

Charlotte huffed through her nose, her silent laughter bubbling up. She tapped his shoulder lightly, signing with one hand, Stop making me laugh, or you'll make me choke!

Arthur chuckled but stayed focused, brushing carefully. "Alright, alright. I'll keep the jokes to a minimum. But seriously, have you been eating rocks? Some of these teeth are tough to clean."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she playfully tried to bat the toothbrush away. Arthur grinned, finishing up quickly.

He grabbed the glass of water on the sink and handed it to her. "Rinse, spit, and don't even think about splashing me."

Charlotte swished the water in her mouth, her lips twitching mischievously. As she leaned over to spit, she flicked her fingers toward him, sending a few droplets of water his way.

Arthur gasped, mock-offended. "You little rascal! That was a direct violation of the no-splashing treaty we just signed!"

She smirked, signing, Treaty? I never agreed to that.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head in dismay as he grabbed a soft towel and gently wiped her face. "You've got toothpaste foam on your cheek. Hold still."

She stood still, her face lighting up with a rare, soft laugh as he wiped away the foam with exaggerated care. "There," he said, holding the towel up like it was a precious relic. "Evidence of our battle. I'll hang it in the museum someday."

"You're ridiculous."

"And yet, you're smiling," Arthur responded with a soft smile.

He guided her over to the sink, turning on the warm water. "Alright, hands next. You've been touching that hospital tray all day, and we can't have you running around with germy fingers."

Charlotte raised a brow as he carefully lathered soap onto her hands, massaging it gently between her fingers.

"Running around? Where am I running, Arthur?"

Arthur grinned. "You never know. Maybe one of these days you'll wake up, feel amazing, and challenge me to a race down the hall."

"You'd lose."

He gasped dramatically, rinsing the soap off her hands. "Bold words for someone who just let me brush her teeth! Alright, let's dry you off."

Arthur grabbed another towel, patting her hands dry before moving to her face. "Last step, just a quick rinse." He turned on the water, wetting the corner of the towel before gently dabbing her cheeks and forehead.

Charlotte closed her eyes, letting him work with a trust that warmed Arthur's heart. When he finished, he leaned back, holding the towel up with a flourish. "And done! You are officially the cleanest person in this hospital."

"...Thank you..."

Arthur's expression softened, his playful demeanour fading into something more genuine. He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You are welcome, thanks for letting me take care of you."

After leading Charlotte back to her bed, Arthur helped her settle in, fluffing her pillows and adjusting the blanket so it was snug around her. "Alright, Miss Charlotte," he said softly, "time to get cosy."

She gave him a faint, tired smile, her eyes already beginning to droop from the day's events. Arthur reached for the brush on the bedside table and held it up. "Every princess needs her hair brushed before bed," he said gently.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow and signed slowly, A princess? You've been spending too much time in that game. There is no such thing in Detroit.

Arthur smiled, sitting beside her. "Maybe, but you are still my princess."

Arthur began brushing her hair carefully, the bristles gliding through with ease. Charlotte's hair had no tangles making it easy for him to brush through it.

"You know," Arthur said after a moment, "Mom used to do this for me when I was little. She always said it helped me sleep better after a rough day."

Charlotte tilted her head slightly, her tired eyes glancing at him. Did it help?

Arthur nodded, his voice softer now. "Yeah, it did. And I think it's working for you too."