His father had no reply for his words, but his expression showed his guilt. Arthur was not angry nor felt betrayed, but it broke him that he thought it was only natural that he would be chosen to suffer.
After his father was gone, Arthur was the one who had to leave the academy and his friend to work relentlessly. It was only natural that he had to do it, that Arthur needed no one to tell him.
His mother tried to make things work, but her efforts weren't enough. So finally, Arthur had to step up and forsake his future for his family, and from then on, he had to suffer.
There were times when he was trapped in a collapsed dungeon or attacked by a monster who managed to hide, but there was no one to help him. Arthur had to live that fear on his own, and he had to find a way out.
Then, Arthur found himself in the Trial of The Holy Crown again. He met people who killed each other for a promise of power, and he had to do the same to survive. He could still remember the two mages he killed after they attacked Kira.
"Everything was to keep you alive," his father said as he rose. "I had to abandon my morals, my life, my happiness just to keep you safe. This is the duty we have to suffer in this world because the world never promised us happiness and safety."
"I am alive, dad," smiled Arthur. "I may have lost my arm and a large portion of myself. However, it is all worth it because I am still alive. I will keep suffering because I have to live."
His sarcasm made his father sigh and close his eyes. The Isotox span faster, creating a gravitational force that wrapped space around it. His father opened his eyes and looked at the item he held.
"This is the answer, Arthur. This will send you home. This is what you need to return to Earth."
"Why are you giving it to me, then?" Arthur laughed. "I can take it back to Earth, but you can't do it because it's dangerous?"
"You are the only person with the powers to defeat the Enders," his father smiled. "Your artifact can change the world. This is your power, and no one can deny that. Your legacy is nothing but a way to unlock your powers."
"You were preparing me to take this," Arthur leaned back, his long hair spreading over the couch. "The Scholar Guardian's Legacy is not to give me powers. It is to organize them."
"Indeed," his father nodded. "I had to accept that this is the fate you needed and the only way for the world to survive. You can go back to Earth, Arthur. You can forget about everything and live a safe life. However, there will come a day where you realize that you are the only person who can stand up to them."
"I was cursed with this power, and I need to heroically stand for others who treat me as nothing but the outsider, a nuisance, a threat. I tried helping people before, dad," Arthur lifted his shirt, revealing the scar that Jin gave him. "I was not repaid with kindness."
"We are not doing this because we want others to treat us well," his father sat down again. "This is our duty because we have power. Others will always harm you if it gives them something, but that says something about them. You are living according to your own beliefs."
"I changed," Arthur shook his head. "You don't know me anymore. I am not the same kid you once raised. I killed thousands because I thought it would save tens of thousands. I am not a hero or a savior, and I have no plans on being one. So instead, I will do whatever works for me."
"This is not how I raised you," his father paused and retracted his hand. "I wanted you to be like me and follow my ideals."
"You raised me as such, dad," Arthur stood up and walked closer to his father. "However, the world raised me differently after you were gone. Your ideals are admirable, but I am not you, and I will never be."
"I know that you will do the right thing," his father smiled. "The Isotox will be left in your subspace. You can use it whenever you want, and I will leave that for you."
"I will use it to return," Arthur frowned.
"Then this kingdom will fall for the calamity, Kar, and war will then rip it apart. This may be the past, but it will determine the future. Therefore, Solomon needs to find his way into the Trial of The Holy Crown."
"I will find another way to change the past," Arthur shook his head. "There is always another way."
"I don't think there is, Arthur," smiled his father. "I lived for centuries now, and I know about the future more than anyone can imagine. I did all I could to give you a choice, and my role ends here."
"There are no more tricks or manipulation?"
"I have no tricks left. I think you are ready to follow this path on your own, and you have the strength for it. The Enders took away your friend and harmed your family. You know who the enemy is, and you know how to defeat them."
"I know that this path is full of suffering," Arthur said, but his father did not reply, only walking toward the bedroom where he slept.
"The book you read all that time ago, doesn't it remind you of something?"
"That cannot be," Arthur's eyes widened. "You were telling me what will happen?"
"I would never tamper with the future, but I wanted you to understand that someone has to suffer for the world to survive."
"No father asks this of their children," Arthur walked forward and grabbed Seref by the collar, slamming him to the wall. "You are a selfish asshole who pushed everything onto me, and you dare to act righteously."
"I am indeed a selfish asshole, and I can be the villain if that's what I need to do. This was his plan, and I will follow it to the end."
"Whose plan?"
"Your plan, Arthur. This was your decision before you were born. You are a reincarnation of the man wielding the power of creation, and this is the fate he wanted."
"You make me sick," Arthur spat as he threw his father away. "I am no other than your son, but you seem to have forgotten about that. Instead, you treat me the same as the others, as whoever the fuck I was. I can forgive everyone else for mistaking me for someone else, but you are unforgivable."
"You were the one to summon me into this world," his father rolled over and smiled at him. "You are the one who gave me the task. You told me what I needed to do for your mother, Oren, and you to survive. I did what I was told, and I built kingdoms and destroyed others, all for the sake of preparing you for this moment. I want you to lead the world toward victory against the darkness. Why can't you understand that this suffering and pain is nothing compared to the glory of being the savior?"
"You are the same," Arthur couldn't believe his father as he laughed. "You are the same as everyone else who seeks glory and purpose. There was nothing I wanted other than you to be safe, for you to return, for my mother to stop crying because she misses you, for Oren to grow up with a father, and for me to be there for everyone I love."
"Why can't you understand that this is the future where you can have all of that?" his father stood up, looking at him with confusion. "This is the way for our family to survive for ages. You will become the ruler of the new world, and you will be worshiped as a god."
"I expected something else from you, dad. I always missed you. Mr. Tate says you were a good person, and I agreed with pride. But, now I understand that you are not a good person. You are only delusional with self-sacrifice and glory. If you truly cared, then you wouldn't choose for me to suffer for your goals."
"I am sorry," his father was silent. "I know that I made you suffer all this time. I know it was hard for you, but greater things are on the line. Until now, the things you fought were nothing but ants compared to the real calamities. You need to grow stronger, even if it means hating me."
Arthur was silent because he had no more words to say. His father believed this was the right path, and maybe it was, but Arthur couldn't help but feel like he was chosen to suffer for the world.
"Why does it have to be me?"
