The Arcane Guardians Chapter 72: Chapter 67: P.T.S.D.

Read chapter 72 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

“Fuck!” There was a loud thud followed by a few consecutive smaller ones. Felix glanced at his sister holding her feet in pain and hopping on one foot. The force field surrounding them stood unflinching despite Marcia’s frustrated kick. “Careful now, don’t break your toes,” he reminded her absent-mindedly. Marcia plopped herself down in response. Felix looked outside the prison cell again. Was Titus right about him? Was his path to save all the worlds misguided all along? His hand moved towards the forcefield, touching it gingerly this time. It was sturdy, no doubt about that. But if he willed it so, he could easily break through the shield and leave whenever he wanted. There was a single human guard outside, but he doubted that man would be a match for him once he had broken out anyway. And then what? He glanced at Orpheus, who was staring into the distance with a distracted look in his eyes. “Hey, Orpheus…” Felix began hesitantly. “What Titus said about me… Is it true?” “Yes,” Orpheus answered without hesitation. “You’re a murderous bastard who would’ve been buried alive by your own sins if you hadn’t already drowned in everyone else’s blood first. You’re a threat, and you always will be. Every world is better off without you.” Felix flinched slightly. “And… I loved you.” “You do?” Felix’s voice sounded more hopeful than he intended. “I did ,” Orpheus corrected him sharply. “But some things… Some things are just unforgivable.” “But that’s not me!” Felix protested. “I’m a different person!” “You’re not so different from this universe’s version of yourself.” Orpheus’ voice went cold immediately. “Have you forgotten your trip to Purgatory? You’re not sinless.” Felix clenched his jaw. “I know I’m not. That’s why I’m trying to correct my mistakes. I can save everyone. The right way. It won’t be like Purgatory, I promise! I just… I just want peace.” An unusual amount of anger flashed in Orpheus’ eyes, but he calmed back down almost immediately. “No, you seek what is already lost. You never knew when to let go. Is there no peace in knowing that, even though you have lost much, there are worlds where you haven’t? Is that not enough for you? Will you throw lives away just to fail at fixing what’s permanently broken?” “I—” Felix’s eyes flared in anger before he closed them painfully. “So you’re not willing to help us?” “I wouldn’t even have looked for you if I wasn’t,” Orpheus said. “I’m only guiding you to find The Winter Solstice. What you seek to do after that is none of my business.” Felix looked away, only to meet the eyes of the guard standing outside the prison. The guard turned his head quickly, as though it could hide the fact that he was listening in on them. But Felix had already recognised him. “Hey, Caesar.” Marcia sat down beside her brother. “Are there any… bad consequences? Us being here, I mean.” Orpheus shook his head, chuckling slightly. “That depends entirely on what you do in this world. But naturally, no. The multiverse doesn’t care about its occupant’s movements. Only its people do. And those who know what they are capable of.” Felix pursed his lips again. It was clear that his reputation in this world was widespread, and not in a good way. Titus was a lost cause, so Felix could forget about asking around about where he was keeping The Summer Solstice. What to do— A muted explosion sent crushed gravel dripping onto their prison. “What the hell was that?” Marcia said, standing up immediately. Another explosion shook the ground this time, and Felix looked around him. The guard outside was speaking into his earpiece frantically. “Hey, what’s happening?” The psychic stood up and tapped the forcefield. The guard ignored him, but Felix wasn’t giving up yet. “Palladius Severan!” Felix yelled, finally catching the guard’s attention. “How do you know who I am?” Severan swung around, eyes wide with both confusion and panic. “You were a soldier by my side in my world,” Felix answered hurriedly. “But that’s not important ri