Tbate-Ships

Sixth Ship: Arthur Leywin and Tessia Eralith

Author's Note: These chapters take place on Arthur's journey to Elanoir, after the Widow's Crypt.

As this is the official couple in the story, things happened faster here than on other ships.

Third person

As Tessia didn't quite control the Elderwood guardian's bestial will once she released it, she lost control and destroyed half of the Eralith's century-old castle.

Arthur and Virion together were able to subdue the guardian's bestial will and help Tessia regain her senses.

As the castle was well destroyed and Tessia was quite tired, the three headed to an inn.

They rented a luxurious suite with more than enough rooms for each of them.

The rooms were richly decorated with ornaments and knick-knacks, with the walls intricately arranged with vines, giving the place a fairy-like atmosphere.

Tessia went to shower, Virion after eating a sandwich went back to the castle to deal with what had happened to her house, Arthur sat in the living room.

From Arthur Leywin's point of view.

I, who had nothing to do, decided to admire the city of Zestier, placed Sylvie who was sitting on my lap on the sofa before getting up.

Sylvie slept so soundly that the only indication that my bond was still alive was the rhythmic expansion and contraction of her belly.

I walked calmly to the balcony, as soon as I opened the two French doors, as soon as the doors were open, my clothes and my red hair started to sway.

Untouchable.

That was the word that always popped into my head when I looked at the elven city.

What I saw before me were buildings that appeared to be constructed of a jade-like material. These jade constructions were so perfect and smooth that each one looked as if it had been carved from a single huge stone.

To make this place even more inspiring, it was the huge trees that intertwined with the buildings, filling the entire city with a more distinctive and organic environment. Looking up, I see houses built on unnaturally thick branches that extend out of the matrix trunks, even larger than the buildings, with smoke rising from their chimneys.

All terrain within this town was covered by a lush field of soft moss, with only the narrow sidewalks and the main road paved with smooth stone. The dense array of branches that fanned out from the trees covered most of the city in a canopy of shade, but there was a warm, luminescent glow throughout the city thanks to numerous floating orbs of light situated on every corner and street.

Zestier was quite agitated, since the founding of the council the elves had opened their borders which meant that humans and dwarves were welcome here, both to visit and to trade goods.

"Art, where's grandpa?" Tessia's soft, sweet voice came from behind me.

"He went back to the castle." I replied as I turned around to face my childhood friend.

Feeling my yawn heat up as soon as I saw Tess, she was wearing a white hobby, her porcelain white skin was slightly red thanks to the hot water from the shower.

"O-oh. Maybe I should go too... I was responsible for all of this after all."

"There's nothing any of us can do. Don't worry too much for now. Virion and his parents will probably be back here later tonight. that we have to go to school tomorrow." I explained.

"Still... there must be something I can help... wait what? Am I going to your place?"

"Yes, grandpa asked if you could stay at the house it will be easier that way, and it will probably be more comfortable than staying at this inn."

"I think my heart would be a lot more comfortable staying here."

"Well, none of your family members will be able to be here with you, so I'm sure Virion would feel a lot more relaxed if you stayed with my family until we got to the dorms." hit back

She was quiet for a moment before shyly nodding her consent.

Tess came to me and stopped once she was beside me.

I started looking at my childhood friend, seeing her admire the city of Zestier like this from above made her look like a true queen.

"What's it?" Tess asked as soon as she noticed my gaze.

"Nothing I'm just thinking you look like a real queen."

"I hope to be a great queen someday," Tess said as her thin red lips curved into a smile, she turned around, "a great queen needs a great king like you." Tess's yawns turned tomato red as she spoke.

I knew I had a special affection for Tessia, if I had to describe that affection I would describe it as love.

The inner voice of reason that had held me back from falling in love with a child was starting to dissipate.

Ever since Tess kissed and confessed her feelings for me, there was an internal struggle going on inside my mind.

My mind kept reminding me that even though his body was twelve, almost thirteen, due to my reincarnation my mind was that of a forty-year-old man.

He knew it was wrong to want Tess, but with a Vitra war likely looming, it was really wrong to want to know love.

I really didn't believe what I was going to do, I ordered Gray, but as far from my mind as possible, I was now fully Arthur Leywin.

I took Tess's right hand, focused my azure blue eyes on my childhood friend's emerald eyes, her face which was still red from her last line was even brighter thanks to my sudden action.

"If you would grant me that honor, I would love to rule by your side, Tess."

"Oh...wait...what?" Tess' eyes widened, more in disbelief than surprise, "Does that mean..."

"I like you, Tess," I completed with conviction, cutting off my friend's speech.

"What do you mean 'like'? I swear, Arthur, if you say you like me as a friend or as a sister, I will..."

"I like you as a woman and I want to start a relationship with you and I hope you feel the same way."

Tess's lips were trembling as she tried to contain her emotions. "You are lying."

"I am not."

She sniffed. "Yes you are."

"Do you want me to be?" I asked with a slight smile.

"II don't know," she said, her head down. "I just imagined things going differently."

"How different?" I asked curiously.

"That I would have to get stronger and prettier and older to impress you and pass you out on your feet," she said, patting me on the arm.

I laughed. "Can I still wait for you to pass out on me?"

"It is not funny!"

I used my right hand to wipe away the tears that were forming in Tess's eyes.

"What is your answer?" I asked as I brought my face closer to Tess's.

"Of course I accept you idiot!" Tess said her voice radiating happiness.

I smiled, before putting my lips on those of my childhood friend, I closed my eyes and started to enjoy our delicate kiss that was full of feeling.

From Tessia Eralith's point of view

When we parted our mouths, Arthur pulled me into a warm and welcoming hug, as if, unlike before, now he understood the immensity of my feeling, the only thing I can and want to say right now is: "I love you, Arthur. I love you lots!"

"I love you too, Tessia."

The entire universe stopped in that moment, and everything around me became absolute silence, Arthur's words were engraved deep in my soul, this was all I thought, craved, needed and dreamed to hear from him and it finally happened.