Noah sighed, stepping aside and motioning for Arlo to come in.
The blindfolded man strolled inside like he owned the place, hands in his pockets, exuding an easy confidence that Noah couldn't decide was earned or just pure arrogance.
Arlo glanced at the shattered doorway. "Quite the mess you've made. Here, let me fix that."
With a snap of his fingers, the broken door suddenly lifted off the wall. The wood creaked as if rewinding through time, splinters reassembling themselves.
In mere seconds, the door stood back in its original place, looking exactly as good as it had before Noah had punched it off its hinges.
Noah's brows shot up. "Okay, I'm going to need you to explain how the hell you just did that."
Arlo grinned, dramatically tossing his silver hair back despite the fact that his blindfold should have made it impossible for him to gauge Noah's reaction. "Magic, obviously. But in this case, a very specific kind."
Noah crossed his arms. "I swear, if you tell me it's the power of friendship, I'm throwing you out the window."
Arlo laughed. "Close! But no. I did it because I'm a chimera. And so are you."
Noah narrowed his eyes. "Chimera? Like the freaky lion, goat, snake creature?"
"You guys have that too? I'll be damned." Arlo asked, awe in his voice.
"Wait, what?" Noah frowned in confusion.
"No need to ask. All our actual chimeras are gone. Killed off hundreds of years ago for sport. All that is left are people like me." Arlo leaned against the desk.
"We chimeras are people who've been bonded with abyssal beasts. We share their strength, their instincts, and most importantly, their power."
"But it's not like regular magic. That died centuries ago too. Instead, our abilities manifest as 'Memories.' Unique moves that are drawn from the beasts we've been melded with."
Noah felt a chill run down his spine. That presence in the void. The thing he had fought and absorbed. "You said I'm a chimera, too."
Arlo tilted his head. "Think about it. You were summoned through a massive ritual, and then, bam! You suddenly have inhuman strength. No training, no magic circuits, nothing."
"That's not normal, even for heroes. It means that you melded with something in the Abyss during the summoning. You're a chimera too."
Noah exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. It made sense. That thing had tried to destroy him, but he had won. And now, its power was his?
"So, if I have this power, how do I use it?"
Arlo grinned. "That's the fun part. You haven't unlocked your Origin Memory yet."
Noah gave him a blank look. "And that is…?"
"The first Memory every chimera receives. It's what opens the way for all your subsequent Memories."
"While every Memory gives you a skill or ability, the Origin Memory is the foundation of it all. It tells you what kind of abyssal beast you're melded with, and more importantly, what sort of future Memories you might develop."
"And yes. The Memories are actual memories. With the power of an abyssal beast in a human body, it tells you how to use it."
Noah frowned. "And how do I unlock it?"
Arlo's grin widened. "By pushing yourself."
Noah stared at him. "That's it? Just 'push yourself'? That's the best you've got?"
Arlo shrugged. "Worked for me."
Noah rubbed his temples. "Great. Super helpful. Thanks."
Arlo chuckled. "You'll get it soon enough. You're already showing signs of enhanced strength. Maybe endurance, too."
"But don't think it'll be that easy. Unlocking your Origin Memory takes more than just raw effort."
"It takes style." Arlo grinned, running his hands through his hair like a model posing for a photoshoot. "Like me."
Noah sat at the edge of his bed, processing the information.
"So, you're telling me that some random… abyssal beast is now a part of me, and my… powers are going to evolve based on whatever it was?"
"Bingo." Arlo said, snapping his fingers. "Could be a beast of shadows, maybe something with claws or wings. You won't know until you unlock that first Memory. Until then, you're just an ordinary human."
He frowned, before amending his statement. "No. You already have enhanced strength. An ordinary chimera! No, wait a minute. Ordinary chimeras are those who have unlocked their Origin Memory."
He paused. "Yeah. You're definitely an ordinary inhuman."
Noah scowled. "Fantastic."
Arlo stretched, cracking his neck. "Now, onto something fun. You know that prophecy about the hero? The one destined to defeat the Dark Lord? That was supposed to be me."
Noah blinked. "Come again?"
Arlo smirked. "Yeah, I was supposed to be the hero. But then Otto got his hands on the hero summoning ritual and decided to bring you here instead."
Noah's eyes narrowed. Otto had known something about the ritual that no one else had. He was the one that had unearthed it!
No wonder he'd been unsurprised in the throne room. He'd expected Noah to reject the king.
"So, guess what?" Arlo continued, drawing Noah's attention. "You're holding the torch now. Saving Camelot? Not my business anymore."
Noah let that sink in. "So you're just… giving up?"
Arlo spread his hands. "Nah. I'm just saying I'm out. Taking a well needed vacation. Maybe. Or maybe you'll see me strolling aimlessly around the palace. I don't even know what I'll be doing tomorrow."
"But you? You can do whatever you want."
"Fight, run, take up knitting, doesn't matter to me. But people are gonna come for you. Some will want you to save them. Others? They'll want you dead. So, figure out your powers fast."
Noah exhaled slowly. "And what are you gonna do?"
Arlo strolled over to the window and unlatched it. "Me? I've got places to be. People to mess with. Beer to drink. The usual."
Noah shook his head. "Does anybody ever tell you how insufferable you are?"
Arlo grinned. "I get that a lot. But hey, maybe I'll drop by sometime. See how you're handling all this hero nonsense."
Noah scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure I'll be thrilled."
Arlo leaned against the window frame. "One last piece of advice. Don't trust anyone in the castle. Me included. Everyone's got their own agenda. Even the king. Maybe especially the king."
Noah frowned but said nothing.
"Well, see you later."
With that, Arlo vaulted through the window, vanishing into the night.
Noah sighed.
The man had come, leaving him with more questions than answers.
Maybe now. He'd take that bath and think about all that had just happened.
Then, someone knocked on his door.
"Oh, come on!"