Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 102: Evil Magic ?

"Calm down, Kara," he said softly. His voice was tired, deeper than usual, the edge dulled by exhaustion. "It doesn't matter where I was. What matters... is that I'm back."

His gaze flicked down, then away, as if haunted by images he wasn't ready to speak of. His eyes, usually so focused and calculating, carried something different now. Some sort of regret.

Kara noticed, but she didn't push.

Instead, she stepped forward and hugged him again. Slower this time. More deliberate. Her fingers curled around the folds of his coat.

"I'm really glad you're here," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I kept blaming myself for what happened with Cadmus. If I had done something different, if I'd listened sooner.."

Arthur shook his head gently, arms wrapping around her this time. "Hey... They're done for, right?"

She nodded against his shoulder. "Yes. They're gone."

He exhaled a long breath, almost a laugh. "Then don't waste another second blaming yourself. That was my problem, my mess. You...you've done enough."

Kara pulled back, just enough to look at him. Her eyes shimmered with a mix of relief and guilt. "You're still annoying though."

Arthur gave a lopsided grin. "You missed me."

"...Maybe."

They shared a moment quiet, warm, and fragile.

Then

"Ahem."

George, who had remained respectfully silent a few paces away, cleared his throat in the most refined, dignified manner possible. "If I may be so bold, Master Arthur... your presence is most welcome, but it seems you are in dire need of hydration, sustenance... and perhaps a bath."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Did you just tell me I stink?"

"I would never be so impolite as to phrase it quite that way, sir." George offered a tiny, courteous bow. "I...I shall prepare refreshments immediately."

He turned and walked off down the corridor with the grace of a man who had served nobility for a lifetime.

Arthur glanced back at Kara with a faint smirk. "Still not sure if he truly likes me or simply tolerates me."

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Kara gave him a small smile. "Don't let that fool you, I stayed here to keep him company, he was devastated when you were gone. He is hiding it behind his sense of etiquette."

Arthur chuckled quietly and nodded, eyes drifting toward the window again.

Kara's eyes suddenly lit up, her expression bright with excitement as she stepped back from him. "Right! Arthur! your family! We should go see them. They'd be thrilled to know you're alive!"

Arthur blinked, visibly caught off guard by the sudden burst of energy. "Let me... rest for a bit," he said with a tired sigh, dragging a hand through his messy hair. "And I will."

Kara laughed, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. "Yes, yes of course! You've only just returned from what looks like a warzone."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

She waved it off with a grin. "But still. They'll want to see you."

There was a pause between them, then her smile widened as she said with a playful glint in her eye, "Now we can actually help the others with you around."

Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly, suspicious. "What's wrong again?"

Kara folded her arms and tilted her chin up proudly, her tone drenched in sarcasm. "Oh, you know...nothing big. Just another case of half the Justice League losing their minds, causing chaos across the world. Typical Tuesday stuff."

Arthur stared at her flatly, already turning toward the door.

"Kara."

She held up a hand quickly. "Wait no, I'm serious! Don't go yet."

Arthur stopped in his tracks and turned, brow raised.

Kara's smile faltered just a bit, her eyes more serious now. "It's not just Superman," she said quietly. "Something's happening to the strongest of us like... something's twisting them. Some are just... wrong, while others simply disappeared. I didn't want to dump it on you right away since you just got back but if anyone can figure this out, it's you."

Arthur's brow furrowed, shadows moving subtly behind his eyes. "I guess the nature of this is magic, then," he muttered, running a thumb across his chin. "Can't the League's magic users fix whatever this is?"

Kara shook her head slowly. "That's the problem," she said. "They're nowhere to be found. And Batman for some reason took himself out. He is out cold."

Arthur's gaze sharpened. "When did this happen ?"

"Two days ago," she said. "All at once. Zatanna and Constantine... they all just vanished. Or stopped responding."

Arthur exhaled heavily, dragging his fingers through his hair. The wear of otherworldly battles still clung to his posture, and his fists still marred and scabbed flexed at his sides.

"Of course they did..." he muttered. "I get home, and it's already falling apart... what about Dr. Fate ?"

"Who?" Kara blinked, clearly confused.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Doctor Fate? You know, the sorcerer with immense magic powers? Golden helmet? Cloak? Whole 'mystical guardian of order' thing?"

Kara shook her head. "I might have heard of him? but I don't know who that is. And whoever he is, he's definitely not part of the Justice League."

Arthur stared at her for a long moment, then smirked faintly. "Interesting.. Never mind, then."

He rubbed his face, then looked at Kara with a weary smile. "I'm still going to rest," he said. "We'll deal with this tomorrow."

Kara hesitated for a second, like she wanted to argue, but seeing the weight behind his eyes, she nodded. "Well... alright."

Just then, the gentle sound of footsteps echoed through the polished hall, and George returned, impeccably composed. Balanced on a silver tray were two glasses of chilled water, and a small dish of finely cut fruit. He stopped a respectful distance away and gave Arthur a subtle bow.

"Master Arthur," he said with his usual grace, "I thought you might require some refreshment after what I can only assume was an exhausting ordeal."

Arthur gave him a tired but grateful look. "George... you are a lifesaver."

"Appreciated sir," George replied, placing the tray on the nearby table with smooth precision. "I do admit... it is good to have you back home."

Arthur nodded, easing down onto the edge of a long velvet couch, finally letting his body relax. Kara settled across from him, her expression still touched by concern as if she was keeping something else to herself, but her posture more at ease now.

Suddenly Arthur leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees as something tickled the back of his mind. He looked over at Kara, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"You said the magic users vanished when all this started happening..."

She blinked, caught off guard by the shift in his tone. "Yeah?"

"Then what about the Titans?" Arthur asked, more pointed now. "What about Raven? If this has anything to do with magic, she'd be one of the first people to notice."

Kara's eyes dropped. Her voice softened. "She's gone too."

Arthur stared at her, jaw tightening. "Kara..."

"I know," she said quickly, lifting a hand as if to defend herself. "I should've told you earlier, but."

"You have an issue of not saying everything from the get-go," Arthur cut in, his voice low but sharp. Not angry just tired.

Kara let out a small, frustrated breath. "It's not like that," she said. "I went to her first. Before anyone. She's been trying to find you for the last month, Arthur. Obsessed, really. She never gave up."

"Last MONTH?" Arthur's expression shifted at that, some of the edge in his voice easing.

"But when I finally tried to reach her again... she was gone. Vanished. The Titans are out looking for her, but nothing."

Arthur leaned back slightly, staring ahead, lost in thought. "Raven disappearing... the magic users gone... something's linking all of this."

He shook his head slowly. "This isn't random. It's way too coordinated."

Kara watched him carefully. "Do you think you know what it is?"

Arthur didn't answer right away. He stared into the distance, shadows curling faintly at his fingertips like smoke.

"...I might," he said, his voice lower now, thoughtful. "I really hope I'm wrong but if I'm not..."

His gaze darkened.

"Then we're dealing with something old. evil and angry."

Kara sat up straighter. "Old and angry how?"

Arthur didn't answer. Not yet.

He just muttered under his breath, "Hopefully it's not that."

/-\

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